Infinitive as a definition after nouns examples. Infinitive in English - an understandable theory with examples

Infinitive (infinitive) is an impersonal verb form that only names an action, without specifying either a person or a 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 feature is the particle to, which has no independent meaning and does not take on stress, but shows that the word following it is an infinitive. However, it is often omitted. So, 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 addition" construction.

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

№
p/p

FUNCTION

EXAMPLE

Subject

That skate is pleasant.
Ride nice to skate.

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

Predicative

Your duty was to inform me about it immediately.
Your duty was to report me about it immediately.

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

Part of the 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 the 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 must 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 card.

Definition. The infinitive in the definition 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.
Appliance, to be tested (probable) brought to our laboratory.

Purpose circumstance or consequences. In the function of circumstance, the infinitive can be both at the beginning of the sentence and at the end. In the function of the circumstance of the goal, the infinitive may be preceded by conjunctions: in order, so as in order to

I went to the station to see off a friend. I went to the station to see a 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 must 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 is not related to a specific person or object:

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 addition him.)

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

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

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

If there are two side by side in a sentence, connected by the union and or or, then the to particle 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 mentioned earlier in the sentence. In this case, the emphasis falls on her. This use of the particle is often found after the verbs to want to want, to wish to wish, to mean to mean, to try try, try to allow, to be going to gather, ought follows, to have in the meaning of "should", should (would) like would like etc.

We conquer new heights! Today we are talking about the infinitive. Yours is waiting for a detailed rule, special notes, a table with special verbs, and at the end, if you wish, you can go through the practical part in the form of exercises with answers and an online test.

The infinitive in English is (as in Russian) the indefinite form of the verb, i.e. it has no endings and forms. This form is indicated in the dictionary. This topic is mastered by schoolchildren in high school (10, 11). Therefore, you will also need it if there is already a base of the basic rules of English grammar.

Use

Let's consider several cases of using the infinitive ... Does it remind you of an Englishwoman in a lesson? Sorry, but no theory at all, absolutely :-). So,

The infinitive is used without the particle to:

• In the imperative mood:

keep cool! Save calmness!

• After modal verbs:

Can you call me back? Can you give me call back?

• After the let and make verbs:

let her think. Give her think.

• After the verbs see, hear, watch, feel, help:

I have never heard him sing. I've never heard how he sings.

The infinitive is used with the particle to:

• The infinitive is required after the following verbs:

Note #1: After verb todare The infinitive can be used with or without the to particle.

He doesn't dare use it. He doesn't dare use this is.

Does he dare to challenge me? He dares make me a challenge?

Note #2: Sentence may start with an infinitive with particle to . The phrase at the same time sounds quite formal.

Tobe kind to others is important. Very important to be kind towards others.

Note #2: negative form the infinitive is formed with not :

It would be sad for me not to see you again. I will be sad not see you again.

• After adjectives:

- which express confidence / desire do something (sure, eager).

- which express feelings/reactions (glad, delighted, disappointed, happy, pleased, sad, sorry, surprised, hard, wrong, right, clever, foolish, kind, impossible, easy).

- after the expression too + adjective or adjective + enough.

It is easy to play the piano, but it's very difficult to play well. Easily play on the piano, but very difficult play good on it.

Is it hot enough to put on sandals? Hot enough to dress sandals.

• After nouns (ability, desire, need, wish, attempt, failure, opportunity, chance, intention):

They gave him an opportunity to escape. They gave him a chance run away.

• After indefinite pronouns:

When I travel I always take something to read. When I travel I always take something read.

• After wh-words:

I don't know what to believe anymore. I don't know what now believe.

I hope that this theory and examples have given you the information you need about the infinitive in English. Now you can practice :-).

From English the word ‘ infinitive' translates as "indefinite". In fact, the very concept of the infinitive is fixed in the language as an impersonal form of the verb, which is devoid of any tense, person, number and mood:

In Russian, the indefinite form is also represented:

Tell him to SPEAK louder - you can't hear anything.
Tell him TO SPEAK louder, I can hear nothing.

It should be noted that in English, unlike Russian, we meet six forms of the infinitive - simple, objective, infinitive turns and complex forms of the infinitive. In this article we will talk about a simple infinitive, consider its functions in a sentence, features of use and translation.

Simple infinitive in English

Let's see how the use of infinitive forms in English helps to implement grammatical relationships in a sentence.

The infinitive answers the question “What (c) to do?”, However, it will never be used as an independent predicate. A distinctive feature of the infinitive is the presence of a particle to and the complete absence of endings:

Infinitive vs. verb (verb)

He likes to travel abroad. - He travels abroad.
He loves to travel abroad. - He travels abroad.

In some cases, a particle to may be missing. For example, paired with a modal verb in English, you should use an infinitive (initial form) without a particle to:

Can you feel the love tonight? - Can you feel the touch of love tonight, - sings Elton John in the soundtrack to the cartoon "The Lion King".

The simple form of the infinitive is dictionary and is used much more often than complex forms. They are addressed to avoid the duality of meaning, in order to avoid distortion of the intention.

Using the English infinitive in a sentence

Speaking of a verb group, it can express part of a compound predicate, be determined by an adverb and have a direct object. As a representative of a noun group, the infinitive is often used as a subject, object, and even a definition.

Verb functions

Noun functions

In formal speech, it usually appears at the beginning of a sentence, while in more informal communication, introductory constructions like ‘ it is well-known’, ‘it is difficult' and others:

To talk like that was very rude of you. It was very rude of you to speak in that tone.

It was very rude of you to talk like that. It was rude to speak in that tone.

Very often the infinitive can be found after the transitive verb. In this case, it expresses the addition in the sentence and is translated into Russian through the initial form:

My husband decided to take us to Paris on holiday. - My husband decided to take us to Paris on vacation.

We offer you a list of verbs, after which the infinitive can act as an object.

As a direct object, the simple infinitive can also be used with question words ( how, when, what, etc.) and after constructions with verb forms to be:

I'm glad to meet you. - Glad to meet you.

Don't look at me. I don't know what to do. - Do not look at me. I do not know what to do.

In the role of a definition, a simple infinitive answers the question “what?” and stands after the defined word in English:

I need a new house to live in. - I need a new house where I can live (to live there).

We cannot put the infinitive after the verb. This will no longer be a definition, but an addition and the sentence will lose its meaning:

Word order is very important here, otherwise you can often get nonsense and you will not be understood.

Very often, as a definition, a simple infinitive comes after pronouns. something, somebody, anything, anybody, nothing, nobody or after ordinal numbers:

In conclusion, we want to add that we have only told you about the simple infinitive. In our future publications, we will definitely return to this phenomenon of English grammar.

We wish you success in your studies and interesting practice!

Victoria Tetkina

The infinitive performs in the sentence all the syntactic functions characteristic of a noun and a verb:

Subject

To err is human.

It is natural to make mistakes .

In the first case, the infinitive acts as the subject of the sentence and takes a position at the beginning of the sentence.

In the second case, the sentence has two subjects: the formal ‘it’ and the nominal ‘to make mistakes’. Compare: To make mistakes is natural.

predict. Predicate.

In English, as in Russian, there are different types of predicates:

Simple Verbal Predicate. Simple verbal predicate.

The infinitive is used to form analytical verb forms: auxiliary verbs + the Infinitive .

The cinema will close in November. (Future Simple)

The shop didn't open last week. (Past Simple)

Does he often play tennis? (interrogative form Present Simple)

Compound Nominal Predicate. Compound nominal predicate.

A compound nominal predicate consists of a linking verb (to be) in the appropriate form and an infinitive.

my greatest wish is to tell everything you.

Your only chance was to speak to him.

Compound Verbal Modal Predicate. Compound verbal modal predicate.

A compound verbal modal predicate consists of a modal verb or a synonymous expression (to be able to, to be allowed, to be capable, to be going, had better, would sooner) and an infinitive.

You should follow a healthy diet.

He can't utter a word.

You needn't have bought any bread.

I wasn't able to reach him on the phone.

Compound Verbal Phasal Predicate. Compound verbal aspect predicate.

A compound verbal aspect predicate consists of an aspect verb that indicates different phases of action (beginning, duration, end, repetition) and an infinitive . Aspect verbs include: to begin, to start, to come, to go on, to continue, to proceed, to cease, used to.

It started to rain .

He continued to live with his parents even after marriage.

German Empire ceased to exist in 1918.

He used to talk to me for hours.

Mixed Predicate. Mixed type of predicate.

Sometimes there are sentences with a mixed type of predicate.

The boy must be her son.- the Compound Modal Nominal Predicate.

She must start to train regularly.- the Compound Modal Phasal Predicate.

object. Addition.

The infinitive acts as an object if it depends on the verb, adjective, participle and answers the question "what?".

She agreed to come at ten.

I regret to have said it to her.

Can you help me to find the ring?

He was amused to hear it.

She is proud to have grown such a son.

attribute. Definition.

The infinitive acts as a definition if it depends on a noun, pronoun, substantiated numerals and adjectives, and answers the question “what?”

He is just the man to do it.

She needs a place to live in.

I have nobody to ask .

John was the first to come .

Adverbial modifiers. Circumstance.

Adverbial Modifier of Purpose. Purpose circumstance.

An infinitive is a circumstance of purpose if it depends on the predicate and answers the question "why?" for what purpose?"

Laura has gone to town to do some shopping .

To get a good seat, you need to arrive early.

Adverbial Modifier of Result (Consequence). The circumstance of the result (consequence).

The infinitive in a sentence acts as a circumstance of the result if it is used after the following structures:

Too + Adjective + to Infinitive:

It was too cold to go outside.

Too + Adverb + to Infinitive:

He had gone too far to return.

Adjective + enough + to Infinitive:

She is old enough to go out on her own.

Adverb + enough + to Infinitive:

He ran fast enough to win the race.

Enough + Noun + to Infinitive:

We've got enough room to put you up.

parenthesis. Introductory words.

Introductory words are not members of a sentence, but such constructions with an infinitive are very common: to begin with, to be frank, to put it mildly, to tell the truth, strange to say etc.