Infinitive in English. Various syntactic functions of the infinitive in a German sentence
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 language 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
| Active | Passive | |
| Indefinite | To take | To be taken |
| Continuous | To be taken | - |
| Perfect | To have taken | To have been taken |
| Perfect Continuous | To have been taken | - |
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 helpful
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…
The infinitive (der Infinitiv) in a German sentence is not only part of a complex predicate, it can act as a function of various members of the sentence. In this case, the infinitive, extended by words dependent on it, is usually separated in writing by a comma. The reflexive pronoun sich usually comes first in the infinitive group thus isolated, for example:
Wir haben in der Klasse ausgemacht, uns am Sonntag in dem Stadtpark zu treffen.
In class we agreed to meet on Sunday in the city park.
It is always necessary to pay attention to the methods of translating infinitive constructions, since in some cases a syntactically adequate translation into Russian, that is, a translation that would copy a German syntactic construction, turns out to be impossible.
So, the infinitive in a German sentence can act as:
1) Subject:
Infinitiv 1 Aktiv:
Es ist ein grosses Vergn?gen, zu reiten.
At in direct order words Infinitiv 1 Aktiv, not common in words dependent on it, does not have the particle zu in this function (the role of the subject) and is not separated by a comma:
Reiten ist ein grosses Vergn?gen.
Riding a horse is great fun.
But: Im Trab scharf zu reiten, ist ein grosses Vergn?gen.
Riding at a fast trot is great fun.
Infinitiv 1 Passive:
Es ist eine grosse Ehre, mit einem Film-“Oskar” ausgezeichnet zu werden.
It is a great honor to be awarded an Oscar.
Infinitiv 2 Aktiv (rarely used):
Den einzigen m?glichen Ausweg aus dieser schweren Situation gefunden zu haben, war f?r ihn, ehrlich gesagt, eine grosse Erleichterung.
To be honest, the fact that he found the only possible way out of a difficult situation was a great relief for him.
Definitions: (only after a qualifying noun)
Infinitiv 1 Aktiv (rarely used):
Vielleicht haben Sie die Absicht, auch unsere Vororte mit ihren sch?nen Pal?sten und Parks zu besuchen?
Perhaps you also intend to visit our suburbs with their beautiful palaces and parks?
Von Kindheit an war es Giselas Wunschtraum, Pianistin zu werden.
Since childhood, Gisela's biggest dream was to become a pianist.
Er hat auch den Anspruch erhoben, seinen Teil der Erbschaft von Onkel Klaus zu bekommen.
He also put forward demands for his share of Uncle Klaus's inheritance.
Infinitiv 1 Passive:
Jeder B?rger dieser Stadt hat das Recht, ausgew?hlt zu werden.
Every citizen of this city has the right to be elected.
Infinitiv 2 Active:
Der Gedanke, damals nicht sein M?glichstes getan zu haben, qu?lte den alten Kapit?n Olaf.
The thought that he had not done everything possible then tormented old Captain Olaf.
Dem ber?hmten russischen Gelehrten D. I. Mendelejew geb?hrt das Verdienst, das Periodische System der chemischen Elemente aufgestellt zu haben.
The famous Russian scientist D.I. Mendeleev is credited with creating the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements.
Objects: both after transitive verbs and after verbs that require a prepositional object; in the latter case, the infinitive group may be preceded by a corresponding pronominal adverb.
Infinitiv 1 Aktiv:
Marion war von Herzen froh (dar?ber), in diesem schrecklichen halbzerst?rten Haus nicht allein zu sein.
Marion was glad from the bottom of her heart that she was not alone in this terrible dilapidated house.
Die Sch?ler bitten den Schriftsteller (darum), ihnen eine seiner spannenden Geschichten zu erz?hlen.
Students ask the writer to tell them one of his fascinating stories.
Infinitiv 1 Passive:
Jedenfalls hoffen wir darauf, vom Bahnhof abgeholt zu werden.
In any case, we hope that they will meet us at the station.
Infinitiv 2 Active:
Der junge Gelehrte war v?llig ?berzeugt, die richtige L?sung dieses schweren Problems gefunden zu haben.
The young scientist was absolutely convinced that he had found the right solution to this complex problem.
Es tut mir wirklich leid, dich nicht fr?her informiert zu haben.
I'm really sorry that I didn't inform you sooner.
Er war damals sicher, in seinem Leben nur einmal ein ?hnliches Gef?hl empfunden zu haben.
Then he was sure that only once had he experienced such a feeling.
Infinitiv 2 Passiv:
Er erinnerte sich, von diesem grossen Professor schon fr?her einmal behandelt worden zu sein.
He remembered that he had been treated once before by this large professor.
4) Circumstances: in this function it is especially common in conjunctive infinitive phrases um... + zu + Infinitiv, (an)statt... + zu + Infinitiv, ohne... + zu + Infinitiv.
The infinitive phrase um... + zu + Infinitiv most often has a target meaning and, when translated into Russian, is introduced by the conjunction “(in order to)”, for example:
Er f?hrt nach Moskau, um seine Eltern zu besuchen.
He goes to Moscow (to) visit his parents.
Beeile dich, um zum Unterricht nicht zu sp?t zu kommen.
Hurry up so as not to be late for class.
Ich bin hierher gekommen, um dir etwas Wichtiges ?ber deine Familie mitzuteilen.
I came here (to) tell you something important about your family.
The infinitive phrase (an)statt... + zu + Infinitiv performs in a German sentence the function of an adverbial manner of action and, when translated into Russian, is introduced by the conjunction “instead of”, for example:
Statt jemanden um Rat zu fragen, handelte er selbst?ndig.
Instead of asking anyone for advice, he acted on his own.
Anstatt dem Verletzten zu helfen, fl?chtete der Fahrer mit seinem Wagen.
Instead of helping the victim, the driver fled in his car.
Warum siehst du eigentlich fern, anstatt deine Hausaufgaben zu machen?
Why are you watching TV instead of doing your homework?
The infinitive phrase ohne... + zu + Infinitiv1 or ohne... + zu + Infinitiv 2 has as a correspondence in Russian an adverbial phrase with the negation “not”. The first infinitive (der Infinitiv 1) is translated into Russian by the present participle, and the second infinitive (der Infinitiv 2) by the past participle. For example:
Nachdenklich sa? der Alte in der Ecke, ohne jemanden anzusehen.
The old man sat thoughtfully in the corner, not looking at anyone.
Chapter 6. Passive voice (das Passiv)
Total information
The German verb has two voices - active (das Aktiv) and passive (das Passiv). Active and passive voice and differ from each other primarily in the direction of action: whether the action comes from the subject of the sentence or is it directed towards the subject. Pledge depends on the nature of the subject: whether the subject is an active agent or an object to which the action is directed.
If in a sentence the action comes from the subject, and the subject itself is, accordingly, an active actor, then the verb is in the active voice and the sentence is called active (der active Satz).
We are writing.
If in a sentence the action is directed to the subject, and the subject, accordingly, is not an active actor, but only an object to which the action is directed, then the verb is in the passive voice, and the sentence is called passive.
Der Text wird geschrieben.
Literally: the text is written.
The text is being written.
IN German Passive voice is a very common phenomenon, but in Russian such sentences are most often translated as active. So it is in the last example. The German passive sentence “Der Text wird geschrieben” corresponds to the Russian active sentence “The text is being written.”
Formation of the passive voice
All transitive verbs (except for the verbs haben (to have), besitzen (to possess, own), bekommen (to receive), wissen (to know), erfahren (to recognize), interessieren (to interest), enthalten (to contain), kosten (to try), kennen ( know), treffen (to meet) and some others) form the passive voice.
The passive verb has the same tenses as the active voice. The tense forms of the passive voice are complex and are formed using the auxiliary verb werden in the corresponding tense form and the second participle (das Partizip 2) of the semantic verb.
Passiv = werden (corresponding time) + Partizip 2.
In the complex tenses das Perfect and das Plusquamperfekt, where it is necessary to choose between two auxiliary verbs (haben or sein), the auxiliary verb is always sein. The two auxiliary verbs in such sentences should not be confused. One of them belongs to the passive voice (this is the verb werden), and the second is necessary to form a complex tense (this is either sein or haben).
The three main forms of the verb werden are: werden – wurde – geworden. However, in Perfekt and Plusquamperfekt the passive voice uses the shortened form "worden" instead of "geworden".
So, the passive voice forms tense forms as follows:
Pr?sens Passive:
Der Text wird zweimal vorgelesen.
The text was read twice.
The text is read twice
Pr?teritum Passive:
Der Text wurde zweimal vorgelesen.
The text was read twice.
The text was read twice.
Perfect Passive:
Der Text ist zweimal vorgelesen worden.
The text was read twice.
The text was read twice.
Plusquamperfect Passive:
Der Text war zweimal vorgelesen worden.
The text was read twice.
The text was read twice.
Nachdem der Text zweimal vorgelesen worden war, schrieben wir eine Nacherz?lung.
After the text was read twice, we wrote a retelling.
Futurum Passive:
Morgen wird uns ein neuer Text vorgelesen werden.
Tomorrow they will read a new text to us.
To convey the future tense in the passive voice, the Pr?sens Passiv form is most often used instead of the Futurum Passiv form.
In the passive voice, two infinitive forms are formed: the first infinitive in the passive voice and the second infinitive in the passive voice. The first infinitive (der Infinitiv 1) forms the passive voice using the first infinitive of the auxiliary verb werden and the second participle (das Partizip 2) of the semantic verb: gemalt werden (to be drawn).
The second infinitive (der Infinitiv 2) forms the passive voice with the help of the second infinitive of the auxiliary verb werden and the second participative (das Partizip 2) of the semantic verb: gemalt worden sein (to be drawn).
The topic of using the infinitive is quite complex and voluminous and requires special attention if only because the cases of its use do not always coincide with the 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 in 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.
The infinitive in the Indefinite form (both Active and Passive) is used when the action it expresses:
1. Simultaneously with the action expressed by the verb in personal form:
I am glad to see you. I'm glad to see you.
I saw him enter the house. I saw him enter the house.
2 Refers to the future tense. The infinitive in these cases is used after modal verbs may, must, should, ought and after verbs toexpect expect, tointend mean,tohope hope,to wantwant and some others:
He may come tomorrow. He might come tomorrow.
I hope tosee him at the concert. I hope to see him at the concert.
3. Regardless of the time of its commission:
Thatskate is pleasant. It's nice to skate.
Note. The Indefinite Infinitive Active form is used to form complex forms of tenses, namely:
1. Negative and interrogative forms Present and Past Indefinite.
He doesn't take English lessons. Does he take English lessons?
2. Future Indefinite and Future Indefinite in the Past:
I shall do it. I said that I should do it.
The perfect infinitive (both Active and Passive) is used:
1. To denote an action preceding an action expressed by a verb in personal form:
2. After modal verbs must And may to express the assumption that an action has already taken place:
Not must have forgotten about it. He must have forgotten about it.
3. After modal verbs should, would, could, might, ought and was (were) to denote an action that should or could have happened, but in fact did not happen:
Shouldn't (ought to) have gone there . He should have gone there (but he didn't).
Wasn't to have come yesterday. He was supposed to come yesterday (but didn't).
4. After the past tense of verbs tointend, to expect, tomean to denote an action that, contrary to intention, hope, or expectation, did not take place.
I hope to have met him there. I hoped that I would meet him there (but I didn’t).
2.1.4. Infinitive in the form Continuous and Perfect Continuous
The infinitive in the Continuous form is used to express a long-term action, simultaneous with the action expressed by the verb in the personal form:
Functions of the infinitive
|
Example and translation |
|
|
1. Subject |
Thatobtain this data is necessary for our further work. Receiving this data - necessary condition for our further work. |
|
2. Part of a compound nominal predicate |
His aim is to obtain this data. Its purpose is to obtain this data. |
|
3.Addition |
The professor asked the students to make the experiment. The professor asked the students to conduct an experiment. |
|
4. Circumstance of the goal |
Thatobtain the reliable data it is necessary to make a lot of experiments. To obtain reliable results, many experiments must be carried out. |
|
5. Circumstances of the investigation |
The method is not accurate enough to give reliable results. This method is not accurate enough to give reliable results. |
|
6. Definition |
The device to be used has been carefully examined. The device to be used has been thoroughly tested. Wasn't the first to apply the new method of work. He first applied a new way of working . |
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 preceding 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 and 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 - to 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.
Loading...