Tema nr.1 THE FORMS OF THE INFINITIVE IN ENGLISH Unităţi de învăţare : Active&Passive Continuous Aspect forms Negation of the Infinitive Position of auxiliary adverbs in the infinitive clause Unsplit and Split Infinitive Obiectivele temei: înţelegerea conceptelor teoretice şi formarea perspectivei asupra infinitivului in limba engleza si romana; cunoaşterea formelor de la infinitiv, atat la diateza activa, cat si la cea pasiva; dezbaterea particularităţilor ce tin de forma verbelor la aspectul continuu si perfect; analizarea diferentelor formale si schimbarilor fonetice si de scriere ce apar la verbe; Timpul alocat temei : 2 ore Bibliografie recomandată : Cornilescu, Alexandra & Iclezan-Dimitriu, Ioan, The Infinitive, Editura Institutul European, Iasi, 2000. Cornilescu, Alexandra, Concepts of Modern Grammar. A Generative Grammar perspective, EUB, 2006. Cornilescu, Alexandra, Complementation in English. A Minimalist Approach, EUB, 2003. 1
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Tema nr.1
THE FORMS OF THE INFINITIVE IN ENGLISH
Unităţi de învăţare : Active&Passive Continuous Aspect forms Negation of the Infinitive Position of auxiliary adverbs in the infinitive clause Unsplit and Split Infinitive
Obiectivele temei:
înţelegerea conceptelor teoretice şi formarea perspectivei asupra infinitivului in limba engleza si romana;
cunoaşterea formelor de la infinitiv, atat la diateza activa, cat si la cea pasiva;
dezbaterea particularităţilor ce tin de forma verbelor la aspectul continuu si perfect;
analizarea diferentelor formale si schimbarilor fonetice si de scriere ce apar la verbe;
Timpul alocat temei : 2 ore
Bibliografie recomandată : Cornilescu, Alexandra & Iclezan-Dimitriu, Ioan, The Infinitive, Editura
Institutul European, Iasi, 2000. Cornilescu, Alexandra, Concepts of Modern Grammar. A Generative
Grammar perspective, EUB, 2006. Cornilescu, Alexandra, Complementation in English. A Minimalist
Approach, EUB, 2003. Foley, Mark & Hall, Diane, Advanced Learner’s Grammar. A self-study
reference & practice book with answers, Longman, 2003. Paidos, Constantin, English Grammar. Theory and Practice, vol I and II,
Polirom, 2001. Nastase, Roxana, Gramatica engleza. Verbul. Notiuni generale si
exercitii. Cu rezolvari, vol. II, Edit. Nastase, 2004. Parlog, Hortensia, The English Infinitive- a Source of errors for the
Romanian Learners, in the volume The Sounds of Sounds, Editura Hestia, Timisoara, 1995.
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1.1. Infinitives in English
English has three non-finite verbal forms, but by long-standing convention, the term "infinitive" is applied to only one of these. (The other two are the past- and present-participle forms, where the present-participle form is also the gerund form.) In English, a verb's infinitive is its unmarked form, such as be, do, have, or sit, often introduced by the particle to. When this particle is absent, the infinitive is said to be a bare infinitive; when it is present, it is generally considered to be a part of the infinitive, then known as the full infinitive (or to-infinitive), and there is a controversy about whether it should be separated from the main word of the infinitive. (See Split infinitive.)
Nonetheless, modern theories typically do not consider the to-infinitive to be a distinct constituent, instead taking the particle to to operate on an entire verb phrase; so, to buy a car is parsed as to {buy {a car}}, not as {to buy} {a car}.
The bare infinitive and the full infinitive are mostly in complementary distribution. They are not generally interchangeable, but the distinction does not generally affect the meaning of a sentence; rather, certain contexts call almost exclusively for the bare infinitive, and all other contexts call for the full infinitive.
Huddleston and Pullum's recent Cambridge Grammar of the English Language (CGEL) does not use the notion of the infinitive, arguing that English uses the same form of the verb, the plain form, in infinitival clauses that it uses in imperative and present-subjunctive clauses.
1.2. Uses of the bare infinitive
The bare infinitive is used in few contexts, but some of these are quite common:
The bare infinitive is used as the main verb after the dummy auxiliary verb do, or most modal auxiliary verbs (such as will, can, or should). So, "I will/do/can/etc. see it."
Several common verbs of perception, including see, watch, hear, feel, and sense take a direct object and a bare infinitive, where the bare infinitive indicates an action taken by the main verb's direct object. So, "I saw/watched/heard/etc. it happen." (A similar meaning can be effected by using the present participle instead: "I saw/watched/heard/etc. it happening." The difference is that the former implies that the entirety of the event was perceived, while the latter implies that part of the progress of the event was perceived.)
Similarly with several common verbs of permission or causation, including make, bid, let, and have. So, "I made/bade/let/had him do it."
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(However, make takes a to-infinitive in the passive voice: "I was made to do it.")
With the word why. So, "Why reveal it?" The bare infinitive is the dictionary form of a verb, and is generally the
form of a verb that receives a definition; however, the definition itself generally uses a to-infinitive. So, "The word 'amble' means 'to walk slowly.'"
The bare infinitive form is also the present subjunctive form and the imperative form, although most grammarians do not consider uses of the present subjunctive or imperative to be uses of the bare infinitive.
1.3. Uses of the full infinitive
The full infinitive (or to-infinitive) is used in a great many different contexts:
Outside of dictionary headwords, it is the most commonly used citation form of the English verb: "How do we conjugate the verb to go?"
It can be used like a noun phrase, expressing its action or state in an abstract, general way. So, "To err is human"; "To know me is to love me". (However, a gerund is often preferred for this — "Being is doing" would be more natural than the abstract and philosophical sounding "To be is to do.")
It can be used like an adjective or adverb, expressing purpose or intent. So, "The letter says I'm to wait outside", or "He is the man to talk to", or "[In order] to meditate, one must free one's mind."
In either of the above uses, it can often be given a subject using the preposition for: "For him to fail now would be a great disappointment"; "[In order] for you to get there on time, you'll need to leave now." (The former sentence could also be written, "His failing now would be a great disappointment.")
It can be used after many intransitive verbs; in this case, it generally has the subject of the main verb as its implicit subject. So, "I agreed to leave", or "He failed to make his case." (This may be considered a special case of the noun-like use above.) With some verbs the infinitive may carry a significantly different meaning from a gerund: compare I stopped to talk to her with I stopped talking to her, or I forgot to buy the bread with I forgot buying the bread.
It can be used after the direct objects of many transitive verbs; in this case, it generally has the direct object of the main verb as its implicit subject. So, "I convinced him to leave with me", or "He asked her to make his case on his behalf." However, in some cases, the subject of the main clause is also subject of the infinitival clause, as in "John promises
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Mary to cook", where the cook is John (the subject of the main sentence), and not Mary (the object).
As a special case of the above, it can often be used after an intransitive verb, together with a subject using the preposition for: "I arranged for him to accompany me", or "I waited for summer to arrive."
When the verb is implied, some dialects will reduce the to-infinitive to simply to: "Do I have to?"
2. THE FORMS OF THE INFINITIVE
2.1. Negation of the infinitive.
The negative of the infinitive is formed by placing the negation NOT before the particle TO:
For example:To be or not to be that is the question. to be asking not to be asking to have asked not to have asked
TESTE DE EVALUARE
1. Give the Active Continuous Aspect form of the following indefinite infinitives:
3. Give the Passive form of the following infinitives:Model: to ask to be asked1. act; 2. beg; 3. believe; 4. call; 5. choose; 6. dab;7. fill; 8. kick; 9. lead; 10. leave; 11. lend; 12. mow; 13. seek; 14. select; 15. sew; 16. shake; 17. shoot; 18. shut; 19. sink; 20. slap, 21. sow; 22. spell; 23. spill; 24. spread; 25. steal.
4. Give the Active Perfect form of the following infinitives:Model: to ask to have asked1. answer; 2. bargain; 3. calm; 4. darken; 5. fast; 6. feel; 7. forget; 8. forgive; 9. stick10. stride; 11. strike; 12. strive; 13. swear; 14. sweep; 15. swim; 16. take; 17. teach; 18. tell 19. think; 20. throw; 21. wake; 22. wear; 23. weave; 24. win; 25. wind.
5. Give the Active Perfect Continuous Aspect form of the following infinitives:Model: to ask to have been asking1. abuse; 2. bar; 3. beseech; 4. bet; 5. bid; 6. bleed; 7. breed; 8. camp; 9. cast; 10. cleave 11. cling; 12. dash; 13. drive; 14. dwell; 15. face; 16. flee; 17. forsake; 18. hew; 19. knit 20. lade; 21. lean; 22. leap; 23. lend; 24. light; 25. quit.
6. Give the Passive Perfect form of the following infinitives:Model: to ask to have been askedI. accept; 2. admit; 3. ban; 4. darn; 5. faint; 6. knit; 7. ride; 8. saw; 9. shear; 10. sweep; 11. shoot; 12. shred; 13. slay; 14. smite; 15. spill; 16. spin; 17. sting; 18. strew; 19. strike; 20. string; 21. swell; 22. tear; 23. throw; 24. thrust; 25. wring.
2.2. Position of auxiliary adverbs in the infinitive clause.
Grammarians have described a class of "auxiliary adverbs": almost, already, always, ever, just, merely, still, utterly, etc. These adverbs appear in front of the main verb, if there is no auxiliary, or after the first auxiliary, when there is one or more than one auxiliary in the sentence:
For example:
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He still loved music. You can always say that. He has already come. He has already been working for two hours. It is still raining.
Observation: Facts are parallel in the infinitive clause. If there is no auxiliary, the adverb appears in front of TO, or between TO and the verb. The latter is the "split infinitive" construction, which, though frowned upon by conservative grammarians, is gaining ground in contemporary English.
2.3. 'Unsplit infinitive'
For further details, see Split Infinitive below.
For example:The girl seemed always to be in half-mourning.This man I do not remember ever to have seen. She seems to have always been admired. We seem to have frequently overlooked this problem.
The "split infinitive" construction is infrequent when there is an auxiliary: ? This man I don't remember to ever have seen.
2.4. 'Split infinitive' . Types
In the modern language, splitting usually involves a single adverb coming between the verb and its marker. Very frequently, this is an emphatic adverb, for example:
I need you all to really pull your weight.I'm gonna totally pulverise him. (gon-na = going to)
Sometimes it is a negation, as in the self-referential joke:
Writers should learn to not split infinitives.
However, in modern colloquial English almost any adverb may be found in this syntactic position, especially when the adverb and the verb form a close syntactic unit (really-pull, not-split).
Compound split infinitives, splitting by more than one word, usually involve a pair of adverbs or a multi-word adverbial:
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We are determined to completely and utterly eradicate the disease.He is thought to almost never have made such a gesture before.This is a great opportunity to once again communicate our basic message.
Examples of non-adverbial elements participating in the split-infinitive construction seem rarer in Modern English than in Middle English. The pronoun all commonly appears in this position:
It was their nature to all hurt one another.
and may even be combined with an adverb:
I need you to all really pull your weight.
This is an extension of the subject pronoun (you all). However an object pronoun as in the Layamon example would be unusual in modern English, perhaps because this might cause a listener to misunderstand the to as a preposition:
*And he called to him all his wise knights to him advise.
Other parts of speech would be very unusual in this position. However, in verse, poetic inversion for the sake of meter or of bringing a rhyme word to the end of a line often results in abnormal syntax, as with Shakespeare's split infinitive (to pitied be, cited above), in fact an inverted passive construction in which the infinitive is split by a past participle. Presumably, this would not have occurred in a prose text by the same author.
Ask Pete to kindly make me a sandwich. / They are prepared to generously donate their fortune. If there is an auxiliary, the preferred positions are before TO, or after the first auxiliary.
TEST DE EVALUARE
Insert the adverbs in brackets in the infinitive clause; in solving this exercise you may find useful the explanations in the right hand column:
1. The Government decided to hold a meeting on Mondays. (always)
2. She wanted to be told the truth, but Jim insisted on letting her find it herself.
(quickly)
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3. He was believed to be working for that company. (already)
4. He was asked to take the ladder with him. (again)
5. I was very disappointed to find that she hadn't kept her promise. (once more)
6. They assumed him to be working on the novel. (still)
7. The teacher's intention was to explain the problems to the students, (clearly)
8. He seems to have believed that firmly. (always)
9. She is supposed to have paid visits to this family in her youth. (often)
10. He gave father the key and told him to take over. (simply)
11. She cannot recollect to have seen him. (ever)
12. Mother wanted me to cut the birthday cake into twelve equal pieces.
(carefully)
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Tema nr.2
INFINITIVE SUBJECT CLAUSES
Unităţi de învăţare : TO- subject infinitive clause Agreement FOR-TO Constructions Clause position
Obiectivele temei:
înţelegerea conceptelor teoretice şi formarea perspectivei asupra infinitivului in limba engleza si romana;
cunoaşterea constructiilor To-infinitive si FOR-TO infinitive in engleza si echivalentele lor in romana;
cunoaşterea şi utilizarea adecvată a noţiunii de acord; analizarea diferentelor formale cu privire la pozitia in fraza a propozitiei
infinitive;
Timpul alocat temei : 4-5 ore
Bibliografie recomandată : Cornilescu, Alexandra & Iclezan-Dimitriu, Ioan, The Infinitive, Editura
Institutul European, Iasi, 2000. Cornilescu, Alexandra, Concepts of Modern Grammar. A Generative
Grammar perspective, EUB, 2006. Cornilescu, Alexandra, Complementation in English. A Minimalist
Approach, EUB, 2003. Foley, Mark & Hall, Diane, Advanced Learner’s Grammar. A self-study
reference & practice book with answers, Longman, 2003. Paidos, Constantin, English Grammar. Theory and Practice, vol I and II,
Polirom, 2001. Nastase, Roxana, Gramatica engleza. Verbul. Notiuni generale si
exercitii. Cu rezolvari, vol. II, Edit. Nastase, 2004. Parlog, Hortensia, The English Infinitive- a Source of errors for the
Romanian Learners, in the volume The Sounds of Sounds, Editura Hestia, Timisoara, 1995.
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1. INFINITIVE SUBJECT CLAUSES
Generally, in the TO-clause, the infinitive subject is understood as identical with a nominal phrase in the main clause. This phrase is called the controller of the infinitive subject. Speakers are always able to identify the subject of the infinitive because it is identical with the controller. Here are examples:
a. I managed to see him.b. I promised her to help.b'. I promised her that I would help.c. They persuaded the doctor to help them.c'. They persuaded the doctor that he should help them.d. It would surprise me indeed to find tickets for the show.d'. It would surprise me indeed if/ found tickets for the show.
In the first two examples, sentences a, b, the controller is the main clause subject, that is, the subject of the infinitive is the same as that of the main clause. This is also shown by the paraphrase of example b, i.e., sentence b'. In example c, the controller of the infinitive subject is the direct object of the main verb, as shown by the paraphrase in c'. In example d, the controller is again the direct object of the main verb, as again shown by paraphrase d'. If there is no controller in the main clause, the infinitive subject is interpreted as a generic indefinite pronoun, equivalent with ONE. This suggestion is confirmed by agreement phenomena with the reflexive ONESELF or the possessive ONE'S. Here are examples:
It is important to do one's duty.To shave oneself every morning may become tiresome.To see is to believe.
When the subject of the infinitive is distinct from any nominal phrase in the main clause, it may be introduced by FOR, a former preposition meaningless in this construction, which assigns the infinitive subject the accusative case. The result is a FOR-TO infinitive clause. Compare the following pairs of examples and notice that if the infinitive has its own (expressed) subject, the latter is introduced by FOR. Here are examples:
I arranged to go. => I will go.I arranged for him to go. => He will go.I was pleased to win the competition. => I was pleased that I won the competition.
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I was pleased for him to win the competition. => I was pleased that he won the competition.
An infinitive subject clause normally appears in a post verbal extraposed position (at the right end of the sentence). The preverbal subject position is held by the meaningless pronoun IT (the so - called introductory-anticipatory IT). Its role is to introduce and announce the subject clause. For example:It is essential for them to seize this opportunity. It would be a good idea to run him as a candidate.
Preverbal subject clauses are infrequent. For example:
For them to seize this opportunity is important.To run Mr. Brown as a candidate was a natural suggestion.Exercises:1. Complete the following sentences using the appropriate (negative or affirmative) of one of the following verbs: answer, burn, cover, do, help, lock, plant, prepare, take, waste.
1. It's impossible............................. all these questions.2. It's essential................................ this distance in an hour.3. It's necessary............................... one's assignments regularly.4. It's not advisable.......................... the steaks and sausages.5. It's customary.............................. the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve.6. It's safe....................................... the door before you leave home.7. It's immoral................................ old people in need.8. It's wrong.................................... these trees in early autumn.9. It would be foolish...................... advantage of this opportunity.10. It's typical of him......................... money on the pools.
2. Insert the words in brackets in the appropriate form, interpreting the nominal phrase as the subject, and the verb phrase as the predicate of a FOR-TO infinitive construction.Model:It is typical (Arthur, be impolite to his father) It is typical for Arthur to be impolite to his father.1. It is vital (he, get a grant for his studies).2. It is possible (anyone, learn good English).3. It is usual (John, go jogging to lose weight).4. It is customary (Mary, go to bed late).5. It is unusual (mother, go to the hairdresser's).6. It's forbidden (tourists, bring pets on board).7. It's compulsory (pedestrians, cross the street on the zebra).
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8. It's imperative (our team, win the Cup final).9. It's important (any schoolchild, get up early in the morning). 10. It would be pleasant (my sister, find a good job soon).
3. Rephrase the following sentences moving the infinitive clause to the end of the sentence and inserting the pronoun IT in its place. Work in pairs.Model:A: To hesitate would have been fatal. B: Yes, I know. It would have been fatal to hesitate.1. A: To obey the laws is everyone's duty. B: Of course,..................................................2. A: To save money now seems practically impossible. B: Yes, you are right........................................3. A: To lean out of the window is dangerous. B: Yes, I know.................................................4. A: To make such a mistake would appear very foolish. B: Yes, indeed....................................................5. A: To ask him for help now is nonsense. B: Obviously.....................................................
4. Answer the following questions.Model:A: Did you really spend ten dollars to repair the window? B: Yes, it cost me ten dollars to repair the window, (cost)
1. A: Did you really put in an hour to write my essay? B:.................................................................... (take)2. A: Did they really waste nine hours before they found the solution? B:.................................................................... (take)3. A: Did he really spend six hours to reach the top of the mountain? B:..................................................................... (take)4. A: Did he really spend all his fortune to restore the statue? B:..................................................................... (cost)5. A: Did you really lose two years of your life to accomplish it? B:..................................................................... (take)6. A: Did Richard really spend five years of intense study to learn Japanese? B:...................................................................... (take) '7. A: Will he really spend a month's salary to repair his old car? B:....................................................................... (cost)8. A: Did Tommy really put in two hours to decorate the Christmas tree? B:.................................................................... (take)
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5. Reinforce the following statements using the model. You may use various adverbs or clauses that show agreement: yes, indeed, certainly, naturally, expectedly, you are right, it's true; no doubt, undoubtedly, etc. Work in pairs.Model:A: Only a hero can save the country. B: Indeed, it needs a hero to save the country, (need)
!!! Remember that a FOR-TO construction is called for if the subject of the subordinate clause is distinct from the subject of the main clause.
1. A: Only a genius could have written this poem. B:....................................................... (call for)2. A: Only a woman could invent such a story. B:......................................................... (need)3. A: Only a great actor like Sir Lawrence Olivier could play this part. B:......................................................... (call for)4. A: Only a good mechanic could fix your engine. B:.......................................................... (take)5. A: Only a fast car can do so many miles per hour. B:.......................................................... (necessitate)6. A: Only a second Higgins could teach you English in such a short time. B:.......................................................... (call for)7. A: Only a Mercedes could cover this distance in such a short while. B:.......................................................... (necessitate)8. A: Only a very good surgeon could operate on him. B:........................................................... (call for)9. A: Only a very good student could turn this text into English. B:........................................................... (take)
6. Read and study the explanations above. Then answer the following questions using a TO-infinitive clause or a FOR-TO infinitive clause, to replace the IF-clause. Work in pairs.Model:'Would it please you if you won this competition? 'Yes, it would please me to win this competition.'
'Would it please you if he got this job ?' 'Yes, it would please me for him to get this job.'
1. A: Would it hurt his feelings if his wife were not invited? B:...............................................................................2. A: Would it hurt him if he were not invited?
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B:................................................................................3. A: Would it depress you if she did not find a suitable position? B:................................................................................4. A: Would it depress you if I did not find a suitable position? B:.......................................................:.......................5. A: Would it discourage you if everybody blamed you? B:...............................................................6. A: Would it discourage you if I were blamed by everyone? B:...............................................................................7. A: Would it comfort you if they thought highly of me? B:............................................................................8. A: Would it comfort you if I were thought worthy? B:................................................................................9. A: Would it scare you if they left you alone in the dark? B:................................................................................10. A: Would it scare you if you were left alone in the dark? B:.............................................................................11. A: Would it frighten her if he were left alone in a haunted house? B:..............................................................................12. A: Would it frighten you if you were living in a haunted house? B:...........................................................................13. A: Would it worry you sick if she didn't come back in time? B:..............................................................................14. A: Would it surprise you if politicians started to tell the truth? B:..............................................................................15. A: Would it disturb his holiday plans if he didn't finish his project in time? B:.............................................................................16. A: Would it upset him if he did not solve the problem in time? B:..............................................................................17. A: Would it sadden him if she didn't write him regular letters? B:..............................................................................18. A: Would it sadden him if he didn't get her daily phone calls any more? B:................;................,............................................
TEST DE EVALUAREWhich sentence is closer in meaning to the sentence underlined ?
1. It would startle her to wake up and find them around her. a. It would scare her if he woke up and found them around her.
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b. It would startle her if she woke up and found them around her. c. It would scare her if she woke up and found them around her. d. It would startle her if he woke up and found them around her.
2. Would it please her for her husband not to he here? a. Would it please her if she were not here? b. Would it please her if her husband were not here? c. Would her husband's not being here please her?If you have failed, read the explanations in exercise 6 and do the exercise again!
7. Rephrase and reinforce the following statements using the FOR-TO construction:Model:A: Children should have a lot of fun during their holidays, (fair) B: Certainly. It s fair for children to have a lot of fun during their holidays.
1. A: Prices should go down to prevent the collapse of the economy. B: You are right..........................................................(necessary)2. A: Mary should work harder if she means to succeed. B: Obviously...............................................................(best)3. A: Officers should wear ties at dinner. B: Of course...............................................................(be the rule)4. A: Political guests should be treated with due deference. B: You are right.................................................(common)5. A: Children should be taught to cross only on the zebra. B: Of course..............................................................(important)6. A: People should visit their parents at least once a week. B: You are right..........................................................(customary)7. A: A girl your age should not wear black. B: Certainly...........................................................(inappropriate)8. A: You should put up a good fight before yielding to him. B: You are right.........................................................(natural)9. A: Friends should always confide in each other. B: Obviously...............................................................(expected)10. A: You should get yourself another car as soon as possible. B: Yes. I know......................................................(advisable)
!!! Notice that the FOR-TO construction is typically used with evaluative adjectives or nouns {advisable, good, bad, right, wrong, important, essential, lovely, vital, urgent, necessary, desirable, fair, etc., a pleasure, a paw in the neck, etc.). Some of these will be illustrated in the next exercises. Since
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normative prescriptive judgment is at stake with such adjectives, the FOR-TO construction is roughly equivalent to a subjunctive clause:It is necessary for prices to go down to prevent the collapse of the economy. It is necessary that prices should go down to prevent the collapse of the economy.
8. Rephrase and reinforce the following statements:Model:One should help the poor and the needy. It's right to help the poor and the needy, (right)
1. One should always tell the truth, (desirable)2. One should have a family reunion at Christmas, (customary)3. One should always have a pet. (lovely)4. One should have one's own apartment, (reasonable)5. One shouldn't jump to conclusions, (not wise, unwise)6. One should never ask such intimate questions, (rude)7. One should protect the environment in this country, (vital)8. To solve this case, one should carefully assess the evidence, (essential)9. One should set aside a sum each week as fun money, (fine) 10. One should show kindness to the elderly, (fit and proper)
9. Paraphrase the following THAT clause by a suitable TO or FOR-TO construction.Model: It would be lucky if he succeeded as he desired./ It would be lucky for him to succeed as he desired.
1. It is absolutely necessary that you should get information in time.2. It is vital that he should reach her in time.3. You may claim certain allowances for wear and tear of a car, which it has been necessary that you provide at your own expense.4. People are our most important resource and it is essential for the achievements of those aims that we should pay the most careful attention to the selection of staff and to their training and development.5. It is right that we should get the bill and you may have to press them as they are sometimes slow in getting it out.6. It is unthinkable that our soldiers should fire upon their own people in support of an arbitrary power.7. After all, even in those days it was no uncommon thing that an earl's daughter should marry a commoner.8. It is imperative that the police should arrive at the scene of the crime as soon as possible.9. It is customary that a man should greet first when he meets a woman.
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10. It is heroic that one should lay down one's life for his country.11. It is important to him that he should have been here tonight.12. It would be embarrassing if he found her in that condition.13. It was a great pleasure to me that I saw you here.14. It is impossible that there should be a war between your country and mine.15. It must have been a great comfort to them that they were able to pray for the dead.16. It is upsetting that one should express such views in public.
2. TEST DE EVALUARE
Which sentence is closest in meaning to the sentence in italics?1. It was important to him to be in London on Monday. a. He considers it important that he was in London on Monday. b. He considered it important that they were in London on Monday. c. He considered it important that he should be in London on Monday. d. He considered it important that they should be in London on Monday.
2. It is desirable to always be affectionate to one's grandparents. a. One should always be affectionate to one's grandparents. b. People are always affectionate to their grandparents, which is desirable.
3. It is immoral for civil servants to accept bribes. a. Civil servants find it immoral to accept bribes. b. It is immoral that civil servants should accept bribes. c. It is immoral that civil servants accepted bribes. d. Acceptance of bribes is considered immoral by the civil servants.
4. He would be happy to find her at home. a. He was happy because he found her at home. b. He would be happy if they found her at home. c. He would be happy if he found her at home. d. Finding her at home made him happy.
If you failed to find the correct solution, work back through the exercises in this section.
3. TEST DE EVALUARE
1. The sentenceI begged for him to get that loan very soon. means: a. I begged him to give me that loan very soon.
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b. He implored me and he was given the loan very soon. c. He begged that he should be given the loan very soon.
2. The sentenceTom's father will provide for him to go to New York City. means: a. Tom's father will get enough money to go to New York City. b. Tom's father will get enough money enabling Tom to go to New York City. c. Tom's father will provide for himself because he wants to go to New York City.
10. Translate the following sentences. Use infinitive subject constructions.
1. A stirni pofte e foarte usor. Mai greu e sa le si implinesti.2. Sosise in Bucuresti plin de incredere ca toate vor merge struna. A incasa banii pentru grâul vindut si livrat, a aranja cu Dumescu afacerile banesti erau treburi ce se puteau lichida in doua ore.3. E pacat sa vindem, dumneata esti tânar si nu stii ce greu e sa pui la loc lucrurile de care te desparti.4. Se infatisa o situatie exceptionala, cu primejdii exceptionale si iminente. A le pastra pentru dânsul si a le ascunde ar fi fost cu neputinta.5. Eu imi fac datoria sa te avertizez, draga mea, ca nu e prudent sa plece acuma la tara.6. A merge pe urmele lui Şincai si a incerca sa-i pui în lumina destinul inseamna a cuprinde o epoca istorica si o epoca de cultura.7. A voi sa intemeiezi dezvoltarea statului pe alte baze decât cele ce le poseda din fire este a pune in dezordine, in revolutic întregul coip national, a-i paraliza si a-i rataci puterile.8. Era greu a se inchipui ca un om ca el ar fi putut fi clintit din loc.9. Imi face bine sa ma gindesc la cele mai reconfortante afirmatii ale acelui serial.10. A scrie romanul complex al unei societati integrale, divizate prin stnictura si interese fara a fi pe nesimtite cuprins de vreun spirit partizan este o virtute remarcabila.11. Ideea de a transmite altora gândurile sale il stapini un timp.12. - Natura nu are peste tot, zise el, echivalenta unei opere de arta si nu produce efecte emotionale. E necesar a gasi punctele ei sublime.13. - E important sa gasim o institute de stat care sa vrea sa participe la licitatie.14. -Nu gasesti ca e neaparat nevoie sa-mi fac o cariera serioasa, de preferat in diplomatic, postul actual fiind un expedient efemer ?15. A trai nu e absolut necesar, a construi e necesar.16. - A nu crede in miracol, decise Şerica ca intr-un ,,panseu", este a nu admite surpriza in viata de toate zilele.
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Tema nr.3
INFINITIVE OBJECT CLAUSES
Unităţi de învăţare :
Triggering verbs Infinitive clauses, That clauses and gerund clauses Position of auxiliary adverbs in the infinitive clause Active and passive forms
Obiectivele temei:
Explicarea si interpretarea contextelor in care apar constructiile cu infinitiv;
Clasificarea si analizarea propozitiilor infinitive; dezbaterea particularităţilor ce tin de pozitia auxiliarului in raport cu
adverbul in propozitia infinitivala; analizarea diferentelor care apar la formele active si pasive;
Timpul alocat temei : 2 ore
Bibliografie recomandată : Cornilescu, Alexandra & Iclezan-Dimitriu, Ioan, The Infinitive, Editura
Institutul European, Iasi, 2000. Cornilescu, Alexandra, Concepts of Modern Grammar. A Generative
Grammar perspective, EUB, 2006. Cornilescu, Alexandra, Complementation in English. A Minimalist
Approach, EUB, 2003. Foley, Mark & Hall, Diane, Advanced Learner’s Grammar. A self-study
reference & practice book with answers, Longman, 2003. Paidos, Constantin, English Grammar. Theory and Practice, vol I and II,
Polirom, 2001. Nastase, Roxana, Gramatica engleza. Verbul. Notiuni generale si
exercitii. Cu rezolvari, vol. II, Edit. Nastase, 2004. Parlog, Hortensia, The English Infinitive- a Source of errors for the
Romanian Learners, in the volume The Sounds of Sounds, Editura Hestia, Timisoara, 1995.
19
INFINITIVE OBJECT CLAUSES
The infinitive clause may be the object of a large number of simple transitive
2. I intend.........................a letter this evening.
3. We hope.......................tickets for the concert.
4. They meant..................the truth from us.
5. You failed....................the old lady.
6. Mother forgot..............father about the guests.
7. They managed.............the car.
8. Remember....................the door when you leave.
9. I can't afford...............this expensive car.
10. She hated.....................at his birthday party.
2. Replace the nominal direct object by an infinitive clause having, roughly,
the same meaning and containing a verbal phrase related to the nominal
object. The infinitive may be active or passive.
Model:
I started the work at five. / I started to work at five.
1. He continued his letter.
2. He ceased his visits to her after a while.
3. He claimed possession of the car.
4. She attempted an escape from the press.
5. He arranged an early retirement.
6. She ventured a guess.
7. He threatened suicide.
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8. He demanded help.
9. He deserves respect.
10. He professed his innocence.
11. He proposed a visit to the British Museum.
12. He planned an evening at the opera.
13. He affected illness, to cut school that day.
14. He chose a walk in the woods.
15. He wanted a close shave.
3. Comment on the following sentences; express agreement or disagreement.
Notice that the verb given in brackets is one that can be followed by an
infinitive.
Model:
A: He didn't hear her. (merely pretend)
B: No, he merely pretended not to hear her.
A: He'll see her over a cup of coffee, (always prefer)
B: Yes, he always prefers to see her over a cup of coffee.
1. She didn't like him. (merely affect)
2. He had lured a millionaire's daughter into marrying him. (manage)
3. He explained to the child what to do. (endeavour)
4. The President didn't make any comment, (decline)
5. The guest performer won't come, (refuse)
6. The government will stop this process, (strive)
7. She didn't get promotion, (not try)
8. The librarian will do some extra work at the office, (plan)
9. The little boy patted the furious dog. (venture)
10. She no longer visits her friends, (not condescend)
11. She got herself a new car. (manage)
12. The politician no longer visits his parents, (not deign)
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13. She cannot buy herself this expensive fur-coat, (not afford)
14. They will write a letter to their local congressman to get support, (intend)
15. She didn't recognize him in that disguise, (fail)
4. Replace the italicized object clauses by suitable infinitive clauses. Use the
perfect infinitive to express anteriority with respect to the time of the main
clause.
1. In fact she expected that she had failed the test.
2. The killer threatened that he would strike again.
3. John claims that he used to have a car.
4. Because of the disease he forgot that he had paid the bill.
5. Mary claims that she is still learning French.
6. He hopes that he will win the lottery one day.
7. They will always remember that they visited London.
8. He professed that he had spent two years at Oxford.
9. She claims that she has been in love with him for many years.
10. Robert expects that they will welcome him on his return back home.
23
Tema nr.4
INFINITIVE after PREPOSITIONAL VERBS AND ADJECTIVES
(OBLIQUE OBJECT)
Unităţi de învăţare : Infinitive after prepositional verbs and adjectives The infinitive as oblique object of transitive verbs Passivization Adjectives that allow two alternative infinitive constructions
Obiectivele temei:
înţelegerea conceptelor teoretice şi formarea perspectivei asupra folosirii infinitivului in limba engleza si romana dupa verbele cu prepozitie si adjective;
cunoaşterea formelor de la infinitiv, atat la diateza activa, cat si la cea pasiva;
cunoasterea si utilizarea adecvata a infinitivului dupa anumite verbe cu prepozitie si adjective;
Timpul alocat temei : 4-5 ore
Bibliografie recomandată : Cornilescu, Alexandra & Iclezan-Dimitriu, Ioan, The Infinitive, Editura
Institutul European, Iasi, 2000. Cornilescu, Alexandra, Concepts of Modern Grammar. A Generative
Grammar perspective, EUB, 2006. Cornilescu, Alexandra, Complementation in English. A Minimalist
Approach, EUB, 2003. Foley, Mark & Hall, Diane, Advanced Learner’s Grammar. A self-study
reference & practice book with answers, Longman, 2003. Paidos, Constantin, English Grammar. Theory and Practice, vol I and II,
Polirom, 2001. Nastase, Roxana, Gramatica engleza. Verbul. Notiuni generale si
exercitii. Cu rezolvari, vol. II, Edit. Nastase, 2004. Parlog, Hortensia, The English Infinitive- a Source of errors for the
Romanian Learners, in the volume The Sounds of Sounds, Editura Hestia, Timisoara, 1995.
24
INFINITIVE after PREPOSITIONAL VERBS AND ADJECTIVES
(OBLIQUE OBJECT)
The infinitive may also start out as an oblique object of prepositional verbs or
adjectives. The infinitive clause may be replaced by a prepositional object.
When the infinitive is subjectless, the main clause subject is also understood as
the subject of the infinitive. Some of these verbs and adjectives also allow a
Such adjectives allow two alternative infinitive constructions:
It is ADJECTIVE OF somebody TO do something: It is wise of him to co-
operate with this company.
Somebody is ADJECTIVE TO do something: He is wise to co-operate with this
company.
Notice that the OF-constructions can be transformed into an exclamation: How
wise (it is) of him to co-operate with this company! / How nice of you to have
invited me!
5. TEST DE EVALUARE
Choose the correct form.
33
1. I would be relieved a. that you told me the truth. b. I was told the truth. c. to be told the truth. d. for me to be told the truth.
2. It was silly of you a. to buy such an expensive painting. b. that you should buy such an expensive painting. c. if you bought such an expensive painting.
3. How clever a. to Tom to answer her questions! b. for c. ofd. about
34
Tema nr.5
THE FOR-TO CONSTRUCTION AS OBJECT
Unităţi de învăţare : FOR-TO Constructions Triggering contexts Exercitive verbs
Obiectivele temei:
explicarea şi interpretarea conţinuturilor teoretice ale structurilor FOR-TO în contexte bine definite;
cunoaşterea formelor de la infinitiv, atat la diateza activa, cat si la cea pasiva;
dezbaterea particularităţilor ce tin de forma verbelor la diateza pasiva; analizarea diferitelor contexte si verbe care cer folosirea infitivului; formarea unei perspective contrastive asupra folosirii constructiilor
infinitivale de tipul FOR-TO in romana si engleza;
Timpul alocat temei : 4-5 ore
Bibliografie recomandată: Cornilescu, Alexandra & Iclezan-Dimitriu, Ioan, The Infinitive, Editura
Institutul European, Iasi, 2000. Cornilescu, Alexandra, Concepts of Modern Grammar. A Generative
Grammar perspective, EUB, 2006. Cornilescu, Alexandra, Complementation in English. A Minimalist
Approach, EUB, 2003. Foley, Mark & Hall, Diane, Advanced Learner’s Grammar. A self-study
reference & practice book with answers, Longman, 2003. Paidos, Constantin, English Grammar. Theory and Practice, vol I and II,
Polirom, 2001. Nastase, Roxana, Gramatica engleza. Verbul. Notiuni generale si
exercitii. Cu rezolvari, vol. II, Edit. Nastase, 2004. Parlog, Hortensia, The English Infinitive- a Source of errors for the
Romanian Learners, in the volume The Sounds of Sounds, Editura Hestia, Timisoara, 1995.
35
THE FOR-TO CONSTRUCTION AS OBJECT
I. Join the following sentences according to the model. Notice that these
verbs accept both the FOR-TO construction and a FOR- prepositional
object, or a prepositional object introduced by a different preposition: TO,
ABOUT, AT.
Model:
A lorry will take you at five o'clock. I've already arranged for it.
I've already arranged for a lorry to take you at five o'clock,
1. The train was to come. He was waiting for it.
2. She will return. He is longing for it.
3. This noise is bound to stop. He is listening for it.
4. She will marry that Norwegian at last. Her parents consented to it.
5. They must be forgiven. Their mother prayed for it.
6. This man had to get that loan. I begged for it.
7. He ought to get a day off. I will ask for it.
8. He ought to stop singing. I must call for it.
9. He cannot win the competition. I would be surprised at it.
10. This plane was taking off in five minutes. The control tower was signaling
for it.
11. You will visit the Tate Gallery. I would be happy about it.
12. He ought to be our chairman. We will vote for it.
13. She ought to get a salary rise. Her mother really hopes for it.
14. She ought to be here tomorrow. They telegraphed for it.
15. He ought to be released on bail. We will plead for it.
16. They will go on a trip to Italy. Their parents are planning for it.
17. He will go to the Met twice next week. His father will provide for it.
18. You and my sister will get acquainted. I'm anxious about it.
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19. The stove should be lit in the early morning. He has emphatically asked for
it.
20. The murderer was to come to this place. Holmes was watching for it.
2. Study the sentences below and draw up a list of verbs that accept the FOR-
TO construction as an object. Replace the FOR-TO clause by a pronoun. Pay
attention that in certain cases the main verb is prepositional, while in others it
is transitive.
Model:
He waited for Marlow to continue. He waited for it.
I'd love for you to become a pop star, I'd love it.
1. I'd hate for you to miss this opportunity,
2. He listened for her to continue to anticipate his thinking.
3. He waited for this darkness to be shattered by the light of the second coming.
4. Watch for Madam Cassin to leave.
5. He signalled for the door to open.
6. Lowell wanted very much for me to believe him.
7. I would prefer for him to be more practical.
8. Miss Broddie telephoned for Sandy to come to see her early in September.
9. The Virginia plan called for a national executive to be named by electors
chosen by the Congress.
10. Now he prayed for his luck to hold.
11. Emily's parents had begged for a trial period to elapse.
12. I expect for you to be there at three.
13. He asked for the warden to send him to the infirmary.
14. I would wish for his concert to be a triumph.
15. We want very much for him to get out of there alive and well.
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3. Rephrase the following sentences according to the model. Before solving
the exercise, read the explanations below:
There are verbs that accept a normally personal indirect object (preposition-less
or preceded by TO) and a direct object expressed by an infinitive clause:
We ordered to him to shoot on sight.
We ordered him to shoot on sight, (strongly preferred).
The prepositionless indirect object may be passivized:
He was ordered to shoot on sight.
This verb group includes:
a. exercitive verbs of command and permission: allow, authorize, bid,
command, forbid, grant, order, give orders, permit, propose, recommend, suffer
(— allow) suggest, trust, etc.;
b. verbs of linguistic communication, which acquire exercitive meaning:
6. Transform the imperatives according to the model; work in pairs. Pay
attention to the preposition which introduces the indirect object.
As known, in indirect speech, imperatives are reported as infinitives. The
implicit second person subject of the imperative is turned into an indirect (or
prepositional) object of the main verb.
"Sit down, Mary!", she said. She told Mary to sit down.
"Tom, come in at once!", father shouted. Father shouted at Tom to come in at
once.
Model:
A: 'Drop that cigar, Mary!' he called.
B: He called to Mary to drop that cigar.
1. 'Call the doctor, Linda!', Nick shouted.
2. 'Be patient with this dog, my friend!', he cried.
3. 'Wake up, Tom!', his father yelled.
4. 'Take the car back, Dick!', I called.
5. 'Get out of the way and get under cover, all of you!', she shouted.
7. Expand the following statements according to the model.
Model:
Our people will not die unnecessarily (we, allow)
41
We won't allow our people to die unnecessarily.
1. I will do that. (I, allow)
2. He believed her in spite of himself, (he, let)
3. He played with the sword for a moment, (he, permit)
4. His hand fell to the scat between them, (he, let)
5. She sank into a chair, (she, permit)
6. This type of remark won't pass in my presence. (I, can't permit)
7. She sagged against the door for an instant, relieved, (she, allow)
8. He proposed to her that same evening, (she, let)
8. Passivize the infinitive clause. When the subject of the passive infinitive is
identical with the main clause subject, it will be expressed by a corresponding
reflexive pronoun.
Model:
Mary allowed the surgeon to examine her.
Mary allowed herself to be examined by the surgeon.
1. Employers allowed the policy to influence pricing decisions.
2. I don't allow any kind of music to seduce me away from my work.
3. This allowed them to make more bread for the troops.
4. This enables the Council to assess the progress of the works.
5. Winthorp permitted the petitioners to read the charter in front of the mayor.
6. How can the many permit the few to exploit them?
7. He allowed the crutches to help him up.
8. We let those rewards tempt us in the end.
9. We allowed their suffering to move us.
10. This new legislation will enable them to start new building projects.
9. Translate into English. Use the infinitive to translate object clauses.
A.
42
1. Am aflat că Leon n-a îndrăznit să vină şi v-a scris o scrisoare.
2. Vreau să zic că de multă vreme visam la scena asta, de mult visam să mă
întorc aici, să trăiesc în pămîntul nostru, să răsuflu din plin şi să mă arză soarele.
3. Omul fericit nu ştie cît de repede fuge timpul.
4. Hotărîi să nu mai mărturisesc nimănui că am hoinărit printre stele şi că, văzut
de acolo de sus, cerul era negru ca păcura.
5. Am învăţat să nu-mi fac griji zadarnice, să nu dau crezare celor spuse de
înşelători sau de vrăjitori.
6. Uriaşii, după ce au ajutat cîndva pe Făt-Frumos să omoare pe balauri şi pe
zmei, nu mai au ce face alta decît să treacă în întunericul veşnic.
7. Şcoala trebuie să te înveţe a fi propriul tău dascăl, cel mai bun şi cel mai
aspru.
8. Cînd Bubi i-a vorbit pentru prima oară de planurile sale, a încercat mai întîi să
se apere, apoi s-a hotărît să-şi jertfească o parte din averea mamei pentru a-şi
dobîndi liniştea.
9. Obişnuia să şadă şi să asculte cîntecul şi să privească fierberea apelor.
10. - Trebuie să-ţi mărturisesc că nu prea ştiu cum să încep, deşi ştiu foarte
precis ce-ţi voi spune. Spune-mi, ţi-a venit greu să schimbi astfel referatul la
sugestiile lui Dinoiu şi să afirmi asemenea absurdităţi ? Lui Paul îi venise
deosebit de greu s-o facă. însă acum, cu cea mai deplină bună credinţă, reuşi să
afirme: „Nu, am considerat totul a fi absolut firesc".
11. Regele dac voia să-şi întărească cetăţile, să-şi înzestreze armata cu arcuri
mai bune, era hotărît să o deprindă cu tactica de luptă romană, adică să-şi creeze
condiţii mai bune pentru a relua lupta împotriva Imperiului Roman.
12. Sînt hotărît să mă susţin singur.
13. O jumătate de oră mai tîrziu vasul era în portul comercial, gata să primească
vizita feluritelor autorităţi.
14. Pînă şi cei mai nenorociţi dintre oameni se simt în stare să uite povara vieţii
lor nefericite, sunt fericiţi să-şi îndrepte spinarea, să tragă aer în piept şi să spere.
43
15. în această situaţie, Horea se gîndea să ia iară drumul Vicnei, să dea
împăratului lămuriri şi să îndrume totul spre o soluţie oficială.
16. în memoriul său către rege, ambasadorul francez la Constantinopol îl
îndemna pe suveran să ia parte activă la desfăşurarea crizei orientale.
17. Nu mă gîndesc de fel să mă izolez de restul oamenilor, de durerile şi de
speranţele lor.
18. Invăţaţii Şcolii Ardelene erau siliţi să cutreiere singuri ţinuturi şi văi cu
desaga în spate, erau siliţi să treacă ape şi munţi şi să-şi ducă volumele transcrise
tot de ei de la Viena, de la Buda, de la Bucureşti.
19. Scatiu, fiind mai incult, mai bogat şi mai fălos, nu se sfia a se declara cînd
liberal, cînd conservator.
20. De atunci şi pînă astăzi nimeni nu s-a mai încumentat a destupa pivniţele
acelea şi a scoate comorile aflate într-însele.
21. Mi-ar fi făcut multă plăcere să cunosc şi cu operele prietenului nostru.
22. - Nu e voie să scoţi capul pe fereastră, mititelule! zice unul dintre tineri lui
D. Goe şi-l trage puţin înapoi.
23. Găsi că e mai nimerit să adopte un vechi obicei al familiei sale.
24. Dar, oricît se străduiră să-i descopere vreo boală prezentă sau viitoare,
declarară, totuşi, că inginerul era pe deplin sănătos.
25. îi cerc să coboare între ţărani, îi cere să intre în casele lor, să le cunoască
traiul, să se împrietenească cu copiii lor, să-i înveţe să citească şi să le dea cărţi.
26. Ar fi vrut să-1 poată vedea pe George, ar fi fost mulţumită să-l audă, să-i
urmărească trăsăturile feţei şi, cînd privirile li se vor întîlni, să zîmbeascâ
fericite.
27. Dar ceea ce voim să zicem este că, precum tragedia prin chiar natura ei a
fost silită să-şi ia mai ales regii şi eroii drept personaje principale, tot aşa
romanul este şi va fi din ce în ce silit să-şi caute elementul său propriu în tipurile
unei anumite clase sociale.
28. Un ţăran îşi îngădui chiar să-1 întrebe despre asta cu gravitate.
44
29. Am să-1 rog pe domnul procuror să-i dea drumul imediat şi să-1 cerceteze în
libertate.
30. Ii puse lui Pavel diferite întrebări, îl compătimi şi porunci primarului să facă
îndată o anchetă oficială, să înregistreze plîngerea omului şi justele lui pretenţii.
31. Dar vrem noi cu adevărat să credem în Dumnezeu? Nu vrem cumva pur şi
simplu să ştim, adică să deţinem o certitudine? Aşa s-ar zice, de vreme ce vrem
să ne rezolvăm frustrarea punînd întrebări, aşteptînd, aşadar, răspunsuri
edificatoare.
B.
1. Cînd unui client îi convenea haina, nu pregeta s-o scoată de pe el şi s-o ofere.
2. Sper să mai fiu ambasador. îmi păstrez mănuşile pentru atunci.
3. - într-adevăr, recunoscu femeia. Ce ciudat! nu m-aşteptam să ne reîntîlnim
aici.
4. Remus Gavrilcea îşi îngădui a o invita pe Caty la o cavalcadă, aceasta
consimţi
în principiu şi dădu maiorului numărul său de telefon.
5. - Şi vă simţiţi bine?
- Nu pot să zic că da. Am visat şi eu să am un cămin, o soţie dulce, însă nu m-
am învrednicit s-o fac.
6. Peste o săptămnă, Meme fu în măsură să afle în ce chip înţelegea Gavrilcea
să se ocupe de zestrea ei.
7. In fine, fie ce-o fi, m-am hotărît să mă mărit cu acest condotliere.
8. Te consiliez să examinezi chestiunea cu calm şi să încerci a te ridica deasupra
prejudecăţilor superficiale.
9. Te rog să nu uiţi să mergi la generalul P., cerînd audienţă la nevoie prin
intermediul prinţesei Serica Băleanul la care vine în vizită.
45
Tema nr. 6
THE IMPLICIT INFINITIVE
Unităţi de învăţare : „Implicit infinitive” Deletion rules „Tough movement” Adjectives and nouns that allow “tough movement”
Obiectivele temei:
înţelegerea conceptelor teoretice şi formarea perspectivei asupra infinitivului implicit in limba engleza si romana;
cunoaşterea regulilor de inlocuire a constructiei ce contine infinitivul; cunoasterea si intelegerea notiunii de „tough movement”; valorificarea optima a notiunilor teoretice insusite prin aplicarea lor in
exercitii de traducere si retroversiune;
Timpul alocat temei : 4-5 ore
Bibliografie recomandată: Cornilescu, Alexandra & Iclezan-Dimitriu, Ioan, The Infinitive, Editura
Institutul European, Iasi, 2000. Cornilescu, Alexandra, Concepts of Modern Grammar. A Generative
Grammar perspective, EUB, 2006. Cornilescu, Alexandra, Complementation in English. A Minimalist
Approach, EUB, 2003. Foley, Mark & Hall, Diane, Advanced Learner’s Grammar. A self-study
reference & practice book with answers, Longman, 2003. Paidos, Constantin, English Grammar. Theory and Practice, vol I and II,
Polirom, 2001. Nastase, Roxana, Gramatica engleza. Verbul. Notiuni generale si
exercitii. Cu rezolvari, vol. II, Edit. Nastase, 2004. Parlog, Hortensia, The English Infinitive- a Source of errors for the
Romanian Learners, in the volume The Sounds of Sounds, Editura Hestia, Timisoara, 1995.
46
THE IMPLICIT INFINITIVE
In spoken English, it is possible to delete an infinitive on condition that it is
identical to a verb that has previously appeared. The deleted infinitive leaves
behind the particle TO. This construction is known as the "implicit infinitive".
1. In the following pairs of sentences an infinitive used in the first sentence is
repeated in the second. Read the sentences omitting what comes after TO.
Work in pairs.
Model: 'Did you tell your grandfather about it?'
I meant to (tell him), but I was too frightened.
1. 'Why don't you bring her here?'
'I do want to bring her here, but she doesn't behave herself.'
2. 'They should visit the pyramids when they arc in Cairo.'
'They intend to visit them, but they won't have enough time.'
3. 'He used to drink tea with milk. How about you?'
'I used to drink tea, but now I drink only coffee.'
4. 'Did you get a chance to drive his Mercedes yourself?'
'No, I wanted to drive it, but he wouldn't let me.'
5. 'Why doesn't she punish her kids when they disobey her?'
'She often threatens to punish them, but she'll never actually do it.'
6. 'Did the secretary book seats for the new play?'
'No, she really tried to book seats, but it was impossible.'
7. 'Does he drink?'
'No, he used to drink, but he doesn't now.'
8. 'Have you opened the bottle?'
'No, I haven't opened it yet, but I'm going to open it.'
9. 'Why didn't they buy the house?'
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'They wanted to buy the house, but it was too expensive.'
10. 'Why didn't the doctors give him a blood transfusion?'
'They wanted to give him a blood transfusion, but his wife didn't agree.'
11. 'Did they really dig for oil there?'
'They wanted to dig for oil there, but he wouldn't let them.'
12. 'Did his best man buy a burglar alarm for a wedding present?'
'He intended to buy a burglar alarm, but Dorothy didn't agree.'
13. 'Did she eat fried chicken with potatoes with parsley?'
'She meant to eat that, but the waiter said they had no more of it.'
14. 'Did grandmother sprinkle the apple pie with vanilla icing sugar?'
'She was about to sprinkle it, but she remembered daddy wanted no sugar on it.'
15. 'Did you say good-bye to the elderly couple?'
'I really meant to say good-bye to them, but I was too busy packing up.'
16. 'Would you like to fry the sausages?'
'I'd like to fry the sausages, but I'm very much afraid I'll burn them.'
2. Respond to the following questions or statements. Give reasons for not
performing the intended action. Use the verbs in brackets. Work in pairs.
Model:
A: 'You may play the piano if you want to.'
B: I don't wish to, because I'm very tired.' (not wish, tired)
1. A: You didn't bring any beer from the pub.
B:................................................................. (want, be too expensive)
2. A: Tell Bob to bring the photos again.
B:.................................................................. (he not be able, be very busy)
3. A: Why can't they come with us to see the British Museum?
B:................................................................. (mean, not have time)
4. A: Will he show me how to open this box?
B:................................................................. (be glad, do his homework)
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5. A: Chris has painted his car blue.
B:................................................................. (have the right, be his)
6. A: Can't we stop for a large whisky?
B:................................................................(love, be no time for it)
7. A: Why didn't Joan dance with John?
B:............................................................... (be happy, not to be asked)
8. A: You must say 'sir' when you want to speak to me.
B:................................................................ (refuse, not like you)
9. A: Why didn't he buy a new cardigan?
B:................................................................(intend, be little money left)
10. A: Why didn't he clink his glass against yours?
B:................................................................. (going to, have the guts)
11. A: Why did she put so much garlic on this steak?
B:................................................................. (warn, you not like)
12. A: Go out and see if they are already in the cellar.
B:............................................................ (be afraid, be too dark)
3. Work in pairs according to the model. The verb employed in the second
sentence is constructed with a prepositional object or indirect prepositional
object and an infinitive clause. Speaker B should complete his sentence taking
care to supply the appropriate preposition.
Model:
A: I hope he will somehow free her from prison.
B: In fact, I depend on him to somehow free her from prison.
1. A: Do you think he'll pay the money back in time?
B: Well, I pleaded........................................................
2. A: Do you think the troops will disband in June?
B: As far as I know, Washington has prevailed...........
3. A: Do you think he'll run this shop at a profit?
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B: I know I can count...................................................
4. A: Do you think the two women will give up the climb?
B: Well, I radioed........................................................
5. A: Do you think they'll contact our agent?
B: Well, I wired...........................'..................................
6. A: Do you think she'll help us with the cleaning?
B: Well, we can always depend.........................
7. A: Do you think he'll come out of the conference room?
B: Well, I waved.......,.................................................