16. Verbals. The category of representation

All the verbs in the English language are divided into predicative and non-predicative. The category of representation is viewed by Smirnitskij as a category, which represents different types of process:

• Pure process

• Process, complicated by other factors

The category of representation can be divided into 3 categorical forms:

• The categorical forms of verbal representation, which is a characteristic of predicative verbs;

• The categorical forms …….. representation, which is a characteristic of the gerund and the infinitive;

Verbals (orVerbids by Bloch) are the forms of the verb intermediary in many of their lexico –grammatical features between the verb and the non – processual parts of speech. The mixed features of these forms are raveled in the principal spheres of the part-of-speech characterization, in their meaning, structural marking, combinability, and syntactic functions ( or just semantic, formal (morphological) and functional ( syntactic-distributional) . The processual meaning is exposed by them in the substantive or adjectival-adverbial interpretation: they render processes as peculiar kinds of substances and properties.

The Infinitive

The Infinitive is a non-finite form of the verb, which combines the features of the Verb with those of the Noun. It’s a verbal name of a process.(semantic) It’s often marked by the Particle to (formal feature).

The Infinitive possesses 3 verbal categories: ASPECT, ORDER, VOICE (formal feature). Like finite forms of the verb the Infinitive can combine with non-processional (nominal) parts of speech.

To ask Mary

The Infinitive can perform any syntactic function in the sentence except that of the predicate.

To meet the head of the administration and not to speak to him about your predicament was unwise.-subject

If the infinitive in free use has its own subject, different from that of the governing construction, it is introduced by the preposition-particle for. The whole infinitive construction of this type is traditionally called the "for-to infinitive phrase". Cf.: For that shy-looking young man to have stated his purpose so boldly — incredible.

The infinitive is used in the semi-predicative constructions of the complex object and complex subject, the latter being the passive counterparts of the former. Cf.:

We have never heard Charlie play his violin. — Charlie has never been heard to plan his violin. The members of the committee expected him to speak against the suggested resolution. — He was expected by the members of the committee to speak against the suggested resolution.

Unlike finite forms of the verb the Infinitive can combine with finite forms of the verb.

He wants to ask…

The English infinitive exists in two forms. One of them, characteristic of the free uses of the infinitive, is distinguished by the pre-positional marker to. This form is called traditionally the "to-infinitive", or the "marked infinitive". The other form, characteristic of the bound uses of the infinitive, does not employ the marker to, thereby presenting the infinitive in the shape of the pure verb stem, which in modern interpretation is understood as the zero-suffixed form. This form is called traditionally the "bare infinitive", or the "unmarked infinitive".

The infinitive marker to is a word-morpheme. Its only function is to build up and identify the infinitive form as such. As is the case with the other analytical markers, the particle to can be used in an isolated position to represent the whole corresponding construction syntagmatically zeroed in the text. Cf.: You are welcome to acquaint yourself with any of the documents if you want to.

Like other analytical markers, it can also be separated from its notional, i.e. infinitive part by a word or a phrase, usually of adverbial nature, forming the so-called "split infinitive". Cf.: My task is not to accuse or acquit; my task it to thoroughly investigate, to clearly define, and to consistently systematise the facts.

Thus, the marked infinitive presents just another case of an analytical grammatical form. The use or non-use of the infinitive marker depends on the verbal environment of the infinitive. Namely, the unmarked infinitive is used, besides the various analytical forms, with modal verbs (except the modals ought and used), with verbs of physical perceptions, with the verbs let, bid, make, help (with the latter — optionally), with the verb know in the sense of "experience", with a few verbal phrases of modal nature (had better, would rather, would have,etc.), with the relative-inducive why-why not go.

The categorial paradigm of the infinitive of the objective verb includes eight forms: the indefinite active, the continuous active, the perfect active, the perfect continuous active; the indefinite passive, the continuous passive, the perfect passive, the perfect continuous passive.

• to take — to be taking

• to have taken — to have been taking; to be taken —to be being taken

• to have been taken — to have been being taken.

The infinitive paradigm of the non-objective verb, correspondingly, includes four forms.

• to go —to be going

• to have gone — to have been going.

The continuous and perfect continuous passive can only be used occasionally, with a strong stylistic colouring.

The Gerund

The Gerund is the non-finite form of the Verb, which combines the properties of the Verb with those of the Noun.

It’s a verbal name of the process ( semantic) The Gerund has a marker- the inflexion –ing. But it possesses some categories of the Verb: ORDER, VOICE (formal). Like finite forms of the Verb the Gerund may combine with non-processional parts of speech (her calling him).

Unlike finite Verbs it can combine with finite forms of the Verb (keep moving). It can perform any syntactic function in the sentence except that of the predicate.

Repeating your accusations over and over again doesn't make them more convincing. (Gerund subject position) No wonder he delayed breaking the news to Uncle Jim. (Gerund direct object position) She could not give her mind to pressing wild flowers in Pauline's botany book. (Gerund addressee object position) Joe felt annoyed at being shied by his roommates. (Gerund prepositional object position) You know what luck is? Luck is believing you're lucky. (Gerund predicative position) Fancy the pleasant prospect of listening to all the gossip they've in store for you! (Gerund attributive position) He could not push against the furniture without bringing the whole lot down. (Gerund adverbial of manner position)

Powell's being rude like that was disgusting.( The Gerung+ noun in the Possessive Case- This gerundial construction is used in cases when the subject of the gerundial process differs from the subject of the governing)

The Gerund distinguishes the two grammatical categories:

• aspective category of retrospective coordination (perfect in opposition),

• the category of voice (passive in opposition).

taking — having taken — being taken — having been taken.

( difference from the Infinitive- modal representation: the infinitive, unlike the gerund, has a certain modal force, especially in the attributive function, e.g.: There was no one to tell him the truth (= There was no one who could tell him the truth).

Participle I

Participle I is a non-finite form of the Verb, which serves as a processional qualifying name.

It characterizes and qualifies smth. through its action. The inflexion –ing distinguishes it from the finite forms. Participle I possesses some categories of the Verb: ORDER, VOICE (formal). Like finite forms of the Verb it can combine with non-processional (nominal) parts of speech. Unlike non-finite forms of the Verb it can combine with finite forms.

Participle I can’t function as a syntactic predicate. It mainly functions as an attribute or adverbial modifier.

The questions became more and more irritating. (Present participle predicative position) She had thrust the crucifix on to the surviving baby.(Present participle attributive position) And having read in the papers about truth drugs, of course Gladys would believe it absolutely. (Present participle cause adverbial front-position)

A peculiar use of the present participle is seen in the absolute participial constructions of various types, forming complexes of detached semi-predication. Cf.: The messenger waiting in the hall, we had only a couple of minutes to make a decision.

The Gerund and Participle I

The Gerund The Participle I

1. Verbal name of the process MEANING Qualifying Name

2. into Nouns CONVERSION Adjectives

Her calling him a liar- people living here-

His calling in life. Living Languages

3. Nouns SUBSTITUTION Adjectives

She liked his speaking- She likes speaking names in

Literature- She liked meaningful

She liked his soft speech names

4. Noun PARALLEL and Adjectives

She liked his speaking softly COORDINATE USE She liked speaking and

And his face. WITH beautiful names.

5. Dancing girl LEXICAL COMBINABILITY

BUT THERE ARE CASES Of UNBEGUITY!

Swimming instructor- only in context

So, we see that The Gerund and Participle I are different non-finite forms of the Verb.

Participle II

Participle II is a non-finite form of the Verb, which serves as a qualifying name. It characterizes smth. through its action.

The formal features of Participle II are: inflexion –ed, -en + irregular verbs.

Participle II is a single form; it has no paradigm of its own. There is no opposition of form, so it has no categories. The past participle is included in the structural formation of Participle I (perfect, passive)

Its functions in the sentence are the attribute and the predicative. Cf.:

Moyra's softened look gave him a new hope. (Past participle attribu- tive front-position) The light is bright and inconveniently placed for reading. (Past participle predicative position)

It may possess a meaning of passivity or priority, completeness, but it’s just meaning. It depends on the transitivity and durativity of the verb. As a result of this correlation, the attributive past participle of limitive verbs in a neutral context expresses priority, while the past participle of unlimitive verbs expresses simultaneity. E.g.:

A tree broken by the storm…(Priority in the passive; the implication is "a tree that had been broken by the storm") . I saw that the picture admired by the general public hardly had a fair chance with the judges. (Simultaneity in the passive; the implication is "the picture which was being admired by the public")

Like the present participle, the past participle is capable of making up semi-predicative constructions of complex object, complex subject, as well as of absolute complex.

I want it done at once (object)