name

meaning

derivation

Grammar form

Combinabi-lity in phrases

Function in the sentence

verb

process

-ise, -ate, -ute, -er, -erve, etc

Mood, voice, person, number, aspect, tense

Noun, adverb, adjective, pronoun

predicate

Verbals

The various forms that a verb can take fall into two main divisions: finite and

non-finite (verbals). The latter are the infinitive (to discuss), the gerund

(discussing), participle I (discussing), participle II (discussed).

General characteristics: a) non-finite forms possess the categories of voice,

perfect and aspect; b) non-finites are not restricted in number and person by any

grammatical subject; c) they combine the characteristics of a verb with those of

some other part of speech; d) verbals cannot form a predicate by themselves but

they can function as part of a compound verbal predicate: She suddenly began

to speak; They were caught stealing the jewellery.

All non-finites may be part of the so-called predicative constructions: I

didn’t expect you to come; He found her crying bitterly; I had the piano tuned.

I. Infinitive

The infinitive names a process in a most general way. It combines verbal

features (morphological and syntactical) with those of the noun.

Split infinitive

In all its forms and functions the infinitive has a special marker, the particle to.

It is occasionally separated from the infinitive by some other words, more often

an adverb or emphatic particles: They were seen to just touch each other’s

hands.

This separation is acceptable only to give special emphasis to the verb.

Bare infinitive

The infinitive is used without to in the following cases:

 after auxiliary verbs;

 after modal verbs (except ought to, have to, be to) and modal expressions

had better, would rather, would sooner: She’d sooner die than forgive;

 after verbs of sense perception (see, hear, feel, watch, notice, observe,

listen to, etc.) in the construction Complex Object: I heard him arrive.

However, in passive sentences with these verbs we use a to-infinitive: He was

overheard to say that he hoped Mike would reject the offer; She was noticed

to hesitate;

 after causative verbs let, make, have (also in the construction Complex

Object): The boss is not going to let me stay; They made me reduce my

expenditures (But! - He was made to rewrite his introduction letter);

 after the verb to know in the meaning “to experience, to observe” (usually

used in the perfect form): Have you ever known him tell a lie?;

 after phrases with but (cannot but, do anything but, do nothing but,

couldn’t but): He cannot but accept it;5

 in “why-not” sentences: Why not let me help you?;

 if two infinitives are joined by ‘and’ or ‘or’, the to of the second infinitive

can be omitted: I want to call Mr Smith and fax or send him a message.

Remember fairly idiomatic phrases: hear tell, make believe, and let (it) slip:

I never heard tell of it! (= was never told/ had no idea); He made believe that

he had settled everything himself (= pretended); She let (it) slip that she's

getting married (= said it unintentionally).

Notice also the phrases make do and let go: Mary borrowed my trendy

summer dress, so I had to make do with the old one (it wasn't the one I

wanted); Let go of my hand! (relax grip on).

To-infinitive

Remember the verbs after which the to-infinitive is used:

 (can/can’t) afford, agree, aim, appear, arrange, ask, claim, consent,

decide, decline, demand, expect, fail, hesitate, hope, hurry, learn, manage,

offer, plan, prepare, pretend, promise, refuse, seem, tend, threaten, volunteer,

want, wish, etc.: He threatened to dismiss the strike leader; The shop refused

to accept the customer’s credit card;

 would like, would love, would prefer (to express specific

preference): I’d love to live in a more spacious apartment.

Some verbs may be followed either by a to-infinitive or an object + toinfinitive: I prefer to cook/ I prefer you to cook (= you do the cooking).

Other verbs like this include can bear (in negative sentences and in

questions), need, hate, help, like, love, want, wish.

Notice that after help we can use either a to-infinitive or bare infinitive: He

helped me (to) net a handsome profit.

 The to-infinitive is also used after certain nouns: What a surprise to see

him there! It’s a great chance to talk to him; after too/enough constructions: I

was foolish enough to believe her; with ‘it + be + adjective + of’: It was nice of

Joe to congratulate us on our anniversary (see Syntactic functions).

Repetition of the particle to

For the sake of emphasis or contrast the particle to may be repeated before each

of the infinitives: It’s such a delight, you know, to go into the field and to pick

up a sweet spring flower!

The particle to is sometimes used without any infinitive if the latter is clearly

understood from the previous context: You can stay if you want to! It is

common after the verbs to want, wish, mean, try, allow, be going, ought, have

(as a modal verb), should (would) like.