Grammar Focus. The Functions of the Infinitive in the Sentence

The Infinitive can be used in different syntactic functions. We'll discuss here only the most difficult ones for the Russian speakers.

1. The Infinitive as a subject. In Russian it can be rendered by an infinitive, a noun, a clause.     Far more often such sentences open with an introductory subject it (not translated in Russian).   2. The Infinitive as an adverbial modifier of purpose. (чтобы...). In this function the Infinitive can be introduced by in order or so as (formal).

1. To walk in the garden was very pleasant. Гулять в саду было очень приятно. Even to think of it gave him torture. Даже мысль об этом причиняла ему страдание. То be recognized gave her great joy.   Когда ее узнавали, она испы-тывала радость. It is useless to discuss this question. Бесполезно обсуждать этот вопрос. 2. То understand the rule better I read it several times. Чтобы лучше понять правило, я прочел его несколько раз. I stayed there to see what would happen. Я остался там, чтобы посмотреть, что случится. I invited him in order to tell him the news. I write down your telephone number so as not to forget it.

 

COMPARE:

A subject The Infinitive +Predicative To read a lot is to know much. Много читать – много знать.

An adverbial modifier of purpose The Infinitive + Subject + Predicate То read the book I went to the library. Чтобы прочесть эту книгу, я отправился в библиотеку

 

3. An adverbial modifier of result with too (слишком) and enough (достаточно) 4. The Infinitive as an attribute In this function it is far more extensive in English than in Russian: in Russian it modifies only abstract nouns, whereas in English it modifies both abstract and сlass nouns, pronouns, ordinal numbers and the adjective last. It is rendered in Russian by an infinitive (after abstract nouns), by a subordinate clause, by a finite verb (after ordinal numbers and last). The infinitive used as attribute often has a modal meaning or implies a future action.  Remember the model: a noun +infinitive     5. The infinitive as parenthesis: to cut a long story short, to put it mildly, to say the least, to tell the truth, etc.

3. He was too busy to see anyone. She was clever enough to admit it.   4. I had no time to visit the museum yet. У меня еще не было времени осмотреть музей. She was not a woman to suffer in silence. Она была не такой женщиной, которая стала бы страдать молча. Не was the first/last to come. Он пришел первым (последним). I have nobody to say a kind word to me. У меня нет никого, кто сказал бы мне доброе слово. I've got a wife and a child to look after. У меня жена и ребенок, о которых я должен заботиться. The question will be discussed at the conference shortly to open in Moscow. Вопрос будет обсужден на конференции, которая вскоре откроется в Москве. Не gave her a knife to cut the bread with. Он дал ей нож, чтобы нарезать хлеб. Give me some water to drink. Дайте мне попить воды. Не brought us a book to read. Он принес нам почитать книгу. 5. Не was rude, to say the least of it. Он был груб, чтобы не сказать больше. То put it mildly, he was not very clever. Мягко выражаясь, он не был очень умен.

 

Notes:

1. The passive infinitive is seldom used in the attributive function. That is why we say “ it is a book to read " and not "to be read".

Exceptions: There is nothing to be done and nothing to do; there is something to be seen, to be said and something to see, to say.

2. The attributive infinitive besides naming an action may express a meaning corresponding to the Russian надо, можно, следует: It’s theonly thing to do. Это единственное, что можно и нужно сделать.

He is not the man to do it. Он не тот, кто мог бы это сделать.

It’s the book to read and remember. Такую книгу надо прочесть и запомнить.

 

1. Define the functions of the infinitives in the beginning of the sentence. Translate them.

А. а)

1. То obscure the target requires...

2. To denote the foe necessitates...

3. To track the spaceship denotes...

b)

1. To illuminate the object we must have...

2. To scatter the energy one must apply...

3. To designate the area with a radar beam the operator aims...

B

1. To house men on the Moon will require the immediate construction of permanent dwellings (жилье).

2. To achieve nuclear criticality (.максимум) the reactor must contain sufficient uranium.

3. To restrict the effect of strong electric fields in high-voltage laboratories, electrical instruments are tested inside earthed "cages" (клетки).

4. To cause electrons to move through a conductor a force is required.

 

2. Translate the sentences, taking into consideration the peculiarities of Russian translation of the infinitive in its functions. Define the function of the infinitive.  

A

1. The measurement was so precise as to be reliable.

2. An atom gathers just enough electrons to balance completely the positive charge of the nucleus.

3. The air at this altitude so rarefied as not to support the ionized vehicle.

4. Thermal energy is sufficient to permit free electrons to move within the material.  

5. The temperatures required to impart sufficient energy to permit free electrons to wander within the material.

6. The damage is too small to be detected.

7. The velocity of alpha particles is so great as to be comparable to the velocity of light.

8. The speed of early rockets was small enough to escape the Earth.

9. It takes roughly ten million pounds of thrust to place three men on the Moon, a figure large enough to be respected.

B

1. То calculate the density of the air at 200 kilometers we should know the temperature and the amount of hydrogen gas present.

2. In order to obtain the best possible performance an airplane must be shaped so that it offers as little resistance as possible to its motion through the air.

3. In a series circuit there is only one path for current to flow along.

4. To increase the sensitivity of a transistor voltmeter a pair of tran­sistors can be cascaded.

5. Man has found that to travel in the Universe he needs scores of new facts and a new set of dimensions.

6. In order to increase the sensitivity of an infrared homing system the detector is placed at the output of an optical system.

7. Simplicity is one of the five “criteria of testability" employed by philosophers for the validity of a theory to be tested.

8. The space station provides a series of facilities to support space experiments and operational systems.

 

3. Translate the parts of the sentences paying special attention to the use of the words:

A) “enough", "sufficient", "too";

B) so... as так (такой, настолько)... что (чтобы); such... as – та­кой... что (чтобы)

C) the construction "for" + noun in the function of the adverbial modifier of purpose.

A) Model:...too dangerous to be used... – слишком опасный, чтобы его (можно было) использовать...слишком опасный и его нельзя использовать.

1. Molecules are too small to be seen...

2. The protection is too weak to shield....

3. These particles are large enough to be visible to...

4. The metal may be soft enough to be cut...

5. The electron may possess sufficient energy to escape...

6. The rotation must have sufficient speed to accelerate the body...

B) Model:...was so simple as to be used... – был настолько простым, что мог быть использован

1. The weight increase is so small as to be neglected...

2. The angle is not so big as to be considered...

3. The pull is so strong as not to be accounted...

4. The runway must be done in such a way as to withstand heavy loadings.

5. The explosion is not to be performed in such a way as to affect the surroundings.

C) Model:...for the reaction to take place –...(для того) чтобы эта реакция произошла

1....for the system to operate properly

2.....for the task to be performed

3.....for the rocket to be launched

 

4. Name the features of the infinitive functions and translate the parts of the sentences. Finish the sentences. (Give your own variant of the finished sentences).

1. То detect the cause of the disturbance is necessary for...

2. To keep the transmission constant requires...

3. To maintain the speed of the plane diminishes...

4. To achieve such a value the pressure of hydrogen must be...

5. To avoid heating effects of supersonic flights the designer restricts...

6. To adjust the steering the controller should be...

 

Text 4

Before you start

1. First, answer these questions about your studies. Then discuss your ideas with the rest of the class.

· Which subjects do you study? Are there any subjects you would like to drop?

· Is your course practical? Do you like this way of working?

· How are you assessed? Do you think this is fair?

 

Reading

2. Read the text quickly and choose the correct answers to questions 1-3 below.

1. Where is the text from?

a a textbook ….. b a leaflet

2. Who is the information for?

a new students b teachers and parents

3. What is the text about?

a one course    b lots of courses

The starting point