Objective and Subjective Infinitive Constructions

3. Infinitive Construction with the preposition "for"

 

Forms of Infinitive
  Active Passive
Indefinite (Simple) to write to be written
Continuous to be writing  
Perfect to have written to have been written
Perfect Continuous to have been writing  
What do these forms mean? Study the examples of different forms of Infinitives.
Чему я рад?
Active Indefinite (Simple) I am glad to speak to you Рад говорить с вами (всегда радуюсь, когда говорю)
Continuous I am glad to be speaking to you Рад, что сейчас разговариваю с вами
Perfect I am glad to have spoken to you Рад, что поговорил с вами
Perfect Continuous I am glad to have been speaking to you Рад, что уже давно (все это время) разговариваю
Passive Indefinite (Simple) I am (always) glad to be told the news Всегда рад, когда мне рассказывают новости
Perfect I am glad to have been told the news Рад, что мне рассказали

Ex. 1.1 Put the infinitives in brackets into the correct form.

1. He seems (to read) a lot. 2. He seems (to read) now. 3. He seems (to read) since morning. 4. He seems (to read) all the books in the library. 5. We expect (to be) back in two days. 6. He expected (to help) by the teacher. 7. The children seem (to play) since morning. 8. I am glad (to do) all the homework yesterday. 9. She seems (to work) at this problem ever since she came here. 10. I am sorry (to break) your pen. 11. I want (to take) you to the concert. 12. I want (to take) to the concert by my father. 13. She hoped (to help) her friends. 14. She hoped (to help) by her friends. 15. I hope (to see) you soon.

 

Ex. 1.2 Translate into English paying attention to Active Infinitive and Passive Infinitive, state the functions of the Infinitive.

1.To play chess was his greatest pleasure. 2. The child did not like to be washed. 3. Isn't it natural that we like to be praised and don't like to be scolded? 4. Which is more pleasant: to give or to be given presents? 5. Nature has many secrets to be discovered yet 6. To improve your phonetics you should record yourself and analyse your speech. 7. This is the book to be read during the summer holidays. 8. To be instructed by such a good specialist was a great advantage. 9. He is very forgetful, but he doesn't like to be reminded of his duties.

Ex. 1.3 Translate into English paying attention to the Perfect Infinitive.

1.The child was happy to have been brought home. 2. Jane remembered to have been told a lot about Mr. Rochester. 3. The children were delighted to have been brought to the circus. 4. I am sorry to have spoilt your mood. 5. Maggie was very sorry to have forgotten, to feed the rabbits. 6. I am awfully glad to have met you. 7. Sorry to have placed you in this disagreeable situation. 8. I am very happy to have had the pleasure of making your acquaintance. 9. I am sorry to have kept you waiting. 10. Clyde was awfully glad to have renewed his acquaintance with Sondra. 11. Sorry not to have noticed you. 12.I am sorry to have added some more trouble by what I have told you. 13. When Clyde looked at the girl closely, he remembered to have seen her in Sondra's company. 14. I remembered to have been moved by the scene I witnessed.

 

Ex. 1.4 Replace parts of the sentences with infinitive according to the model.

E.g.He is sorry that he has said it. – He is sorry to have said it.

1. It is certain that it will rainif you don't take your umbrella. 2. Don't promise that you will do it,if you are not sure that you can. 3. He was happy that he was praised by everybody.4. He was very proud that he had helped his elder brother.5. She was sorry that she had missed the beginning of the concert.6. I am glad that I see all my friends here.7. I was afraid of going past that place alone.8. My sister will be thrilled when she is wearing a dress as lovely as that.9. We must wait till we hear the examination results.10. She is happy that she has found such a nice place to live in.11. I should be delighted if I could join you.12. He hopes that he will know everything by tomorrow.

 

Ex. 1.5 Replace parts of the sentences with infinitive according to the model.

E.g. The boy had many toys which he could play with. –The boy had many toys to play with.

1.Here is something which will warm you up.2. Here is a new brush which yon will clean your teeth with.3. Here are some more facts which will provethat your theory is correct. 4. Here is something which you can rub on your hands.Itwill soften them. 5. Here are some screws with which you can fasten the shelves to the wall.6. Here are some tablets which will relieve your headache.7. Here are some articles which must be translated for tomorrow.8.Who has a pen or a pencil to spare? I need something I could write with.9. I have brought you a book which you can read now,but be sure and return it by Saturday. 10. Soon we found that there was another complicated problem that we were to consider.11. The girl was quite young when both her parents died and she remained alone with two younger brothers whom she had to take care of.12. I have no books which I can read.13. Is there anybody who will help you with your spelling?14. Don'tforget that she has a baby which she must take care of.15. Have you got anything that you want to say on this subject?16. There was nothing that he could doexcept going home. 17. I have only a few minutes in which I can explain these words to you.18. I have an examination which I must take soon,so I can't go to the theatre with you. 19. King Lear decided to have a hundred knights who would serve himafter he had divided up his kingdom.

Ex. 1.6 Replace parts of the sentences with infinitive according to the model.

E.g.He is so old that he cannot skate. –He is too old to skate.

1.She has got so fat that she cannot wear thisdress now.2. The accident was so terrible that I don't want to talk about it.3. They were so empty-headed that they could not learn a single thing.4. The window was so dirty that they could not see through it.5.She was so foolish that she could not understand my explanation.6. I have very little wool: it won't make a sweater.7. Theproblem is so difficult that it is impossible to solve it.8.The box is so heavy that nobody can carry it.9. The baby is so little that it cannot walk.10. Heis so weak that he cannot lift this weight.11.She is so busy that she cannot talk with you.12.She was so inattentive that she did not notice the mistake.13.The rule was so difficult that they did not understand it.14. Hewas so stupid that he did not see the joke.

 

Ex. 1.7 Replace parts of the sentences with infinitive according to the model

1.Я рад, что рассказал вам эту историю. 2. Я рад, что мне рассказали эту историю. 3. Я хочу познакомить вас с этой артисткой. 4. Я хочу, чтобы меня познакомили с этой артисткой. 5. Я рад, что встретил ее на станции. 6. Я рад, что меня встретили на станции. 7. Мы очень счастливы, что пригласили его на вечер. 8. Мы очень счастливы, что нас пригласили на вечер. 9. Он будет счастлив посетить эту знаменитую картинную галерею. 10. Он был счастлив, что посетил эту знаменитую картинную галерею. 11. Дети любят, когда им рассказывают сказки. 12. Я не предполагал останавливаться на этой станции. 13. Я не ожидал, что меня остановят. 14. Я сожалею, что причинил вам столько беспокойства. 15. Он не выносит, когда ему лгут. 16. Я вспомнил, что уже встречал это слово в какой-то книге. 17. Мне очень жаль, что я пропустил эту интересную лекцию. 18. Она счастлива, что слышала концерт известного итальянского дирижера. 19. Она рада, что присутствовала на лекции. 20. Он очень доволен, что закончил свою книгу. 21. Наши спортсмены гордятся тем, что выиграли кубок. 22. Я только хочу, чтобы мне позволили помочь вам. 23. Я был благодарен, что мне дали комнату с большим окном. 24. Он был счастлив, что вернулся домой.

 

Ex. 1.8 State the function of the infinitive. Translate into Russian.

1. It was impossible not to invite the Butlers for both afternoon and evening. (Dreiser). 2. To cut a long story short, the infant that's just gone out of the room is not your son. (Maugham). 3. The next thing to be done is to move away from this house. (Eliot). 4. Nobody asked you to come out here. I didn't ask you to stay. (Faulkner). 5. It was too hot, to go out into the town. (Hemingway). 6. He had been one of the first to become interested in the development of the street-car system. (Dreiser). 1. The floor of the forest was soft to walk on... (Hemingway). 8. He was a man to attract immediate sympathy. (Maugham). 9. After all, you're young enough to be my son. (Clark). 10. To begin with, he did not like the way his editor had spoken to him that morning. (Priestley). 11. To make the real decisions, one's got to have the real power. (Snow). 12. To know all is to forgive all. (Priestley). 13. Other people, men particularly, found it difficult to face Cowperwood's glazed stare! (Dreiser). 14. It must be awful to have a brilliant future behind you. (Snow). 15. He found the sky so pallid as to be almost invisible. (Baum). 16. His age was difficult to guess. (Wilson). 17. They were the last to come. (Maugham). 18. To lie is not my custom. Too much complication and uncomfort. (Baum).

 

Ex. 1.9 Translate into English using the infinitive.

1. Было приятно гулять в лесу в такой жаркий день. 2. Он достаточно хорошо знает английский язык, чтобы перевести эту статью. 3. Первое, что надо сделать, – это выписать новые слова из текста. 4. Никогда не поздно признать свою ошибку. 5. Я чувствую себя слишком плохо, чтобы поехать с вами за город. 6. Короче говоря, их вина осталась недоказанной. 7. Он первый прервал молчание. 8. Он ушел из лаборатории последним. 9. У нее есть ребенок, о котором ей надо заботиться. 10. Мне надо вам кое-что сказать. 11. У меня есть друзья, которые могут мне помочь. 12. У меня не было времени прочитать эту статью. 13. Вот статья, которую вы должны прочитать.

Objective Infinitive Construction (Complex Object) употребляется:

1. после глаголов, которые выражают желания, чувства: