THE NON-FINITE FORMS – part one

THE INFINITIVE
THE NON-FINITE VERBAL FORMS
the infinitive, the gerund, and the participles
 
the gerund – always functions as a noun, i.e.
has nominal functions
the participles – always have verbal
functions, act as verbs – forming tenses,
forming the passive, or replacing subordinate
clauses (zavisne rečenice)
the infinitive- can have both nominal and
THE INFINITIVE – may function as a noun in
a sentence, may replace a clause (a subordinate
clause), may be used to form the going-to future
and the shall/will future, may be used after a
modal (the bare infinitive)
 
1) The infinitive functioning as a noun:
I like to sing. – the function in the sentence is?
- the direct object (Od)
To sit by the fire on a cold day is nice. – the
function in the sentence is? – the subject (S)
 
Can the infinitive be replaced by the gerund in
the above sentences?
The answer is YES. The infinitives in the two sentences can be replaced by gerunds because they function as nouns (they have a nominal function).

I like singing. – the function in the sentence is? – the direct object (Od)
Sitting by the fire on a cold day is nice. – the function in the sentence is? – the subject (S)
2) The infinitive replacing a subordinate
clause:
I am going to Liverpool to see the hometown of
the Beatles. – in order to see/ so that I can see =
a clause of purpose
He is the man to be our president. = He is the
man who is going to be our president. = a
relative clause
 
Can the infinitive be replaced by the gerund in
the above sentences?
The answer is NO, because the infinitives in these sentences cannot be replaced by nouns, so they cannot be replaced by the gerund either.

I am going to Liverpool to see the hometown of the Beatles. – in order to see/ so that I can see = a clause of purpose
He is the man to be our president. = He is the man who is going to be our president. = a relative clause
 
3) The infinitive forming future tenses:
I will leave for Frankfurt tomorrow.
I am going to leave ….
 

 
4) The infinitive used with a modal verb:
I can paint, but I can’t sing.
 
 

TYPES OF INFINITIVE
 
To be = the ‘to’ infinitive

The infinitive without to = bare infinitive ( be)

The simple infinitive: (to) play
He seems to be proud.

The perfect infinitive: to have played

He seems to have lost his coat yesterday. (He seems sad.)
– The two sentences have the same structure: S + V + Cs.
The verb ‘to seem’ is a linking verb.
 
The continuous infinitive: to be playing
They are supposed/happy to be playing on Sunday
I am happy to be singing here tonight.
I am lucky to be reading that book.
Peter is supposed to be working hard these days.
 
The perfect and continuous infinitive:
to have been playing
She appeared to have been eating. – the
structure is: S + V + Cs. The meaning is: It
appeared /seemed that she had been eating.
 
The passive to-infinitive:
to be played
Dinner is going to be served.
I expect Tom to be done by ten.
I was expected to be informed about the meeting.
 
Passive perfect to-infinitive:
to have been played
The match was supposed to have been played at five
o’clock.= It was supposed that the match would be
played at ...
It seems for the meal to have been cooked. = It seems that
the meal has been cooked.
 
THE FUNCTIONS OF THE INFINITIVE IN A
SENTENCE
 
To play (in the park) is fun. - S
I want to play. – Od
 
Od Co
Do you want me / to open the window?
 
 
the empty IT V Cs the real subject
It is wonderful to be here.
 
Causing/wanting someone to do something:
I'll get John to wash the car.
I'll make John wash the car.
I want John to wash the car.
Replacing the infinitive by the gerund
The infinitive can be replaced by the gerund only
when it has a nominal function, and even then not
with all verbs and in all cases.
To err is human, to forgive divine./Erring is human,
forgiving divine. – The function of the infinitive/the
gerund in the sentence? – the subject (S)
I like skiing/ to ski/ in winter. – The function of the
gerund/the infinitive in the sentence? – the direct object
(Od)
It is wonderful to be here. – It is wonderful being here. –
Is the second sentence grammatically correct?Is the
gerund supposed to be the real/postponed/extraposed
subject? – The answer is NO. It is wonderful being here.
I want to see him. / I want seeing him. – Can
you replace the infinitive by the gerund? – NO,
with verbs that express wishes and desire (want,
wish, hope …) we are not supposed to use the
gerund. The reason is that our wishes are
directed to the future, not the past.
I want seeing him
I want to do something.
Do you want me to open the window?
 
I started reading.
I started to read.
Do the two above sentences have the same
meaning?
 
Yes, they do.
I stopped reading.
I stopped to read.
Do the two above sentences have the same
meaning?
 
NO, they don’t have the same meaning.

I stopped reading. = I was reading, but I am not reading any more.

I stopped to read. = I stopped doing something in order to read (so that I could read).
 Make two sentences using the verb to regret. In
the first one the verb to regret should be
followed by the gerund, and in the second by
the infinitive.
I regret telling her all my secrets. – The action has already taken place.

I regret to tell you that your car cannot be repaired. – The action of telling is happening now.
Some other verbs functioning the same way:

I hate your hurting my feelings so badly. – referring to the past

I hate to hurt your feelings. – referring to the present or to the future. I
am either hurting your feelings by doing something now, or I know that
I am going to.

Do you remember locking the door? = Do you remember if you locked

the door? – referring to the past

Remember to lock the door!!! = I am giving you advice for the future.