The Infinitive Constructions and The Ways of Their Using
Eg. Jane is said to resemble me. – Говорят, что Джейн похожа на меняю.
The Infinitive with the Subjective-with-the-Infinitive Construction cannot refer to a future action except with the verbs and word groups whose meaning allows of it: “to expect”, “to be sure”, “to be certain”, and “to be likely”.
Eg. We are sure to come at the heart of the matter. – Мы обязательно доберемся до сути дела.
He is expected to give us an answer tomorrow. – Ожидают, что он даст нам ответ завтра.
This fire is certain to produce a panic in the morning. – Этот пожар, беспорно (несомненно) вызовет утром панику.
The Subjective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used with the following groups of verbs in the Passive Voice.
With verbs denoting sense perception: “to see”, “to hear”, etc.
Eg. Mr. Mc’Cord was heard to laugh heartily. – Слышно было, как смеется мистер Мак Корд.
The rider was seen to disappear in the distance. – Видно было, как всадник скрылся вдали.
If a process is expressed Participle I Indefinite Active is used.
Eg. Jill’s father was heard approaching at that moment. – В этот
момент они услышали, что подходит отец Джилл.
The sentences (The Subjective-with-the-Infinitive Construction) with the verbs denoting sense perception are translated into Russian by complex sentence.
With verbs denoting mental activity: “to think”, “to consider”, “to know”, “to expect”, “to believe”, “to suppose”.
Eg. He was thought to be honest and kindly. – Его считали честным и добрым человеком.
My father was considered by many to be a great man. – Многие считали моего отца незаурядным человеком.
The manuscript is believed to have been written in the 15th century. – Полагают, что эта рукопись написана в XV веке.
The sentences (The Subjective-with-the-Infinitive Construction) with the verbs denoting mental activity can be translated into Russian both by simple and complex sentence.
With verb “to make”.
Eg. Little boy was aroused and made to put on his clothes. – Маленького мальчика разбудили и заставили одеться.
Parents made him to do his lessons. – Родители заставляли его
учить уроки. (Simple sentence)
With verbs “to say” and “to report”.
Eg. The gods had given her dark-brown eyes and golden hair, which
is said to be the mark of a weak character. – Боги наделили ее
темно-карими глазами и золотистыми волосами, что,
как говорат, является признаком слабости характера.
It should be noticed that after verbs in the Passive Voice the Subjective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is more characteristic of literary than of colloquial style, except with the verbs “to suppose”, “to expect”, “to make”. With these verbs the Subjective Infinitive can be found both in fiction and in colloquial language.
III. The For-to-Infinitive Construction
The For-to-Infinitive Construction is a construction in which the Infinitive is in predicate relation to a noun or pronoun preceded by the preposition “for”.
In translating this construction into Russian a subordinate clause or an infinitive is used. The construction can have different functions in the sentence. It can be:
Subject, often with the introductory “it”
Eg. I sometimes think it is shame for people to spend so much money this way. – Я иногда думаю, что стыдно людям тратить на это
так много денег.
Predicative
Eg. That was for him to find out. – Выяснить это должен был он.
Attribute
Eg. There is nobody here for him to play with. – Здесь нет никого,
скем он мог бы поиграть.
Complex Object
Eg. He waited for her to speak. – Он ждал, когда она заговорит.
He asked for the papers to be brought. – Он попросил принести
бумаги.
Adverbial Modifier:
of result
Eg. He spoke loud enough for you to hear. – Он говорил достаточно
громко, чтобы Вы могли его слышать.
He had consented, and it was too late for him now to recede. – Он уже
дал согласие, и теперь было поздно отступать.
of purpose
Eg. He stepped aside for me to pass. – Он отошел в сторону, чтобы я могла пройти.
He spoke loud for me to hear. – Он говорил громко, чтобы я могла услышать.
With the expressions “to be sorry”, “to be glad”, “to be pleased” the Infinitive is used only if the subject of the sentence represents at the same time the doer of the action expressed by the Infinitive, over wise a subordinate clause is used.
Eg. I am pleased to have got a ticket for the concert. – Я рада, что достала билет на этот концертю
I am glad to have seen you. – Я раг, что встретил тебя.
I am glad you got a ticket for the concert. – Я рад, что Вы достали билет на этот концерт.
IV. The Absolute Infinitive Construction
The subject of the infinitive in all adverbial functions is the same person or thing as denoted by the subject of the sentence. But the Infinitive may also have a subject of its own with which it forms the so-called Absolute Construction with the Infinitive.
The Absolute Construction with the Infinitive is introduced by the preposition “with”. The Infinitive is used with the particle “to”.
The Absolute Construction with the Infinitive has the function of adverbial modifier of attending circumstances in the sentence.
Eg. Miss Jillian is bellow, Sir, with a carriage to take you home. – Сэр, мисс Джиллиан находится внизу, с экипажем, который отвезет Вас домой.
There are two parallel actions in this sentence. One of them is expressed by the predicate, the other – by the Infinitive. Each action has its own subject.
The Infinitive Absolute Construction is infrequent and found only in literary style.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion it should be noted that the Predicative Constructions are the constructions consisting of two elements: a nominal (noun or pronoun) and verbal (Participle, Gerund or Infinitive). The verbal element stands in predicate relation to the nominate element, that is to say in a relation similar to that between the subject and the predicate of the sentence. In most cases predicative constructions form syntactic units, serving as one part of the sentence.
In English there are three groups of predicative constructions. These are the constructions with Participle, Gerund, and Infinitive.
Participial, Gerundial and Infinitive constructions are highly varied. The structure of some of them is foreign to the Russian language, although their meaning can be fully conveyed in Russian with the help of forms, characteristic of Russian. The constructions are translated into Russian by objective, attributive, adverbial or other subordinate clauses.
The Predicative Constructions with the Infinitive are divided into four types:
The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction
The Subjective-with-the-Infinitive Construction
The For-to-Infinitive Construction
The Absolute Infinitive.
1. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is a construction in which the Infinitive is in predicate relation to a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the objective case. In the sentence this construction has the function of a Complex Object.
2. The Subjective-with-the-Infinitive Construction traditionally called the Nominative-with-the-Infinitive Construction is a construction in which the Infinitive is in predicate relation to a noun in the common case or pronoun in the nominative case.
The peculiarity of this construction is that it does not serve as one part of the sentence. One of its component parts has the function of the subject, the other forms part of a compound verbal predicate.
3. The For-to-Infinitive Construction is a construction in which the Infinitive is in predicate relation to a noun or pronoun preceded by the preposition “for”.
In translating this construction into Russian a subordinate clause or an infinitive is used. The construction can have different functions in the sentence. It can be: subject, predicative, attribute, complex, object, adverbial modifier (of result, purpose).
4. The Absolute Construction with the Infinitive is formed by the subject of the Infinitive which in all adverbial functions is the same person or thing as denoted by the subject of the sentence.
The Absolute Construction with the Infinitive is introduced by the preposition “with”. The Infinitive is used with the particle “to”. The Absolute Construction with the Infinitive has the function of adverbial modifier of attending circumstances in the sentence.
The Infinitive Absolute Construction is infrequent and found only in literary style. That’s why it is consider that in Modern English there are only three Predicative Constructions.
It should be noted that the Predicative Constructions with the Infinitive are translated into Russian by subordinate clause, but sometimes they can be translated by simple sentence.
Eg. The noise caused her to awake. – От шума она проснулась. (Simple sentence, Objective Infinitive Construction)
Jane is said to resemble me. – Говорят, что Джейн похожа на меняю. (Subordinate clause, Subjective Infinitive Construction)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
| 1. |
E. M. Gordon, I. P. Crylova |
“A Grammar of Present-day of English (Parts of Speech)” |
|
2nd addition revised and enlarged In Moscow 1980 «Высшая Школа» Москва |
||
| 2. | Каушанская В.Л. |
«Грамматика Английского Языка» (на английском языке) |
|
4-ое издание Ленинград 1973 |
||
| Издательство «Просвещение» | ||
| 3. |
Т.М.Новицкая, Н. Д. Кучин |
«Практическая Грамматика Английского Языка» |
|
4-ое издание, исправленное Мослва «Высшая Школа» 1979 |
||
| 4. |
A.J. Thomson, A.V. Martinet |
“A Practical English Grammar” |
| 4th addition | ||
| Oxford Universities Press, 1986 |