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Functions of the infinitive

SUBJECT

P I

Inf. + is (was)

means

+ useless

necessary

impossible

a mistake

to spoil him

P II

It is (was)

+ wise

nice

natural + Inf.

hard

pleasant

PREDICATIVE

P III

The main thing

The 1st thing you must do

The only thing to do

Your only chance

All you need

The only way out

+ is + Inf.

PART OF A PREDICATIVE

P IV

… is (was) + difficult

hard

pleasant

good

comfortable

+ Inf. (to look at)

OBJECT

P V

To be lucky

glad

disappointed

sorry

angry

+ Inf.

P VI

to promise

to decide

to offer

to remember

to forget

to agree

to want

+ Inf.

P VII

don’t know + who

have no idea what

don’t remember when

can’t think where

+ Inf.

ATTRIBUTE

P VIII

nothing

nobody

no one

anything

anybody

someone

somebody

something

+ Inf.

P IX

man

thing

place

time

+ Inf.

P X

the first

the last

the second

+ Inf.

ADVERBIAL MODIFIER OF PURPOSE

P XI

to do smth + in order

so as

+ Inf.

ADVERBIAL MODIFIER OF RESULT

P XII

(too) young + (enough)

old

easy

difficult

+ Inf.

6. Infinitive Constructions

In Modern English we find the following predicative constructions with the infinitive:

  1. the Objective with the Infinitive Construction;

  2. the Subjective Infinitive Construction;

  3. the For-to-Infinitive Construction.

6.1. The Objective with the Infinitive Construction

This is a construction in which the infinitive is in predicate relation to a noun in the Common Case or a pronoun (in the Objective Case). In the sentence this construction has the function of a complex object.

The Objective with the Infinitive Construction is used:

  1. after verbs of sense perception hear, see, watch, feel, observe, smell, notice, etc. (only the Infinitive Active is used).

I thought I heard someone knock on the door.

We didn’t notice the man leave the building.

This construction is not used after the verbs to see (=to understand) and to hear (=to learn, to be told); a clause is used instead.

I see you don’t realize the danger.

I hear he’s left the room.

  1. after verbs of mental activity know, think, consider, believe, suppose, expect, imagine, find, etc.

After verbs of mental activity, except the verb to expect, the verb to be is generally used.

I expected Dave to meet me at the airport.

They found him to be a bore.

I imagined him to be a bigger man.

The Perfect Infinitive is used but seldom.

The police believe the Mafia to have committed the crime.

After the verbs consider, find, think the infinitive can be omitted.

She found the subject to be fascinating.

  1. after verbs of declaring pronounce, declare, report, etc.

The surgeon pronounced him to be out of danger.

The judges announced the result to be a draw.

  1. after verbs denoting wish and intention want, wish, desire, mean, intend, choose, etc.

Your landlady wants you to post these letters.

I’d like you to hold the door open for me.

The infinitive can be passive.

I’d like the door to be held open.

  1. after verbs of feeling and emotion like, love, hate, dislike, cannot bear, etc.

I hate people to ignore me.

  1. after verbs of order and permission order, allow, suffer, have (in negative sentences), etc.

The gentleman ordered his luggage to be taken upstairs.

They don’t allow people to sunbathe here.

  1. after verbs of compulsion make, cause, get, have, force, compel, oblige, etc.

The crisis has forced the government to act.

I got Mike to lend me this electric drill.

I had the garage service my car. (AmE)

  1. after the verbs rely, count the Construction is preceded by the preposition on (upon).

I rely on you to keep my secret.