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The infinitive
§ 96. The infinitive is a non-finite form of the verb which names a process in a most general way. As such, it is naturally treated as the initial form of the verb, which represents the verb in dictionaries (much in the same way as the common case singular represents the noun). In all its forms and functions the infinitive has a special marker, the particle to. The particle to is generally used with the infinitive stem and is so closely connected with it that does not commonly allow any words to be put between itself and the stem. Occasionally, however, an adverb or particle may be inserted between them:
She doesn’t want to even see me once more.
The infinitive thus used is called the split infinitive, and is acceptable only to give special emphasis to the verb. Although the particle to is very closely connected with the infinitive,sometimes the bare infinitive stem is used. The cases where the infinitive loses its marker are very few in number.
Like other non-finite forms of the verb the infinitive has a double nature: it combines verbal features with those of the noun. The verbal features of the infinitive are of two kinds: morphological and syntactical.
1) Morphological: the infinitive has the verb categories of voice, perfect and aspect:
The evening is the time to praise the day. (active) To be praised for what one has not done was bad enough. (passive) She did not intend to keep me long, she said. (non-perfect) I am so distressed to have kept you waiting, (perfect) She promised to bring the picture down in the course of ten minutes. (common) At that time I happened to be bringing him some of the books borrowed from him two days before, (continuous)
2) Syntactical: the infinitive possesses the verb combinability: a) it takes an object in the same way as the corresponding finite verbs do; b)it takes a predicative if it happens to be a link verb; c) it is modified by adverbials in the same way as finite verbs:
The nominal features of the infinitive are revealed only in its function:
To understand is to forgive. (subject, predicative) That’s what I wanted to know. (object) I saw the chance to escape into the garden. (attribute) I merely came back to water the roses, (adverbial modifier of purpose)
The Grammatical Categories of the Infinitive
§ 97. As has already been stated the infinitive has three grammatical categories, those of perfect, voice, and aspect. The system of grammatical categories of the infinitive is shown in the table below. Table IV
It is seen from the table, that the passive voice is found only with transitive verbs and there are no perfect continuous forms in the passive voice. As for the non-perfect continuous passive, forms similar to the one in brackets, do sometimes occur, although they are exceptionally rare.
The category of perfect
§ 98. The category of perfect finds its expression, as with other verb forms, in the opposition of non-perfect and perfect forms. The non-perfect infinitive denotes an action simultaneous with that of the finite verb (I am glad to take part in it, I am glad to be invited there), The perfect infinitive always denotes an action prior to that of the finite verb - the predicate of the sentences. The meaning of priority is invariable with the perfect and perfect continuous infinitive.
The non-perfect infinitive is vaguer and more flexible in meaning and its meaning may easily be modified by the context. Thus, it may denote an action preceding or following the action denoted by the finite verb. It expresses succession, that is indicates that the action follows the action denoted by the finite verb, as in the following cases:
1) When used as an adverbial modifier of purpose:
She bit her lip to keep back a smile. I came here to help you, not to quarrel with you.
2) When used as part of a compound verbal predicate:
You must do it at once. You know, she is beginning to learn eagerly.
3) When used as an object of a verb of inducement:
He ordered the man to come at three. She always asks me to help her when she is busy. He will make you obey.
The category of aspect
§ 99. The category of aspect finds its expression in contrasting forms of the common aspect and the continuous aspect. The difference between the category of aspect in finite verb forms and in the infinitive is that in the infinitive it is consistently expressed only in the active voice:
The passive voice has practically no aspect oppositions. (See Table IV). The semantics of the category of aspect in the infinitive is the same as in the finite verb: the continuous aspect forms denote an action in progress at some moment of time in the present, past, or future; the meaning of the common aspect forms is flexible and is easily modified by the context. The two aspects differ in their frequency and functioning; the continuous aspect forms are very seldom used and cannot perform all the functions in which the common aspect forms are used. They can function only as:
1) subject (To be staying with them was a real pleasure.); 2) object (I was glad to be waking.) 3) part of a compound verbal predicate (Now they must be getting back; The leaves begin to be growing yellowish.)
The continuous aspect forms do not occur in the function of adverbial - modifiers and attributes.
The category of voice
§ 100. The infinitive of transitive verbs has the category of voice, similar to all other verb forms:
The active infinitive points out that the action is directed from the subject (either expressed or implied), the passive infinitive indicates that the action is directed to the subject:
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