Infinitive.Infinitive.Forms of the infinitive and its functions in a sentence. Negative infinitive

The infinitive, or indefinite form of the verb, refers to the non-finite forms of the verb and combines the properties of the verb and the noun. The infinitive answers the questions “what to do?”, “what to do?”: to read - read, to write - write, to learn - learn, to remember - remember, to promise - promise etc.

The formal sign of the infinitive is the particle to, which comes before it. In some cases the to particle is omitted.

The Indefinite Infinitive Active is the only simple form of the infinitive.

I want to play chess.
I want to play chess.

All other forms are complex, as they are formed using the auxiliary verbs to be, to have and participle.

Rules for the formation and use of the infinitive in English

1. Indefinite Infinitive Active is formed from the stem of a verb with the particle to (for example, to write) and is used to express an action that occurs simultaneously with the action expressed by the predicate verb, in the present, past and future tense or regardless of the time of its occurrence.

I am glad to hear it. I'm glad to hear that.
He wanted to play chess. He wanted to play chess.
I shall hope to see you tomorrow. I hope to see you tomorrow.
To swim is pleasant. It's nice to swim.

Indefinite Infinitive Passive is formed using the auxiliary verb to be + 3rd form of the verb (Participle II) (for example, to be written) and is used to express an action simultaneous with the action expressed by the predicate verb.

Didn't want her article to be translated.
He wanted her article to be translated (= to have her article translated).

2. Continuous Infinitive Active is formed using the auxiliary verb to be + Participle I of the semantic verb (for example, to be writing) and is used to express a long-term action that occurs simultaneously with the action expressed by the predicate verb. This form is often used after verbs to seem, to appear - seem and after auxiliary verbs.

Doesn't seem to be writing much. He seems to write a lot.
Doesn't seem to be waiting for us. It seems (that) he is waiting for us.

3. Perfect Continuous Infinitive Active is formed using the auxiliary verb to be in the Perfect Infinitive (to have been) + Participle I of the semantic verb (=ing form) - (for example, to have been writing) - and expresses a continuous action preceding the action expressed by the predicate verb.

He is reported to have been writing a new novel.
It is reported that he is writing a new novel. (They are reporting now, but he started writing a new novel before that, so the verb to write is used in the Perfect Continuous Infinitive Active.)

4. Perfect Infinitive Active is formed using the auxiliary verb to have + Participle II of the semantic verb (for example, to have written).

Perfect Infinitive Passive is formed using the auxiliary verb to be in the Perfect Infinitive (to have been) + Participle II of the semantic verb (for example, to have been written).

Perfect Infinitive (Active, Passive) is used:

1. To express an action that precedes an action expressed by a predicate verb.

Not said to have won the Olympic Gold (medal).
He is said to have won a gold medal at the Olympic Games.

She seems to have forgotten about our request.
It seems she forgot about our request.

2. After the modal verbs should, would, ought to, could, might to express an unfulfilled moral duty or obligation.

Not should have helped her.
He should have helped her but he didn't).

You ought to have congratulated him with the defense of his thesis.
You should congratulate him on defending his dissertation.

3. After was, were to express unfulfilled plans and contracts.

The school was to have been ready by the 1st of September, but it is still only half finished.
The school was supposed to be ready by September 1, but it is still only half ready.

4. After the modal verbs must, may to express assumptions, conclusions.

Not must have read this book. He must have read this book.
She may have married. She may have gotten married.
He must have come this way. Here are his footprints.
He must have come this way. Here are his traces.

5. After verbs to hope ( hope), to expect ( expect), to want ( want), to intend ( mean) to express an action that, contrary to hope and expectation, did not take place.

She hoped to have met a good man.
She hoped to meet a good man ( but didn't meet).

He intended to have put up an advertisement yesterday.
He intended to make the announcement yesterday ( but didn't).

Infinitive with the particle to

1. The infinitive is usually used with the particle to: to read, to write, to work. But if in a sentence there are two infinitives next to each other, connected by the conjunction and or or, then the particle to is usually omitted before the second infinitive.

She decided to go and buy something for supper.
She decided to go and buy something for dinner.

2. The particle to is sometimes used at the end of a sentence without a verb. This is done to avoid repeating the same verb in the same sentence. This use of the particle to usually occurs after the verbs to wish - want, to want - want, to try - try, to allow - allow, to have to - be to etc.

I didn’t want to take a taxi but I had to(take one) as I was late.
I didn’t want to take a taxi, but I had to (take a taxi) because I was late.

He wished to go but he wasn’t able to.
He wanted to go, but was not able (could not go).

Did you get a ticket? -Did you get a ticket? -
No, I tried to, but there weren’t any left.
No. I tried, but there was not a single ticket left.

3. After verbs to be, to have used as modal verbs, the particle to is added.

I am to meet him here.
I must meet him here.

Not has to do it in September.
He should do this in September.

4. After the words the first, the second… the last, the only.

He loves parties: he is always the first to come and the last to leave.
He loves parties: he is always the first to arrive and the last to leave.

Infinitive without particle to

1. After auxiliary and modal verbs.

Not can play chess. He plays (can play) chess.
We shall go by foot there. We'll go there on foot.

2. After the verbs to make - force, to let - allow and sometimes after to help - help.

She made him give up smoking. She made him quit smoking.
I let him read this book. I allowed him to read (read) this book.

3. After the verbs to see - see, to hear - hear, to feel - feel, to watch - observe, to make - force and some others in the phrase “Objective case with infinitive”.

I heard her leave the house.
I heard her leave the house.

They made us work all night long.
They made us work all night.

BUT: If the verbs listed in the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs are used in the passive voice, then the infinitive that follows them is used with the particle to.

The topic of using the infinitive is quite complex and voluminous and requires special attention, if only because cases of its use do not always coincide with cases of use of the indefinite form of the verb in the Russian language. Studying this topic is a must for those who want to speak English at a high level. So, the forms of the infinitive and cases of its use.

Topic: Non-finite verb forms. Infinitive. Gerund. Participles.Infinitive/-ing form/Participle

Lesson: Infinitive. Infinitive. Forms of the infinitive and its functions in a sentence

Infinitive is a verb form that in English consists of the particle to and the verb.

Example: to do, to have, to see

The infinitive (indefinite form of the verb) in Russian and English have similar properties, but the English infinitive has a number of features that make it somewhat difficult for a Russian-speaking person to master.

The infinitive has the properties of a verb:

1. p. 158, ex. 1, 2, Kaufman K.I., Kaufman M.Yu. English language (basic level). - Title, 2010.

2. Put the verbs in the appropriate infinitive forms.

1. My boss expects me (to work) overtime.

2. The suspect claimed (to watch) TV at the time of the robbery.

3. Jill’s teacher is worried about her as she seems (to have) difficulty coping with her studies.

4. ‘I happen (to pass) my driving test two years ago, you know,’ he said.

5. Robert is expecting (to inherit) a large house when his grandfather dies.

6. Leslie seems (to enjoy) her new job.

7. I’d like (to book) a return ticket to Denver, please.

8. The manager seems (to get) impatient with the interviewee.

3. * ex. 375, 376. Golitsynsky Yu.B., Grammar. Collection of exercises. - Karo, 2011.

Indefinite Infinitive Active / Indefinite Infinitive in the definition function. Indefinite Infinitive Passive / Indefinite Infinitive in the passive voice

The infinitive is another non-finite verb form that only calls the action, without indicating persons, numbers and moods.

Traditionally, in Russian, the infinitive corresponds to the infinitive form of the verb, which answers the questions: what to do? what to do? - think, travel...

In English, the formal sign of the infinitive is the particle TO- to read, to eat... (verbs usually have this entry in dictionaries).
However, it is not at all necessary that an infinitive can occur in speech with the particle TO; without this particle, the English infinitive is more common.

Infinitive in a sentence can perform functions subject, object, determiner and, of course, can be part of complex verb constructions.

The infinitive in English has several forms, of which only two have equivalents in Russian - Indefinite Infinitive Active (buy) And Indefinite Infinitive Passive (to be bought).

As can be seen from this short description, the English infinitive is very functional and deserves a fairly detailed description.

Infinitive forms in English

In this topic we will look at the Indefinite Infinitive with the particle TO.

Functions of the Indefinite Infinitive in a sentence

Subject

To read books is very useful.
Read books- very useful

The infinitive as a subject can also appear after the predicate:

It was interesting to visit the museum.
It was interesting go to the museum.

Addition

She asked me to come earlier.
She asked me to come earlier.

Circumstance

I took a day off to see my relatives. (target)
I took a day off to see relatives.

Immediately before the indefinite infinitive (as a function of the adverbial purpose) there may be special constructions so as And in order to:

He took a taxi in order to arrive at work on time.
He took a taxi to get to work on time.

I put down his address so as not to forget it.
I wrote down his address so I wouldn't forget.

b) The indefinite infinitive as a function of the adverbial cause (effect) is usually used with intensifying adverbs too, very, enough…

Infinitive (infinitive) is an impersonal verb form that only names an action, without indicating either person or number. The infinitive answers questions what to do? what to do?:to read read, read; to write write, write; to buy buy, buy; to sell sell, sell.

The infinitive has no special ending; its formal sign is the particle to, which has no independent meaning and does not take stress, but shows that the word following it is an infinitive. However, it often goes down. Thus, the particle to is not placed before the infinitive if it is used after modal verbs or verbs of sensory perception as part of the “complex object” construction.

The infinitive came from the verbal and retained the properties of this part of speech, performing in a sentence, like the infinitive in Russian, the syntactic functions of a noun.

№
p/p

FUNCTION

EXAMPLE

Subject

That skate is pleasant.
Ride It's nice to skate.

To read is a great pleasure.
Read (reading) - great fun.

Predicative

Your duty was to inform me about it immediately.
It was your responsibility report tell me about it immediately.

The duty of every student is to master at least one foreign language.
The duty of every student is master at least one foreign language.

Part of a compound verb predicate in combination with modal verbs and with verbs expressing the beginning, continuation or end of an action ( to begin, to continue, to end, to stop) or attitude to an action indicated by the infinitive ( to want, to decide, to intend)

She began to translate the article.
She started transfer article.

She must translate this article today.
She should translate this article today.

He began to translate this article.
He started transfer this article.

Addition

I asked him to help me.
I asked him help to me.

He had promised me to draw this map.
He promised me draw this map.

Definition. The infinitive in the defining function comes after the word being defined

Not expressed a desire to help me.
He expressed his desire help to me.

The device to be tested has been brought to our library.
device, which must be experienced (testable), brought to our laboratory.

Circumstance of the goal or consequences. As an adverbial function, the infinitive can appear either at the beginning or at the end of a sentence. In the function of adverbial purpose, the infinitive may be preceded by conjunctions: in order, so as so that, in order to

I went to the station to see off a friend. I went to the station to see my friend off.

You must work much in order to master a foreign language. = In order to master a foreign language you must work much.
You have to work hard to master foreign language.

He went there so as to help you.
He went there to help to you.

The infinitive can express an action that does not refer to a specific person or thing:

In most cases, however, the action expressed by the infinitive refers to a specific person or thing:

(The action expressed by the infinitive to go refers to the subject I.)

(The action expressed by the infinitive to come refers to the object him.)

When an action expressed by an infinitive is performed by the person or thing to which it refers, the infinitive in the Active form is used:

When an action expressed by an infinitive is performed on the person or object to which it relates, then the infinitive is used in the Passive form:

The infinitive is usually preceded by the particle to: to speak, to buy, to read.

If in a sentence there are two next to each other, connected by the conjunction and or or, then the particle to before the second of them is usually omitted:

The particle to is sometimes used at the end of a sentence without a verb when that verb is previously mentioned in the sentence. In this case, the emphasis falls on it. This use of a particle is often found after the verbs to want, to wish, to mean, to try try, try, to allow, to be going to gather, ought should, to have in the meaning “must”, should (would) like I would like, etc.:

Infinitive in English is an imfinite form of an English verb that denotes only action, without indicating either person or number. The infinitive answers the questions: what to do? what to do?

To speak - to speak

In Russian, the infinitive is often called indefinite verb form. It is the infinitive that is given in dictionaries as the initial form of the verb.

The formal sign of the infinitive in English is the particle to, which is omitted before the infinitive in some cases.

I was glad to see the car stop.
I was glad to see that the car had stopped.

He must leave before 11 a.m.
He must leave before 11 am.

Infinitive forms

The infinitive in English has four forms in the active voice and two in the passive voice. Forms of the passive voice have only the simple and perfect infinitive of transitive verbs, i.e. verbs used with an object:

• Simple infinitive in active voice:

Pauline likes to write letters.
Polina loves to write letters.

• Continuous infinitive:

What is Pauline doing? She must be writing a letter.
What is Polina doing? She must be writing a letter.

• Perfect infinitive in active voice:

Pauline is glad to have written that letter.
Polina is glad that she wrote this letter.

• Perfect continuous infinitive:

Pauline must have been writing that letter since morning.
Polina must have been writing a letter since the morning.

• Simple infinitive in passive voice:

This letter seems to be written in pencil.
This letter appears to have been written in pencil.

• Perfect infinitive in passive voice:

The forms of the infinitive clearly reflect the relationship with the predicate verb in the sentence.

A simple infinitive in the active and passive voice is used when the action it expresses either occurs simultaneously with the action expressed by the predicate verb in the personal form, or is irrespective of the time of the action:

I am glad to see you. (simultaneous action)
I'm glad to see you.

I like to be given presents.(action not related to time)
I like it when people give me gifts.

To show that an action relates to the future, a simple infinitive is used after modal verbs may, must, should, ought to and after verbs to expect- expect, to intend- intend, to hope- hope to want- want, etc. For example:

You may come tomorrow.
You can come tomorrow.

He must do it immediately.
He must do this immediately.

You should put on a warm hat.
You should wear a warm hat.

I expect to see you next week.
I expect to see you next week.

I intend to go to the seaside this summer.
I intend to go to the sea this summer.

I hope to find him at home.
I hope to find him at home.

Continuous infinitive emphasizes the duration of the action, simultaneous with the predicate verb:

Form perfect continuous infinitive indicates that the action expressed by the infinitive began earlier than the action expressed by the predicate verb and continues to this day:

She seems to have been cooking since morning.
It seems like she's been cooking since the morning.

Perfect infinitive used to denote an action preceding an action expressed by a predicate verb:

I am sorry not to have told you about it earlier.
I'm sorry I didn't tell you about this sooner.

Perfect infinitive after modal verbs must And may expresses the assumption that an action has already taken place:

After modal verbs should, ought to, could, might, was/ were The perfect infinitive denotes an action that should or could have happened, but in fact did not happen.