- •Неличные формы глагола инфинитив
- •(Verbals)
- •Verbal Predicate
- •The infinitive
- •The infinitive can be:
- •1.1 Forms of the infinitive
- •Practice
- •1.2. The bare infinitive and the to-infinitive the use of the bare infinitive
- •1.2.1 “Let”, “make”, “would rather/ sooner” and “had better”
- •1.2.2 The infinitive with or without “to” after “help” and “know”
- •Practice
- •Context
- •When we were at school as children we were (make/wear) ……………………………
- •1.3. The functions of the infinitive
- •1.3.1 Infinitive as subject
- •The infinitive as predicative
- •The compound verbal predicate
- •Practice
- •Infinitive as subject
- •Infinitive as predicative
- •The infinitive as part of a compound verbal predicate
- •1.3.2 The infinitive as object
- •Come lend repeat show shut wait
- •2. Complete the sentences for each situation.
- •3. Complete these sentences so that the meaning is similar to the first sentence.
- •4. Put the verb in the right form:–ing or infinitive (with or without to).
- •1.3.3. The infinitive as attribute
- •5. The noun-substitute one.
- •Practice
- •Model: I had avoided the house all day and had brought food that we could eat by the lake.
- •Complete the following using the infinitives as attributes.
- •1.3.4. The infinitive as adverbial modifier
- •Adverbial modifier of purpose
- •Revision
- •1.4. Constructions with the Infinitive
- •1.4.1 The for-to-infinitive construction
- •In translating this construction into Russian a subordinate clause or an infinitive is used.
- •Sentence patterns with the for-phrase
- •Practice
- •1.4.2 The Objective with the Infinitive Construction (Complex object)
- •The Complex Object is used after the verbs:
- •Practice
- •1.4.3 The subjective infinitive construction (complex subject) (the Nominative-with-the-lnfinitive Construction)
- •Practice
- •1.5 Test yourself
- •Insert 'to’ where necessary before the infinitives in brackets:
- •Fill in the correct form of the Infinitive:
- •Paraphrase the sentences so as to use the Infinitive:
- •Define the function of the Infinitive:
- •Translate the sentences into English using infinitives and infinitive constructions:
- •Bibliography
1.3.1 Infinitive as subject
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The infinitive as subject may either precede the predicate or follow it. In the latter case it is introduced by so-called introductory (anticipatory) “it”, which is placed at the beginning of the sentence.
To do this work is impossible.
It’s impossible to do this work.
N.B! The second case
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is more common,
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can be both interrogative and declarative. (Is it possible to do this work?/It is possible to do this work.)
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If there are 2 or more homogeneous infinitive subjects in the sentence, all of them take “to”
To be alone, to be free would be happiness to him.
It was cruel to do or even to say it.
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The function of the subject can be performed by the infinitive of any voice, aspect or perfect form.
COMMENTARY
It’s difficult to explain his behavior.
“to explain” is a subject expressed by the indefinite infinitive active with the particle “to”. The subject is introduced by the anticipatory “it”.
To explain his behaviour is difficult.
“to explain” is a subject expressed by the indefinite infinitive active with the particle “to”.
The infinitive as predicative
The Infinitive as predicative is used in compound nominal predicates after the link verb to be.
Eg. Their wish is to master English grammar.
N.B! My intention was to go …, to see …, to …
My intention was to go … and see …, or get …
The infinitive as predicative is used in the following way:
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In sentences with an infinitive in the function of both the subject and predicative (To see her was to admire her)
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The set of nouns used as the subject is limited (action, aim, ambition, attempt, business, desire, duty, habit, hope, wish, idea, job, rule, wish …about 50 nouns)
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The predicative infinitive phrase can be introduced by conjunctive adverbs and pronouns how, when, where, what, whom. (The problem was how to begin)
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The subject can be
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performed by all or the most, the least (All he wanted was to be left alone)
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performed by a gerund or what-clause (What we need is to love somebody)
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COMMENTARY:
His behaviour is difficult to explain.
“to explain” is a predicative expressed by the indefinite infinitive active with the particle “to”.
The compound verbal predicate
(consists of two parts the notional and structural) can be;
The compound verbal modal predicate consists of a modal part and an infinitive.
The modal part may be expressed by
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A modal verb
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A modal expression (to be able, be allowed, be willing , had better, would rather…)
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*An attitudinal verb (like, hate, expect, mean, try, want …) Some scholars consider it to be an object. Kobrina p. 112
The compound verbal aspect (or phasal) predicate consists of two parts (the nominal and structural) The structural part is represented by verbs denoting various stages of the action:
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Beginning (to begin, start, commence, to set out, to take to, to fall to, to come)
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Duration (to go on, to keep on, proceed, continue)
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Repetition (would, used to)
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Cessation (stop, finish, cease, to give up, to leave off)
COMMENTARY:
You must be careful.
“be” is part of a compound verbal modal predicate expressed by a bare indefinite infinitive active used after the modal verb “must”.
She continued to ask him questions.
“to ask” is a compound verbal aspect(phasal) predicate expressed by a full indefinite infinitive active.