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§ 29. The functions of the Infinitive in the sentence.

The Infinitive can be used in different syntactic functions. A single Infinitive occurs but seldom: in most cases we find an infinitive phrase, i. e. an infinitive with one or several accompanying words.

1. The Infinitive as a subject. The to- Infinitive is but seldom used in this function:

To send him that letter was a mistake.

To fulfil this condition was out of my power.

The Infinitive as a subject can be rendered in Russian by an infinitive, by a noun, or by a clause.

Much more frequent is the case to use the to- Infinitive as a subject beginning the sentence with it (the introductory it). The introductory it is not translated into Russian.

It isn’t expensive to play tennis in England.

В Англии играть в теннис недорого.

It is useless to discuss the question. (Eliot)

Бесполезно обсуждать этот вопрос.

It was pleasant to be driving a car again. (Braine)

Было приятно снова вести машину.

2. The Infinitive as a predicative.

He’s greatest wish was to tell her everything.

Самым большим его желанием было рассказать ей все.

My intention is to get into parliament. (Trollops)

Моя цель—пройти в парламент.

The Infinitive can also be used as part of a predicative.

This book is hard to get.

Эту книгу трудно достать.

The abode of Mrs. Betty was not easy to find. (Dickens)

Жилище миссис Бетти было нелегко найти.

3. The Infinitive as part of a compound verbal predicate.

a) after modal verbs, modal expressions, and verbs expressing modality the Infinitive forms part of a compound verbal modal predicate.

She must speak now or not at all. (Cronin)

Она должна говорить сейчас или не говорить вообще.

Is there a stream where we could bathe?

Здесь есть ручей, где мы могли бы искупаться?

I intend to lead a better life in the future. (Wilde)

Я намереваюсь в будущем жить лучше.

He wanted to tell her of the incident, longed to end their period of strife.

Он хотел рассказать ей о том, что случилось, хотел положить конец периоду их взаимного отчуждения.

b) With verbs denoting the beginning, duration, or end of an action the Infinitive forms part of a compound verbal aspect predicate.

Imprisonment began to tell upon him. (Dickens)

Before daylight it started to drizzle. (Hemingway)

Clare continued to observe her. (Hardy)

... they gradually ceased to talk. (Twain)

4. The Infinitive as an object is found after the verbs: to agree, to arrange, to ask (to request), to decide, to deserve, to expect, to fail, to forget, to hate, to help, to learn, to like, to manage etc.

The man agreed to serve as a witness.

Мужчина согласился быть свидетелем.

He never said a word about what he planned to do.

The Infinitive used as an object can be preceded by the introductory object it. The introductory object it is not translated into Russian.

He found it utterly impossible to leave the spot. (Hardy)

Он считал совершенно невозможным покинуть это место.

5. The Infinitive as part of a complex object.

Old Jolyon saw his brother’s face change. (Galsworthy)

Старый Джолион видел, как изменилось лицо его брата.

I never saw you act this way before. (Dreiser)

Я никогда раньше не видел, чтобы вы так поступали.

(A detailed treatment of the Infinitive used as part of a complex object is further.)

6. The Infinitive as an attribute in English modifies both abstract and class nouns, indefinite pronouns (somebody, something, anybody, anything etc.), ordinal numerals and the adjective last.

The Infinitive as an attribute is rendered in Russian by an infinitive (chiefly after abstract nouns), by a subordinate clause or by a finite verb serving as the predicate of a simple sentence (after ordinal numerals and the adjective last).

He was always the first to enter the dining- room and the last to

leave it. (Mansfield)

Он всегда первым входил в столовую и последним покидал ее.

I have not had time to examine this room yet. (Conan Doyle)

У меня еще не было времени осмотреть эту комнату

I have nobody to say a kind word to me. (Trollope)

У меня нет никого, кто сказал бы мне доброе слово.

The Infinitive used as an attribute often has a modal force, it expresses an action thought of as obligatory or possible.

It is the only thing to do.

Это единственное, что надо сделать.

I’ll buy you some magazines to read on the journey.

Я куплю тебе несколько журналов, которые можно почитать в пути.

It is not a chance to be missed.

Этот случай нельзя упустить.

7. The Infinitive as an adverbial modifier.

a) The Infinitive can be an adverbial modifier of purpose.

I dressed and went out to buy the morning paper.

Я оделся и вышел, чтобы купить утреннюю газету.

Laws were not made to be broken, laws were made to stay within.

Законы были созданы не для того, чтобы их нарушать, а для того, чтобы им подчиняться.

The Infinitive as an adverbial modifier of purpose can be introduced by in order and so as.

We slid into the river and had a swim, so as to freshen up and

cool off.

Мы бросились в реку и искупались, чтобы освежиться и охладиться.

Sometimes you retreat in order to advance. (Heym)

Иногда отступают для того, чтобы вновь перейти в наступление.

b) The Infinitive can be used as an adverbial modifier of result. This chiefly occurs after adjectives or adverbs modified by the adverbs enough and too.

It was dark enough to get lost.

Было достаточно темно, чтобы заблудиться.

I know him well enough to judge.

Я знаю его достаточно хорошо, чтобы судить о нем.

I was too busy to see anyone.(Witson)

Я был так занят, что не мог ни с кем встречаться.

The Infinitive as an adverbial modifier of result is also to be found in sentences of the following type:

His tone was such as to allow no contradiction.

Тон его не допускал возражений.

He was so weak as to be unable to work.

Он был так слаб, что не мог работать.

c) The Infinitive can be an adverbial modifier of comparison (manner); in most cases with an additional meaning of purpose. In this function it is introduced by the conjunctions as if or as though.

She smiled mockingly and turned away, as though to go out.

Она насмешливо улыбнулась и отвернулась, как будто хотела выйти.

She nervously moved her hand towards his lips as if to stop him.

Она нервно протянула руку к его губам, как будто хотела остановить его.

d) The Infinitive can be used as an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances.

She was driven away, never to revisit this neighbourhood. (Ch. Bronte)

Она была вынуждена уехать и больше не вернулась в эти места.

I am sorry to have raised your expectations, Mr. Blake, only to disappoint them. (Collins)

Мне очень жаль, что я пробудил в вас надежду, мистер Блейк, только для того, чтобы затем отнять ее.

Note. Some grammarians maintain that in sentences of this type the infinitive performs the function of an adverbial modifier of result (consequence).

8. The Infinitive as parenthesis.

To tell the truth, I’m sick and tired of this nonsense.

По правде говоря, я до смерти устал от этой глупости.

To put it mildly, she’s just a bit curious.

Мягко говоря, она несколько любопытна.

Well, to cut a long story short, they thought it would be more economical to live at the villa. (Maugham)

Короче говоря, они решили, что будет дешевле жить на вилле.

Не was rude, to say the least of it.

Он был груб, чтобы не сказать больше.