The participle is usually used instead of the indefinite infinitive
Date: 2015-10-07; view: 455.
INFINITIVE: Infinitive or -ING-form?
On the whole the distinction between the infinitive and the -ing-form (participle or gerund) is defined as follows:
| Infinitive | -ING-form |
| special, particular, concrete single action, often in the future, perfective (completed) in its character | general, abstract fact or permanent, regular action, often simultaneous or in the past, imperfective in its character |
| To sing at the party was a challenge for her. = Спеть на этой вечеринке ... Nice to meet you. = (при встрече) | Singing was a challenge for her. = Пение вообще... Singing was a stupid thing to do. = То, что она спела, ... Nice meeting you. (при прощании) |
This distinction is observed in the functions of:
1. Subject:
To win the world's race was his main ambition.
Winning was his motto.
Winning the world's race was his greatest achievement.
Only the gerund is used after:
It's worth doing smth. (Smth. is worth doing.)
There's no doing smth. (e.g. There's no stopping him.)
2. Complex Subject:
The door was heard to shut. (= ЧТО закрылась)
The door was heard shutting. (= КАК закрывалась)
(unless it is the verb “to be”) after:
is found / reported / shown doing smth.
BUT: is found / reported / shown to be smth.
to be doing smth.
to have done smth.
3. Complex Object:
She heard him come in. (= ЧТО вошел)
She heard him coming in. (= КАК входил)
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| INFINITIVE: Constructions and phrases | | | Direct Object (the distinction will be discussed later) |