• Lecture 7
Translation of
infinitive
constructions
Table of contents
Plan:
1. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive
Construction
2. The Subjective Infinitive
Construction
3. The for-to-Infinitive Construction
KEYWORDS: infinitive, construction,
attribute, object, subject
What are infinitive verbs?
Infinitives in English are verb forms that are the same as the base or dictionary form,
and they can function as subjects, nouns, adverbs, and adjectives. There are two
types of infinitive: the full infinitive and the bare infinitive.
Full infinitives are also known as to-infinitives because they consist of “to”
followed by the base form of the verb (e.g., “to sing”). Full infinitives are more
commonly used than bare infinitives.
A number of verbs (e.g., “beg,” “demand,” and “plan”) are always followed by
the full infinitive rather than the bare infinitive when an infinitive is needed.
Examples
We arranged meet on Wednesday.
We arranged to meet on Wednesday.
I forgot bring my homework.
I forgot to bring my homework
Bare infinitives ( zero infinitives) are simply the base
form of the verb without “to” (e.g., “sing”).
The uses of bare infinitives are more limited than those of
full infinitives. Bare infinitives commonly follow modal verbs
(and the auxiliary verb “do”), verbs of perception, and a
few other verbs (e.g., “let” and “make”).
Bare infinitive examples
We must stop him.
I saw her catch the ball
My parents made me wash the car .
How to use infinitives
Infinitives are very common and have many
uses. They can perform all the following
functions:
Subject
Object
Subject complement
Adverbs
Adjectives
As the subject
You will sometimes see full infinitives used as the
subject of a sentence. In this case, they function as
nouns referring to the action in general.
Infinitive as subject examples
ex:To live is the greatest adventure.
To try to convince him is pointless.
As an object
Full infinitives also function as nouns when being
used as the direct object of the main verb.
Infinitive as direct object examples
ex:We need to run faster.
The children wanted to play.
As a subject complement
Infinitives can act as subject complements—which describe, define, or identify the subject—when following linking verbs (e.g., “be,” “seem”).
My ambition is to become a physicist.
The dog seems to want a treat.
As an adverb
Infinitives can function as adverbs modifying the main verb.
The infinitive won’t necessarily directly follow the main verb, but you can determine whether it’s functioning as an adverb by asking the following questions:
Is it explaining why the action described by the main verb happened or is happening?
Can the “to” in the infinitive be replaced with “in order to” with no change in meaning?
I learned programming [in order] to get a better job.
She made a cup of tea [in order] to calm herself down.
Why Infinitive Constructions Matter in Translation
Infinitive constructions are common, flexible, and
unclear in English and some other languages.
Their translation is often non-literal because:
•Not all languages use infinitives in the same way (some
don’t have them at all).
•The function of an infinitive (purpose, result,
complement, etc.) determines how it must be translated.
•The stylistic level (formal, poetic, concise) often changes
when translated literally.
In short, infinitives challenge translators to balance
grammar, meaning, and style.
INFINITIVE CONSTRUCTIONS
in modern english we find the following predicative constructions with the infinitive:
1) the objective-with-the-infinitive construction;
2) the subjective infinitive construction;
3) the for-to-infinitive construction.
The objective-with-the-infinitive construction.
This is a construction in which the infinitive is in predicate relation to a noun in the common case or a
pronoun in the objective case. In the sentence this construction has the function of a complex object.
In translating the objective-with-the-infinitive construction into russian we nearly always use a
subordinate(ergash gap) clause.
He's a wonderful teacher and i've never seen him lose his temper or get angry about anything. (Wilson)
он замечательный учитель, и я никогда не видел, чтобы он вышел из себя или рассердился из-за
чего-нибудь.
However, sometimes a sentence containing the objective-with-the-infinitive construction is rendered by
a simple sentence.
He ordered the cabman to drive on. (London)
он приказал кэбмену ехать дальше.
... The bombings at night made the old walls shake to their foundations. (Heym)
... от ночных бомбежек старые стены содрогались до самого основания (бомбежки заставляли
стены содрогаться
2. The objective-with-the-infinitive construction is used after verbs
showing mental activity, such as to know, to think, to consider, to
believe, to suppose, to expect, to imagine, to find, to feel, to trust, etc.
We believe him to finish the work in two days.
Мы считаем, что он закончит работу через два дня.
No one could expect her to be happy.
Никто не мог ожидать, что она будет счастлива.
Note. With the verbs to think, to consider, to find the same idea can be
expressed without an infinitive.
Boldwood thought her beautiful. (Hardy)
she found the subject rather interesting. (Dickens)
you consider yourself an impressive person, eh? (Shaw)
3. The objective-with-the-infinitive construction is used after verbs of declaring: to
pronounce, to declare, to report.
The surgeon pronounced the wound to be a slight one.
Врач сказал, что рана легкая.
She declared him to be the most disobedient child.
Она заявила, что это самый непослушный ребенок на свете.
4. The objective-with-the-infinitive construction is used after verbs denoting wish and
intention: to want, to wish, to desire, to mean, to intend, to choose (in the meaning of
'хотеть').
Do you wish me to be at home earlier?
Вы хотите, чтобы я была дома пораньше?
I want you to come and dine with me. (Dickens)
Я хочу, чтобы вы пришли пообедать со мной.
I did not mean you to learn the poem by heart.
Я не имел ввиду, чтобы вы выучили стихотворение наизусть.