- •Практична граматика англійської мови для студентів 3 курсу
- •Table of contents
- •(Verbids, verbals)
- •Categories of Finite Forms of the Verb (revision)
- •Classification of non-finite forms of the verb (verbals)
- •Verbals
- •Verbals
- •Indefinite Continuous Perfect Non-Perfect Active Passive
- •Grammatical categories of participle I
- •General Characteristic of the infinitive
- •Double nature of the infinitive
- •Verbal Features of the Infinitive
- •A: Morphological features
- •B: Syntactical features
- •Nominal features of the Infinitive
- •Other functions of the Infinitive
- •Grammatical categories of the infinitive
- •Forms of infinitive
- •The infinitive as subject
- •1. The infinitive as the subject can either:
- •Part 1
- •Infinitive as predicate
- •The infinitive as predicative
- •Part 1
- •Part 2
- •The infinitive as part of compound verbal modal predicate
- •Part 2
- •The infinitive as part of compound verbal aspect predicate
- •Not all these verbs have the same combinability:
- •To stop
- •Task 15. Use either an infinitive or a gerund or both in the sentences below.
- •Module 2 the infinitive as object
- •To remember, to forget, to regret,
- •To mean
- •To prefer
- •To like
- •To afford
- •To consider
- •To be sorry
- •To be afraid
- •Cannot help
- •Part 1
- •The infinitive as attribute
- •The infinitive as an adverbial modifier
- •1. Adverbial Modifier of Purpose (Manner)
- •Compare
- •2. Adverbial Modifier of Result or Consequence
- •3. Adverbial Modifier of Comparison
- •4. Adverbial Modifier of Subsequent Events
- •5. Adverbial Modifier of Exception
- •6. Adverbial Modifier of Condition
- •7. Adverbial Modifier of Time
- •8. Adverbial Modifier of Attendant Circumstances
- •Part 2
- •Part 2
- •Group 1. Verbs of sense perception
- •Complex Object after these verbs is used in the following way:
- •Completed action
- •Action in progress
- •Complex Object is not used:
- •Translation
- •Group 2. Verbs of mental activity
- •Complex Object after these verbs is used in the following way:
- •Group 3. Verbs of wishes, intentions and emotions
- •Complex Object after these verbs is used in the following way:
- •Group 4. Verbs of inducement
- •Complex Object after these verbs is used in the following way:
- •Bare infinitive
- •Group 5. Verb of reporting and declaring
- •Complex Object after these verbs is used in the following way:
- •Group 6. Verbs denoting order, permission, prohibition and persuasion
- •Complex Object after these verbs is used in the following way:
- •Group 7. Certain phrasal verbs
- •(The infinitive as part of a compound verbal predicate of double orientation)
- •Translation
- •Group 2. Verbs of sense perception
- •Complex Subject after these verbs is used in the following way:
- •Completed action
- •Action in progress
- •Group 3. Verbs of mental activity or perception
- •Complex Subject after these verbs is used in the following way:
- •Group 4. Verbs of reporting
- •Complex Subject after these verbs is used in the following way:
- •Group 6. Phrases with modal meaning
- •Complex Subject after these verbs is used in the following way:
- •Revision of the infinitive
- •Task 67. Paraphrase the sentences below using (if possible) one of the following constructions: a) Complex Object; b) Complex Subject; c) For-to-Infinitive Construction
- •Task 67. Replace the underlined phrases with an appropriate infinitive or infinitive construction.
- •Appendix: verbals
- •Infinitive and gerund
- •Verbs followed immediately by infinitive
- •Verbs followed by either gerund or infinitive without a change in meaning
- •Adjectives followed by infinitive
- •Set expressions used with infinitive
- •IV. Verbs commonly used with the gerund
- •Expressions always used with gerund
- •Verbs with prepositions commonly used with the gerund
- •Set phrases with prepositions commonly used with gerund
- •Gerund after certain nouns with prepositions Preposition ‘of’
- •Preposition ‘at’
- •Preposition ‘for’
- •Preposition ‘in’
- •Miscellaneous Prepositions
- •Gerunds after prepositions
- •Infinitive and gerund used with different meaning to stop
- •To remember, to forget, to regret,
- •To mean
- •To prefer
- •To like
- •To be sorry
- •To be afraid, to dread, to fear
- •To afford
- •To consider
- •To intend
- •To need
- •To advise to allow to recommend
- •To be interested
- •To imagine
- •Cannot help (used to say that it is impossible to avoid or prevent something)
- •Grammar terms glossary
The infinitive as predicative
link verb + infinitive
In this function the infinitive is mostly used after the link verbs ‘to be’ and ‘to mean’, e.g.
Steve’s intention was to solve this problem as soon as possible. = Намерением Стива было решить эту проблему как можно скорее. / Наміром Стива було вирішити цю проблему якомога швидше.
To hesitate means to lose. = Колебаться – значит проиграть. / Коливатися - значить програти
In this function the infinitive is often met after several special nouns used as the subject of the sentence. Their number is limited. The most commonly used nouns are:
action |
custom |
happiness |
need |
reason |
thing |
advice |
difficulty |
hope |
order |
risk |
wish |
aim |
dream |
ideal |
object |
role |
|
ambition |
duty |
idea |
plan |
rule |
|
attempt |
experience |
instruction |
principle |
responsibility |
|
business |
function |
job |
problem |
task |
|
consequence |
habit |
method |
purpose |
target |
|
The best thing was not to argue. = Лучше было не спорить. / Краще було не сперечатися.
Their instruction was not to lose the old man out of sight. = Инструкция была такой – не потерять старика из виду. / Інструкція була такою - не упустити старого з виду.
The problem was to be given further instructions in time. = Проблема состояла в том, чтобы получить дальнейшие инструкции вовремя. / Проблема полягала в тому, щоб одержати подальші інструкції вчасно.
In the function of the predicative infinitive can often be preceded by the connectors how, when, where and what, e.g.
The question is what to do first. = Вопрос состоял в том, что делать сначала. / Питання полягало в тому, що робити спочатку.
The decision to make was where to start looking for the missing children. = Решение, которое нужно было принять – где начинать искать пропавших детей. / Рішення, яке потрібно було прийняти - де починати шукати зниклих дітей.
Not only special nouns but also some other parts of speech can be used as the subject, e.g.
a subject clause, e.g.
|
|
|
совет. / Якнайбільше, що я можу зробити - це дати пораду.
The least you could do is (to) give me her phone number. = Самое меньшее, что ты можешь сделать – это дать мне ее номер телефона. / Найменше, що ти можеш зробити - це дати мені її номер телефону.
All he wanted was to be left alone. = Все, что он хотел – это, чтобы его оставили в покое. / Усе, що він хотів - це, щоб його залишили в спокої.
a gerundial phrase, e.g. Living with Edward was to have a constant nightmare. = Жить с Эдуардом означало жить в постоянном кошмаре. / Жити з Едуардом означало жити в постійному кошмарі.
Note: in this function the infinitive can be used without particle ‘to’.
Infinitive can also perform the function of part of a predicative when the other part is expressed by an adjective. The sentences usually have a passive meaning. The adjectives that are usually used in this function are as follows:
amusing |
comfortable |
easy |
hard |
impossible |
pleasant |
possible |
A true friend is difficult to find. It is the greatest of all blessings. = Верного друга трудно найти. Это самая большая удача. / Вірного друга важко знайти. Це найбільша удача.
Our boss is not easy to persuade. = Нашего начальника трудно убедить. / Нашого начальника важко переконати.
This armchair is comfortable to sit in. = В этом кресле удобно сидеть. / У цьому кріслі зручно сидіти.
The old lady was pleasant to look at. = На старую леди было приятно смотреть. / На стару леді було приємно дивитися.
TASK 10. Write sentences with infinitives in the function of part of predicative using the given words. Add some explanation and translate your sentences into your mother tongue. Follow the example.
Example. film /interesting / to see - This film is interesting to see if you like travel films.
the book / not easy / to find / unless
historical novels / useful / to read
such complicated stories / not easy / to retell/ no plot
the story / not difficult / to read / original
the expedition / easy / to organize
the puppy / pleasant / to look at
our history teacher / hard / to please
the dean of our department / pleasant / to talk to
the room / not comfortable / to live in
the car/dangerous / to drive / too old
the cottage /easy / to build / large blocks
the essay/hard / to write / difficult topic
Peter/impossible / to talk to / impolite
the dictionary / possible / to find / on sale
the child / easy / to influence / gullible
TASK 11. Sort out the sentences below into the corresponding column of the table. One sentence may contain infinitives in different functions. The first one is done for you.
Function |
Number of the sentence |
Subject |
|
Predicate |
|
Predicative |
1, |
The greatest wealth is to live content with little, for there is never a want where the mind is satisfied. (Lucretius)
Our duty is to be useful not according to our desires, but according to our powers.
A true businessman’s absolute fundamental aim is to make money out of satisfying customers.
It is impossible to catch the past.
Diplomacy is to do and say the nastiest things in the nicest way.
To be born in poverty is to be doomed to humiliation.
One's first step in wisdom is to question everything - and one's last is to come to terms with everything.
It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err. (Mahatma Gandhi)
A great secret of success is to go through life as a man who never gets used up. (Albert Schweitzer)
To follow, without halt, one aim: this is the secret of success. (Anna Pavlova)
Why be a man when you can be a success? (Bertolt Brecht)
It is possible to fail in many ways...while to succeed is possible only in one way. (Aristotle)
To love deeply in one direction makes us more loving in all others.
To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are already three parts dead. (Bertrand Russell)
To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.
To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge. (Benjamin Disraeli)
Step 2. Translate the sentences into your mother tongue. Explain how you understand the quotations given above and say whether you agree with them.
TASK 12. Translate into English paying special attention to infinitives in the function of the predicative.