The functions of the infinitive in the sentence
The Infinitive can be in different syntactic functions:
The Infinitive as a subject: To live means to create.
Though the infinitive as the subject sometimes precedes the predicate, cases when it follows the predicate are more common. Then the sentence begins with the introductory “it”, which serves as an introductory subject.
It is important to do it now. It is useless to discuss the question.
a) the Infinitive as a predicative:
Our intention was to help you. All we can do is to wait.
a) The Infinitive as part of a compound verbal modal predicate.
You can do it without my help. The train was to leave at midnight.
b) As a part of a compound aspect predicate ( to begin, to start, to continue)
They began to discuss the question.
The Infinitive as an object.
We find it after the following verbs: to agree, to arrange, to decide, to expect, to fail, to help, to hope, to pretend, to manage, to refuse, to want and some others.
They arranged to visit him the next day. He refused to see me. She asked me to wait a little.
the infinitive as an object is used after modal phrases “can afford” and “can bear” in their negative and interrogative forms and after the set-phrases to “make up one’s mind”, “to take care”, “to take the trouble”, “to make sure”.
We can’t afford to buy a car. He took care to buy some food.
after to allow, to ask, to order, to beg, to refuse, to teach, to instruct we often find two objects one is the inf: He asked me to walk in.
With introductory “it”: He found it impossible to leave the place.
The Infinitive as part of a Complex Object. I never saw you act this way before. He wants this article to be translated at once.
The Infinitive as part of a Complex Subject.
He was seen to come into the room.
I happened to meet him at the theatre.
The Infinitive as an attribute (after abstract nouns, indefinite pronouns [somebody, much, little, a lot], ordinal numerals, adjective “last”): It is a nice place to live in. Here is the article to he typed at once. Here is real1y nothing to worry about. He was always the last to see a joke.
The Infinitive as an adverbial modifier.
Of purpose (in order, so as) I’ve come here to talk with you. He stopped to smoke.
Of result or consequence (especially after enough, too) She knew French well enough to read hooks. I’m too tired to go there.
Of unexpected consequence or result. He awoke one morning to find himself famous.
9). The Infinitive as a parenthesis.
To be frank, I don’t like him at all.
COMPLEXES WITH THE INFINITIVE
Complex Object
Is a synthetic construction which consists of a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the objective case and an infinitive. It is a construction in which the infinitive is in predicate relation to a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the objective case. In the sentence this construction has the function of a complex object. It is rendered in Russian by an object clause.
Complex Objectis used in the following cases:
After verbs of sense perception to see, to hear, to feel, to watch, to observe, to notice I felt something touch my hand. No one has ever heard her cry.
!!!NOTE!!!: If the verb “to see” is used in the meaning “to realize”, or the verb “to hear” in the meaning “to learn” Complex Object cannot be used. Here a subordinate object clause is used.
I saw that he didn’t know anything. I hear that he left for the South last week.
After verbs of mental activity to think, to believe, to consider, to suppose. to find, to feel (to consider), to mean, to understand. I knew him to be a clever boy. I don‘t expect this fine weather to continue.
!!!NOTE!!!: If the action of the finite verb and that of the infinitive refer to the same person or thing a corresponding reflexive pronoun must be used. He declared himself to be their leader. I considered myself to be right.
After the verbs of mental activity the perfect infinitive is used but seldom.
The doctor found his heart to have stopped two hours before.
After verbs expressing liking or disliking: to want, to wish, to desire, to like, to dislike, to hate, to would like, cannot bear.
He wants you to wait here. I dislike you to talk like that.
Here the Passive Infinitive may be used. I wish the work to be done in time. He hated the window to be closed.
after verbs expressing order, permissions, request: to allow, to permit, to order, to command The doctor permitted the room to be aired He ordered the letter to he sent at once.
Here Complex Object is used only if the object is expressed by a noun or pronoun denoting a lifeless thing or when the infinitive is passive. She never allowed the name of John Smith to pass her lips. He ordered the boat to be discharged.
After verbs expressing inducement or compulsion: to let, to have, to make(without “to”), to get (with “to”)
I won’t have you speak like that. She made me obey her.
After certain verbs requiring a prepositional object: to count (up)on, to rely (up)on, to look for, to wait for, to listen to (without “to”) I rely on you to come in time. He was looking for somebody to help him He was listening to the chairman speak.
COMPLEX SUBJECT
is a construction in which the inf. is in predicate relation to a noun in the Common case or a pronoun in the Nominative case.
My sister is said to resemble me. He was seen to do it.