To compel to implore to order to urge

Tell him to hurry.

He asked her to keep an eye on the clock.

What would you recommend me to do

With all these verbs, except to have, to let, to make, a to-infinitive is used

She will have you do it at once.

Don’t let it bother you.

Soon she made me see where I was wrong

The object, which is a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the objective case, denotes a person or very seldom, a non-person who is to perform the required action expressed by the infinitive.

The verb to help can be used either with one or with two objects

She helped me to make my mind.

She helped to pack.

The infinitive as an attribute

In this function the infinitive always denotes a not yet fulfilled action, which is regarded as desirable, possible, advisable, necessary. The modal meaning of the infinitive attribute as generally rendered in Russian by modal verbs or expression:

The infinitive attribute can modify:

1. Nouns, both abstract and concrete:

Because of his quarrel with his family he was in no position to get the news.(…не мог получить известий).

The best thing to do would be to go back (самое лучшее, что можно было сделать…)

He is just the man to do it.(он как раз тот человек, который может это сделать)

2. Indefinite, negative and universal pronouns in –body, -thing, -one (one):

Have you anything to offer me? (Вы можете мне что-нибудь предложить?)

He was someone to admire.

He had everything to make his life a happy one

Occasionally the infinitive can have the function of an attributive to personal negative and reflexive pronouns or pronominal adverbs:

I’ve only you to look to.

Oh, but you have only yourself to praise.

Now I had nobody to see, nowhere to go

3. Substantivized ordinal numerals (especially first), substantivized adjectives (next and last):

Jack was the first to come.

She was the last to reach the hall

4. Substantivized quantative adjectives much, little, (no) more, (no) less, little more, enough:

A man in your position has so much to lose.

I’ve no more to add.

5. The noun-substitute one:

I am not the one to run and discuss my affairs with other people.(…кто может…)

When performing the function of the infinitive the to-infinitive is always used. If there are two or more homogeneous attributes the second (and the following) retain to if joined by conjunctions, but drop it if joined by conjunction:

There was, however, my little Jean to look after, to take care of.

Did he give you small parcel to bring back and deliver to anyone in England?

The infinitive as an attribute may be introduced by conjunctive pronouns or adverbs:

He had sought in vain for inspiration how to awaken love.

I had now an idea what to do.

The infinitive as adverbial modifier

The infinitive can be used as adverbial modifier of purpose, subsequent events, consequence, attendant circumstances, comparison, condition, exception, time, cause, or motivation. In all these functions but that of adverbial modifier of exception, a to-infinitive is used.

Type of adverbial modifier		Illustrations
I. of purpose	Only non-perfect common aspect forms of the infinitive The position of the adverbial varies.	I think I will go to England to improve my English. We stood in the rain and were taken out one at a time to be questioned and shot. To occupy her mind, she took the job given her.
II. of subsequent events	The position of the adverbial is fixed- always follows the predicate. The only form possible-the non-perfect common aspect, active as a rule. The infinitive denotes an action that follows the one denoted by the predicate	He arrived at three o’clock to hear that Fleur had gone out with the car at ten. [ he arrived and heard] I came down one morning to find Papa excited to the point of apoplexy. [ I came down and found…]
III. of consequence	The infinitive denotes an action, which would become or became possible [enough, so, such] or impossible[too] due to the degree of quality or quantity expressed in the words it refers to. The position of the infinitive is fixed [after the word it modifies]	He was too tired to argue. [He was so tired, that is why he couldn’t argue] He’s old enough to learn this. [He is old enough, so he can learn this] She was so kind as to accept my proposal. [She was so kind, therefore she accepted my proposal]
IV. of attendant circumstances	The infinitive shows what other actions take place at the same time as the action of the predicate. Position is fixed-follows the predicate. Common aspect, active voice form.	He left the house never to come back. I am sorry to have raised your expectations only to disappoint you
V. of comparison	The infinitive is introduced by than	To give is more blessed than to receive. Soon she realized, that it was much more pleasant to give than to be given.
VI. of condition	The infinitive denotes an action which preconditions the action expressed by the predicate. The position varies [ precedes or follow the predicate ]. Non-perfect, common aspect, active voice form.	To look at Montmorency you would imagine that he was an angel sent upon earth…[If you look…] I’ll thank you to take your hands off me.[ I’ll thank you if…]
VII. of exception	The infinitive denotes an action which is the only possible one in the situation. The infinitive is generally used without to and is introduced by the prepositions but and except	I had nothing to do but wait. What could I do but submit. There is nothing to do except turn back.
VIII. of time	The infinitive denotes an action which marks out the moment of time up to which or at which the action of the predicate is performed. Very often it has the secondary meaning of condition. The position of the infinitive is fixed-it follows the predicate. It’s form: non-perfect, common aspect, active.	His father lived to de ninety.( lived till he was…) Go away! I shudder to see you here. (I shudder when I see…, if I see…) I may not live to reach the airstrip this afternoon. (may not live till I reach…)
IX. of motivation	The predicative is expressed by a noun, an adjective, a prepositional phrase denoting someone’s qualities (intellectual, moral).The infinitive denotes an action which serves as a cause or a motivation on which this or that characterization is based. The infinitive follows the predicate. All forms are possible.	What an idiot I was not to have thought of it before. (I had not thought of it before, therefore I can justly be called an idiot.) She was silly to come here. (She came here, and it was silly of her.) They’re out of their mind to have sent you here! (They have sent you here, so one can think them out of their minds.)

The infinitive as parenthesis

The infinitive used as parenthesis is usually part of a collocation, as in: to begin with, to be (quite)frank, to be sure, to make matters worse, to put it mildly, to say the least, to tell the truth, needless to say, strange to say, so to speak, to make a long story short to crown all, to be more precise, to say nothing of…

To begin with, you have been lying to me all the time.

To be quite frank, I don’t like him at all.

He was, strange to say, just an ordinary little chap.

The for-to-infinitive construction

§ 114. In the for-to-infinitive construction the infinitive (usually an infinitive phrase) is in predicate relation to a noun in the common case a pronoun in the objective case introduced by the preposition for. The construction is used where the doer of the action (or the bearer of the state), expressed by the infinitive, is different from that of the finite verb (the predicate):

and:

The for-to-infinitive construction has the same functions as a single infinitive, though with some restrictions.

1. Subject. The for-to-infinitive construction in the function of the subject usually occurs in sentences with the introductory it, though it occasionally placed at the head of the sentence:

It was difficult for him to do anything else. for me /o hear him was disturbing.

2. Predicative. In this function the construction is mostly used with the link verb to be;

The best thing is for you to do it now.

3. Object. The construction functions as object of both verbs and adjectives:

a) She watched for the door to open.

I don't think I should care for it to be known.

b) His family was anxious for him to do something. I'm so glad for you to have come at last.

4. Attribute:

There was no need for him to be economical.

5. Adverbial modifier of purpose and consequence:

She paused for him to continue.

The wall was too high for anything to be visible.

He had said enough for me to get alarmed.

In all its uses this construction is generally rendered in Russian by a subordinate clause.

The predicative constructions with the infinitive:

The Objective with the Infinitive construction

The "Objective with the Infinitive construction" is used:

a) With verbs expressing a perception of the senses, as to hear, to feel, to see; also with verbs expressing observation as to notice, to observe, to watch:

...he felt Wilson take hold of his arm. Old Jolyon... saw his brother's face change.... (Galsworthy.) "I ' am glad to hear you say so." -(Bronte.) No one had noticed him leave the room, no one knew where he was. (Jerome.). Andrew observed her hurry off... (Cronin.) He watched the rain stream and hiss against the leaves. (Galsworthy.) He heard a blackbird sing. (Galsworthy.)

Note.— When the verbs to hear and to see express mental perceptions, to hear meaning to learn, to see meaning to understand, they cannot be followed by an "Accusative with the Infinitive", but require an object -clause:

• "I hear you have had a wonderful trip." (Hemingway.)

b) With verbs expressing permission, request, intention, order, compulsion such as: to allow, to permit, to let, to suf­fer, to order, to command, to compel, to force, to cause, to make, to induce, to persuade, to request, to get, to mean, to intend, etc.:

The sunlight was making the pink cliffs glow in the most wonderful way... (Galsworthy.) She caused a telegram to be sent to him. (Galsworthy.) She made Shelton pull into the reeds... (Galsworthy.) "Why did you get me to do that set­tlement...?" (Galsworthy.) "You know," she said, "I realize that they don't mean us to be friends." (Galsworthy.)

The verbs to order, to command, to recommend, to beg, to prom­ise, etc. are often followed by two independent objects— a noun (or pronoun) and the infinitive:

"He ordered the cabman to drive on." (London.) My mother bent her head, and begged her to walk in. (Dickens.)

The noun (or pronoun) and the infinitive usually form a com­plex when the noun (or pronoun) expresses an inanimate thing or when the infinitive has a passive form:

"I really cannot allow this matter to go any further without some explanation." (Dickens.) We allowed a little time to.. pass before we went in. (Galsworthy.) I won't suffer this barrow to be moved another step. (Dickens.)

c) With verbs expressing liking or disliking, as to want, to wish, to desire, to like, to hate, etc.:

"Do you wish me to be at home earlier?" (Bronte.) "I can't bear you to be unhappy." (Galsworthy.) "My father

doesn't want us to know each other..." (Galsworthy.) "Would you like me to stay?" (Galsworthy.)...she and Val would love Jon to live with them. (Galsworthy.) "I want Florence

to come for me," said Paul. (Dickens.)

Also with the expressions: I won't have... „would you have...?

"Would you have me wait?" (Voynich.) I won't have you

do such things.

d) With verbs of mental perceptions, such as to expect, to know, to believe, to acknowledge, to understand, to admit, to assume, to deny, to prove, etc.:

"We've got a right to expect you not to desert our side." (Snow.)...they had believed me to be without any friends save them... (B r о n t e.) She had never seen my mother, but she knew her to be not yet twenty. (Dickens.)

N о t e. — If the action of the finite verb and that of the infinitive refer to

the same person or thing a corresponding reflexive pronoun

must be used:

Slowly, economically, he got dressed and forced himself to walk. (Law­rence.)

3. Some intransitive (objective) verbs, such as to listen, to rely, are followed by a prepositional "Accusative with the Infinitive":

...the phone began to ring. She lay motionless, listening to it ring for several minutes. (Caldwell.)

4. The infinitives to be, to look, to become, etc. are often used with the force of link-verbs and are followed by predicatives:

A figure appeared in the distance before long, and I soon knew it to be Emily... (Dickens.) He had never seen her to look prettier... (Galsworthy.)

5. The "Accusative with the Infinitive" is rendered in Russian by means of a subordinate object clause:

I heard the bell ring—Я слышал, как зазвонил звонок. I want him to come as soon as possible. — Я хочу, чтобы он при­шёл как можно скорее.

With the verbs to make, to cause, to get the "Accusative with the Infinitive" is rendered in Russian by a noun (or pronoun) in the accusative case and an infinitive (if the infinitive in the English con­struction is in the active voice):

He made me wait. Он заставил меня ждать. We got him to come. Мы заставили его прийти.

But: He ordered the doors to be locked.—Он приказал, чтобы двери были заперты.

The subjective with the Infinitive construction

1. The subject of a sentence is sometimes expressed by a noun (or pronoun.) and an infinitive, which follows the predicate. Although the noun (or pronoun) and the infinitive do not stand together, they are closely connected and form one syntactical unit— а complex subject. The relation between the noun (or pronoun) and the infinitive is that a secondary subject and secon­dary predicate. In the sentence The girl was seen to leave the house The girl... to leave the house is a complex subject to the pred­icate was seen. What was seen is the girl in the action of leaving the house. Although the predicate of the sentence agrees only with the noun (or pronoun)— The girl was seen to leave the house. The girls were seen to leave the house— it actually refers to the whole complex (the girl... to leave the house). This construction is traditionally called "The Subjective with the Infinitive".

2. The subjective with the Infinitive construction

is used:

a) with verbs expressing permissionоn, request, intention, order, compulsion such as to allow, to permit, to suffer, to order, to command, to compel, to force, to make, to request, to mean,

to intend, etc.:

Her aunt must be made not to tell her father that she knew. The fountains were once more made to throw up their sparkling showers. They were requested to be ready by 7 o'clock. They were ordered to enter the cell. Mrs. Pullet's front-door mats were by no means intended to wipe, shoes on... (Eliot.)

b) with verbs expressing perсeption of the senses, as to hear, to see, to feel, etc.:

They were seen to leave the house early in the morning. The garden-gate was heard to bang. (Lawrence.) Those windows would be seen by daylight to be of brilliantly stained glass... (Bronte.)

c) with verbs of mental perceptions, such as to expect, to know, to believe, to deny, etc.:

What evenings, when the candles came, and I was expected to employ myself, but not daring to read an entertaining book. (Dickens.) Philip Bosinney was known to be a young man without fortune. (Galsworthy.) Two months are supposed to have elapsed. (Henry.) Mr. Rochester had left for London -three weeks ago, but was then expected to return in a fortnight. (B о n e.) He was believed to have a bedroom at the back. (Galsworthy.)

d) with verbs of saying and reporting, such as to say, to report, etc.:

The pilot is reported to have started on his flight early in the morning. Mr. Qilp could scarcely be said to be of any par­ticular trade or calling... (Dickens.) The Bennets were steadily pronounced to be the luckiest family in the world. (Austin.) These islands are said to have been discovered as early as 1762... (Рое.)

e) with such verbs as to seem, to appear, to happen, to prove, to chance. Here the predicate is in the active voice.

Also with to be sure (certain, likely):

This morning's sunshine faded amid slow-gathering clouds, but something of its light seems still to linger in the air, and to touch the rain, which is falling softly. (Gissing.) He appears to be very strong... (Dickens.) "I just happened to be passing, so I dropped in." (Gordon.) "...I should think he is very likely to stay a week or more... (Bronte.) "He is sure to come back." (Doyle.)

3. The meaning of a sentence with a "Nominative with the Infin­itive" may be rendered by using the anticipatory it:

It was reported that the expedition had landed safely (synony­mous to The expedition was reported to have landed safely). It is expected that he will arrive at two o'clock. It seemed that they were satisfied with the results of the experiment. It is said that six million tons of stone were used in the construction of the Great Pyramid... (Stanley.) It was said that he was a marvelous chauffeur, at once daring and prudent. (Bennett.)

4. With some verbs, such as to make, to know, to see, to hear, to order, to allow, to permit, etc. both the "Objective with the Infinitive" and the "Subjective with the Infinitive" may be used:

The fountains were once more made to throw up their spark­ling showers. (Irving.) (Subjective with the Infinitive.) A few light taps upon the pane made him turn to the window. (J о у с e.) (Objective with the Infinitive.) Philip Bosinney was known to be a young man without fortune. (Galsworthy.) (Subjective with the Infinitive.) She had never seen my mother but she knew her to be not twenty. (Dickens.) (Objectivetive with the Infini­tive.)

5. In Russian the Subjective with the Infinitive construction is usually rendered by a subordinate object clause depending on a principal clause with an indefinite subject implied (неопределённо-личное пред­ложение), such as говорят, сообщают, ожидают, etc.

TEST

I. Open the brackets using the required form of the infinitive:

1.I ought(to work) right now.

2.Your watch will(to repair) by Tuesday.

3.I’d like(to go) home early today.

4.The man seemed (to study) me and I felt uneasy in his presence.

5. Not(to answer) would have been a wrong step.

6.We seem(to fly) over the sea for quite a time and there is yet no land(to see).

7.T he man appears (to know) practically all European languages; he is said (to learn) them while traveling.

8. How fortunate he is (to travel) all over the world and(to see so) much of it.

9.He hated(to bother) with trifling matters when he had many more important questions(to decide).

10. The book is (to publish) and(to appear) on sale pretty soon. It is sure(to sell) well and (to sell) out in no time.

II. Open the brackets and insert the particle to where necessary:

1. -Did you remember (lock) the car?

- No, I didn’t. I’d better (go) back and (do) it now.

2. “ I was lonely at first,” the old man admitted,” but after a time I got used (live) and even got (like) it..”

3.Why (worry)?

4. The hunters are expected (be paid) by the provision for the snakes they caught.

5.I was just about (leave) the office when the phone rang. It was my wife; she wanted me (call) at the butcher’s on my way home.

6. I had nothing to do but (obey).

7.Have you ever heard him (complain) of difficulties?

8. Make them (come) as early as possible.

9. I thought I would rather (get) to the gallery alone, but I was obliged (accept) his company.

10. She’d better (go) home now.

III. State the functions of the infinitives:

1.Surelly it is not at all necessary to go into details.

2. To tell the truth, I don’t rely on him.

3.He is clever enough to understand it.

4. I used to keep late hours when I was a student.

5.He waited for her to speak but it seemed that her answer would never come.

6.They seemed to have learned the truth, they looked excited.

7. The book was difficult to understand.

8. It is rather hard to read his handwriting.

9. He was the first to break the silence.

10. Not to see her was a torture.

IV. Correct the mistakes if any:

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