The functions of the infinitive in the sentence.

The infinitive can be used in different syntactic functions. A single infinitive occurs but seldom: in most cases we find an infinitive phrase, i.e. an infinitive with one or several accompanying words.

1. The infinitive as a subject.

To doubt, under the circumstances, is almost to insult. (Ch. .Bronte)

Сомневаться при таких обстоятельствах — это почти означает нанести

оскорбление.

То acquire knowledge and to acquire it unceasingly, is the first duty of the

artist. (Thurston)

Приобретать знания, и приобретать их непрерывно — вот первый долг

художника.

Even to think of itgave him ineffable torture. (Bennett)

Одна мысль об этом причиняла ему невыразимые страдания.

То be recognized, greeted by some localpersonage afforded her a joy which

was very great. (Cronin)

Когда ее узнавал и приветствовал какой-нибудь видный местный

житель, она испытывала большую радость.

From these examples we can see that the infinitive as a subject can be rendered in Russian by an infinitive, by a noun, or by a clause.

Though the infinitive as the subject sometimes precedes the predicate, cases when it follows the predicate are far more common; with the infinitive in the latter position, the sentence opens with the introductory it, which serves as an introductory subject. The introductory it is not translated into Russian.

Itis useless to discuss the question.(Eliot)

Бесполезно обсуждать этот вопрос.

Itwas pleasant to be driving a car again.(Braine)

Было приятно снова вести машину.

2. The infinitive as a preidicative.

My intention is to get into parliament.(Trollope)

Моя цель — пройти в парламент.

The infinitive can also be used as part of a predicative.

The abode of Mrs. Betty was not easy to find. (Dickens)

Жилище миссис Бетти было нелегко найти.

3. The infinitive as part of a compound verbal predicate.

(a) With modal verbs, modal expressions, and verbs expressing modality the infinitive forms part of a compound verbal modal predicate.

We must not leavehim by himself any longer. (Dickens)

The train was to leaveat midnight. (Hemingway)

...I intend to leada better life in the future. (Wilde)

(b) With verbs denoting the beginning, duration, or end of an action the infinitive forms part of a compound verbal aspectpredicate.

Imprisonment began to tellupon him. (Dickens)

Before daylight it started to drizzle.(Hemingway)

Clare continued to observeher. (Hardy)

...they gradually ceased to talk. (Twain)

(For detailed treatment of the compound, verbal predicate see Chapter XV, § 16, 17.)

4. The infinitive as an object.

Leila had learned to dance at boarding school. (Mansfield)

After the verbs to allow, to order, to ask, to beg, to request, to implore, to teach, to instruct we often find two objects, one of which is expressed by an infinitive.

After waiting some time, Mrs. Clements... ordered the cabman to drive back to her lodgings. (Collins)

He asked me to walk in. (Collins)

And the curate does not teach you to read and to writethen? (E. Bronte)

The infinitive used as an object can be preceded by the introductory object it. The introductory object is not translated into Russian.

He found it utterly impossible to leave the spot. (Hardy)

Он считал совершенно невозможным покинуть это место.

5. The infinitive as part of a complex object.

I never saw you act this way before. (Dreiser)

Я никогда раньше не видел, чтобы вы так поступали.

(A detailed treatment of the infinitive used as part of a complex object is given in § 32.)

6. The infinitive as an attribute.

The use of the infinitive as an attribute is far more extensive in English than in Russian: in Russian it modifies only abstract nouns, whereas in English it modifies both abstract and class nouns, indefinite pronouns (somebody, something, anybody, anything, etc.), ordinal numerals and the adjective last.

The infinitive as an attribute is rendered in Russian by an infinitive (chiefly after abstract nouns), by a subordinate clause or by a finite verb serving as the predicate of a simple sentence (after ordinal numerals and the adjective last).

I have not had time to examine this room yet. (Conan Doyle)

У меня еще не было времени осмотреть эту комнату.

Bathsheba was not a woman... to suffer in silence.(Hardy)

Батшеба была не такая женщина, которая стала бы страдать молча.

I have nobody to say a kind word to me. (Trollope)

У меня нет никого, кто сказал бы мне доброе слово.

Не was the first to offer his hand to the Russians.(Heym)

On первый протянул руку русским.

When his engine broke down, it was the last to be repaired.(Heym)

Когда его машина сломалась, ее починили последней.

The infinitive used as an attribute often has a modal significance — it expresses an action thought of as obligatory or possible.

I’ve got my wife and little boy to look after. (Dreiser)

У меня есть жена и ребенок, о которых я должен заботиться.

There must be a lot of things in this world to make you very unhappy. (Thurston)

В этом мире, должно быть, много такого, что может сделать вас несчастным.

Tess was no insignificant creature to toy with and dismiss.(Hardy)

Тэсс была не такое незначительное существо, с которым можно поиграть и бросить.

Sometimes the infinitive used as an attribute implies a more or less prominent idea of purpose.

Here is a nice book to read before going to bed.

Вот книга, которую хорошо почитать перед сном.

Here is a charming little cottage to spend the summer in.

Вот очаровательный коттедж, в котором можно хорошо провести лето.

...he had no courage to face danger. (Dreiser)

...у него не хватало мужества взглянуть в лицо опасности.

There was no time now to think— there was only time to give the medicine.

(Collins)

Теперь не было времени думать — оставалось время только для того,

чтобы дать лекарство.

7. The infinitive as an adverbial modifier.

(a) The infinitive can be an adverbial modifier of purpose.

Laws were not made to be broken,laws were made to stay within. (Heym)

Законы были созданы не для того, чтобы их нарушать, а для того, чтобы

им подчиняться.

То pacify her, I held the window ajar a few seconds. (E. Bronte)

Чтобы успокоить ее, я на несколько секунд приоткрыла окно.

The infinitive as an adverbial modifier of purpose can be introduced by in order and so as.

Sometimes you retreat in order to advance.(Heym)

Иногда отступают для того, чтобы вновь перейти в наступление.

Soames put on his coat so as not to be cold. (Galsworthy)

Сомc надел пальто, чтобы не мерзнуть.

(b) The infinitive canbe used as an adverbial modifier of result.This chiefly occurs after adjectives modified by the adverbs enough and too.

His eyes were sharp enough to look after his own interest. (Heym)

Глаза у него были достаточно зоркие, чтобы позаботиться о собственной

выгоде.

I was too busy to see anyone.(Wilson)

Я был так занят, что не мог ни с кем встречаться.

The infinitive as an adverbial modifier of result is also tobe found in sentences of the following type:

He was so weak as to be unable to work.

Он был так слаб, что не мог работать.

Mr. Rokesmith has been so polite as to place his sitting-room at our

disposal today.(Dickens)

Мистер Роксмит был настолько любезен, что отдал на сегодня свою

гостиную в наше распоряжение.

And he is such a fool as to thinkthat his idle chatter can influence others.

(Trollope)

И он такой дурак, что думает, что его пустая болтовня может на кого-

нибудь повлиять.

As the above examples show the result expressed by the infinitive is often negative.

(c) The infinitive can be an adverbial modifier of comparison (manner);in most cases with an additional meaning of purpose. In this function it is introduced by the conjunction as if or as though.

She nervously moved her hand towards his lips as if to stop him... (Dickens)

Она нервно протянула руку к его губам, как будто хотела остановить его.

(d) The infinitive can be used as an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances.

She was driven away, never to revisit this neighbourhood.(E. Bronte)

Она была вынуждена уехать и больше не вернулась в эти места.

I am sorry to have raised your expectations, Mr. Blake, only to disappoint

them. (Collins)

Мне очень жаль, что я пробудил в вас надежду, мистер Блейк, только для

того, чтобы затем отнять ее.

N o t e. — Some grammarians maintain that in sentences of this type the

infinitive performs the function of an adverbial modifier of result

(consequence).