Lecture 17 Infinitive ( 2 ).ppt

Lecture 17 Infinitive ( 2 ) Objectives: 1. Infinitive used as subject (It + be + adj./n+ to-infinitive) 2. as object (verb + object + infinitive, verb + infinitive, verb + object+ infinitive) 3. as adverbial (so …as to/ such as to) 4.as subject complement 5. as post modifiers Lecture 17 Infinitive ( 2 ) This lecture, we will also discuss the functions which infinitive may fulfill, that is, sentence elements of the infinitive. For example, they may be used to indicate purpose, result, and reason, they may be used as as subject, object, adverbial , subject complement and post modifiers, etc. Lecture 17 Infinitive ( 2 ) 1. as subject 1) The pronoun “it” as formal subject It is more usual to place the pronoun “it” first, and move the infinitive to the end of the sentence. There are several types: (1) “It + be + adj.+ to-infinitive” Adjectives that can be used in the construction are hard, difficult, foolish (silly), easy, necessary, impossible, good( nice), essential, important, possible, advisable, right, wrong etc. 1. as subject (1) “It + be + adj.+ to-infinitive” --It is essential to know all the facts. --It is advisable to revise the plan. --It is so nice to talk to you. -- It is wrong to steal. 1. as subject (2) It + noun +to- infinitive Nouns that can be used in this construction are pleasure, shame, wish, duty, fun etc. -- It is an honor to meet you. -- It is a duty to obey the law. -- It is my privilege to serve you. -- It’s a shame to deceive your friends. 1. as subject 2. as complement --To the teacher, the most important thing is to teach the students how to learn. --What surprised us most is ____ him swim in this big river. A. see B. seeing C. to see D. be seeing Answer: C. 3. as adverbial of reason In SVC, adjectives/ v-ed form (as adverbial of reason) are used as complements, adj./v-ed: happy, luck, glad, sorry. anxious, proud, surprised, delighted