INFINITIVE

Characteristics of the infinitive; manifestation of its nominal and verbal nature. Grammatical
forms and categories of the infinitive.
1. As other verbals (non-finite verb forms) I. has a double nature:
a) verbal features
- morphological I has categories of voice, aspect and perfect
- syntactical I possesses the verb combinability
* takes object (To tell him about it was out of the question. She told him about it.)
* takes a predicative if happens to be a link verb (She wanted to be a teacher. He was a
teacher of English.)
*modified by adverbials (I had to speak loudly. He spoke loudly.)
b) nominal features revealed only in its function of:
* subject, predicative (To understand is to forgive.)
* object (Thats what I wanted to know.)
* attribute (I saw the chance to win the competition.)
* adverbial modifier of purpose (I came to water flowers.)
2. Categories
- aspect (common / continuous)
- voice (active / passive) transitive verbs can take object. Active infinitive action directed from
the subject. Passive infinitive action directed to the subject (He expected to find them soon. -
They expected to be found soon.)
- perfect (perfect / non-perfect) // category of relative time
Active Passive
Simple infinitive (to) write (to) be written
Continuous infinitive (to) be writing (to) be being written
Perfect infinitive (to) have written (to) have been written
Perfect continuous infinitive (to) have been writing (to) have been being written

The use of the bare infinitive.

Auxiliary verbs (dont, will)
Modal verbs
Modal expressions (had better, would rather, would sooner)
Verbs of sense perception (see, hear, observe, notice, listen)
Verbs of inducement (let, make, have, bid)
Expressions with but (cannot but, couldnt but, do nothing but, do anything but)
She did anything but cry.
Why-not sentences
Why not go to the party?

Functions of the infinitive in the sentence.

Subject To read is fun.
Predicative (used with link Your task is to read the text.
verb to be)
Part of a compound verbal
predicate (modal verbs,
modal expressions, verbs
having modal meaning
(want, decide, intend),
verbs denoting beginning,
duration, end of an action)
Object She learned to skate.
Part of Complex Object They expected him to help.
Attribute She is not a person to forgive at once. This is a good book to read
on vacation.
 Adverbial modifier Laws were made to be broken. (purpose)
He was tall enough to reach that shelf (consequence / result)
+ as if \ as though She waved as if to great him. (manner /
comparison)
He came to the lecture only to realize that it was cancelled. He left
never to return. (attended circumstances )
Parenthesis To cut the long story short, I deny having stolen the necklace.
To begin with, my journey was fantastic.

The for-to-infinitive construction.

Is used when the doer of the action expressed by the I is different from that of the finite verb
(predicate)
The Infinitive is in predicate relation to the noun in common case or pronoun in objective case; the
infinitive phrase is introduced by the preposition for
I want to understand this rule. I want the students to understand this rule.
Functions:
Subject (usually introduced by it) It was difficult for him to dance.
For him to dance was difficult
Predicative (used with link verb to be) The best thing is for you to do it now.
Object (verb, adjective) I cared for you to come home on time.
Im glad for you to come.
Attribute There was no need for him to be economical.
Adverbial modifier of purpose and She paused for him to continue.
consequence He said enough for me to worry.

The use of the complex object with the infinitive. (also the Objective with the Infinitive
construction)
The Infinitive is in predicate relation to the noun in common case or pronoun in objective case.
Serves as a complex object in a sentence.
Verbs of perception (see, hear, listen) * only I saw her dance.
present bare infinitive can be used
Verbs of mental activity (think, consider, They realized him have stolen the ring.
understand, realize)
Verbs of emotions (like, love, hate, enjoy) He liked John to read his poems.
Verbs of wish and intention (wish, want, mean, I dont want him to stay.
desire, intend)
Verbs of declaring (declare, pronounce, report) He reported the plane to have landed.
Verbs of inducement (to have, to make, to She made me obey her.
order, to tell, to ask)
Verbs requiring prepositional object (rely on, I rely on you to come.
listen to, wait for)

The use of the complex subject with the infinitive (also the Subjective Infinitive construction)
The Infinitive is in the predicate relation to the noun or pronoun in common case. This construction
doesnt serve as one part of a sentence noun/pronoun subject, infinitive part of the compound
verbal predicate.
Verbs of perception (see, hear, listen..) * Bob was heard to speak about this.
Verbs of mental activity (think, consider, He is thought to be a good person
understand, realize)
make He was made to clean the room.
Say / report He is reported to be the new President.
In active voice : to happen, to prove, to be He is certain to arrive late.
likely, to be unlikely, to be sure, to be certain,
to turn out, to appear
GERUND

Characteristics of the gerund; manifestation of its nominal and verbal nature.

Nominal properties
1. performs functions of subject, object and predicative
Grammatical forms and categories of the gerund.
Syntactic functions of the gerund.
Gerundial predicative constructions.
The gerund and the infinitive compared.