3. Nominal and verbal characteristics of infinitive

USAGE

EXAMPLES

NOMINAL

The Infinitive may function as:

1. Subject

b) Object

c) Predicative

To study Dutch is my dream.

I like to study Dutch.

My dream is to study Dutch.

VERBAL

1.The Infinitive has categories of:

1. Tense

2. Voice

3. Aspect

I’m happy to have met you.

This article is sure to be published.

He is said to be reading.

2. The Infinitive of a transitive verb may have a direct object.

I ‘m glad to see you.

3. The Infinitive may be modified by an adverb.

I like to read aloud.

USAGE

EXAMPLES

NOMINAL

1. The Gerund may function as:

a) Subject

b) Object

c) Predicative

Smoking destroys your health.

I hate smoking.

Your problem is smoking.

2. The Gerund can be preceded by a preposition.

I am afraid of skating.

3. The Gerund can be modified by a noun or a pronoun.

We insisted on John’s coming to Rio de Janeiro.

We insisted on his coming as soon as possible.

VERBAL

1. The Gerund has categories of

1. Tense

2. Voice

She denied having spoken to them.

Students like being asked a lot of questions.

2. The Gerund of a transitive verb may have a direct object.

All students enjoy writing tests.

3. The Gerund may be modified by an adverb.

I like reading aloud.

USAGE

EXAMPLES

ADJECTIVAL/

ADVERBIAL

1. Participle I may function as:

a) Attribute

b) Adverbial modifier

We looked at the barking dog.

Answering my question he went out.

VERBAL

1. Participle I of a transitive verb may have a direct object.

Having read the novel I went to sleep.

2. Participle I may be modified by an adverb.

He sat reading aloud.

3. Participle I has categories of

1. Tense

b) Voice

Having spoken to him she went away.

Being translated into many languages, the novel is known all over the world.

USAGE

EXAMPLES

NOTE

1. After modal verbs:

He may have come.

2. After the verbs of sense perception (in the Complex Object)

I didn’t notice you enter the room.

I felt somebody knock at the door.

1. If the verb “to feel” expresses mental perception the particle “to” is used:

I felt him to be true.

2. The particle “to” is used in the Complex Subject:

He was seen to enter the house.

3. After the verbs:

to make

to have (=to make)

to know (=to experience)

to let

to bid

Don’t make me laugh.

I will not have you behave like that.

We have never known him lose his temper before.

Let it be.

The knight bade the travelers enter.

The particle “to” is used in the Passive Voice:

He was made to laugh.

4. Sometimes after the verb to help.

John helped me mend my bicycle.

The construction with the particle “to” is more formal.

5. After the expression:

had better/best

would rather/sooner

cannot but

do nothing but

nothing to do but

You’d better go away.

I’d rather stay here.

I cannot but laugh.

The infinitive is part of the compound verbal predicate

She does nothing but make plans

We had nothing to do but wait.

The infinitive is an adverbial modifier of exception.

6. After why (not), how in rhetorical questions.

Why (not) go there right away.

How leave her there?

In one-member sentences.

7. If the Infinitive expands the meaning of the verb to do.

All I did was (to) turn off the gas.

Turn off the gas was all I did.

The particle “to” is optional if the Infinitive is a predicative.

8. After than.

I have more important things to do, than (to) translate this text.

The particle “to” is optional.