Constructions with the infinitive

1. The Infinitive is often used as part of the following constructions:

1. there is / are … + infinitive

There is a lot of work to do.

There is a lot of work for you to do.

2. it is / these are…. + infinitive

It is a nice film to see. The film is nice to see.

It is a nice film for the child to see. The film is nice for the child to see.

3. … was the first (second, … last) + infinitive

He was the first to answer the question.

1. The construction to have something done has a passive meaning.

Compare:

                        I must cut my hair. – Я должен постричь волосы (и сделаю это сам)

I must have my hair cut. – мне нужно подстричься (кто-то другой сделает это за меня)

 

 

                              The gerund and the infinitive

After some verbs either the gerund or the infinitive can be used without greatly changing the meaning. These are such verbs as: to begin, to cease, to continue, to start, to love. Thus, you may say:

He began reading. or He began to read.

After the verbs like, hate, stop, remember, regret, allow, try, be busy, use both the gerund and the infinitive can be found but there is a slight difference in implication.

Followed by the gerund like usually means “enjoy”, whereas followed by the infinitive it has the idea of approval. In a negative sentence like to do implies that the action can’t be performed as the doer of the action doesn’t feel like performing it.

                   He likes reading ( he enjoys reading).

                   She likes to take her children to the dentist two times a year (she approves of it)

                   He didn’t like to read the book (she didn’t want to read it).

Hate doing usually means “not enjoy” whereas hate to do implies the idea of disapproval or stresses that the action was highly undesirable.

                   I hate attending his lectures (I don’t enjoy them).

                   Being sick I hated to attend the lecture (I didn’t feel like attending).

Followed by the gerund the verb stop has the meaning of interrupting the action. Stop + to do means that the doer of the action stopped performing one action to start doing something else.

                   Please stop talking (don’t talk).

                   He stopped to talk to his friend (he stopped walking to talk to his friend).

Remember + ing means that the action was performed and the doer remembers about it. In the present context remember to do is used to remind the doer to perform the action. In the past context remember to do stresses that the action was performed.

                   I remember meeting him (I remember that I have met him).

                   Remember to phone him (don’t forget to phone).

                   I remembered to close the window (I didn’t forget to close it)

Allow is followed by the gerund if there is no indication of who is allowed to perform the action. Otherwise allow + infinitive should be used.

                   She doesn’t allow smoking in the house..

                   She doesn’t allow her husband to smoke in the house.

Regret doing should be used to the action performed is regrettable and the speaker wishes it hadn’t been performed. Regret to do stresses the speaker’s unwillingness to perform the action.

                   I regret saying that (I wish I hadn’t said it).

                   I regret to say that you have lost (It’s unpleasant for me to say it).

Try doing is usually used to give advice. Try to do emphasizes that a certain action has been performed but without any result.

If you can’t contact him, try getting in touch with his mother (a recommendation is given).

                   I’ve been trying to get in touch with him since morning but haven’t succeeded yet.

If be busy is followed by the gerund it should be understood that doer of the action is engaged in a certain activity. Be busy + infinitive stresses the idea that the doer is so much occupied by some activity that he can’t do anything else.

                   He is busy editing an article.

                   He is too busy to edit the article now.

Be / get used to is followed by the gerund and shows that the doer has a certain habit. Used to do implies that an action was constantly repeated in the past and is not performed at the present.

                   I’m used to getting up early. (It’s my habit).

                   I used to get up early when I went to school (I don’t get up early now).

Exercise 1

Use the correct form of the infinitive.

1. He seems (say) something but I can’t hear a word. 2. (tell) him the truth would only mean (humiliate) him. 3. I’m happy (find) a suitable present. 4. They didn’t expect (arrive) already. 5. Tom pretended (work) for two hours before his aunt sent for him. 6. He claimed already (do) the work though not even half of it was ready. 7. He asked (allow) to take a short holiday. 8. He didn’t want (misunderstand) and tried hard to convey the idea to his friends. 9. I appreciated (help) in that difficult situation. 10. He doesn’t like (disturb) when he is working. 11. He is said (get) a reward for the film.12. What is he doing here? He is expected (working)! 13. He is said (prepare) his talk for already two weeks. 14. The child seemed (sleep) though in fact he was lying quietly and daydreaming. 15. Don’t pretend (read).

 

Exercise 2

Translate using the infinitive in different constructions.

1. Это хороший фильм. Посмотри его. 2. Он еще слишком слаб, чтобы вставать. 3. Сумка слишком тяжелая, чтобы ребенок мог ее нести. 4. Он ответил на все вопросы первым. 5. мне нужно заправить машину. 5. Казалось, в мире не было места, где бы ему можно было спокойно жить. 6. Интересно, почему эта лошадь пришла последней? 7. Вопрос был трудным, и он не мог на него ответить. 8. Объяснения учителя были слишком путанными, и дети не могли их понять. 9. Мне нужно сделать ремонт. Куда мне лучше обратиться? 10. Вода не достаточно горячая, чтобы заваривать чай.

Exercise 3

Open the brackets using the correct form of the verb.

1. I used (buy) my groceries in this shop when I lived here. 2. My father never allows me (drive) his car. 3. She says she hasn’t yet got used to (live) in the new house. 4. I spent an hour trying (convince) him but he wouldn’t listen. 5. The authorities do not allow (fish) in this region. 6. On his way to the office he often stops (talk) to this man or that. 7. I remember (stay) at this hotel. 8. Knowing that it would annoy him I didn’t like (tell) him the news at once. 9. Stop (be) hysterical, just think a little. 10. Please remember (send) them a present. 11. He liked (sit) on the shore watching the sunset. 12. If you can’t take a decision try (talk) to Steve. 13. He never regretted (move) to this small town. 15. When I lived in London I used (walk) a lot in this park. 16. He didn’t even allow me (finish) the sentence, which gave me a nasty turn. 17. I was not used to (work) long hours then and was almost exhausted. 18. I regret to tell you that you will be sent on this business trip.

Exercise 4

Translate into English

1. Перестань задавать нескромные вопросы. 2. Он остановился, чтобы купить газету. 3. Я помню, что говорил ему о своих планах. 4. Он привык завтракать в этом кафе. 5. Мне жаль тебе об этом говорить, но решение уже принято. 6. Не забудь заехать к ним по дороге домой. 7. Бесполезно пытаться заставить его согласиться. Попробуй объяснить ему, в чем дело. 8. Раньше мне нравился этот писатель. 9. Мне некогда с вами разговаривать, я очень спешу. 10. Он занят. Он готовится к экзамену. 11. Обычно учителя не позволяют пропускать занятия. 12. Если ты хочешь продать дом, попробуй поместить объявление в газету. 13. Он пожалел, что был так откровенен с этим человеком. 14. Он привык к тому, что ему все помогают. 15. Он пожалел, что принял приглашение.

Exercise 5

Work in pairs.

a)

Никто не возражал против того, что бы Майк отвечал за проект. Я устал от того, что он все время повторяет одно и то же. Казалось, он давно все знал.   Вся семья с нетерпением ждала приезда тети Полли. Извините, что беспокою вас так поздно, но дело очень срочное. Ты помнишь, что обещал одолжить мне словарь? Они терпеливо ждали, когда подадут обед. Она была первой, кто признал, что решение разумно. Спасибо за то, что предоставил мне эту информацию. Без нее доклад не был бы законченным. Я не возражаю против того, чтобы ему рассказали правду. Казалось, он забыла о нашей ссоре.   Никому не нравится, когда над ним смеются. На вашем месте я бы почистил пальто. Как вы думаете, о каком из этих фактов стоит упомянуть? Джейн сшила новое платье по этому случаю.

Nobody objected to Mike’s being in charge of the project. I’m tired of his repeating the same thing again and again. He seemed to have known everything for a long time. The whole family were looking forward to aunt Polly’s arrival. I’m sorry for bothering you so late but the matter is urgent. Do you remember promising to lend me this dictionary? They were patiently waiting for the dinner to be served. She was the first to admit that the decision was reasonable. Thank you for supplying me with this information. But for it the report wouldn’t be complete. I don’t object to his being told the truth.   He seemed to have forgotten about our quarrel. Nobody likes being laughed at.   If I were you I would have the coat cleaned. Which of these facts do you think is worth mentioning? Jane had a new dress made on that occasion.

b)

Он всегда предпочитал останавливаться в этой гостинице. Он попросил, чтобы ему разрешили присутствовать на конференции. Существует много способов выучить иностранный язык. Какой смысл делать эту работу сейчас? Эта женщина заявляет, что видела, что произошло. Он только притворяется, что работает. Нет смысла объяснять ему суть вопроса. Вряд ли он что-нибудь поймет. Его заставили заплатить штраф. Он ушел, не сказав ни слова, что испортило Анн настроение. К сожалению, она не могла позволить себе снимать квартиру в этом доме. Машину нужно помыть. Я давно ее не мыл. Она согласилась разрешить племяннику пожить в ее доме некоторое время. На вашем месте я бы давно извинился за то, что подвел его. Адвокат запретил Смиту признавать свою вину. Я отказываюсь верить в то, что он это сказал.

He always preferred to stay at this hotel. He asked to be allowed to attend the conference. There are a lot of ways of learning a foreign language. What’s the use of doing the work now?   This woman claims to have seen what happened. He just pretends to be working.   It’s no use explaining the crux of the problem to him. He is unlikely to understand anything. He was made to pay the fine. He left without saying a word, which gave Ann a nasty turn. Unfortunately she couldn’t afford to rent a flat in that house.   The car needs washing I haven’t washed it for a long time. She agreed to allow her nephew to stay in her house for some time.   If I were you I would have apologized for letting him down long ago. The lawyer forbade Smith to admit his guilt. I refuse to believe that he said it.

 

 

                                         Module 7

                                                      Modal Verbs

 

Modal verbs are used to express certain kinds of meaning, such as possibility, capability, probability, necessity, etc.

After modal verbs a bare infinitive is usually used.

 

Meanings of the verb CAN / COULD

1. Ability. In this meaning can is used to say what people and things are able (or unable) to do because of their knowledge, skill, strength, nature, etc.:

I can read French, but I can’t speak it.

Can roses grow in this climate?

Could is used in this meaning to talk about the past:

She could read when she was four.

Note that could does not indicate whether the action was realized or not, for this purpose the equivalents of could (to manage, to be able, to succeed or to fail) should be used.

I managed to buy a really nice dress yesterday.

1. Possibility. C an is used to say what we are able or unable to do because of the circumstances we are in:

We can go to the country this weekend because I don’t have to work.

I can’t go with you: I have to see my brother.

Could + perfect infinitive refers to present situations which were possible but have not been realized:

I could have been late, but I took a taxi.

3. Permission, request, prohibition.

                  You can go now if you want to.

                  Can I ask you something? – Yes, of course you can.

                  Can I have some more cake? – No, I’m afraid you can’t.

Could in this meaning can be used only in questions. It sounds more polite or formal than can.

Note: may / might are also used to ask and give permission. They are more formal than can / could

4. Doubt, disbelief. In his meaning can or could (which sounds less categorical) are used only in interrogative sentences. The Russian equivalent would be “неужели”. In this meaning the modal verb can be combined with any form of the infinitive. 

                  Can / Could you really think so?

                  Can / Could he be reading?

                  Can / Could I have made a mistake?

                  Can / Could he have been sleeping so long?

5. Improbability. Sentences with can’t / couldn’t in combination with any infinitive form correspond to the Russian sentences with “не может быть”, “невероятно”.

                  They can’t/couldn’t know anything about it.

                  He can’t bathing now.

                  He can’t/couldn’t have said it.

                  They can’t have been discussing so long.

Mind that with verbs admitting the use of continuous forms the continuous infinitive should be used to refer the action to the present.

Compare:

                  She can’ t sleep. – Она не может уснуть.

                  She can’ t be sleeping. – Не может быть, что она сейчас спит.

Russian sentences with double negation (“не может быть, чтобы не…”) are rendered into English with the help of the verb “to fail”, negative prefixes and words with negative meaning.

                  She can’t have failed to talk to him.

                  He can’t be unaware of it.