The functions of the Infinitive

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.

The Infinitive can be used in different syntactic functions. A single Infinitive occurs but seldom: in most cases we find an infinitive phrase, e.g. an infinitive with one or several accompanying words.

1. The infinitive as a subject

To doubt, under the circumstances is almost to insult.

To acquire a knowledge and to acquire it unceasingly, is the first duty of the artist.

Even to think of it gave him ineffable torture.

From these examples we can see that the Infinitive as a subject can be rendered in Ukrainian by an infinitive, by a noun, r 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. The introductory it is not translated into Ukrainian.

It is useless to discuss the question.

It was pleasant to be driving a car again.

1. The Infinitive as a predicative

My intension is to get into parliament.

The infinitive can also be used as part of a predicative.

The abode of Mrs. Betty was not easy to find.

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

a) With modal verbs, modal expressions, and verbs expressing modality the infinitive forms part of a compound verbal modal predicate.

We must not leave him by himself any longer.

The train was to leave at midnight.

… intend to lead a better life in the future.

b) With verbs denoting the beginning, duration or end of an action the infinitive forms part of a compound verbal aspect predicate.

Imprisonment began to tell upon him.

Before daylight it started to drizzle.

Clare continued to observe her.

1. The infinitive as an object.

Leila had learned to dance at boarding school.

After the verbs to allow, to order, to ask, to beg, to request, to implore, to teach, to instruct we often find two objects, one of which is expressed by an infinitive

After waiting some time, Mrs. Clements … ordered the cabman to drive back to her lodgings.

He asked me to walk in.

The infinitive used as an object can be preceded by the introductory object it, which is not translated into Ukrainian.

He found it utterly impossible to leave the spot

1. The infinitive as part of a complex object.

I never saw you act this way before.

1. The infinitive as an attribute.

The use of the infinitive as an attribute is far more extensive in English than in Ukrainian: in Ukrainian 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 Ukrainian 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)

Batsheba was not a woman … to suffer in silence.

I have nobody to say a kind word to me.

He was the first to offer his hand to the Ukrainians.

1. 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.

To pacify her I held the window ajar a few seconds.

The infinitive as an adverbial modifier of purpose can be introduced by in order and so as.

Sometimes you retreat in order to advance.

Soames put on his coat so as not to be cold.

b) the infinitive can be used as an adverbial modifier of result.

This chiefly occurs after adjectives modified by the adverbs enough and too.

His eyes were sharp enough to look after his own interest.

I was too busy to see anyone.

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 unable to work.

Mr. Rokesmith has been so polite as to place his sitting-room at our disposal to-day.

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 ….

d) the infinitive can be used as an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances.

She was driven away, never to revisit this neighbourhood.

I am sorry to have raised your expectations, Mr. Blake only to disappoint them.

8. The infinitive as parenthesis.

Well, to cut the long story short, they thought it would be more economical to live at the villa.

To put it mildly, he was not up to the mark.

The infinitive constructions

In Modern English we find the following predicative constructions with the infinitive.

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