The infinitive

The Inf alongside with the participle and gerund belongs to the group of non finite (неличные) forms of the verb. The finite forms generally express time absolutely, that is they refer an action to the present, past or future.

The verbals, the Inf among them, express time relatively, that is through the prism of the action of the predicate verb in the Sent. The action expressed by the verbals may be symalteneous with that of the predicate verb, prostate or posterior. The Inf has the properties of the noun and the verb. The Eng Inf has a wider range of tens forms than the Rus. It can be simple, cont, perf and perf cont.

Depending on its function and position in a sentence it has dif translation versions.

1.The Inf I the function of an attribute is translated into Rus mainly by means of an attributive subordinate clause with modal verbal predicate expressing obligation or possibility or by verbal predicate in the future tense form. The Rus Inf is in’t used in the similar function. (this is the rule to be remembered by you – это правило,которое нужно запомнить. This question will be discussed at the conference shortly to open in Moscow –Этот вопрос будет обсуждаться на конференции, которая вскоре открывается в Москве). The Inf in the atr function is often used after the words the last, the only and ordinal numerals. The atr Inf is translated by the finite form of the verb in the same tense form as the predicate of the Sent. (He is the only employee To Agree to the directors decision - он единственный из сотрудников,кто согласен с решением директра). The Atr Inf is also often used when prepositional verbs comprise its structure and this preposition should be always retained in translation. (There was nobody to be angry with – Злиться было не на кого). The Atr Inf in some cases can be translated by the participle, adjective and prepositional noun. (The shape of things to come is shown by the data obtained by the experts – О характере Предстоящих событий можно судить по данным, полученным специалистами).

2.Inf in the function of an object is translated by the Inf or subordinate clause. (Scientists plan to study the formation of fish shoals, summering flora and soils – ученые собираются изучать образование косяков рыбы, подводную флору и почву).

3.The inf in the function of consequence and attended circumstances. The Inf preceded by such words as: enough, so.., to… such as, only, has a modal meaning and is translated into Rus by the Inf or separate sentence introduced by the conjunctions И, Но. He managed to obtain this concession from the management only To Find that no one really needed it – он добился этой уступки от администрации и обнаружил,что она никомуbне нужна.

4.In the functions of subject nominal part of the compound predicate, predicative and adv modifier of purpose is usually translated either by the Inf or noun. (TO influence a person is To give him once one thoughts – Влиять на человека – это значит навязывать ему свои собственные мысли). It should be born in mind that the Inf having dif tense forms is translated differently into the target language. Perf Inf is always rendered by the predicate in the past tense form (She was sorry To have intruded on her – Она сожалела, что помешала ей). Cont Inf is often translated by lexical means (The children may be playing in the garden –возможно дети сейчас играют в саду). Perf cont Inf is mainly translated using lexical addition Уже. (He must have been investigating this problem for quite a long time – Он вероятно изучал эту проблему уже довольно долгое время).

1. Complex subject (nominative with the Inf construction). An Eng sentence with complex subject is translated into Rus by a complex sentence. Its principal clause is an indefinite personal sentence of the type говорят,сообщают известно and subordinate clause is introduced by the conjunction что, как (All bodies are known to possess weight – Известно, что все тела обладают весом). There is a variety of Inf forms within this construction (simple and compound, active and passive). (The experiment is said To have been successfully completed – Говорят, что эксперимент был успешно завершен).

The predicate can be expressed by the following verbs in the pas form: to say, to report, to state, to believe, to announce, to expect, to understand, to see, hear etc (Mush greater economic tasks were seen to lie ahead –

предстояло решить ещё более важные экономические задачи. The vessel Shevchenko was reported to have arrived in Odessa – Сообщили, что теплоход Шевченко прибыл в Одессу. Теплоход Шевченко,как сообщили, прибыл в Одессу). If in the original the predicate is in the negative form in translation the

If the predicate is a combination of a modal verb plus the inf, in translation it is rendered by an indefinite personal sentence with a modal meaning (this question should be considered to be settled – Следует считать,

что этот вопрос разрешен).

The Inf may be also preceded by the verbs in active voice: seem – казаться, appear – по видимому, happen, chance – случилось так, случайно, prove, turn out – оказаться. This house appears to have been built by good architect – Этот дом, по видимому, был построен хорошим архитектором. When translating from RUs into Eng and using complex subject in translation the Tr-r should the negation from the subordinate clause into the Eng main clause (with the Eng predicate). Кажется, он не знает правду – He doesn’t seem to know the truth. I happened To be there at that time – Случилось так, что я был там в то время.

Complex subject is also used when the predicate is expressed by the following word combinations with the verb to be: to be likely – вероятно, to be unlikely – маловероятно, be certain, sure – наверняка, определенно, to be found - обязан. In this case simple infinitive often refers action to the future. The goods are unlikely to be unloaded today – маловероятно, что товары будут разгружены сегодня. Complex object (objective with the Inf construction).

This complex also consists of 2 elements: nominal and predicate. Its’ nominal part is expressed either by a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the objective case and its’ predicate part is expressed by the simple Inf. Complex object is used after a number of verbs expressing different notions – wish (wish, would like, want, like, hate), supposition (expect, think, know, believe, consider, declare), physical perception (see, watch, observe, notice, hear, feel). The sentence with this construction is translated by a complex sentence. The subordinate object clause is introduced by the conjunctions что, чтобы, как, когда (after the verbs like and hate). (They saw the fascist plane fly over the house; They heard the bombs drop and felt the earth shake – Они видели как фашистский самолет пролетел над домом, услышали, как падали бомбы и почувствовали, как содрогалась земля. Some verbs require using only bear infinitive. They include the following: see, hear, watch, notice, observe, feel and causative verbs: make, let, have.

His scientific adviser made him alter his project – Его научный руководитель заставил его внести изменения в проект. For - with the Inf construction.

This construction presents some difficulty for translation. It is introduced by the preposition for and consists of the following elements: the nominative element is expressed by the noun in the common case or personal pronoun in the objective case and the Inf. It has dif functions in a sentence and dif translation versions.

1.Complex subject. It was unusual for her to dwell on the details in her speech – обычно она не останавливалась на подробностях в своей речи.

2.Complex predicative. The most important thing is for him to conduct this experiment successfully - для него самое важное – удачно провести эксперимент.

3.Complex object. I am anxious for her to marry John – Я очень хочу, чтобы она вышла замуж за Джона.

4.Complex attribute. There is a fax for him to send it off immediately – Вот факс. Пусть он отправит его немедленно.

5.complex adverbal modifier. A) purpose. He stepped aside for me to pass – Он отступил. Чтобы дать мне пройти. B) Complex adverbial modifier of result. His handwriting was too dif for me to make out – Его почерк был слишком неразборчивым, чтобы я мог его понять. This construction has a very wide usage: both in fiction and newspaper style. Absolute nominative construction with the Inf. This construction is always at the end of the sentence and is separated by a coma. It conveys attendant circumstances with a modal meaning of obligation. It is translated by a sentence introduced by the conjunctionпри чем. The buyers requested the sellers to keep them informed of the position of the vessel, the communications to be addressed to their agents – Покупатели просили продавцов держать их в курсе местонахождения судна, при чем сообщения должны направляться их агентам.

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