The For-to-Infinitive construction
The For-to-Infinitive construction is a construction in which the Infinitive is in predicate relation to a noun in the Common case or to a pronoun in the objective case preceded by the preposition for.
He waited for me to speak. Он ждал, когда я заговорю.
This construction can be used in all the five functions in the sentence.
In the function of the Subject.
It is necessary for you to do it at once.
Like the Infinitive in the function of the Subject the construction usually stands after the predicate and the sentence is introduced by the introductory subject it.
Note: Still there are cases where the construction stands at the beginning of the sentence.
For the Russians to attack such a big group of the French was a very risky affair. Для русских атаковать такой большой отряд французов было рискованно.
In the function of a Predicate.
The plan was for him to join us in Switzerland.
In the function of an Object after verbs and expressions which take an object with the preposition for - to wait, to ask, to be anxious, etc.
She asks for the documents to be brought.
She is anxious for her son to marry this girl.
In the function of an Attribute.
The plan for him to join us in Switzerland was reasonable.
Note: Like the Infinitive used attributively, the Infinitive in this construction can also acquire modal meaning.
There was no man for her to marry there. Там не было человека, за которого она могла бы выйти замуж.
One of the workers brought a rag for the dog to sleep on. Один из рабочих принес кусок тряпки, чтобы собака могла спать на ней.
In the function of the Adverbial Modifier.
Of result after the adverbs: too, enough, sufficiently.
Molecules are too small for you to see with an eye.
Of purpose.
The territory of the castle was usually very spacious for the peasants to hide in case of an enemy's attack. Территория замка обычно была достаточно просторной, чтобы крестьяне могли укрыться в нем в случае вражеского нападения.
In the function of part of Compound Verbal Modal Predicate with the verb to be.
Whether we shall go to Turkey is for you to decide. Поедем ли мы в Турцию, решать тебе (должен решить ты).
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The use of the Perfect Infinitive after the expressions "to be sorry", "to be glad"
The Perfect Infinitive can be used after the expressions to be sorry, to be glad to denote an action referring to the past when the doer of the action expressed by the Infinitive does not coincide with the person who is the subject of the sentence.
I am sorry not to have followed your advice. Я сожалею, что не последовал вашему совету.
I am glad to have followed your advice. Я рад, что последовал вашему совету.
I am glad that he followed my advice.
The use of the bare Infinitive
The bare Infinitive is used in the following cases:
After most of modal verbs.
He must have told them about it.
In the Objective-with-the-Infinitive construction after verbs of sense perception.
I head her type in the next room.
Note: the verb to be after the verb to feel is used with the participle to.
I felt him to be drunk.
After the expressions had better, would rather, would sooner, nothing but, cannot but.
You had better tell them everything.
I would rather not to tell them anything.
I would sooner die than marry him.
They do nothing but quarrel from morning till night.
I could not but tell her about it.
After auxiliary verbs and mood auxiliaries.
He will join us on Saturday.
If he were here now, he would help us.
After the verb to make in the meaning of заставлять.
She made him have a cup of tea.
After the verb to let.
Let me tell you everything.
After the verb to help.
There is a new trend and the to-Infinitive can be used here alongside with the bare Infinitive.
Let me help you carry this heavy bag.
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