English Grammar for University Students. Part 4

Verbals cannot be a predicate in the sentence but they can be used as part of a compound predicate. They may form predicative constructions which consist of two elements: a noun or a pronoun and a verbal. They are in predicative relation that resembles the relation of the subject and the predicate.

I would like you to play with the child.

I saw him cross the street.

Father had his car repaired yesterday.

The non-verbal nature of non-finites may be seen in their syntactical functions. The Infinitive and the Gerund perform the syntactical functions of subject, object and predicative that are similar to the syntactical functions of the noun. Participle I may function as part of a compound nominal predicate (predicative), attribute, and adverbial modifier; Participle II may function as attribute and predicative.

THE INFINITIVE

The Infinitive is the form of the verb which expresses a process in general, and is known as the initial form of the verb.

The Infinitive may be used with the particle to. Sometimes the particle is separated from the Infinitive by other words, e.g. an adverb (split Infinitive).

This separation is usually used for the purpose of emphasis.

You have really him.

Historically, the Infinitive is a verbal noun. That is why it combines the features of the verb with those of the noun.

The verbal features of the Infinitive are manifested in its morphological and syntactical characteristics.

1. It possesses the grammatical categories of voice, aspect and temporal correlation.

It was too dark to read the map and we took the wrong turning.

You’re not supposed to be reading this.

Fleming, Tolkien and CS Lewis are the authors that British people most claim – falsely – to have read.

This is a book to be read by everybody taking this course!

Why do some new messages appear to have been read when I haven’t opened them yet?

She was seen to have been reading the new book in the garden.

2. The Infinitive possesses the verb combinability:

a) The Infinitive of transitive (переходные) verbs takes a direct object.

Alex may send (transitive verb) a postcard (direct object) from Argentina.

3. The Infinitive can be modified by adverbials.

She agreed to leave the room quickly and quietly.

The nominal character of the Infinitive is manifested in its syntactical functions.

To drive fast in such weather is pretty dangerous (subject).

Their duty will be to look after the children (predicative).

I asked her to explain everything (object).

I have no desire to go there (attribute).

The grammatical categories of the infinitive

The Infinitive possesses verbal categories: temporal correlation, aspect, and voice (for transitive forms) (as shown in the table below) [Тивьяева, 2007].

FORMS OF THE INFINITIVE

As for temporal correlation, the forms of the Infinitive show whether the action is simultaneous to the action expressed by the finite verb, or prior to it.

1. The Non-Perfect (Indefinite, Simple) Infinitive denotes an action simultaneous with that of the finite verb.

Jeremy likes to write letters.

Jeremy liked to write letters.

Jeremy will like to write letters.

2. The Continuous Infinitive expresses an action in progress or happening over a period of time and simultaneous with that of the finite verb. The Continuous Infinitive is both a temporal and aspect form, becauseit expresses how an action, denoted by the Infinitive, extends over time.

You must be joking.

I happened to be waiting for the bus when the accident happened.

3. The Perfect Infinitive denotes an action prior to that of the finite verb.

Lucy was known to have left the day before.

I am happy to have finished school.

If you had run faster you would have won the race.