Bare Infinitive

The Infinitive is used in some instances without the particle "to". These are:

1. After the auxiliry and modal verbs: "shall", "will", "may", "can", "must", "should", "would", "might", "could", "do". Note: "to" is used in "ought to", "be to", "have to". 2. After some verbs expressing physical perceptions: "to see", "to hear", "to feel", "to perceive", "to smell", "to taste" when forming "the com- plex object".

I heard him repeat it several times.

If the verbs express mental perceptions, "to" is used before the infinitive. I felt him to be an honest man.

Note: the particle "to" turns up in the "Complex Subject" with the verb in the passive voice.

3. After the verbs: 'to watch", "to notice", 'to observe", "to let", "to make", "to bid", and the expression "I won't have".

a) Let us examine all the facts.

b) I won't have you say such things. Note: in the passive voice the particle "to" is remaining. He was made to come.

4. After the verb "to know" in the meaning of "to experience", "to ob serve". Have you ever known me tell a lie?

5. After the verb "to help". , Please, help me translate the text.

6. After the following expressions: "had better", "had best", "would have", "would rather (… than),” “would sooner (… than)”, "cannot but (can't but) ”, “does nothing but …”, “need scarcely (only, hardly)”.

1. I need scarcely tell you how important it is.

2. I cannot but be surprised at what you say.

7. In interrogative infinitive sentences beginning with "why", "why not". Why not start earlier? •

The Particle "to" Repeated

When there are several infinitives with the same or similar function "to" is put only before the first infinitive. But if emphasis or contrast is intended, "to" is repeated before each infinitive. .

a) It was better to die than to be defeated. b) To be or not to be - that is the question (Shakespeare).

"To" as a verb substitute

In colloquial speech the particle "to" is often used without the infinitive, it implies the verb already mentioned, which is clearly understood from the pre- ceding context. This construction is used with verbs expressing actions.

a) He hadn't wanted to laugh then, nor did he want to now.

b) Well, let's forget it, shall we? - I'm glad to; thanks very much.

Split Infinitive

The particle "to" is sometimes separated from the infinitive by an adverb this construction is called a "Split Infinitive".

a) He was unable, however, to long keep silence (Galsworthy). b) Tom went to the door and began to softly lift the latch.

References: Ganshina M., Vasilevskaya N. English Grammar. 7-th ed. - .: Foreign languages Publishing House, 1954 P. 210-215.

THE INFINITIVE. FORMS.

Transitive verbs have got six forms of the Infinitive, while intransitive have got but four, which can be seen from the table.

Forms		Verbs Transitive
		The Active Voice	The Passive Voice
Non-perfect (Indefinite)		to write	to be written
Continuous		to be writing
Perfect		to have written	to have been written
Forms	Verbs Transitive
	The Active Voice
Non-perfect (Indefinite)	to come
Continuous	to be coming
Perfect	to have come
Perfect Continuous	to have been coming

As is seen from the table infinitive has tense, aspect and voice distinctions.

The non-perfect (indefinite) Infinitive gives a general name of the action, or else indicates that the action expressed by the infinitive is simultaneous with the action of the finite form of the verb in the sentence.

To read books is useful.

For him to go there is necessary.

I know him to be a very good doctor.

In constructions with the present tense of such verbs as "to expect", "to hope", "to intend", "to want" the non-perfect infinitive refers the action to the future.

I hope to see you again in a few days.

Continuous Infinitive expresses a present action in the process. It is unbelivable for him to be sleeping now. He seems to be working now.

Perfect Infinitive shows that the action expressed by the infinitive pre cedes the action indicated by the finite form of the verb.

I know him to have been a very good doctor. I am glad to have taken your advice. I am sorry not to have been present at the meeting. He seems to have read it before.

After the past tense of verbs expressing hope, expectation, intention the perfect infinitive is used to indicate that the action was not carried out,

He hoped to have come.

I huite expected you to have been here before six o'clock.

Perfect Continuous infinitive is used to speak of an action going on for some time up to the moment in the present or past (length of time till a present or past moment).

It is unbelievable for him to have been working since morning.

He seemed to have been sleeping for ten hours.

Passive Infinitive shows that the doer of the action is different from that of the finite verb.

I am glad to have been given that advice.

Exercises

1. Say ard define the forms of the following infinitives: to ask, to be writing, to have said, to be playing, to row, to have dyed, to have been changed, to have had, to be having, to have been walking, to be suf fering, to have been made, to go, to have written, to have thought, to have changed, to be smiling, to be made up, to be sitting, to have failed.

2. Transform the following infinitives from non-perfect to continuous: to work, to play, to write, to come, to think, to walk, to taxi, to climb, to dye, to do, to cut, to lie, to rest, to sit, to record.

3. Transform the following infinitives from non-perfect to perfect: tp ski, to skate, to rest, to work, to live, to paint, to climb, to pack, to go, to fall, to see, to draw, to dance, to read.

4. Transform the following infinitives from non-perfect to perfect continuous:

to look, to study, to sing, to translate, to dance, to wait, to think, to swim, to travel, to do, to walk, to listen

5. Transform from active to passive:

to write, to read, to study, to draw, to paint, to build, to do, to make,to wash, to clean, to dye, to pronounce, to translate, to correct.

to have written, to have read, to have studied, to have drawn, to have painted, to have built, to have done, to have made, to have washed, to have cleaned, to have dyed, to have pronounced, to have translated, to have corrected.

6. Supply the missing forms of the following infinitives: to have been done, to be spoken to, to curl, to be breaking, to have nodded, to drive, to be ruined, to be rubbing, to land, to turn, to have been sleeping, to be got, to be running, to have been read, to be said, to arrive, to be telling, to

7. Comment on the forms of the infinitives:

1) Lady Franklin was horrified at herself. To have asked his name, and to have forgotten it! 2) She seemed to be paying no attention to what was going round her. 3) Good-Bye, Mr. Jacuson. Glad to have been of service to you. 4) There are a great many things to be taken into consideration. 5) Judging from the books and papers on the writing-table be must have been working since they left him in the morning. 6) "we are very sorry to have disturbed you", began Peter. 7) Т о have been so happy and not to have known it! 8) There was no thing to be done, but to wait for the next express, which was due at four.

FUNCTIONS

1.The Infinitive can function in the sentence as its subject.

E.g. To smoke is harmful.

Курить вредно (курение вредно).

2. If the predicate expresses the appraisal of the action named by the subject the latter (an infinitive or an infinitive phrase) is placed after the predicate. Then the sentence begins with it.

It is surprising for him to smoke. Удивительно, что он курит.

It is essential to attend this meeting.

Важно, чтобы это собрание посетили. Важно присутствовать на этом собрании.

The infinitive and infinitive phrases are used after: it is necessary to …; it is important to; it is good (better) to…; it is bad (worse) to; it is useless to; it is not much use to; it is little use to; it is impossible to; it is quite possible to; it is quite natural to; it is difficult to; it is easy to; it is surprising; it is wonderful.

Also after: it was a joy, it was such a pleasure, it was a miracle, it’ll be a disappointment, it was guite a surprise, it will be a pity, it was a relief.

Exercises

1. Translate into Russian.

To know London is to know the contrasts of a big city.

Surely it is not at all necessary to go into details.

It is a great pleasure to make your acquaintance.

To know all is to forgive all (Priestly).

It must be awful to have a brilliant future behind you.

It was a relief for the storm to have died down by noon.

It had been a delight for us to have Mrs.Clay among the guests

It will be a pity to leave them so soon.

It was a wonder for the road to have been paved so quickly.

It's wonderful to be bathing in the calm sea.

It's most annoying to have a toothache.

It isn't wholesome to smoke.

It is easy to be charming at twenty

NOMINATIVE WITH THE INFINITIVE (COMPLEX SUBJECT)

The girl was seen to leave the house

The girl to leave is said to be Complex Subject to the predicate “ was seen”

It is used:

a) with verbs expressing permission, request, order:

"to allow", “o permit", "to suffer", "to order", "to command" "to compel", "to force", "to make", "to request".

They were requested to be ready by 7 o'clock.

b) with verbs expressing perception of the senses:

"to hear", "to see", "to feel". He was heard to repeat those words several times

c) with verbs of mental perceptions: to declare, to deny, to prove, to know, to meen, to believe, to expect.

He was known to be a capable student.

d) with verbs of saying and reporting:

"to say", "to report".

She is said to be a very good student.

e) with verbs:

"to seem", "to appear", "to prove", “to happen", "to chance' Note: the predicate is in the active voice.

She seems to know the subject thoroughly.

The same information can be conveyed by sentences with the anticipatory

It is said that he is a good student.

Translation

"The Nominative-with-the-Infinitive" is usually rendered by a subordinate object clause depending on the principal clause, whose subject is an indefinite- personal sentence.

He is said to be very ill. Говорят, что он очень болен

Exercises 1. Translate the sentences into Russian. She didn't seem to notice his unfriendly tone. The number to which I had been directed turned out to be a house standing

a little by itself, with its back to the river. "He appears to be asleep, my lady,"-said the butler. Lady Franklin seemed to expect an answer. The boy was made to repeat his story twice. He is said to have been a sailor in his youth. You're not likely to keep us company, Jim, are you? 1 happen to know that he was supposed to come to the wedding (Salinger)

He appeared to be a man of considerable wealth, and was reputed to be a bachelor (Doyle).

1 happen to be pretty comfortably placed (Snow).

He's thought to be lucky to have gone as far as this (Snow).

The delay didn't seem to affect him (Salinger).

2. Translate into English.

Кажется, вы расстроены. Что-нибудь случилось?

Оказывается, он ничего об этом не слышал.

Его заставили обратиться к врачу.

Ожидается, что зима в этом году будет суровая.

Они наверняка поженятся.

Маловероятно, что он выздоровеет к понедельнику.

Детям не позволяли играть со спичками.

Оказалось, что мы уже знакомы.

Полагают, что поэма «Беовульф» была написана в VIII веке.

Вальтер Скотт считается создателем исторического романа.

Он, по-видимому, хорошо знает английский язык; наверное, он изу- чал его в детстве.

Я случайно знаю номер его телефона.

Он оказался хорошим спортсменом. Шум, казалось, все приближался.

Он, кажется, пишет новую статью; кажется, он работает над ней уже две недели.

Его статья, несомненно, будет напечатана.

Я случайно встретил его в Москве. Говорят, что это здание было построено в XVII веке.

INFINITIVE AS COMPLEMENT

1. Is used to such verbs as; to want, to wish, to cars, to line, to prefer, to chose, to agree, to consent, to promise, to undertake, to mean, to intend, to expect, to decide, to determine, to hope, to try, to attempt, to ask, to beg, to manage, to begin, to forget, to learn, to pretend. Also after: can't bear, can't afford.

She intends to start immediately.

I wanted to call you up, but my telephone was out of order

2. To such adjectives and adjectivized participles, as able, unable, certain, sure, lively, willing, unwilling, inclined, disinclined, worthy, eager, anxious, sorry, glad, content, delighted, afraid, impatient, fix, pleasant, unpleasant, ect.

I am sorry to have disturbed you.

She is ready to help us.

He is quite willing to do that work.

He is unfit to do that work.

I am eager to hear your story.

I am delighted to see you well again.

We are anxious to know the result of your experiment

I feel half inclined to do that.

3. Special attention should be drawn to instances like:

The question is hard to solve. Jemma was pleasant to look at

Remember some of the combinations of A + V (to) used after the link- verb BE: easy to deal with, difficult to understand, pleasant to look at, hard to please, useful to remember, amusing to watch, easy to answer, uncomfortable to sit on, easy to follow, difficult to avoid, pleasant to talk to, not far to seen, not easy to find.

2. Paraphrase the following sentences, making the object of the infinitive the subject of the sentence.

Model : It is hard to please him. - He is hard to please.

It is pleasant to look at her. - She is pleasant to look at

ACCUSATIVE WITH THE INFINITIVE (COMPLEX OBJECT)

Some transitive verbs are followed by an object with an infinitive attached

to it.

I see the boy run

The construction is used:

a) with verbs of sense perception and observation: to hear, to feel, to see, to notice, to observe, to watch.

Note: when “to see", "to hear" are the verbs of mental perception they cannot be followed by complex object.

b) with verbs of permission, request, order: to allow, to permit, to let, to suffer, to order, to command, to compel, to force, to cause, to make, to induce, to persuade, to request, to get, etc.

The doctor recommended the room to be aired

c) with verbs of liking or disliking: to want, to wish, to desire, to like, to

hate, etc. Also after "I won't have…”.

You know I hate you to talk about that I wont have you do such things.

d) with verbs of mental perceptions: to declare, to deny, to prove, to know, to believe, to mean, to acknowledge, to understand, to admit, to assume, etc.

I didn't mean you to hear what I said.

He knew himself to be old, yet he felt young.

Some verbs are followed by a prepositional "Accusative-with-the- infinitive", e.g. "to wait", "to rely", 'to listen". We waited for the river to open.

Translate into Russian.

1. The "Accusative-with-the-infinitive" is rendered in Russian by a Sub ordinate Object clause.

I want him to come as soon as possible.

Я хочу, чтобы он пришел как можно скорее.

2. With the verbs of order and request the construction is translated by a noun in the dative or accusative case and an infinitive (if the English Infinitive is in the Active Voice).

I asked him to wait. Я попросила его подождать.

I advise you to stay at home. Я советую Вам остаться дома

3. When the English construction comprises an infinitive in the Passive Voice, it is rendered in Russian by means of a subordinate object clause.

He ordered the door to be locked.

Он приказал, чтобы дверь была заперта