| The Infinitive + Predicate
| | The Infinitive + Subject + Predicate
|
To read a lot is to know much. To read the book I went to the library.
Много читать - много знать. Чтобы прочесть эту книгу, я отправился
в библиотеку.
| An adverbial modifier of result with too (слишком) and enough (достаточно)
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 abstract and class 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 an attribute often has a modal meaning or implies a future action.
Remember the model:
a noun + infinitive
The Infinitive as parenthesis: to cut a long story short; to put it mildly; to say the least; to tell the truth; etc.
| He was too busy to see anyone.
She was clever enough to admit it.
I had no time to visit the museum yet.
У меня еще не было времени осмотреть этот 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.
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 the only thing to do.
Это единственное, что можно и нужно сделать.
Не is not the man to do it.
Он не тот, кто мог бы это сделать.
It's a book to read and remember.
Такую книгу надо прочесть и запомнить.
3. The attributive passive infinitive may have a future meaning:
The houses to be built here will be of the same type.
Дома, которые должны быть/будут построены здесь, будут иметь такую же конструкцию.
MEMORIZE THE FOLLOWING EXPRESSIONS:
Ему трудно угодить. Не is hard to please.
У нее привлекательная внешность. She is pleasant to look at.
Мне надо вам кое-что сказать. I have something to tell you.
Этим ничего не достигнешь. There is nothing to be gained by it.
Ничего не поделаешь. There is nothing to be done.
Надо многое сделать. There is much to be done.
Дом сдается внаем. The house is to let.
Кто виноват? Who is to blame?
Непременно приходите. Be sure to come.
Единственное, что остается - это ждать. There is nothing left to do but wait.
