VERBALS

The VERB has finite & non-finite forms(the verbals). Like the finite forms of the verb the verbals have tense,
voice & aspect forms, they can be modified by adverbs & can take direct objects. BUT they can’t express
person, number, mood. Their syntactical characteristics are different from those of the finite forms. Verbals
can’t be used as a predicate of the sentence.
There are 3 verbals in English
The infinitive The gerund The participle
The infinitive
Is a non-finite form of the verb that has the verb & noun characteristics.
The verb characteristics: tense, aspect, voice distinctions (6 forms of the infinitive)
Forms of the infinitive Active Passive Definition
Simple inf. Do Be done Shows the present/future action: I can do it.
Shows the action in process: She must be doing it
Continuous inf. Be doing ---
now.
Have Have been
Perfect inf. Shows the past action: I have already done it.
done done
Have
Shows the duration of the past action: She must have
Perfect Continuous inf. been ---
been doing it for an hour.
doing
The noun characteristics. The infinitive has the following syntactical functions:
Subject To love means to care & respect.
Predicative (=complement)
The aim of our foreign policy is to live in peace.
часть сказуемого
Object What do you want to do with it?
Attribute (определение) It’s a nice place to live in. He was the first to do it.
Of purpose: I came here to talk to you.
Of result & consequences (последствий) with too, enough: He knew
E. well enough to read books in the original. She is too young to
Adverbial modifier marry.
Of attendant circumstances (сопутствующие обстоятельства): He
returned home to find his house in ruins. – Он вернулся домой И
увидел свой дом разрушенным.
An infinitive phrase (can express a To tell the truth, …
comment of the sentence) To be honest, …
Bare infinitive
Bare infinitive Full infinitive
Can,may,must: They could do it
Modal verbs Ought, have, be to: You ought to come.
today.
Semi-modals
need,dare:You needn’t say anything. You don’t need to say anything.(ordinary)
Active voice: I heard him lock the
Feel,hear,see, See, hear (in Passive): He was seen to enter
door.
watch the office. He was heard to say, that …
I heard them shouting.
Let,make They let me know. ***Live & let live. ---
Would rather/sooner, I’d rather wait till tomorrow.
---
had better You had better start at once.
Help He helped us push / to push it.
The only thing The only thing to do is write / to write to him.
Do+any/every/no- He does nothing but complain.
---
thing+but/except There is nothing to do but wait.
Used to,be able to, be Do you ride? – No, but I used to.
---
going to Have you fed the dog? –No, but I’m going to.
To be or not to be?
Inf. and inf. – I want you to sit and read the book.
(emphasize on contrast!!!)
Questions with why? Why not do it? ---
The infinitive represented by its ‘to’
An infinitive can be represented by ‘to’ alone to avoid repetition. This is done after the verbs: hate, hope,
intend, would like/love, make (passive), mean, plan, try, want, after the auxiliaries have, need, ought, with
used to, be able to, be going to: Would you like to come with me? – Yes, I’d love to.
When we use parts of to be in the previous She wasn’t scared, but she pretended to be.
clause/sentence, the infinitive form of to be is
repeated after to.
After want, would like in if-clauses & wh-clauses to Call me if you want (to).
is optional. In other cases we use to. -Are you coming to the party? – I’m not sure I want to.
After like we don’t use to. Say nothing you like.
With negative forms we use to. -You ought to ask him for help. – I don’t like to.
Split infinitives
Really is often placed after to in colloquial English. It would take ages to really master this subject.

Adverbs completely, entirely, (un)duly can be treated To completely cover the floor
similarly. To unduly alarm people
The infinitive after too, enough and so…as
Too + adjective + infinitive You are too young to understand.
The plate was too hot to touch.
The grass was too wet to sit on.
Too + adverb + infinitive She works too slowly to be much use to me.
So … as Would you be so good as to forward my letters? =
Would you be good enough to forward my letters?
Complexes with the infinitive
A Complex consists of a nominal part expressed by a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the objective
case and a verbal.
The Objective Infinitive Construction
Is used after verbs of sense perception: hear, feel, see, I saw him leave the house. – Я видел, что он вышел
notice, watch + bare infinitive из дому.
Is used after make, let, have + bare infinitive He made me laugh. I had the garage service my car.
Мне отремонтировали мою машину в мастерской.
Is used after verbs meaning cause or help (allow, I got the garage to service my car.
enable, forbid, force, help, permit, teach, get) + full
infinitive
Is used after verbs of mental activity (believe, We expected him to come back. –Мы ожидали, что
announce, consider, declare, estimate, expect, find, он вернётся.
know) + full infinitive
Is used after verbs of wanting & liking (want, wish, I’d like you to pick me up after classes.
would like, love, prefer, hate) + full infinitive
The Subjective Infinitive Construction
Consists of a noun / pronoun in the nominative (common) case + infinitive. Is used:
With the verbs seem, appear, happen, turn out, prove He seems to know everything. – Кажется, что он
(in the active voice!!!) всё знает.
Verbs of the sense perception (in the passive voice!!!) He was heard to ask the question. – Слышали, что
он задал вопрос.
Verbs of mental activity (in the passive voice!!!) He is known to be a dangerous man.

Verbs of saying & reporting (in the passive voice!!!) He is said to be intelligent. – Говорят, что он
умный.
For + infinitive construction
It’s nice for you to take the dog for a walk. – Для тебя хорошо выводит собаку погулять.
It’s nice of you to take the dog for a walk. – Хорошо с твоей (твоё качество) выводить собаку погулять.
 Verbs normally followed by the Infinitive
The full infinitive is used after the verbs in this group, without a preceding noun.

afford demand* long seem *

agree* determine* manage strive
aim endeavor offer swear *
appear * fail prepare tend
arrange* guarantee * pretend * threaten *
bother happen * proceed trouble
care hasten promise * undertake
claim* have (= be obliged) propose volunteer
condescend hesitate prove (= turn out) vow *
consent hope* refuse resolve *
decide* learn seek
The verbs marked * can also be followed by a 'that-clause'
The verbs marked f can only be followed by a 'that-clause' when they have the subject 'it'.
It appeared that no-one had locked the door.
Examples:
He claimed to be an expert.
I managed to reach the top of the hill
I know you 're only pretending to love me!
Don't pretend that you know the answer.
She failed to explain the problem clearly.
The customs man demanded to search our luggage.
I can't afford to go out tonight.
Proverbs & Sayings
Live & let live.
Children should be seen & not heard.
Treat the others as you like to be treated.
It’s love that makes the world go round.
It’s easy to be wise after the event.
It’s easier to pull down than to build.
Eat to live, not live to eat.
Too good to be true.
A classic is something that everybody wants to have read & nobody wants to read.