The function of infinitive and gerund construction in a sentence

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The function of infinitive and gerund construction in a sentence



Content

Introduction

1. General characteristic of the verb

1.1 Finite form of the verb

1.2 Non-Finite form of the verb

2. Infinitive

2.1 The use of infinitive

2.2 The function of infinitive

2.3 Infinitive construction

3. Gerund

3.1 The use of gerund

3.2 The function of gerund

4. The gerund and verbal nouns

Conclusion

Bibliography



Introduction

The verb is the most complex grammatical class of words. It is the only part of speech in English that has a morphological system based on the six categories: person, number, tense, aspect, voice, and mood. Besides, there are two sets of verb-forms, essentially different from each other: the finite forms and the non-finite forms (infinitive, gerund, participle I, participle II). The verb performs the central role in the expression of predication, i. e. the connection between the situation described in the sentence and reality. The categorical meaning of the verb is a process presented dynamically, that is, developing in time. It is the semantic characteristic of all verbs both in finite and non-finite forms. The difference in the functional aspect is that the finite verb with its categories of tense, aspect, voice, and mood always performs the function of the verb-predicate in the sentence while the non-finite forms are used in the functions of the syntactic subject, object, adverbial modifier, attribute.

The English verbals include four forms: the infinitive, the gerund, the present participle (Participle I), and the past participle (Participle II). Verbals or the non-finite forms of the verb are the forms of the verb intermediary in many of their lexico-grammatical features between the verb and the non-procession parts of speech. They render processes as peculiar kinds of substances and properties. But the verbals, unable to express the predicative meanings of time and mood, still do express the secondary predication (potential predication, semi predication) forming syntactic complexes directly related to certain types of subordinate clauses.

Structurally the work consists of three parts: introduction, three chapters with their subtitles, conclusion and bibliography.

The first chapter “General characteristic of the verb”, here we describe the main features of English verb and its forms.

The second chapter is “Infinitive”. Here we give an interpretation of infinitive, its formation, usage and function in the sentences.

The third chapter is titled as “Gerund”, here we present the general information of gerund, its formation, usage and function. We also draw parallels between infinitive and gerund by giving examples.

The last one describes differences between infinitive and gerund, formation and usage. verb infinitive gerund grammatical

Working Bibliography contains the list of authors and books used in the work, list of literary work that has been used in order to gather information concerning the topic..



1. General characteristic of the verb

Verb tenses are tools that English speakers use to express time in their language. We may find that many English tenses do not have direct translations in our language. That is not a problem. By studying verb tense tutorial, we will learn to think like a native English speaker. The verb is a part of speech which includes words expressing actions or states conceived as processes.

Verbs are a class of words used to show the performance of an action (do, throw, run), existence (be), possession (have), or state (know, love) of a subject. To put it simply a verb shows what something or someone does.

Most statements in speech and writing have a main verb. These verbs are expressed in tenses which place everything in a point in time.

Verbs have moods, which indicate the viewpoint of the verb, whether it is a fact, a command or hypothetical.

Verbs have a voice too. The voice shows whether the subject of a sentence is carrying out an action, or is having an action carried out on it.

Verbs are conjugated (inflected) to reflect how they are used.

1.1 Finite Forms of the Verb

Finite Verbs are those verbs that have a definite relation with the subject or noun. These verbs are usually the main verb of a clause or sentence and can be changed according to the noun. They are used only in present and past tense. They can be indicative of passive or active voice and also of number (singular or plural).

She walks home. - Here we see that the finite verb is walks and the pronoun is 'she'.

She walked home. - Here we can see how the verb changed/modified to change the tense of the sentence

All verbal forms can be analyzed under “The Category of Finitude” (Cf. M. Blokh, op.cit.,88), which divides the forms of the verb into finite and non-finite (verbal). These forms constitute a system of their own which is united by such verbal categories as voice, aspect and order. The categories that set finites and non-finites apart are tense, person, number, and mood. Verbs which have the past or the present form are called FINITE verbs. Verbs in any other form (infinitive, -ing, or -ed) are called NON FINITE verbs. This means that verbs with tense are finite, and verbs without tense are nonfinite. The distinction between finite and nonfinite verbs is a very important one in grammar, since it affects how verbs behave in sentences. Here are some examples of each type.

David plays the piano	Present	Finite
Leaving home can be very traumatic	NONE -- the verb has the -ing form	Nonfinite

1. In the finite form the verb has the function of the predicate in the sentence. It is limited by or bound to some subject with which it agrees in person and number:

I am a student. You are a teacher.

1.1 The finite forms of the verb indicate the following categories: p e r s o n , number, aspect, tense, mood, and voice.

These categories are expressed partly by synthetical forms (inflexion, and vowel or consonant interchange):

e.g. I ask, he asks, I asked.-,

I sing, I sang-, I make, I made; partly by analytical forms: I am reading, I have read, I shall read. It has been read.

The system of all the synthetical and analytical forms, which are used to indicate person, number, aspect, tense, mood and voice is called t h e conjugation of the verb.



1.2 NON-Finite Forms of the Verb

2) A non finite verb is any of several verb forms that are not finite verbs; that is, they cannot serve as the root of an independent clause. Nonfinite verbs found in English typically are infinitives, participles and gerunds. (They sometimes are called verbals)

Additional non-finite forms found in some other languages include converbs gerundives and supines. Non finite verbs typically are not inflected by grammatical tense; and they present little inflection for other grammatical categories as well. Generally, they also lack a subject dependent. One or more nonfinite verbs may be associated with a finite verb in a finite clause, composing the elements of a verb catena, or verb chain.

These verbs cannot be the main verb of a clause or sentence as they do not talk about the action that is being performed by the subject or noun. They do not indicate any tense, mood or gender. They are used as nouns, adverbs and adjectives. They are also used to form non-finite clauses which are simply dependent clauses that use non-finite verbs.

Speaking of non-finites (the infinitive, the participle, the gerund) special mention should be made of the infinitive. It has a unique position: it is the principal representative of the verb-lexeme as a whole.

Types of non finite verb

English has three kinds of nonfinite verbs:

Infinitives Gerund Participle



2. Infinitive

Infinitive is a grammatical term referring to certain verb forms existing in many languages. As with many linguistic concepts, there isn't a single definition to all languages. The word is derived from Late Latin infinitivus, a derivative of infinitus meaning "infinite". Their most often use is verbs. It is developed from their verbal noun which in course of time became verbalized.In modern

English infinitive like the participle and gerund has a double nature ,nominal and verbal. It is the non-finite form of the verb, which combines the properties of the verb with those of the noun, serving as the verbal name of the process. The English infinitive exists in two presentation forms: with the particle to (this form is called “the to-infinitive”) or without the particle to (“the bare infinitive”).

The particle to can be separated from the infinitive, forming the so-called “split infinitive”, The infinitive is capable of expressing the categorical meanings of aspect and voice.

2.1 The use of infinitive

In Modern English the infinitive is used with the particle to. In Old English it was a preposition used with the infinitive in the dative case to indicate purpose. Still there are cases of so-called bare infinitive is used.

1 After auxiliary verbs.

e.g We shall go there at once.

2 After modal verbs except the verb ought.

e.g If one cannot have what one loves, one must love what one has.(Wilson)

3 After a verb to let.

e.g Let us be the best friends in the world.(Dickens)

4 After the verb to make.

e.g. What makes you think so?(Carter)

5 After the expressions, had better, would rather, would sooner, cannot but, nothing but,

e.g You had better go to bed and leave the patient to me.(Shaw)

6 As a modifier of a noun or adjective. This may relate to the meaning of the noun or adjective ("a request to see someone"; "keen to get on"), or it may form a type of non-finite relative clause, like in "the man to save us"; "the method to use"; "nice to listen to".

7 In elliptical questions (direct or indirect): "I don't know where to go." After why the bare infinitive is used: "Why reveal it?"

8 The infinitive is also the usual dictionary form or citation form of a verb. The form listed in dictionaries is the bare infinitive, although the to-infinitive is often used in referring to verbs or in defining other verbs:

2.2 The function of infinitive

The infinitive can be used in different syntactic functions.

1.The infinitive as a subject.

e.g. To doubt, under the circumstances, is almost to insult.(Ch.Bronte)

2. The infinitive as a predicative.

e.g.My intention is to get into parliament.(Trollope)

3.The infinitive as an object.

e.g Leilahad learned to dance at boarding school.(Mansfield)

4 The infinitive as part of a complex object.

e.g I never saw you act this way before.(Dreiser)

4 The infinitive as an attribute.

e.g.I have nobody to say a kind word to me.

5 The infinitive as an adverbial modifier of pupose, result,.comparison and manner.

e.g. Laws were not made to be broken, laws were made to stay within.(Heym)

e.g His eyes were sharp enough to look after his own interest.(Heym)

e.g She nervously moved her hand towards his lips as if to stop him...(Dickens)

6 The infinitive as parenthesis.

e.g He was rude to say the least of it.(Dreiser)

2.3 Infinitive constructions

The infinitive may be found in the following predicative constructions:

1.the Objective Infinitive Construction.

2.the Subjective Infinitive Construction.

3.the For-to-Infinitive Construction.

1. The Objective Infinitive Construction.

It is a construction in which the infinitive stands in predicate relation to a noun in the Common Case or a personal pronoun in the Objective Case.It is also known as Complex Object.

e.g. Mary's parents want her to become a doctor.

a)The Objective Infinitive construction is used after the verbs denoting sense such as to hear, to see,

to watch, to feel, to notice. After these verbs the infinitive is used without the particle to.

e.g. We saw the students leave the lecture-room.

b)The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs denoting mental activity,such as

to know, to think to consider, to belive, to suppose, to imagine, to find, to feel etc.

After these verbs to be is generally used.

e.g.I know you to be the most honest, sportless creature that ever lived.(Hardy)

c)After verbs of mental activity the Perfect Infinitive is used but seldom.

e.g.The doctor found his heart to have stopped two hours before.

d)The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs denoting wish and intention.

To want, to wish, to desire, to mean, to intend.

e.g.I want you to come and dine with me.(Dickens)

e) The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs denoting feeling and emotions.

To like, to dislike, to love, to hate etc.

e.g I dislike you to talk like that.

f) The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs denoting order and permission. To order, to allow, to suffer, to have.

e.g. She had never allowed the name of John to pass her lips.

g) It is wildely used with the prepositions for, on, upon.

e.g.I rely on you to come in time.

2. The Subjective Infinitive Construction.

It is a construction in which the infinitive stands in predicate relation to a noun in the Common Case or a personal pronoun in the Nominative Case. The Subjective Infinitive construction is used with the following groups of verbs in the Passive Voice.

a)verbs denoting sense perception. to see, to hear

e.g.The boat was seen to disappear in the distance.

b) verbs denoting mental activity to think, to know, to consider, to expect, to suppose.

e.g Mrs. Daves was known to be a kind and honest woman.

c) the verbs to say, to report.

e.g. He is said to live a lonely life.

d) The Subjective Infinitive Construction is also used with the verbs to seem,to appear,to happen,to prove,to turn out...used in the Active Voice.

e.g.I happened to be out when she called.

e) The Subjective Infinitive Construction is also found with the word groups to be sure, to be certain, to be likely.

e.g. He is certain to take part in the conference.

f) It is used with the following pairs of synonyms to seem, to appear, to happen, to chance, to prove, to turn out.

e.g. They seemed to have quite forgotten him already.(Hardy)

3. The for-to-Infinitive Construction.

The for-to-Infinitive Construction is a construction in which the infinitive is in predicate relation to a noun or pronoun preceded by the preposition for. The construction has different function in the sentence.

e.g For me to tell him the news would be rather hard.(subject)

He asked for the papers to be typed by 5 o'clock.(object)

That was for him to find out. (Predicative)

There was really nothing for him to do but what he had done. (Attribute)(Hardy)

He stepped aside for me to pass. (Adverbial modifier of purpose)



3. THE GERUND

1.THE GERUND

The gerund developed from the verbal noun, which in course of time became verbalized preserving at the same time its nominal character. The gerund is formed by adding the suffix- ing to the stem of the verb and coincides in form with Participle 1.

The gerund has both nominal and verbal properties. The nominal characteristics of the gerund are as follows.

1)The gerund can be preceded by a preposition;

e.g Before answering her question he thought a little.

2)It can have an attribute expressed by a possessive pronoun or a noun in the Genitive Case;

e.g.I insist on your going there right now.

3)Verbal properties of the gerund are as follows;

a) it can take a direct object;

e.g. Excuse me for interrupting you.

b) it can be modified by an adverb;

e.g. After working hard she felt tired.

c) it has the following verbal forms;

Indefinite- translating(active)-being written(passive)

Perfect-having translated(active)-having been written(passive)

The Gerund has the following functions in the sentence.

1.subject;

They say smoking leads to meditation.(Collins) (subject)

2.object;

Children enjoy playing on the sand.

3. attribute;

There are no chances of being promoted here.

4. predicative;

His hobby is growing roses of different colors.

5. adverbial modifier of

Time On reaching the hotel he got out of the taxi.

Manner The whole morning was spent in packing.

Attendant circumstances He left the room without saying good-by to anybody.

Purpose This tool is used for cutting down trees.

Condition You cannot go there without being invited.

Cause He couldn't attend classes because of being ill.

Concession We could understand him in spite of his speaking rather fast.

3.1 The Use of Gerund

Infinitive	Gerund as subject	Gerund as object	Gerund as object of a preposition
solve	Solving problems is satisfying.	I like solving problems.	No one is better at solving problems.
jog	Jogging is boring.	He has started jogging.	Before jogging, she stretches.
eat	Eating too much made me sick.	She avoids eating too much.	That prevents you from eating too much.
investigate	Investigating the facts won't hurt.	We tried investigating the facts.	After investigating the facts, we made a decision.

In Modern English the gerund is widely used and often competes with the infinitive.

In the following cases only the gerund is used;

1)with the verbs and verbal phrases; to avoid, to burst out, to deny, to enjoy, to excuse, to fancy, to finish ,to forgive, to give up, to go on, to keep on, to leave off, to mind, to put off, to postpone.

e.g. He avoided looking at Savina.(Wilson)

She burst out crying.(Collins)

Fancy finding you here at such an hour.(Hardy)

Forgive my speaking plainly.(Hardy)

They went on talking(Hardy)

Would you mind waiting a week or two?(Dreiser)

I don't mind going and seeing her.(Hardy)

She could put off going over the house.(Eliot)

She couldn't help smiling.(Mansfield).

2)With the following verbs and verbal phrases used with a preposition;

To accuse of, to approve of, to complain of, to depend on, to feel like, to insist on, to look like, to object to, to persist in to prevent from, to rely on, to speak of, to succeed in, tosuspect of, to thank for, to think of, to give up the idea of, to look forward to, not to like the idea of.

e.g. They accuse me of having dealt with the Germans.(Heym)

I don't feel like going out.(Wilson)

I rushed out to prevent her from seeing this dreadful sight.(Conan Doyle)

My medical adviser succeeded in saving my life...(Collins)

You suspect me of stealing your diamond(Collins)

I resolved not to think of going abroad any more.(Defoe)

I really thank you heartily for taking all this trouble.(Hardy)

Don't miss the opportunity of hearing this pianist.(Dreiser)

3) With the following predicative word-groups with or without preposition;

To be aware of, to be busy in, to be capable of, to be fond of, to be guilty of, to be pleased at,

To be proud of, to be sure of, to be surprised at, to be worth.

e.g.I am very fond of being looked at.(Wilde)

She was not pleased at my coming.(Hitches)

She is proud of being so pretty.(Dickens)

The bridal party was worth seeing.(Eliot)

Are you sure of those words referring to my mother?(Collins)

1) The gerund as a subject.

e.g. Talking mends no holes.(proverb)



3.2 The Function of the Gerund in the sentence

The gerund used as a subject may follow the predicate; in these cases the sentence opens with the introductory it or with the construction there is.

e.g. It's no use talking like that to me.(Shaw)

2) The gerund as a predicative.

e.g. The only remedy for such a headache as mine is going to bed.(Collins)

3) The gerund as part of compound verbal predicate.

a) With verbs denoting modality the gerund forms part of compound verbal model predicate.

e.g. We intend going to Switzerland, and climbing Mount Blanc.(Ch.Bronte)

b) With verbs denoting the biginning,the duration or the end of an action ,the gerund forms part of a compound verbal aspect predicate.

e.g.In the night it started raining.(Hemingway)

4) The gerund as an object.

The gerund may be used as a direct object and as a prepositional indirect object.

e.g. I simply love riding.(Galsworthy)

5) The gerund as an attribute.

In this function the gerund is always preceded by a preposition.

e.g She had a feeling of having been worsted....(Galsworthy)

6) The gerund as an adverbial modifier.

In this function the gerund is always preceded by a preposition.

It is used in the function of an adverbial modifier of time, manner attendant circumstances, cause, condition, purpose and concession; the most common functions are those of adverbial modifiers of time, manner, and attendant circumstances.

Time After living her umbrella in the hall,she entered the living room.(Cronin)

Manner She startled her father by bursting into tears(Gaskell)

Attendant circumstances She was not brilliant, not active, but rather peaceful and statuesque without knowing it.(Dreiser)

Purpose one side of the gallery was used for dancing. (Eliot)

Condition He has no right to come bothering you and papa without being invited. (Shaw)

Concession In spite of being busy he did all he could to help her. (Shaw)



4. The Infinitive and Gerund

The gerund should not be confused with the verbal noun, which has the same suffix-ing. The main points of difference between the gerund and the verbal noun are as follows;

1) Like all the verbals the gerund has a double character-nominal and verbal.

Verbal noun has only a nominal character.

2) The gerund is not used with an article.

The verbal noun may be used with an article.

e.g. The making of a new humanity cannot be the privilege of a handful of buresucrats(Fox)

3) The gerund has no plural form.

The verbal noun may be used in plural.

e.g. Our likings are regulated by our circumstances.(Ch.Bronte)

4) The gerund of a transitive verb takes a direct object.

e.g. He received more and more letters, so many that he had given up reading them.(Priestly)

A verbal noun cannot take a direct object ;it takes a prepositional object with the preposition of.

e.g. Meanwhile Gwendolyn was rallying her nerves to the reading of the paper.(Eliot)

5) The gerund may be modified by an adverb.

e.g. Drinking even temperately, was a sin.(Dreiser)

The verbal noun may be modified by an adjective.

e.g. Tom took a good scolding about clodding Sid.(Twain)

1. A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding "-ing." The gerund form of the verb "read" is "reading." You can use a gerund as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence.

Examples: Reading helps you learn English.( subject)

Her favorite hobby is reading.( complement)

Gerunds can be made negative by adding "not."

Examples: He enjoys not working.

The best thing for your health is not smoking.

2. Infinitives are the "to" form of the verb. The infinitive form of "learn" is "to learn." You can also use an infinitive as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence.

Examples: To learn is important. (subject)

The most important thing is to learn.( complement )

He wants to learn. (object )

Infinitives can be made negative by adding "not."

Examples: I decided not to go.

The most important thing is not to give up.

3. Both gerunds and infinitives can be used as the subject or the complement of a sentence. However, as subjects or complements, gerunds usually sound more like normal, spoken English, whereas infinitives sound more abstract. In the following sentences, gerunds sound more natural and would be more common in everyday English. If this sounds confusing, just remember that 90% of the time, you will use a gerund as the subject or complement of a sentence.

Examples: Learning is important.( normal subject)

To learn is important. (abstract subject - less common)

The most important thing is learning.( normal complement)

The most important thing is to learn.( abstract complement - less common)

4. As the object of a sentence, it is more difficult to choose between a gerund or an infinitive. In such situations, gerunds and infinitives are not normally interchangeable. Usually, the main verb in the sentence determines whether you use a gerund or an infinitive.

Examples: He enjoys swimming. ("Enjoy" requires a gerund.)

He wants to swim.( "Want" requires an infinitive)

5. Some verbs are followed by gerunds as objects.

Examples: She suggested going to a movie.

Mary keeps talking about her problems.

6. Some verbs are followed by infinitives.

Examples: She wants to go to a movie.

Mary needs to talk about her problems.

7. And, finally, both gerunds and infinitives can act as a Direct Object: Here, however, all kinds of decisions have to be made, and some of these decisions will seem quite arbitrary.

Although it is seldom a serious problem for native English speakers, deciding whether to use a gerund or an infinitive after a verb can be perplexing among students for whom English is a second language. Why do we decide to run, but we would never decide running? On the other hand, we might avoid running, but we would not avoid to run. And finally, we might like running and would also like to run. It is clear that some verbs take gerunds, some verbs take infinitives, and some verbs take either.

8.With a number of verbs and word- groups both the gerund and the infinitive may be used. The most important of them are: to be afraid, to begin, to cease, to continue, can afford, to dread, to fear, to forget, to hate, to intend, to like, to neglect, to prefer, to purpose, to remember, to start, to stop.

e.g. The young man began turning over the pages of a book.(Eliot)

At length she began to speak softly.(Eliot)



Conclusion

The following Term Paper is on the Contrastive Analysis of Gerund and Infinitive construction in the sentence. In the result of the study carried out within the scope of the given term paper, we came to the conclusion that the knowledge of gerund and infinitive constructions is of great importance in English grammar. By observing and studying the differences and similarities between them we gain more profound knowledge of the language under study.

The verb has two forms in English finite and non finite we have investigated in this paper non-finite forms which include four forms: the infinitive, the gerund, the present participle (Participle I), and the past participle (Participle II).

The gerund names an action or state and functions as a noun. The gerund has some properties of the verb. Like verbs, gerunds have active, passive, and perfect forms, can take a direct object (He likes watching films), and can be modified by an adverb (He is used to working late). The gerund has some properties of the noun and can function as the subject (Swimming is good for health), as a predicative noun (His hobby is travelling), as an object (He enjoys reading), as an attribute (The risk of losing money scares him), and as an adverbial modifier (He called her before leaving).

English infinitive like the participle and gerund has a double nature, nominal and verbal. It is the non-finite form of the verb, which combines the properties of the verb with those of the noun, serving as the verbal name of the process. The English infinitive exists in two presentation forms: with the particle to (this form is called “the to-infinitive”) or without the particle to (“the bare infinitive”). Now in English the infinitive is used with the particle to.

Thus, the contrastive analysis of infinitive and gerund in English language helps us to understand the peculiarities of this domain and realize how similar and at the same time different the following verbals can be.



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