PART OF A COMPOUND VERBAL ASPECT PREDICATEThe infinitive is used in this function after verbs denoting the beginning, continuation or cessation of an action. The verbs include: begin, start, cease, continue: • It began to rain. For more details about these verbs see the Gerund section. ■ OBJECT The infinitive is very often used in this function. We find it: 1) used directly after verbs; 2) with an object between the infinitive and the verb; 3) used after predicative adjectives; 4) preceded by a wh-word; 5) introduced by it.
1) Verbs followed directly by the infinitive: afford
agree aim arrange ask attempt beg care choose (= 'decide') hesitate consent intend dare learn decide live demand long • He asked to come with us. • Do not hesitate to ask questions if you have any • He chose to pay no attention to what she said. • This never failed to infuriate her. • He opted to support the movement. • I tend to go to bed rather late. • [struggled to stay awake. • She did not live to see the end of the war.
Минченков А. Г. Most of these verbs can be used with the passive infinitive: • She refused to be deceived. • He deserves to be promoted. The verbs claim, pretend, tend are quite often used with the perfect infinitive: • He claimed to have been there. • He pretended to have heard nothing. Notes: 1) The verb afford is always preceded by a modal verb: • I can't afford to take such risks. 2) The verb arrange is used in the following patterns: • They arranged to meet at four o'clock. • I will arrange to meet you at the airport (= 'You will be met by someone'). • I will arrange for Jack to meet you at the airport (= 'Jack will meet you'). • We will arrange with somebody else to buy these tickets. 3) The verb care followed by the infinitive is normally used in • I don't care to see this show. • Would you care to have a drink with me? 4) For the use of dare, need, and help see Infinitive. Forms. 2) Verbs followed by an object + the infinitive:
I encouraged her to tell the truth. Verbals • She challenged me to race her to the corner. • I defy anyone to say that I am wrong. • It has led me to change my attitude. • They paid him to be silent. • She reminded me to lock the door. • It prompted me to visit the doctor. • I trust them to solve the problem. Notes: 1) As is clear from (1), the verbs ask, beg, expect and help can • He begged (us) to be allowed to stay. 2) Special attention should be paid to the verbs allow and permit. • It allows us /one to make the following conclusions. 3) The verb get is a causative verb, a synonym of the verbs make • He got Ann to help them. • She got the maid to clean the room. 3) The infinitive is widely used as the object of the following predicative adjectives: glad, happy, lucky, surprised, sorry, curious, afraid, reluctant, pleased, etc: • I am curious to know the news. • He is afraid to go there. The perfect infinitive is sometimes used here to emphasize that the event preceded the emotional state: • I was happy to have been invited. • He was lucky to have been given the job. • She was sorry to have missed the opportunity. Минченков А. Г. Verbals
Note:With afraid we can use both the infinitive and the gerund, but the meaning changes. For more details see the Gerund section. 4) We can often use a full infinitive after a wh-word. The ask explain know reveal tell decide forget learn say think describe guess realize see understand discover imagine remember teach wonder discuss • I do not know how to open the door. • J can not decide whether to go or not. • He asked me which bus to take. _ 5) We can use the verbs consider, think, find, presume, believe, • He thought it his duty to help them. • I find it hard to believe the story.
• This made it possible to accept the invitation. • He made it a rule to get up at seven o'clock. It here is introductory and introduces the real object, which is the infinitive.
i) understand. The verbs will be dealt with in the Gerund section. 7) With the verbs come, go and find we can use either the infinitive or participle I depending on what we want to express. Detailed treatment of the difference will be given in the Participle section.
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