THE INFINITIVE

The Double Nature of the Infinitive

The infinitive developed from the verbal noun, which in course of time
became verbalized, retaining at the same time some of its nominal properties. Thus
in Modern English the infinitive, like the participle and the gerund, has a double
nature, nominal and verbal.

1.The nominal character of the infinitive is manifested in its syntactic functions.

The infinitive can be used:

a) as the subject of a sentence.

To go on like this was dangerous. (Galsworthy)

b) as a predicative.

Her plan was now to drive to Bath during the night. (Hardy)

c) as an object.

I have never learnt to read or write. (Collins)

1. The verbal characteristics of the infinitive are as follows:

a) the infinitive of transitive verbs can take a direct object.

He ... began to feel some curiosity ... (Eliot)

b) the infinitive can be modified by an adverb.

I cannot write so quickly.

In Modern English the infinitive has the following forms:

Active Passive
Indefinite to write to be written
Continuous to be writing ─
Perfect to have written to have been written
Perfect Continuous to have been writing ─

The Indefinite Infinitive expresses an action simultaneous with the action

expressed by the finite verb, so it may refer to the present, past or future.

I am glad to meet you. (Dreiser)

 I was glad to see Mr. Paul. (Ch. Bronte)
Mr. Forsyte will be very glad to see you. (Galsworthy)
The Continuous Infinitive also denotes an action simultaneous with that
expressed by the finite verb, but it is an action in progress; it is viewed as
incomplete at a certain time-point. Thus the continuous infinitive is not only a
tense form, but also an aspect form, expressing both time relations and the manner
in which the action is presented.

They happened, at the moment, to be standing near a small conservatory

at the end of the garden. (Collins)
В этот момент они как раз стояли около небольшой оранжереи в
конце сада.
He appeared to be reading. (EG)
Казалось, он читал.

The Perfect Infinitive denotes an action prior to the action expressed by the finite
verb.

"I'm glad to have seen you," he said. (Dreiser)

"Я рад, что повидал вас", ─ сказал он.
An intimate friend is said to have dined with him that day. (Hardy)
Говорят, что в этот день у него обедал его близкий друг.

After such verbs as to mean, to expect, to intend, to hope used in the Past
Indefinite, the Perfect Infinitive shows that the hope or intention was not carried
out.

I meant to have gone there.

Я собирался пойти туда (но не пошел).
I meant to have given you five shillings this morning for a Christmas-
box, Sam. I'll give it you this afternoon, Sam. (Dickens)
Я хотел подарить вам пять шиллингов на рождество, Сэм; я
подарю их вам сегодня, Сэм.

N o t e. – The same meaning can be conveyed by the Past Perfect of the finite verb
followed by the Indefinite Infinitive.

I had meant to go there.

Я намеревался пойти туда.
He had meant to marry me. (Eliot)
Он имел намерение жениться на мне.

Some English grammarians prefer the latter construction. The idea, however, is
often expressed in the following way:

I meant to go there, but never did.

The Perfect Infinitive is widely used with modal verbs to denote unrealized
actions in the past or to voice criticism.
 I could have bought it. (EG)
Я мог тогда его купить (но не купил).
You should have done it. (EG)
Тебе следовало это сделать.

The Perfect Continuous Infinitive denotes an action which lasted a certain time
before the action of the finite verb. It is not only a tense form, but also an aspect
form.

For about ten days we seemed to have been living on nothing but cold
meat, cake and bread and jam. (Jerome)
Дней десять мы, казалось, питались только холодным мясом,
печеньем и хлебом с вареньем.
He admitted to have been looking through the programme.
Он признал, что просматривал программу.

The Continuous, the Perfect and the Perfect Continuous Infinitives are often used
with verbs such as to appear, to believe, to claim, to happen, to know, to pretend,
to seem and modal verbs.

The infinitive of transitive verbs has special forms for the Active and the Passive
Voice:

It is so glorious to love and to be loved... (Stone)

Так прекрасно любить и быть любимым.
He hopes to be offered a promotion. (Evans)
Он надеется, что ему предложат повышение.
She is believed to have been kidnapped. (Evans)
Полагают, что ее похитили.

In sentences with the construction there is the infinitive of some verbs can be
active or passive without any change in the meaning:

There's no time to lose. (Dreiser)

There is no time to be lost. (Eliot)
There is nothing to fear (to be feared).

The Functions of the Infinitive in the Sentence

The infinitive can be used in different syntactic functions. A single infinitive
occurs but seldom: in most cases we find an infinitive phrase, i. e. an infinitive
with one or several accompanying words.
1. The infinitive as a subject.
To doubt, under the circumstances, is almost to insult.
 Сомневаться при таких обстоятельствах ─ это почти означает
нанести оскорбление.
Even to think of it gave him ineffable torture.
Одна мысль об этом причиняла ему невыразимые страдания.
То be recognized, greeted by some local personage afforded her a joy
which was very great.
Когда ее узнавал и приветствовал какой-нибудь видный местный
житель, она испытывала большую радость.
From these examples we can see that the infinitive as a subject can be
rendered in Russian by an infinitive, by a noun, or by a clause.
Though the infinitive as the subject sometimes precedes the predicate, cases
when it follows the predicate are far more common; with the infinitive in the latter
position, the sentence opens with the introductory it, which serves as an
introductory subject. This use is considered to be less formal. The introductory it is
not translated into Russian.
It is useless to discuss the question.
Бесполезно обсуждать этот вопрос.
It was pleasant to be driving a car again.
Было приятно снова вести машину.
It pleased him to think of his beloved.
Ему доставляло удовольствие думать о своей возлюбленной.
It will take years to repair it.
Починить его займет уйму времени.
Does it pay to be nice to them? )
Стоит ли быть с ними любезным?

Sometimes the Perfect Infinitive is used here:

It was stupid of you not to have accepted the offer.
С твоей стороны было глупо не принять предложение.
2. The infinitive as a predicative.
The infinitive commonly follows the link verb to be. Fairly often, the subject
of this kind of sentence is an abstract noun and the infinitive serves to disclose its
meaning. Sometimes the infinitive can be preceded by wh-words like where, who,
what, etc.
My intention is to get into parliament.
Моя цель ─ пройти в парламент.
His only dream was to buy a car.
Его единственной мечтой было купить машину.
The difficulty was where to cross the river.
Трудность заключалась в том, где пересечь реку.

3. The infinitive as part of a compound verbal predicate.

a) With modal verbs, modal expressions, and verbs expressing modality ( to
be able, to be obliged, to be bound, to be willing, to be anxious, to be capable, to
be going; to hope, to attempt, to try, to endeavour, to long, to wish, to want, to
desire, etc.) the infinitive forms part of a compound verbal modal predicate.
We must not leave him by himself any longer.
Нам нельзя дольше оставлять его одного.
The train was to leave at midnight.
Поезд должен был отправиться в полночь.
…I intend to lead a better life in the future.
Я намерен вести теперь лучшую жизнь.

4. The infinitive as an object.

● The verbs that can be followed directly by the infinitive in the function of an
object include: to agree, to claim, to decide, to fail, to forget, to hesitate, to learn,
to pretend, to refuse, etc.
Leila had learned to dance at boarding school. (Mansfield)
● After the verbs to allow, to order, to ask, to beg, to recommend, to request, to
implore, to teach, to instruct, to warn, etc. we often find two objects, one of which
is expressed by the infinitive.
After waiting some time, Mrs. Clements ... ordered the cabman to drive
back to her lodgings.
He asked me to walk in.
And the curate does not teach you to read and to write then? (E. Bronte)

● The infinitive is widely used as an object after the following predicative

adjectives: glad, happy, lucky, surprised, sorry, curious, afraid, pleased, etc.
I am curious to know the news.
He is afraid to go there.
I was happy to have been invited.
She was sorry to have missed the opportunity.
● The infinitive can also be used as an object after a wh-word. The verbs used in
such sentences include: to ask, to decide, to describe, to discover, to explain, to
forget, to guess, to imagine, to know, to learn, to wonder, etc.
I don’t know where to stop.
● The infinitive used as an object can be preceded by the introductory object it.
The introductory object is not translated into Russian.
He found it utterly impossible to leave the spot. (Hardy)
Он считал совершенно невозможным покинуть это место.
He thought it his duty to help them. (EG)
Он считал своей обязанностью им помочь.
He made it a rule to get up at seven o’clock. (EG)
Он взял за правило вставать в семь часов.

5. The infinitive as part of a complex object.

 I never saw you act this way before. (Dreiser)
Я никогда раньше не видел, чтобы вы так поступали.

6. The infinitive as an attribute.

The use of the infinitive as an attribute is far more extensive in English than in
Russian: in Russian it modifies only abstract nouns, whereas in English it modifies
both abstract and class nouns, indefinite pronouns (somebody, something, anybody,
anything, etc.), ordinal numerals and the adjective last.
The infinitive as an attribute is rendered in Russian by an infinitive (chiefly
after abstract nouns), by a subordinate clause or by a finite verb serving as the
predicate of a simple sentence (after ordinal numerals and the adjective last).

I have not had time to examine this room yet.

У меня еще не было времени осмотреть эту комнату.
Bathsheba was not a woman ... to suffer in silence.
Батшеба была не такая женщина, которая стала бы страдать
молча.
I have nobody to say a kind word to me. )
У меня нет никого, кто сказал бы мне доброе слово.
Не was the first to offer his hand to the Russians.
Он первый протянул руку русским.
When his engine broke down, it was the last to be repaired.
Когда его машина сломалась, ее починили последней.
The infinitive used as an attribute often has a modal significance ─ it
expresses an action thought of as obligatory or possible.
I've got my wife and little boy to look after.
У меня есть жена и ребенок, о которых я должен заботиться.
There must be a lot of things in this world to make you very unhappy.
В этом мире, должно быть, много такого, что может сделать вас
несчастным.
Tess was no insignificant creature to toy with and dismiss.
Тэсс была не такое незначительное существо, с которым можно
поиграть и бросить.
Sometimes the infinitive used as an attribute implies a more or less prominent
idea of purpose.
Here is a nice book to read before going to bed.
Вот книга, которую хорошо почитать перед сном.
Here is a charming little cottage to spend the summer in.
Вот очаровательный коттедж, в котором можно хорошо
провести лето.
... he had no courage to face danger.
... у него не хватало мужества взглянуть в лицо опасности.
There was no time now to think ─ there was only time to give the
medicine. (Collins) Теперь не было времени думать ─ оставалось
 время только для того, чтобы дать лекарство.

7. The infinitive as an adverbial modifier.

a) The infinitive can be an adverbial modifier of purpose.
Laws were not made to be broken, laws were made to stay within.
Законы были созданы не для того, чтобы их нарушать, а для того,
чтобы им подчиняться.
То pacify her, I held the window ajar a few seconds.
Чтобы успокоить ее, я на несколько секунд приоткрыла окно.
The infinitive as an adverbial modifier of purpose can be introduced by in
order and so as.
Sometimes you retreat in order to advance.
Иногда отступают для того, чтобы вновь перейти в наступление.
Soames put on his coat so as not to be cold.
Сомc надел пальто, чтобы не мёрзнуть.
b) The infinitive can be used as an adverbial modifier of result. This chiefly
occurs in structures with the adverbs enough and too.

His eyes were sharp enough to look after his own interest.
Глаза у него были достаточно зоркие, чтобы позаботиться о
собственной выгоде.
He is a careful enough driver not to take risks.
Он достаточно осторожный водитель, чтобы не рисковать.
He is too sensible a driver to take risks.
Он слишком благоразумный водитель, чтобы рисковать.
I was too busy to see anyone.
Я был так занят, что не мог ни с кем встречаться.
He is too much of an optimist to take it seriously.
Он слишком оптимистичный человек, чтобы принять это всерьез.
Mind the word order in structures like too sensible a driver. The structure too
+ adjective precedes a noun it modifies. Note also that the infinitive is used with a
preposition if the verb requires one:
The room is too cold to stay in.
The infinitive as an adverbial modifier of result is also to be found in
sentences of the following type:
He was so weak as to be unable to work.
Он был так слаб, что не мог работать.
Mr. Rokesmith has been so polite as to place his sitting-room at our
disposal today. (
Мистер Роксмит был настолько любезен, что отдал на сегодня
свою гостиную в наше распоряжение.
And he is such a fool as to think that his idle chatter can influence
others. (Trollope)
И он такой дурак, что думает, что его пустая болтовня может на
 кого-нибудь повлиять.
Would уоu bе so kind as to pass the sauce?
Будьте любезны передать соус.
There are also some other structures with such…as + to-Infinitive:
The case for the prosecution was such as to convince the whole of the
jury.
The system can be changed in such a way as to meet all the above-
mentioned requirements.
c) The infinitive can be an adverbial modifier of comparison (manner); in
most cases with an additional meaning of purpose. In this function it is introduced
by the conjunction as if or as though.
She nervously moved her hand towards his lips as if to stop him ...
(Dickens)
Она нервно протянула руку к его губам, как будто хотела
остановить его.
d) The infinitive can be used as an adverbial modifier of attendant
circumstances to express a sequel to the event expressed by the finite verb. There
are two types of structures found here:
 with only – to introduce something which immediately follows the action
or event described by the finite verb and which we find surprising or
unfortunate:

I finally found my watch, only to discover that it had stopped. (EG)

Я наконец нашел свои часы, но только чтобы обнаружить, что
они остановились.
I am sorry to have raised your expectations, Mr. Blake, only to
disappoint them. (Collins)
Мне очень жаль, что я пробудил в вас надежду, мистер Блейк,
только для того, чтобы затем отнять ее.
 without only:
She was driven away, never to revisit this neighbourhood.
Она была вынуждена уехать и больше не вернулась в эти места.
She came to the hospital to be told that her husband was better.
Она пришла в больницу, и ей сказали, что муж чувствует себя
лучше.

8. The infinitive as parenthesis.

Well, to cut a long story short, they thought it would be more economical
to live at the villa.
Короче говоря, они решили, что будет дешевле жить на вилле.
Не was rude, to say the least of it.
Он был груб, чтобы не сказать больше.
То put it mildly, he was not up to the mark.
Мягко выражаясь, он был не на высоте.
То speak the truth, I have been a little troubled, but it is over.
По правде говоря, я был несколько встревожен, но теперь это
прошло.
Не brought with him a collection of Indian curios, to say nothing of an
independent fortune and several slaves.
Он привез с собой коллекцию индийских художественных вещей, не
говоря уже о значительном состоянии и нескольких рабах.