The main characteristics of the verbals

VERBALS

Verbals include three non-finite forms of the verb: the infinitive, the gerund and the participle.

Unlike the finite forms of the verb, they do not express the grammatical categories of person, number and mood. Therefore they cannot be used as the predicate of the sentence.

 

The main characteristics of the verbals

 

1. Their syntactical functions differ from those of the finite verb and are typical of parts of speech other than the verb.

 

2. They are widely used in the so-called predicative constructions, consisting of two elements – nominal and verbal. The components are related to each other like the subject and the predicate of the sentence. They make up a syntactical unit (or a complex) treated as one part of the sentence.

 

3. Verbals have relative tense distinctions showing whether the action expressed by the verb is simultaneous with, or prior to the action expressed by the finite verb. Thus they have non-perfect and perfect forms.

 

4. They also express the category of voice represented by the opposition of active and passive forms.

 

5. Like all other verbs, verbals take objects and are associated with adverbial modifiers.

FORMS OF VERBALS

 

PASSIVE VOICE	PERFECT	to have been written		having been written	having been written
	NON-PERFECT	to be written		being written	being written
ACTIVE VOICE	PERFECT	to have written	to have been writing	having written	having written
	NON-PERFECT	to write	to be writing	writing	writing
ASPECT		NON-CONTINUOUS	CONTINUOUS
		INFINITIVE		GERUND	PARTICIPLE

MEANING OF VERBALS

 

NOTE	After the verbs “remember”, “forget”, “forgive”, “thank” the NON-PERFECT GERUND is used in spite of the priority of its action to that of the finite verb. I remember going to the library once. Forgive me for taking so much of your time.	After the verb “be to”, “expect”, “hope”, “intend”, mean”, “ought”, “should”, the PERFECT INFINITIVE is used to denote an action which was not carried out. The concert was to have taken place yesterday, but was postponed.	The verbs which cannot be used in the Continuous have no form of the Continuous Infinitive. The verbs which cannot be used in the Continuous have no form of the Perfect Continuous Infinitive.
EXAMPLE	1) I like playing chess. 2) He used to play chess in the evening. 3) He woke up early to play chess. 4) He sat playing chess. 5) Seeing us he stopped.	1) I am glad to have met them. 2) I regret having wasted so much time. 3) They were, indeed, old friends, having been at kindergarten together.	The students pretended to be listening. In fact they were sleeping. It seems to have been raining for ages.
MEANING	The NON-PERFECT Infinitive/Gerund/Participle I is used to denote: 1) a general action; 2) a repeated, habitual action; 3) an action which refers to the future; 4) an action which occurs simultaneously with that of the finite verb; 5) an immediate succession of the action in the sentence.	The PERFECT Infinitive/Gerund/Participle I is used to denote an action which is prior to that of the finite verb.	The CONTINUOUS Infinitive is used to denote an action in progress which occurs simultaneously with that of the finite verb. The PERFECT CONTINUOUS  Infinitive is used to denote an action which lasted for a period of time before the action of the finite verb.

 

NOMINAL AND VERBAL CHARACTERISTICS OF INFINITIVE

 

	USAGE	EXAMPLES
NOMINAL	The Infinitive may function as: a) Subject b) Object c) Predicative	To study Dutch is my dream. I like to study Dutch. My dream is to study Dutch.
VERBAL	1.The Infinitive has categories of: a) Tense b) Voice   c) Aspect	I’m happy to have met you. This article is sure to be published. He is said to be reading.
	2. The Infinitive of a transitive verb may have a direct object.	I ‘m glad to see you.
	3. The Infinitive may be modified by an adverb.	I like to read aloud.

 

 

Had better/best

Would rather/sooner

Cannot but

Do nothing but

nothing to do but

You’d better go away. I’d rather stay here. I cannot but laugh. The infinitive is part of the compound verbal predicate She does nothing but make plans We had nothing to do but wait. The infinitive is an adverbial modifier of exception. 6. After why (not), how in rhetorical questions. Why (not) go there right away. How leave her there? In one-member sentences. 7. If the Infinitive expands the meaning of the verb to do. All I did was (to) turn off the gas. Turn off the gas was all I did. The particle “to” is optional if the Infinitive is a predicative. 8. After than. I have more important things to do, than (to) translate this text. The particle “to” is optional.

 

FUNCTIONS OF INFINITIVE

 

FUNCTION		CONJUNCTIONS	EXAMPLES
SUBJECT			To translate this text is easy. It is easy to translate this text.
PREDICATIVE			My dream is to translate this text.
PART OF PREDICATIVE			This text is easy to translate.
PART OF COMPOUND VERBAL MODAL PREDICATE			I can’t translate this text. You should have translated this text.
PART OF COMPOUND VERBAL ASPECT PREDICATE			He began (continued) ceased to translate this text.
OBJECT			I plan to translate this text. Are you glad to have translated this text?
ATTRIBUTE			He was the last to translate this text.
PARENTHESIS			To tell the truth, I am not ready with this text.
ADVERBIAL MODIFIER OF	PURPOSE	(in order), (so as), as if, etc.	She took a dictionary to translate this text.
	RESULT	Too, enough, such … as, so … as	She was too busy to translate this text. He was clever enough to translate this text. I am not such a fool as to translate this text.
	COMPARISON OR MANNER	than	You ought to know better than to translate texts like that.
	ATTENDANT CIRCUMSTANCES		He came to find that the text had already been translated. (=He came and found…)
	CONDITION		He is a great translator. You wouldn’t believe it, to look at him.
	MOTIVATION OR REASON		She was silly to translate this text. (=She translated this text and it was silly of her.)
	EXCEPTION	except, but, save	What could he do but translate this text.
	TIME		This translator lived to be ninety. (=till he was ninety.)
PART OF THE COMPLEX OBJECT			I don’t want you to translate this text.
PART OF THE COMPLEX SUBJECT			He is not expected to translate this text.

INFINITIVE AS ATTRIBUTE

 

USAGE	EXAMPLES
1. After nouns	The next thing to do is to see a movie.
2. After indefinite and negative pronouns and adverbs: somebody anybody nobody something anything nothing someone anyone none somewhere anywhere nowhere	She has nothing to do. There was nowhere to go. We have nobody to talk with.
3. After substantivized quantitative adjectives: much, little, more, less, enough	I have no more to add. Her knowledge leaves much to be desired.
4. Substativized ordinal numerals, the words next, last	He was the first to speak.
5. After the noun-substitute one	He was the one to ask.

 

FUNCTIONS OF GERUND

 

FUNCTION		PREPOSITIONS		EXAMPLES
SUBJECT				Translating this text is rather difficult. There’s no avoiding it. It is no use translating this text. The Gerund is not used after “essential”, “important”, “necessary”. “
PREDICATIVE		- / like	My idea is learning English. I don’t feel like going home.
PART OF COMPOUND VERBAL ASPECT PREDICATE			He began (kept on, stopped) translating this text.
DIRECT OBJECT		of, at, in, into, on, for, to, etc	We suggest going to the museum. She denies having met us.
PREPOSITIONAL OBJECT			They insisted on going to the library. She was not conscious of having shown any special interest in grammar.
ATTRIBUTE		of, about, in, at, for, to	He gave up the idea of going to Bangladesh. They entered the reading hall.
ADVERBIAL MODIFIERS OF	TIME	after, on, in, at, before	After hesitating he answered in the affirmative. The Perfect Gerund is used only if the priority is emphasized. He came back after having been away for twenty years.
	PURPOSE	for, for fear of, for the sake of, for the purpose of	He wants to visit a solicitor for the purpose of making a new will.
	CONDITION	without, but for, in case of	He won’t go without saying good-bye.
	CAUSE (REASON)	for, through, for fear of, due to, owing to, because of, on account of	Through being left out all night in the rain the metal rusted. He felt better for having written the letter.
	ATTENDANT CIRCUMSTANCES	instead of, without	He went away instead of working. He arrived without having once appeared on the stage.
	CONCESSION	in spite of, despite, notwithstanding	In spite of being busy she managed to read the novel.
	MANNER COMPARISON	in, by, without	She spent her evening in reading. The seaside is much better for me than working in the hot city all summer.

INFINITIVE OR GERUND

 

Verbs followed by the GERUND	Verbs followed by the INFINITIVE	Verbs followed by the GERUND and INFINITIVE
abhor abide acknowledge admit adore anticipate appreciate avoid be worth begrudge can't help carry on complete confess consider countenance contemplate defer delay deny detest disclaim dislike drop enjoy envisage escape evade face facilitate fancy favour feel like finish foresee give up imagine involve keep keep on leave off loathe mention mind miss ponder postpone practise put off quit recall recollect relish repent resent resist resume risk shun suggest	agree afford arrange assent be about be bound be wont beg beseech care challenge choose claim command compel condescend consent contrive decide decline deign demand desire determine direct expect endeavour fail fix hasten hesitate hope learn long manage offer opt persuade pledge prepare pretend proceed profess promise purport reckon refuse remain request resolve seek set out strive tend threaten trouble trust undertake venture wish would like yearn	attempt bother can't bear cease commence continue dread endure fear forbear intend neglect omit plan purpose scorn

 

FUNCTIONS OF PARTICIPLE I

 

FUNCTION		EXAMPLES
ATRIBUTE   Never use the Perfect Participle in this function!		The whipping waves roared through the night The waves, whipping the shore savagely, roared through the night..
PARENTHESIS		Generally speaking, I am a good student.
PREDICATIVE		The effect was terrifying.
ADVERBIAL MODIFIER OF	TIME Conjunctions: when, while/whilst	(While) Waiting for another question he was silent. Having finished the repairs, the plumber prepared to leave. Perfect Participle I of the verbs of sense perception and motion and the verbs “to put”, “to open”, “to take”, “to take off”, “to seize”, “to grasp” is used only if the priority is emphasized.
	CAUSE	Being late for classes, I ran up the stairs. Having sold their house, they were free to leave.
	MANNER	He spent his morning reading a newspaper.
	COMPARISON Conjunctions: as if, as though	For a moment he stood as if waiting for a bus.
	CONCESSION Conjunctions: though, although	Though knowing all he asked me.
	ATTENDANT CIRCUMSTANCES	He sat in his armchair reading.
PART OF THE COMPLEX OBJECT		I saw the children playing in the garden.
PART OF THE COMPLEX SUBJECT		The children were seen playing in the garden.

FUNCTIONS OF PARTICIPLE II

 

FUNCTION		EXAMPLES
PREDICATIVE		The door was locked. She looked irritated. We feel rather encouraged.
ATRRIBUTE		He answered through the unlocked door. There was no evidence left.
ADVERBIAL MODIFIER OF	TIME Conjunctions: when, till, until	He spoke when spoken to.
	CAUSE	Overcome by grief, he sat speechless.
	CONDITION Conjunctions: if, unless	He didn’t usually utter a word unless spoken to.
	COMPARISON Conjunctions: as though, as if	For a moment he looked at me as if puzzled.
	CONCESSION Conjunctions: though, although, even if, even though, even when, wherever, whether … or	Though addressed to, he sat silent. Whether telecast or not, the game isn’t worth missing.
PART OF THE COMPLEX OBJECT		I want my film developed.
PART OF THE COMPLEX SUBJECT		The matter wasn’t heard mentioned.

ABSOLUTE CONSTRUCTIONS

 

ABSOLUTE CONSTRUCTIONS

4. PREPOSITIONAL ABSOLUTE CONSTRUCTION       Mr Black was eating ice cream with his hat on his head.   3. PREPOSITIONAL ABSOLUTE PARTICIPIAL CONSTRUCTION       Mr White went for a walk with his dog following him. John was listening to the radio with his eyes closed. NOTE: An additional idea of time, cause or condition may be prompted by the context: I can’t read with everyone looking at me.   2. NOMINATIVE ABSOLUTE CONSTRUCTION The lesson over, the students went home. Everything ready, I had nothing to do. The weather good, everyone will be happy. Mr Brown was walking along the street, his hands in his pockets.   1. NOMINATIVE ABSOLUTE PARTICIPIAL CONSTRUCTION  The work being finished, Mr Brown went home. Examinations passed, the students were happy. It being very late, there were no buses in the street. The work completed, I was able to take a month’s holiday. The weather permitting, I will go to work. The students were writing а test paper, their hands trembling. The students were writing a test paper, their books closed.       Adverbial modifier of time Adverbial modifier of cause Adverbial  modifier of condition Adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances  

PRACTICE

 

Ex. 6. Complete the following sentences, using the infinitive as adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances. (Remember that the idea represented by the object of infinitive or the infinitive itself should be unexpected or unpleasant.)

E.g. The student took the record to find out _______. ’ The student took the record to find out that it was not the one he needed.

1. Mr Gook started the car to realize _______. 2. John has read the letter to learn _______. 3. The teacher entered the classroom to see _______. 4. They arrived in London to find out _______. 5. The girl came up to the mirror to realize _______. 8. Mr Brown got on the tram to understand ________. 9. Mr Green went to Australia to _____. 10. I woke up to ________.

 

Ex. 7. The infinitive in the function of adverbial modifier of purpose may be used alone or with the conjunction in order, so as:  E.g. I left early to catch the train. = I left early in orderto catch the train. = I left early so asto catch the train.

In negative sentences with “not” the conjunctions in order, so as must be used. The infinitive alone is not usually correct.

E.g. I left early in ordernot to miss the train. = I left early so asnot to miss the train. Typical mistake: I left early not to miss the train.

Translate into English.

1. Гости поднялись, чтобы уйти. 2. Студенты учили правила, чтобы не делать ошибки. 3. Гарри снял очки, чтобы их протереть. 4. Оркестр играл очень тихо, чтобы не разбудить публику.      5. Запишите все новые слова, чтобы их не забыть. 6. Заведите будильник погромче, чтобы не проспать первую пару.             7. Наденьте шапку-невидимку, чтобы вас больше не видели.

Ex. 66. Participle II of transitive verbs has passive meaning, while participle II of intransitive verbs has active meaning. Use the verbs in brackets in the correct forms of participle I or II. Translate into Russian.

 1. Many people were under the impression that I owned a badly (behave)rabbit. 2. His lightheartedness was short-(live). 3. I really, really, really want them to have normal experiences and to be well-(adjust) and well-(travel). 4. Her help was well-(mean), but it just made the job take longer. 5. Eventually, of course, the empire crumbled, as empires have a habit of doing, and Britain was left with a well-(speak), gentlemanly nostalgic ruling class, trained to a knightly role that no longer existed – and, with few exceptions, without the faintest notion of what to do next. 6. Today, like similar small towns on that much-(travel) mid-century road, it's desolate, the last gas station abandoned within the past year. 7. The authorities were searching for an (escape) prisoner who had been held under light guard at the English king's palace of Westminster. 8. There was nothing better in life, after all, than being well-(read). 9. He shrugged and went to stand at the window that looked out across the rain-(sweep) city toward the Willamette River. 10. We know that Saddam Hussein is a (practice) liar. There's no doubt about that. 11. From there the much-(travel) Flemish painter went to England where he delineated the court of Charles I with bravura elegance. 12. We prided ourselves on being well-(adjust), fully-(integrate) Indians. 13. He's softly (speak) with a wide smile and seems to be more open than others within Hamas to talks with Israel. 14. Next to the rotary-dial telephone was a well-(read) copy of the Paris Review, its cover (mark) with greasy black fingerprints. 15. HM Coastguard is not responsible for the disposal of time (expire) pyrotechnics and accepts them at its own discretion and subject to storage availability. 16. She ordered the drawbridge (raise) and all of the entrances to the castle (seal). 17. I mean, is this a real process or is this a (forego) conclusion? 18. All of the (forego) analysis leads up to the need to develop a new energy policy. 19. We will keep you (inform) on anything that happened and will happen. 20. The hope is that bailouts will keep the current economic recession short-(live) and shallow. 21. The children were very well-(behave) on the train. 22. Once (arrive) at the quay alongside which lay the big transatlantic liner, Poirot became brisk and alert. (A. Christie) 23. Jack Olcott, the (retire) president of the National Business Aviation Association, is one of the few people to have ever actually flown a hybrid airship, having served as the Aereon 26's test pilot. 24. The path was very narrow, very up-and-down, and with the old (fall) leaves so wet – damp and matted after three days of cold March rain – it was slippery.

Russia is a riddle (wrap) in a mystery inside and enigma. (Churchill)

 

Ex. 67. Translate into English using participle I in the function of attribute, if possible, or attributive clauses. Mind that the perfect form of participle I (showing priority) is not used in the function of attribute.

1. Пациенты, ожидающие врача, уже сидят в коридоре около четырёх часов. 2. Пациенты, ожидавшие врача около четырёх часов, уже ушли. 3. Мы подошли к полицейскому, стоявшему на углу, и спросили, как пройти в музей. 4. Научная конференция, проходящая в нашем университете, посвящена вопросам полихлорвинил-лингвистики. 5. Научная конференция, прошедшая в нашем университете, до сих пор вызывает огромный интерес учёных во всём мире. 6. Российский сухогруз (dry cargo ship) «Летучий Нидерландец», четыре месяца сидевший на мели в Анапской бухте, снова отправился в плавание. 7. При входе Сони Разумихин, сидевший на одном из трёх стульев Раскольникова, сейчас подле двери, привстал, чтобы дать ей войти. (Достоевский) 8. Бэзил Холлуорд — художник, написавший портрет Дориана Грея. 9. Выйдя, я украдкой бросил в траву кусок рыбы, но марабу схватить его не успел – другой марабу, сидевший на заборе незаметно и неподвижно, оказался проворнее, и пришлось в утешение первому принести кусок булки. 10. Дым, наполнивший комнату, помешал моему противнику найти шашку, лежавшую возле него. (Лермонтов) 11. Лётчик, выпрыгнувший из самолёта, приземлился на парашюте.

 

The correct sentence is:

Changing the oil every 3,000 miles, we kept the car in excellent condition.

More examples:

Flying around the room, I saw a bird. (The bird is flying around the room, not "I.")

Freshly painted, visitors can now go to the reopened museum. (Freshly painted is a modifier that modifies museum, not visitors.)

Correct the following sentences avoiding dangling participles.

1. Spending way too much money on his old car, Fred's salary just wasn't enough. 2. Feeding the animals, the lion suddenly attacked. 3. Singing in the shower, the thief was able to sneak in unnoticed. 4. While reading the novel, the pages that contain important information should be marked. 5. Walking down Main Street, the trees were beautiful. 6. Having finished the assignment, the TV was turned on. 7. Relieved of your responsibilities at your job, your home should be a place to relax. 8. Located at a considerable distance from the coast, the town’s commercial importance was unrivaled within the colony. 9. Looking out of the window, the mountains seemed very close. 10.  Driven to drink by her problems, we see how Janet will come to a sticky end. 11. Driving down the road, a deer leapt out in front of me. 12. Running through the neighborhood last Saturday afternoon, his nose detected the delectable aroma of barbecued steak on someone’s backyard grill. 13. Hanging by their tails from the branches, the children watched the monkeys. 14. Walking home last night, a banana fell on John’s head.

 

Ex. 80. Write a report on the latest events in the world. Use in your report: The Nominative Absolute Participial Construction, The Nominative Absolute Construction, The Prepositional Absolute Participial Construction, The Prepositional Absolute Construction, The Complex Object with the Infinitive, The Complex Subject with the Infinitive, The Complex Object with the Participle, The Complex Subject with the Participle, The For-Infinitive Construction, Gerundial and Half-gerundial Constructions.

 

REFERENCES

1.  Блох М.Я. и др. Практикум по грамматике английского языка. М., 1985.

2. Верховская И.П., Расторгуева Т.А., Бармина Л.А. Английский глагол. Трудности употребления в речи. М., 1987.

3. Крутиков Ю.А., Кузьмина И.С., Рабинович Х.В. Упражнения по грамматике английского языка. М., 1971.

4. Медведева Л.М. Английская грамматика в пословицах, поговорках, идиомах и изречениях. Киев, 1980.

5. Суон М. Английский язык в современном употреблении. М., 1984.

6. Ягодникова О.Г., Дрига Л.П., Шамрай Л.А., Батурина Е.А. Грамматика английского языка в таблицах. Неличные формы глагола. Киев, 1989.

7. Barabash T.A. A Guide to better Grammar. M., 1975.

 

CONTENTS

VERBALS............................................ 3

1. FORMS OF VERBALS......................................... 4

2. MEANING OF VERBALS.......................................5

3. NOMINAL AND VERBAL CHARACTERISTICS OF INFINITIVE..... 6

4. NOMINAL AND VERBAL CHARACTERISTICS OF GERUND........ 6

5. ADJECTIVAL/ADVERBIAL AND VERBAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PARTICIPLE I...................................................7

6. INFINITIVE WITHOUT THE PARTICLE “TO”..................... 8

7. FUNCTIONS OF INFINITIVE................................... 9

8. INFINITIVE AS ATTRIBUTE................................... 11

9. OBJECTIVE INFINITIVE CONSTRUCTION.......................11

10. SUBBJECTIVE INFINITIVE CONSTRUCTION................... 12

11. FOR-INFINITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS........................... 13

12. FUNCTIONS OF GERUND.................................... 13

13. GERUNDIAL AND HALF-GERUNDIAL CONSTRUCTIONS......  . 15

14. FUNCIONS OF GERUNDIAL CONSTRUCTIONS................. 16

15. RIGHT-HAND COMBINABILITY OF SOME VERBS

(VERB + PREPOSITION + GERUND).............................. 16

16. RIGHT-HAND COMBINABILITY OF SOME ADJECTIVES (ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION + GERUND).........................17

17. RIGHT-HAND COMBINABILITY OF SOME NOUNS

(NOUN + PREPOSITION + GERUND)..............................18

18. INFINITIVE OR GERUND.................................... 19

19. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INFINITIVE AND GERUND............ 21

20. GERUND AND VERBAL NOUN COMPARED................... 24

21. FUNCTIONS OF PARTICIPLE I................................ 25

22. FUNCTIONS OF PARTICIPLE II............................... 26

23. OBJECTIVE PARTICIPIAL CONSTRUCTIONS

(COMPLEX OBJECT)........................................... 27

24. SUBJECTIVE PARTICIPIAL CONSTRUCTIONS

(COMPLEX SUBJECT).......................................... 27

25. PARTICIPLE I AND GERUND COMPARED..................... 28

26. ABSOLUTE CONSTRUCTIONS............................... 29

27. ACTIVE AND PASSIVE INFINITIVE WITH SIMILAR MEANING... 30

PRACTICE...........................................31

REFERENCES....................................... 83

VERBALS

Verbals include three non-finite forms of the verb: the infinitive, the gerund and the participle.

Unlike the finite forms of the verb, they do not express the grammatical categories of person, number and mood. Therefore they cannot be used as the predicate of the sentence.

 

The main characteristics of the verbals

 

1. Their syntactical functions differ from those of the finite verb and are typical of parts of speech other than the verb.

 

2. They are widely used in the so-called predicative constructions, consisting of two elements – nominal and verbal. The components are related to each other like the subject and the predicate of the sentence. They make up a syntactical unit (or a complex) treated as one part of the sentence.

 

3. Verbals have relative tense distinctions showing whether the action expressed by the verb is simultaneous with, or prior to the action expressed by the finite verb. Thus they have non-perfect and perfect forms.

 

4. They also express the category of voice represented by the opposition of active and passive forms.

 

5. Like all other verbs, verbals take objects and are associated with adverbial modifiers.

FORMS OF VERBALS

 

PASSIVE VOICE	PERFECT	to have been written		having been written	having been written
	NON-PERFECT	to be written		being written	being written
ACTIVE VOICE	PERFECT	to have written	to have been writing	having written	having written
	NON-PERFECT	to write	to be writing	writing	writing
ASPECT		NON-CONTINUOUS	CONTINUOUS
		INFINITIVE		GERUND	PARTICIPLE

MEANING OF VERBALS

 

NOTE	After the verbs “remember”, “forget”, “forgive”, “thank” the NON-PERFECT GERUND is used in spite of the priority of its action to that of the finite verb. I remember going to the library once. Forgive me for taking so much of your time.	After the verb “be to”, “expect”, “hope”, “intend”, mean”, “ought”, “should”, the PERFECT INFINITIVE is used to denote an action which was not carried out. The concert was to have taken place yesterday, but was postponed.	The verbs which cannot be used in the Continuous have no form of the Continuous Infinitive. The verbs which cannot be used in the Continuous have no form of the Perfect Continuous Infinitive.
EXAMPLE	1) I like playing chess. 2) He used to play chess in the evening. 3) He woke up early to play chess. 4) He sat playing chess. 5) Seeing us he stopped.	1) I am glad to have met them. 2) I regret having wasted so much time. 3) They were, indeed, old friends, having been at kindergarten together.	The students pretended to be listening. In fact they were sleeping. It seems to have been raining for ages.
MEANING	The NON-PERFECT Infinitive/Gerund/Participle I is used to denote: 1) a general action; 2) a repeated, habitual action; 3) an action which refers to the future; 4) an action which occurs simultaneously with that of the finite verb; 5) an immediate succession of the action in the sentence.	The PERFECT Infinitive/Gerund/Participle I is used to denote an action which is prior to that of the finite verb.	The CONTINUOUS Infinitive is used to denote an action in progress which occurs simultaneously with that of the finite verb. The PERFECT CONTINUOUS  Infinitive is used to denote an action which lasted for a period of time before the action of the finite verb.