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 |
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1. Subject |
Thatobtain this data is necessary for our further work. Obtaining this data is a necessary condition for our further work. |
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2. Part of a compound nominal predicate |
His aim is to obtain this data. Its purpose is to obtain this data. |
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3.Addition |
The professor asked the students to make the experiment. The professor asked the students to conduct an experiment. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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 . |
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
| 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…
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 pleasure.
Predicative
Your duty was to inform me about it immediately.
It was your responsibility to 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 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 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.
№ |
PROPERTY |
EXAMPLE |
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The infinitive of a transitive verb can be followed by a direct object |
I told him to post the letter. I was asked to send this letter. |
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The infinitive can be determined by a circumstance expressed by an adverb |
I asked him to speak slowly. He hoped to finish his work soon. |
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The infinitive has tense and voice forms. In English, transitive verbs have four forms in the active voice and two in the passive voice. |
Active |
Passive |
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Indefinite |
to ask |
to be asked |
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Continuous |
to be asking |
does not exist |
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Perfect |
to have asked |
to have been asked |
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Perfect |
to have been asking |
does not exist |
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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.)
Ask him to come early. |
Ask him come early. |
(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:
FEATURES OF USING INFINITIVE FORMS |
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№ |
CAN EXPRESS |
EXAMPLE |
INDEFINITE INFINITIVE |
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Action (or state) simultaneous with the action indicated by the personal form of the verb (predicate) |
We want to learn. |
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An action (or state) regardless of the moment of its commission |
We know aluminum to be one of the lightest metals. |
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An action related to the future tense, after the modal verbs may, must, should, ought, as well as after the verbs to expect expect, assume, to intend to intend , to hope to hope , to want to want and a number of others |
You must leave tomorrow. I intend to begin the experiment. |
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CONTINUOUS INFINITIVE |
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An action in its development, occurring simultaneously with the action indicated by the verb in the personal form |
I knew him to be writing an article. |
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PERFECT INFINITIVE |
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Action preceding the action expressed by the verb in the personal form |
I know him to have written this article last night. |
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After past tense of verbs to intend, to hope, to expect, to mean expresses an action that did not occur contrary to expectation, hope, intention or assumption |
I meant to have done it. |
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The assumption that an action has already taken place. In combination with the modal verbs must and may is translated by a verb in the past tense with the words " probably, should be, perhaps" |
My watch must have stopped during the night. |
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After modal verbs should, would, could, might, ought And was (were) expresses regret or reproach regarding an action that should or could have happened, but in fact did not happen. Translated into Russian by a verb in the subjunctive mood with the words “should”, etc. |
You might have asked me about it. |
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PERFECT CONTINUOUS INFINITIVE |
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Expresses an action that took place over a period of time previous action expressed by a verb in personal form |
I know him to have been writing this article for 2 hours. |
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INFINITIVE WITH PARTICLE TO |
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 union 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.:
CASES OF USE OF THE INFINITIVE WITHOUT THE PARTICLE TO |
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№ |
CASE OF USE |
EXAMPLE |
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After modal verbs must, can (could), may (might) and need |
You must do it at once. Not can speak German. May I come in? Need he come here? |
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After the verbs to make to force, to let to allow, and sometimes also after to help to help (especially often in the USA) |
Not made me read this book. I let him go there. Help me (to) do it. |
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In circulation “complex subject” after verbs of sensory perception: to see see, to watch observe, to hear hear, to feel feel and some others |
I saw her leave the room. I heard her sing. I felt him put his hand on my shoulder. |
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When the verbs listed in paragraphs 2 and 3 are used in the passive voice, the following infinitive is used with the particle to |
Not was made to do it. Not was seen to leave the house. |
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After the expressions had better, would rather, would sooner would prefer |
You had better go there at once. I would rather don't tell them about it. Didn't say he would sooner stay at home. |
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In English infinitive(Infinitive) is a word that denotes an action, but does not indicate a person or number. In Russian, the English infinitive corresponds to the infinitive form of the verb, which answers the questions “what to do? what to do?": to live - to live.
The formal sign of the infinitive is the particle to:
to write- write, to read- read, to drink- drink, to think- think.
If there is a particle before the verb to, then before you is an infinitive (or an indefinite form of a verb). Sometimes the infinitive can be used without a particle to.
The negative form is formed using a particle not, which comes before the infinitive: not to use - do not use.
It is difficult to use
.- Difficult use.
It is difficult not to use
.- Difficult do not use.
Infinitive forms
In English, the infinitive has 6 forms (unlike Russian, which has only one form). To understand well the meanings of the infinitive forms, you need to have an understanding of the verb.
Simple infinitive. Indefinite Infinitive
Infinitive in the form Indefinite (Simple) or simple infinitive is the basic form and represents the verb in the dictionary (for convenience, the particle in the dictionary to often omitted). This form of the infinitive is in the same tense as the verb that precedes it.
I was glad to see her. — I was glad to see her (simple infinitive in the active voice).
The child didn't like to be washed. — The child did not like being washed (simple infinitive in the passive voice).
Compare the use of the simple infinitive in the active and passive voice: to help - to be helped
I am glad to help you. - I am glad to help. (I'm glad I'm helping).
I am glad to be helped. - I'm glad they're helping me.
Perfect infinitive. Perfect Infinitive
Infinitive in the form Perfect or perfect infinitive denotes an action that precedes the action of the predicate verb.
I was very glad to have met you. - I am very glad that I met you (perfect infinitive in the active voice).
Sorry not to have noticed you. - Sorry that I didn’t notice you (perfect infinitive in the active voice).
The child was happy to have been brought to the circus. — The child was happy that he was brought to the circus (perfect infinitive in the passive voice).
Compare the use of the Simple Infinitive and the Perfect Infinitive in the active voice: to see - to have seen
I am glad to see you. - Glad to see you. (Glad to see you.)
I am glad to have seen you. - Glad I saw you.
Long infinitive. Continuous Infinitive
Infinitive in the form Continuous or long infinitive emphasizes the duration of an action occurring simultaneously with the action of the predicate verb. This form is used only in the active voice.
He doesn't seem to be writing something. — It seems he is writing something now (long infinitive in the active voice).
Perfectly continuous infinitive. Perfect Continuous Infinitive
Infinitive in the form Perfect Continuous or perfect continuous infinitive emphasizes that the action began earlier than the action of the predicate verb, lasted for a period of time and is still lasting. This form is also not used in the passive voice.
He didn't seem to have been writing all day. “It seemed like he was writing all day.”
Infinitive forms in the table
| The meaning of different forms of the infinitive in the table | ||
| Infinitive forms | What am I happy about? | |
| Simple | I am glad to speak to you. | Glad to talk to you. (I always rejoice when I talk to you). |
| Continuous | I am glad to be speaking to you. | I'm glad I'm talking to you now. |
| Perfect | I am glad to have spoken to you. | Glad I talked to you. |
| Perfect Continuous | I am glad to have been speaking to you. | I’m glad that I’ve been talking to you for a long time (all this time). |
| Simple Passive | I am (always) glad to be told the news. | I'm always glad when people tell me news. |
| Perfect Passive | I am glad to have been told the news. | Glad you told me the news. |
Using the infinitive without the particle to
Most often the infinitive in English is used with the particle to, but there are cases when the particle to not used before an infinitive.
The infinitive is used without particle to in the following cases:
- After can, could, must, may, might, will, shall, should, would And need (in the modal sense). Exceptions are modal verbs have to, ought to, be to.
- IN complex addition after sensory verbs feel(feel), hear(hear), see(see), watch(observe), notice(notice):
I saw him leave the office. — I saw him leave the office.
But: if the listed verbs feel, see, hear, watch, notice are used in the passive voice, then the particle precedes the infinitive to:
I heard him go down the stairs. “I heard him come down the stairs.He was seen to leave the office. — We saw him leave the office.
- In a complex object after verbs make(meaning “to force, compel”) And let(meaning “to allow, allow”). Again, if these verbs are in the passive voice, then the infinitive is used with the particle to.
I can't make you take this medicine. “I can’t force you to take this medicine.”
We let her go to the party. — We allowed her to go to the party.
She was made to rewrite the test. — She was forced to rewrite the test (was made - passive verb). - After the verb help(to help) the infinitive can also be used with a particle to, and without it. Both options are acceptable, with the option without to less formal.
Infinitive in English– this is a non-personal form. Like a verb, an infinitive names an action, but unlike a verb, it does not indicate person or number. In its basic form (Simple Infinitive), the infinitive answers the questions: what to do? what to do?
to purchase – to purchase.
The infinitive is also called the “infinitive form of the verb” or the “initial form of the verb.”
Table: infinitive forms in English (briefly)
The infinitive can have 4 forms in the active voice and 2 in the passive voice.
However, the most common and relevant for study is the form “simple infinitive in the active voice” (to ask). In fact, when they say “infinitive”, usually, in most cases, I mean this particular form - most of this article is devoted to it.
Below we will look at the same table again and analyze each form in detail, but first we need to clarify two more points:
- The infinitive can be with or without the particle to.
- How is the negative form of the infinitive formed?
After that, let's return to the analysis of each form.
Infinitive with the particle to and without the particle to
The infinitive can be used with or without the particle to:
- I want to help you. - I want to help you.
- I must help you. - I have to help you.
Most often the infinitive is used with to, but there are a number of cases when the infinitive is used without the particle to, they apply to all forms of the infinitive(i.e. all forms from the table above). I note that most often the infinitive without to occurs after modal verbs, other cases are quite rare.
1. After modal verbs (the most common case)
Negative infinitive
The negative form is formed using a particle not– it is placed before the infinitive. If the infinitive has the particle to, the negation not is placed before it.
I decided not to go to London. – I decided not to go to London.
He asked me not to be late. - He asked me not to be late.
I might not come. – I may not come.
All forms of the infinitive in English (details)
Let's look again at all forms of the infinitive:
There are six forms in total in the table:
1. Simple Infinitive:
I want to ask you – I want to ask you.
2. Simple Infinitive Passive:
I want to be asked- I want to be asked.
3. Continuous Infinitive:
I happened to be asking her about you when you came in. “It so happened that I asked her about you when you came.”
4. Perfect Infinitive:
You could have asked me first - You could ask me first.
5. Perfect Infinitive Passive:
She could have been asked by anybody – Anyone could have asked her.
6. Perfect Continuous Infinitive:
He doesn't seem to have been asking wrong people - Looks like he was asking the wrong people questions.
Please note that the most common, necessary and important form to study is Simple Infinitive. In second place - Simple Infinitive Passive. Other forms are used less frequently.
Forms Perfect And Perfect Continuous(that is, those where there are have) – largely overlap with the themes “ and . If you already know these topics, you will see familiar things, but just from a different perspective - everything is explained in more detail below.
Simple Infinitive - simple infinitive (the most necessary form)
The most common and important form of the infinitive to study is the simple infinitive in the active voice (Infinitive Indefinite Active or Simple Infinitive Active). It is used to denote an action that:
1. Occurs simultaneously with the action of the main verb:
Tell him to stop. - Tell him to stop.
2. Refers to the future tense:
I want you to come with me tomorrow. – I want you to come with me tomorrow.
3. Regardless of the time of commission:
To know such tricks are useful. – Knowing such tricks is useful.
Let's name the main cases of its use.
1. With verbs that do not give full meaning
The infinitive is often used in combination with verbs that do not make full sense without it, for example:
- Tell- say/command something,
- Begin- start,
- Continue- continue,
- Want- want,
- Intend- intend
- Try- try, try,
- Hope- hope
- Promise- promise,
- Decide- decide, make a decision.
I want to see your permission. - I want to see your permission.
Do you promise to quit smoking? – Do you promise to quit smoking?
Nina decided not to sing the agreement. – Nina decided not to sign the agreement.
I'll try to help you. - I'll try to help you.
These verbs include modal verbs. I remind you that after them the infinitive is used without the particle to:
I must see your permission. - I need to see your permission.
Can you quit smoking? -Can you quit smoking?
2. To indicate the purpose of an action
In Russian, when we need to express the purpose of an action, we say “to” or “with a purpose.” In English we use the infinitive:
She came to collect her letter. - She came (to) pick up her letter.
We came to help you. - We came (to) help you.
I am calling to ask you about dad. – I’m calling you (to) ask about dad.
You sister has gone to finish her homework. – Your sister left to finish her homework (left to finish).
In this case to can be replaced by a union in order to(with a purpose), the meaning will be the same, but sentences with in order to sounds more formal:
You sister has gone in order to finish her homework. – Your sister left to complete her homework.
3. Infinitive as subject
The infinitive is used as a subject in formal speech, often in writing.
To be or not to be, that is the question. – To be or not to be, that is the question.
To know she is to love her. “To know her is to love her.”
To visit the Grand Canyon is my life-long dream. – Visiting the Grand Canyon has been my life’s dream.
To understand statistics, that is our aim. – Understanding statistics is our goal.
4. To indicate the purpose of the item
If I had known you were coming I would have baked a cake. “If I had known you were coming, I would have baked a pie.”
You could have helped him. – You could have helped him (but you didn’t).
In the case of the verb should there is a hint of regret or reproach:
Where should have taken more gas. – We should have taken more gasoline (but, unfortunately, we didn’t).
You should have been prepared for anything! “You should have been ready for anything!” (but you weren't and therefore you let us down)
Perfect Continuous Infinitive - an infinitive denoting a continuous-perfect action
Scheme: to have been + Present Participle. Example: to have been talking.
This form is used in the following cases:
1. Long completed action
The infinitive denotes a continuous action that was performed but completed before the action expressed by the verb.
The woman seemed to have been crying. “The woman looked like she was crying.
He pretended to have been working all day. “He pretended that he had been working all day.”
2. After modal verbs must, may, should
The assumption is expressed that some long-term action took place, but has already ended.
You must have been waiting for hours! “You must have waited for hours!”
They might have been talking before you came in. “They must have been talking before you came in.”
In the case of a modal verb should there is a tinge of regret or reproach that some long-term action could have occurred, but in reality did not occur.
You should have been studying for your test. – You should have studied for the test (but you didn’t).
Note:
Please note that in all perfect forms of the infinitive, that is, in forms where there is have, the word itself have never takes shape has, as in the case of a verb in its personal form. Word have in this case it is part of the infinitive, therefore it cannot be correlated with person and number, and accordingly cannot take a personal form has(has = 3rd person, singular).
He has a fox. - He has a fox.
The has form is used because it is the personal form (3rd person, singular) of the verb.
He might have a fox. - He might have a fox.
Here have– infinitive, it has no person and number.
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