For the formation of many designs, the infinitive is used. This is a verb that can act as a subject, complement, complement, second complement, definition or attribute. He can stand both in active voice and in passive voice. In addition, it assumes a passive meaning not lexically, but purely logically. So, infinitive - what is it? The following are cases of use with examples and translations. But keep in mind that the translation does not reflect the essence and logic of the English syntax, and may be confusing at some points.
First, let's deal with some terms.
- Bare Infinitive - the basic infinitive, or basic form (basic form).
- To-infinitive - 'to'-infinitive, or simply infinitive. Basic form with a 'to' particle.
- Transitive / Intransitive verb - transitive / intransitive verb. Transitional action may extend to another verb, and it cannot be considered as meaningful.
- Complement - complement, semantic part of a compound verb-predicate.
- Predicative expression - a predicate, a nominal part of a compound nominal predicate.
- Subject - the subject, the main predicate agrument, which in Russian syntax is usually called the subject.
- Object - an object, the secondary argument of the predicate, which in Russian grammar is usually referred to as addition.
- Attribute - a sign of a noun, which in Russian grammar is usually called a definition.
- Modifier - a sign, that is, a sign in a broader sense. A word that modifies another word.
- Participle I, or Present Participle - participle I or present participle (one form of the verb).
- Participle II, or Past Participle - participle II or past participle (one form of the verb).
- Elleptic sentence is a short sentence in which some members are omitted. Omitted members can be grammatically restored in a sentence, that is, the syntax is correct, but not fully displayed. Implied word order complies with the rules.
Forms
The infinitive has 8 forms, corresponding to four aspects - indefinite, lasting, completed, completed, lasting and two pledges - active and passive. The simple form is the indefinite aspect of the active voice.
Using infinitive without 'to' (basic form, bare infinitive)
The basic infinitive is the verb that is indicated in the first column of the irregular verb table.
Complementing the meaningless verb 'do' in negatives, questions, and other variants of 'do'-support.
Do you want to go home? / Do you want to go home?
Please do not laugh./Please do not laugh.
Complementing will (shall) and would (should) in the future tense and conditional constructs.
The cat will come home.
We should appreciate an answer at your earliest convenience./ We must recognize the answer as your original benefit.
In a more general sense, the basic infinitive is a continuation of any modal (can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would, rather, etc.) and semi-modal verbs dare and need.
I can speak Swedish. I can speak Swedish.
Need you use so much flour? / Do you really need to use so many colors?
I dare say he will be back./ I dare say that he will return.
After had better.
You had better give back that telephone./ It would be better for you to return this phone.
As a second compliment of the verbs let, let's, make, have, referring to the first (addition).
That made me laugh./This made me laugh. Compare with I was made to laugh. I was laughed at where to-infinitive is used.
We let them leave./ We let them go.
Let's play Monopoly! / Let's play a monopoly!
I had him look at my car./ They looked at my car.
As the second or only addition to the verb help.
This proposal will help (to) balance the budget./This step will help align your budget.
Can you help me (to) get over this wall? / Can you help me get over this wall?
Being the second compliment of verbs of perception such as see, hear, feel, etc., it can be used in the present indefinite time, but if it is not about an event, but about the general order of things.
We saw him try to escape./ We saw how he tried to escape.
She felt him breathe on her neck./ She felt his breath on her cheek.
Performs the function of the nominal part of the predicate in pseudo-split sentences.
What I did was tie the rope to the beam./ What I did was tie the rope to the beam.
What you should do is invite her round for dinner./ What you need to do is invite her to dinner.
After the verb why in short sentences.
Why bother? / Why so gloomy?
The use of the infinitive
'To'-infinitive is a form that is used to quote English verbs.
How do we conjugate the verb to go? / How do we conjugate the verb "go"?
To translate foreign verbs.
The French word boire means 'to drink' ./ The French word "boire" means "drink."
As a continuation of the modal and semi-modal verbs ought (to) and used (to).
We ought to do that now./ We must do it now.
I used to play outside every day when I was a child./ I played on the street every day when I was a child.
As a continuation of many other transitive verbs, including need, dare, want, expect, try, hope, agree, refuse, etc. In this case, as a rule, they appeal to the subject, or to the logical subject.
I need to get to a telephone./ I need to get to the phone.
Try not to make so many mistakes./ Try not to make so many mistakes.
They refused to assist us./ They refused to serve us.
In the position of the secondary continuation of transitive verbs. Here they usually appeal to complement or logical complement.
I want him to be promoted.
He expects his brother to arrive this week. He is waiting for his brother next week.
As a circumstance expressing a goal, purpose, or some effect and result.
I came here to listen to what you have to say./ I'm here to hear what you say.
They cut the fence to gain access to the site. / They removed the protection to get to the site.
She scored three quick goals to level the score./ She scored three quick goals and widened the gap.
Sometimes an infinitive is a subject or predicate.
To live is to suffer./Living means suffering.
For them to be with us in this time of crisis is evidence of their friendship./ For them to be with us in this difficult time is to testify to your friendship.
As a logical substitution (post-disclosure) of the fictitious subject it.
It is nice to live here./ It's great to live here.
It makes me happy to feed my animals./ Feeding my animals makes me happy.
Separately, in some exclamations and established phrases (idiomic turns), where it affects the quality of the whole sentence as a whole, that is, it plays the role of an introductory construction.
Oh, to be in England ... / Oh, in England ...
To think that he used to call me sister./ Just think he called me sister.
To be honest, I don't think you have a chance ./ To be honest, I don't think you have a chance.
In some other well-established expressions, such as in order to, so as to, as if to, about to, have to, am to, is to, were to.
We are to demolish this building./We are going to demolish this building.
He smiled as if to acknowledge his acquiescence. / He smiled as if recognizing his consent.
In short sentences, where the subject is not observed, because it is present in the general context, or is implied (except for constructions with why).
Well, what to do now? / So, what now?
I wondered whether to resign at that point.
Performing the definition function for some nouns and adjectives (he reason to laugh, the effort to expand, anxious to get a ticket):
- the effort to expand / measures to improve,
- anxious toget a ticket / eager to get a ticket.
As a relative grammatical basis , the infinitive can also be used. What does it mean? That is, it is such a basis in which part of the subject is expressed by a fictitious element or implied, and the other part logically duplicates it, but is located after the predicate; often depends on a noun, and therefore in a semantic sense it usually has common features with a passive voice:
- the thing to leave behind / thing left behind (the thing is understood as the complement leave);
- a subject to talk loudly about / subject that is spoken out loud (a subject is understood as an addition about);
- a subject about which to talk loudly / subject that should be spoken out loud (a variation of the previous example, somewhat more formal);
- the man to save us / man for our salvation (not a passive construct, the man is understood to be save).
As a sign of an adjective, as in the case of a noun, it has a hint of passivity:
- easy to use / easy to use;
- nice to look at / nice to look at.
Split Infinitive (cleft Infinitive or split Infinitive)
The infinitive is (in English) a verb with the particle 'to'. An adverb can be written between the particle and the verb, in which case it is called split - Cleft Infinitive.
To boldly go where no man has gone before / courageously go to where the person’s foot has not stepped.
The population is expected to more than double./ The population is expected to more than double.
Not all linguistic theories consider this use to be correct. However, this is universally used in speech and in writing, and can often be found in works of classical literature. And since language is what people use, and not what is written in books, we can assume that split infinitives deserve the right to exist. Of course, it is not necessary to elevate any established manifestation of illiteracy to official status. Nevertheless, it must be remembered that dictionaries and textbooks correspond over time, when the natural progress in a language cannot be ignored.