THE INFINITIVE AS PART OF A COMPOUND VERBAL PREDICATE
Ex. 11. Comment on the use of the infinitive. Translate the sentences into Russian. Pay attention to the form of the infinitive in the combination “modal verb + infinitive”.
Model: You must be careful.
“be” is a part of a compound verbal modal predicate expressed by a bare infinitive active used after the modal verb “must”.
1. Old Jolyon said simply, "I suppose I oughtn't to have time here, Jo!" 2. To the north we could look across a valley and see a forest of chestnut trees. 3. "I wish you could put some sense into Uncle Simon," he said. 4. Something festive ought to be done tonight. 5. "I thought a nice visit might cheer you up," said Miss Packard. 6. She had to be at seven the next morning. 7. You ought to have learnt by now that I know my own mind. 8. "My lord Milton," cried Evelyn, "could you have done something?" 9. But as she often justly remarked, sentiment was to be deprecated. 10.I must be going now, I felt it was due to you to know exactly how things stand. 11. ...I am to be given more food and drink. 12. I could have crumpled them (the papers) up and thrown them at him, only they would not have hurt. 13. I promise faithfully that I'll be on that train. I suppose no great harm could be done in two hours. 14. I feel I ought to have gone with him. One of us ought to have done so. 15. She must have come early to have got a position like that. 16. You must see that I cannot take the responsibility. 17. Yet the gentleman might have said, "I should like a portrait of my wife," and the lady might have said, "I should like a portrait of my husband." 18. "All right," I said to Andy. "You can come, and he can run in ahead of us if he likes." 19. That may have been a false statement made so that Rogers should appear to be in the same position as ourselves. 20. I fancy he must have belonged to some society.
Ex. 12. Use the required form of the infinitive after can (could) in the following sentences. Comment on the use of the infinitive.
Model: She can’t have missed the party.
The modal verb “can”is used to express certainty.
1. Her face was quite unlined and she could not ((to be) more than thirty.
2. I'm wondering if something can (to do) about it.
3. Her friend said quickly: "I know where you can (to get) your bicycle fixed."
4. "You couldn't (to worry) too much," Jack was tempted to say, "if you're still out at one thirty in the morning."
5. It's impossible. He can't (to do) it.
6. There wasn't anything wrong with tea. There couldn't (to be).
7. Harry's story disappointed him because if the girl had been with him at half past eight she couldn't (to be) at Hexley at the same time.
8. She lay, raised up rather high upon the pillow, her eyes closed and her hair undone. She could not (to sleep), though it would have been hard to say quite how this was evident.
9. "Have you seen anything of Roberta lately?" "Not for ages. I don't know what she can (to do)."
10. He couldn't (to hear) the news at dinner because his sister hadn't arrived yet.
11.1 can easily (to walk) to the railway station.
Ex. 13. Use the required form of the infinitive after may (might) in the following sentences. Comment on the use of the modal verb.
1. On the whole there was less said than might (to expect).
2. Don’t turn on the light.The fellow may (to lurk) outside the house door.
3. You've acquired a great deal of experience. You might (to write) a book.
4. There was no sign of John in the street.Of course, I said to myself, he might (to detain) at his office.
5. "Who said Mr Sorrel had gone to America?" "He might (to tell) it himself."
6. Strickland is very ill.He may (to die). Jack had the feeling that Maurice might one day (to break) down.
8. But what you tell me may not (to be) true.
9. I was deeply shocked and worried. "It is no easy matter to find the man," the doctor said to me. He might (to read) my thoughts.
10. He may not (to want) to become a publisher in the first place, but once he had taken it up the profession had appeared to absorb all his interests.
11. Mr Fox said something about it once, but I might not (to understand) him properly.
12. "Then why on earth all this secrecy?" "One never knows who may (to listen)."
Ex. 14. Use the required form of the infinitive after ‘must”: Comment on the use of the modal verb.
1. Both sisters must (to be) ashamed of having spoken as they had in front of a third person.
2. Fred knew that the girl's father was a draper and had four assistants. "He must (to do) well," he said to her. "He doesn't complain," said the girl.
3. The night porter was very good-looking and it must (to take) him a half-hour to comb his hair into such shining black perfection.
4. "You must (to be) right," I said.
5. They must (to hear) that the fellow was in London.
6. But at last he rose realizing dully that he had work which he must (to do).
7. He had a faint feeling of satisfaction in the thought that Mat must (to wonder) why they had gone off together.
8.1 must (to sit) there for a quarter of an hourwaiting and thinking about it before I saw the letter.
9. "His relatives do not think so." "Then they must (to be) a lot.of damned fools."
10. Mrs Cromwell took us round the yacht. There was no doubt that it must (to cost) her a lot of money.
11. He had said that he himself was an admirer of Stendahl. This must (to influence) him in making his decision.
12. At half past two I heard Hudson grunt, put down his book and switch out the light. He must (to read) since midnight.
13. "I must (to get) old," she said, "to be talking like that."
14. There were a lot of mirrors that must (to buy) at the sale of some old restaurant.
15. When I jumped up the thing fell off my knee. It must (to lie) there yet.
THE INFINITIVE AS OBJECT
THE INFINITIVE AS DIRECT OBJECT
If these verbs are followed by another verb, the structure is usually verb + to … (infinitive):
· It was late, so we decided to take a taxi home.
· Simon was in a difficult situation, so I agreed to lend him some money.
· How old were you when you learnt to drive? (or ‘learn how to drive’)
· I waved to Karen but failed to attract her attention.
Note these examples with the negative not to…:
· We decided not to go out because of the weather.
· I promised not to belate.
With many verbs you cannot normally use to …. .for example, enjoy / think / suggest:
· I enjoy dancing. (not ‘enjoy to dance)
· Ian suggested going to the cinema. (not ‘suggested to go’)
· Are you thinking of buying a car? (not ‘thinking to buy’)
| We also use to…after: seem appear tend pretend claim. |
For example:
· They seem to haveplenty of money.
· I like George but I think he tends to talktoo much.
· Ann pretended not to see me as she passed me in the street.
There is also a continuous infinitive (to be doing) and a perfect infinitive (to have done):
· I pretended to be reading the newspaper. (= I pretended that I was reading)
· You seem to have lost weight. ( = it seems that you have lost weight)
We say ‘decide to dosomething’, ‘a promise to dosomething’ etc. (noun + to…):
· I think his decision to give up his job was stupid.
· George has a tendency to talk to much.
| After the following verbs you can use a question word (what / whether / howetc.) + to… : ask decide know remember forget explain learn understand wonder |
Also: show / tell / ask / advise / teachsomebody what / how / where to do something:
· Can somebody show me how to change the film in this camera?
· Ask Jack. He’ll tell you whatto do.