Grammar Sources Lesson 10

1. Функция инфинитива-обстоятельство цели:

http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/infinitivephrase.htm

2. Функции инфинитива на английском

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/5-uses-of-infinitives/

3. Инфинитив как подлежащее

http://www.english-for-students.com/Infinitive.html

4. Функции инфинитива на английском

http://ocelot.nnz-home.net/english/index.php/grammar/nff/inf/65-the-functions-of-the-infinitive

The functions of the Infinitive

1. The Infinitive as the Subject.

When the Infinitive is used as the Subject, it is usually placed after the predicate and the sentence is introduced by the introductory it.

It is very hard to work under such conditions.

However the Infinitive in this function can occur at the beginning of the sentence too.

To collect all this information for such a short period of time would be completely impossible!

2. The Infinitive can be used as a part of the Compound Predicate.

   1. Part of the Compound Nominal Predicate.

The plan was to go the dean.

Note: There is an interesting model where both the subject and the predicate are expressed by the Infinitive.

To love is to believe.

To know is to understand.

2. Part of the Compound Verbal Modal Predicate

You should have told me about it yesterday.

3. Part of the Compound Verbal Aspect Predicate.

She began to cry.

3. The Infinitive used as an object.

I hate to ask people such questions.

Note: Sometimes the introductory object it is used.

He found it difficult to spot her in the crowd.  Он обнаружил, что найти ее в толпе очень сложно.

4. The Infinitive can be used as an attribute.

The captain was the last to leave the ship

Notes:

1. The Infinitive is used attributively often acquires some modal meaning - the meaning of obligation or that of possibility.

This is a book to read before going to bed.  Это книга, которую можно читать перед сном.

She gave him some documents to be signed immediately.  Она дала ему документы на подпись, которые надо было немедленно подписать.

He is not a man to make a woman happy.  Он не тот человек, который может сделать женщину счастливой.

2. When the meaning is passive, the active form of the Infinitive is often used instead of the passive one here.

There is no time to be lost = There is no time to lose.  Нельзя терять время.

5. The Infinitive can be used as an adverbial modifier.

   1. Adverbial modifier of purpose, often with the conjunctions in order and so as, especially when the meaning is negative.

She put on her coat in order not to catch cold.

2. Adverbial modifier of result after the adverbs too, enough and sufficiently.

Molecules are too small to see with an eye.  Молекулы слишком малы, чтобы их можно было увидеть невооруженным взглядом.

3. Adverbial modifier of comparison with conjunctions as if, as thought.

She began to talk loudly as if to show that she was not upset.

4. Adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances.

An astronaut leaves the Earth and returns fifty years later to find his twin-brother quite an old man while he is still in the prime of his life.  Астронавт покидает Землю и возвращается через 50 лет, при этом находит брата близнеца стариком, при этом он сам в расцвете жизни...

6. The Infinitive can be used as parenthesis - to tell the truth, to begin with, to sum up, etc.

To begin with we have not enough money to buy it.  Начнем с того, что у нас недостаточно денег, чтобы это купить.

7. When used in the Objective-with-the-Infinitive construction, the Infinitive performs the function of part of a Complex Object.

I saw him cross the street.

8. When used with the Nominative-with-the-Infinitive construction the Infinitive performs the function of part of the Compound Verbal Modal Predicate of special type (without modal verb).

He is sure to be waiting for us.

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