The infinitive performs in a sentence all the syntactic functions characteristic of a noun and a verb:

Subject.

To err is human.

It is natural to make mistakes .

In the first case, the infinitive acts as the subject of the sentence and occupies a position at the beginning of the sentence.

In the second case, the sentence has two subjects: the formal ‘it’ and the nominal ‘to make mistakes’. Compare: To make mistakes is natural.

Predicate. Predicate.

In English, as in Russian, there are different types of predicates:

Simple Verbal Predicate. Simple verb predicate.

The infinitive is used to form analytical verb forms: auxiliary verbs + the Infinitive .

The cinema will close in November. (Future Simple)

The shop didn't open last week. (Past Simple)

Does he often play tennis? (interrogative form Present Simple)

Compound Nominal Predicate. Compound nominal predicate.

A compound nominal predicate consists of a linking verb (to be) in the appropriate form and an infinitive.

My greatest wish is to tell you everything.

Your only chance was to speak to him.

Compound Verbal Modal Predicate. Compound verbal modal predicate.

A compound verbal modal predicate consists of a modal verb, or a synonymous expression (to be able to, to be allowed, to be capable, to be going, had better, would sooner) and an infinitive.

You should follow a healthy diet.

He can't utter a word.

You needn't have bought any bread.

I wasn't able to reach him on the phone.

Compound Verbal Phasal Predicate. Compound verbal aspect predicate.

A compound verbal aspect predicate consists of an aspect verb, which indicates the various phases of the action (beginning, duration, end, repetition) and an infinitive . Aspect verbs include: to begin, to start, to come, to go on, to continue, to proceed, to cease, used to.

It started to rain .

He continued to live with his parents even after marriage.

German Empire ceased to exist in 1918.

He used to talk to me for hours.

Mixed Predicate. Mixed type of predicate.

Sometimes there are sentences with a mixed type of predicate.

The boy must be her son.- the Compound Modal Nominal Predicate.

She must start to train regularly.- the Compound Modal Phasal Predicate.

Object. Addition.

The infinitive acts as a complement if it depends on a verb, adjective, participle and answers the question “what?”

She agreed to come at ten.

I regret to have said it to her.

Can you help me to find the ring?

He was amused to hear it.

She is proud to have grown such a son.

Attribute. Definition.

The infinitive acts as a definition if it depends on a noun, pronoun, substantivized numerals and adjectives, and answers the question “which?”

He is just the man to do it.

She needs a place to live in.

I have nobody to ask .

John was the first to come .

Adverbial Modifiers. Circumstance.

Adverbial Modifier of Purpose. Circumstance of the goal.

An infinitive is a goal adverbial if it depends on the predicate and answers the question “why?” for what purpose?"

Laura has gone to town to do some shopping .

To get a good seat, you need to arrive early.

Adverbial Modifier of Result (Consequence). Circumstance of the result (consequence).

The infinitive in a sentence acts as a circumstance of the result if it is used after the following structures:

Too + Adjective + to Infinitive:

It was too cold to go outside.

Too + Adverb + to Infinitive:

He had gone too far to return.

Adjective + enough + to Infinitive:

She is old enough to go out on her own.

Adverb + enough + to Infinitive:

He ran fast enough to win the race.

Enough + Noun + to Infinitive:

We've got enough room to put you up.

Parenthesis. Introductory words.

Introductory words are not parts of the sentence, but such constructions with the infinitive are very common: to begin with, to be frank, to put it mildly, to tell the truth, strange to say etc.

Here is a table with information about the predicate in English.

Predicate(Table 13) in an English declarative sentence usually comes after the subject and happens:

I. Simple; this is a personal verb form:

1) indicative mood
I read a book. - I am reading a book.
I am reading a book (now). - I'm reading a book now.
I have been reading it (for two days). – I’ve been reading it (for 2 days now).
I have read it. – I read it.
I was given a book. - They gave me a book.

2) subjunctive mood
I should do this work if I had time. – I would do this job if I had time.

II. Composite, which consists of a linking verb(link-verb) and the nominal part(predicative). The following verbs are used as linking verbs: be - to be, feel - to feel, keep - to save, continue, become, grow, get, turn - to become, seem, appear - to seem, look, etc.

As a nominal part are used:

1. Noun
Not a research worker. - He is a researcher.
Has not become a research worker. – He became a research assistant.

2. Adjective
My house is new. – My house is new.

3. Participles(I, II)
It was well done. - It was well done.
He seemed tired, kept working. “He looked tired, but continued to work.

4. Pronouns:
1) personal(named after M.) That was he. - That was him.
2) possessive(II form) The paper is his. - This is his article.
3) index fingers It was that. - That was it.
4) uncertain It is too much for me. - This is too much for me.
5) relative and connecting
The question is who will go there. – The question is who will go there.
6) interrogative e What has she become? -Who has she become?

5. Numerals:
1) quantitative
They were five. - There were five of them.
2) ordinal
She was the first to do it. “She was the first to do it.”

6. Infinitive or gerund
Our aim is to master English. – Our goal is to master the English language.
Our aim is mastering English. – Our goal is to master the English language.

7. Adverb She was out. - She went out.

8. Noun or pronoun with preposition
When the pendulum is at rest, it shows the direction of gravitation. – When the pendulum is at rest, it shows the direction of gravity.
It is for him. - This is for him.

9. Subordinate predicate clause
The question is if (whether) he will come. “The question is whether he will come.”

III. Complex, consisting of a modal verb and an infinitive
I can do it. - I can do this.
Not to go there. - He has to go there.

Translation: verb; the verb to be (become) in combination with a noun, adjective, participle, pronoun, numeral; verbs become, begin, can, want and others in combination with an infinitive, a predicate clause.

Greetings to future English language experts! Friends, you have probably heard more than once about such a phenomenon in the English language as fixed word order. And it represents strict adherence to the position in the proposal of its members.

And here a problem arises - how much do you know about the members of a sentence in English? It cannot be said that the grammatical concept of “member of a sentence” differs in many respects from that in the Russian language, but by taking a brief overview you will undoubtedly discover some useful information for yourself or simply refresh your memory of the grammatical material that you studied at school. Let's get started! There is a certain word order in an English sentence

English sentences: rules of construction and members

The main difference between English narrative sentences and Russian ones is that in English you cannot arrange words as you please, and the sentence formula indicating the strict order of words is as follows:

Subject + predicate + object + adverbial place + adverbial tense

Of course, this formula is not absolute. Some members may be absent in both English and Russian sentences or, on the contrary, additional ones may appear, for example:

• circumstances of the course of action
• causes and effects and others

The priority of circumstances in sentences will be discussed a little later.

If in Russian there are sentences without a subject, then in English the presence of a subject is mandatory

For example, the Russian version of the absence of a subject:

• I see that the city has become so beautiful!

In the English version, the literal translation will be incorrect; here the pronoun “I” is required:

• I see the city has become so beautiful!

Let us now take a closer look at the important components of sentences.
The subject and predicate are the grammatical basis of a sentence

The Subject

Subject - a member of a sentence that names the subject in question

The subject in English answers the question:

• who? — Who?
• what? — What?

The subject in English can be expressed:

• noun
• numeral
• pronoun
• gerund (non-finite verb form)
• infinitive

John is a pupil. — John (who?) is a student.
The book was on the desk. — The book (what?) was on the table.

The Predicate

The predicate denotes what is said about the subject, that is, what action it performs. Therefore, it is in close connection with the subject and agrees with it

The predicate in English answers the questions:

• what does the subject do
• what happens to the subject
• who is the subject/object (subject)

Mary studies. — Mary is studying. (What is Mary doing?)
The letter was burned. — The letter was burned. (What happened to the letter?)
Ann is a housewife. — Anna is a housewife. (Who is Anna?)

This part of the sentence in English has many nuances, so let’s stop to consider them without putting them in a long box.

There are two types of predicate:

• Simple
• Composite

A simple predicate is expressed by a personal verb and can be in any of the tenses, voices and moods

He likes this song. — He loves this song.

To avoid misunderstandings that may arise, it should be understood that a simple predicate can consist of several components, provided that they are components of the same verb form.

We are writing a test. — We are writing a test.
She had been writing a letter. — She was writing a letter.

The compound predicate is further divided into two types:

• Compound verb predicate
• Compound nominal predicate

Compound verb predicate forms its forms according to two schemes:

1. Modal verb ( can, ought to, may etc.) + infinitive
   • I can read English. — I can read English
2. Verb (expressing the beginning, continuation or end of an action) + infinitive/gerund
   • I began to study at the University of St. Nicholas. — I started studying at St. Nicholas University
   • It continued snowing. — The snow continued to fall
   • He has finished reading the story. — He finished reading the story

Compound nominal predicate is formed according to the following scheme:

Verb copula to be(to be) in any of the tenses + the nominal part, which can be:

• noun
• pronoun
• numeral
• participle
• infinitive
• adverb,
• gerund

• My dad is a pilot. — My father is a pilot (+ noun)
• The wall is high. — The wall is high (+ adjective)
• She is forty-two. — She is 42 years old (+ numeral)
• The game is over. — Game over (+ adverb)
• His heart is broken. - His heart is broken (+ participle)
• His goal was traveling the world. — His goal was to travel the world ( + gerund)

The Object (Add-on)

A complement is a member of a sentence that denotes an object or person that is affected

The supplement in English answers a huge number of questions:

• Whom— whom
• what - What
• to whom - to whom
• by whom - by whom
• about what - about what etc.

It may be direct, indirect And prepositional.

Direct object names the person or object to which the action expressed by the transitive verb directly passes. Questions answered:

• whom - whom
• what - What

I read an article. — I'm reading an article.

Indirect addition in English indicates the addressee or the person for whose sake the action is performed. The indirect addition answers the questions:

• to whom - to whom
• for whom - for whom
• to what - why

She gave me a letter. — She gave me a letter.
Mother read us a fairy tale. — Mom read us a fairy tale.

Prepositional complement formed by adding a preposition and a noun, pronoun or gerund. Answers the questions:

• for whom - for whom
• about whom - about whom
• about what - about what
• with whom - with whom
• with what - with what

Tom gave a newspaper for my grandfather. — Tom gave the newspaper to my grandfather.

The Attribute (Definition)

A definition in English is a member of a sentence that names a feature of an object; it also clarifies or complements its meaning

As a rule, a definition in English refers to a noun, a little less often to a pronoun, and answers the questions:

• which — which
• what - Which
• whose - whose

I want to buy that white T-shirt. — I want to buy that white T-shirt.
Wedding is an important moment in our life. - A wedding is an important moment in our lives.

In an English sentence, as in Russian, a definition can be attached to any member of the sentence. The difference is that in English the definition always comes first in this connection, but in Russian it can take second place:

The painting, small and inconspicuous, cost a fortune. — The small and imperceptible picture costs a fortune.

The Adverbial Modifier (Circumstance)

Circumstance - a member of a sentence indicating the circumstances under which the action occurs

A circumstance in English, as in Russian, can indicate a place, time, cause, purpose, course of action, consequence, etc. In most cases, a circumstance refers to a verb and answers the questions:

• when - When
• where - Where
• how- How
• why - Why

She'll meet you at 9 o'clock. — She will meet you at 9 o'clock.
I waited for him at the railway station. — I was waiting for him at the train station.

If there are several circumstances in a sentence, they will be arranged in the following order.

In English declarative sentences, the predicate usually follows the subject, preceding the object and the adverbial of degree/frequency. It determines the activity of the subject. Together they express a complete thought.

Simple predicate

The predicate happens simple, composite And complex. A simple verbal predicate is expressed by finite verbs or phrases ( to catch sight of, keep track of, have a look, have a smoke, have dinner, make allowance, make fun of, make use, make an effort, make arrangements, pay attention, put pressure on, take advantage of, take a walk, take notice of…).

Jane came to the office at time – JanecameVofficeduring

We had breakfast at 9 o’clock – Wehad breakfastV 9

I’m reading a book – II'm readingbook

I have been reading it for 2 days – II'm readingher2 days

I have read it – Ireadher

I was given a book – To megivenbook

There is a homogeneous predicate.

Ben left the room without a word, grabbed his hat and coat and slammed through the front door of the flat – Bensilentlyleftroom, grabbedhatAndcoatAndknocked outfrontdoor

Compositepredicate

A compound predicate can be nominal or verbal. A compound nominal predicate consists of a copula (verb of being, becoming, showing type be,feelkeep,becomegrow,getturn,seemappear…) and predicative (nominal part of a compound verbal predicate). In a double predicate, the copula is replaced by a semantic verb.

He stood quiet near the window – Hequietstoodatwindow

He painted the door white – Hepainteddoorwhite

The predicate is expressed:

• noun

She'sateacher – She is a teacher

He'sbecomearesearchworker – He became a researcher

• adjective

Some adjectives are always predicative: ill, bad, well, unwell, asleep, awake, afraid, alive, alone, content, glad, pleased, sorry, upset, near, far (away).

The leaves became yellow in autumn – In autumnleavesturned yellow

My house is new – Minehousenew

Hefeltbad - He was not feeling well

Theboykeptsilent – ​​The boy remained silent

• communion

Heseemedtiredbutkeptworking – He looked tired, but continued to work

• infinitive

OuraimistomasterEnglish – Our goal is to master English

• numeral

They were 5 – Themwasfive

She was the first to do it – ShefirstdidThis

• pronoun

Thatwashe - That was him

This flat is ours – Thisapartmentour

The paper is his – Paperhis

It’s too much for me – Thisalreadytoo much

What hasshe become? - By whomshebecame?

• adverb

Shewasout - She came out

• predicate clauses

The question is if he will come – AHerewill comewhetherHe?

• prepositional noun/pronoun

When the pendulum is at rest, it shows the direction of gravitation – Bconditionpeacependulumshowsdirectionattraction

Complexpredicate

A compound predicate is a compound verbal predicate expressed:

• modal verb + infinitive

Shemustcomeintime - She must arrive on time

I would do this work if I had time – Iwoulddidwork, beatmetime

• aspectual verb + infinitive/gerund

Hebegantotranslatethetext – He began to translate the text

The child stopped crying – Childstoppedcry

English Joke

The Southern planter heard a commotion in his poultry house late at night. With shot gun in hand, he made his way to the door, flung it open and curtly ordered:

“Come out of there, you ornery thief!”

There was silence for a few seconds, except for the started clucking of the fowls. Then a heavy bass voice boomed out of the darkness:

“Please, Colonel, dey ain’t nobody here ‘cept jes’ us chickens!’

Predicate ( The Predicate)
There are four types of predicate in English:
1) simple verbal predicate;
2) modal verbal predicate;
3) phrasal verbal predicate;
4) compound nominal predicate.

Simple verbal predicate ( Те Simple Verbal Predicate)
expressed by a semantic verb in personal form, which can be a simple or complex form of any tense, voice and mood:
I am going to the library today. - I am today I'm coming to the library.
Shall I change your books? -Change do you want books?
Wait forme.I am coming too. -Wait me. Me too I'm coming.
Ann is not at home. - Anna No Houses.
A special type of simple verbal predicate is the predicate expressed by the phrase thereis:
There is a fine park in our town. - In our city There is nice park.
There wasn't a shop in our street. - On our street Not was store
In such sentences, the subject always follows the predicate.

Modal verbal predicate ( Те Modal Verbal Predicate)
The modal verbal predicate consists of a modal verb ( can,maymustshouldneedoughtbe,have,havegot) in personal form and the infinitive or its semantic verb stem. The second part of the modal predicate can also be a combination of the infinitive of a linking verb tobe,tolooktoappeartoseemtofeel etc. and predicative. The modal predicate expresses a person’s attitude to an action or state (possibility, necessity, probability, desirability, etc.):
Can youswim? - You can you swim?
He ought to be more polite. - Him should be more polite.
It must be about ten. - It's probably about ten now.

Phrasal predicate ( The Group Verb Predicate)
A phrasal predicate consists of a verb with a weakened meaning in personal form (most often verbs tohave And totake) and a noun. This combination forms a single semantic and grammatical whole. It is often equivalent to a simple verbal predicate:
I have dinner. - I I'm having lunch.
I dine.
I have a rest. - I Resting.
Irest.
A phrasal predicate usually denotes a short (one-time) action. The most common combinations of this type are:
to have dinner (breakfast, supper, lunch, tea, a snack); to have a lesson (lessons); to have a talk; to have a look; to have a cold; to have a good time; to have a rest; to have a bite; to have a drink; to have a smoke; to have a quarrel; to have (take) a walk; to take a bath; to take a seat; to take a tram (bus, etc.); to take care, to pay a visit; to pay attention, to catch cold.
Let's have a swim. - Let's let's swim.
Did you have a talk with him? - Are you with him talked?

Compound nominal predicate ( The Compound Nominal Predicate)
A compound nominal predicate consists of a linking verb tobe in personal form and predicative (nominal part). The predicate denotes any attribute of the subject, and the linking verb serves to connect the subject and the predicate and expresses person, number, tense and mood. Unlike Russian, the verb tobe never goes down. Compare:
Our town is very beautiful. - Our city is very handsome.
Are you ready? - You ready?

Besides the verb tobe, the following verbs can also be used as linking verbs:
1) verbs toseem, tolooktoappear meaning “appear, look” and verb tofeel with the meaning of feel:
Youlook tired. - You are looking tired.
She seemed veryexcited. - She seemed very excited.
Hefeels fine. - He feels feeling great.

2) verbs to get, to become, to turn, to grow meaning “to become”:
Mu brother will become an engineer- My brother will become engineer
She turned pale. - She turned pale.

3) verbs to remain, to keep, to continue, to begin, to start, to finish, to stop, to cease, to go on with the meaning of the beginning, continuation and completion of an action or state:
Hekept talking. - He continued speak.
Everybody remained silent. - All kept silence.
Startworking, please. -Get started work please.
He stopped chatting at once. - He stopped chat instantly.
Predicative (T he Predicative) can be expressed by the following words and groups of words:

• a noun in the general or (rarely) possessive case without a preposition or with a preposition:

This is mine sister Ann. Sheisa student . - That's mine sister Anna. She student.
Is it your book? – No, it’s not mine, it is Nick's. - This yoursbook? - No, not mine, it’s Nicholas.
She is in good health. - She's quite healthy.

• adjective or participle:

When will you be free today? - When will you free Today?
This chair is broken. - This chair broken.

• a pronoun in the general or objective case replacing a noun, or a possessive pronoun in absolute form:

It's me. - This I.
That's something! - It's already some-What!
Whose book is this? – It's mine. - Whose book is this? – My.

• cardinal or ordinal number:

We were only two. - There were only us two.
I was the first to come. - I came first.

• infinitive or infinitive phrase:

Our plan was to start at once. - We planned begin straightaway.
It'suptoyouto decide. - You decide.

• gerund:

My hobby is collecting postage - My hobbies - collecting stamps. postage stamps.

• adverb:

The lesson is over. - Lesson finished.
Our time is up. - Nowadays expired.

• complex with an infinitive or gerund:

My father is against my enteringthe college this autumn. - My father is against my admission to college this autumn.

Agreement of the predicate with the subject
The predicate agrees in person and number with the subject of the sentence:
What areyou doing? – Iam preparing for my lessons. - What are you doing? - I'm getting ready for lessons.

If the subject is expressed by an indefinite, negative or generalizing pronoun, the predicate is put in the singular:
Everybody knows it. - Everyone knows this.
Either month is all right. - Any of these two months is suitable.

If the subject is expressed by a gerund or infinitive, the predicate is singular:
Meeting her was a pleasure. - It was nice to meet her.

If the subject is a collective noun, then the predicate can be singular or plural, depending on whether the persons or objects designated by the collective noun are considered as one whole, or whether the individual persons (objects) that make up this whole are meant whole:
Thecrowd was helpless. - The crowd couldn't do anything.
The fleeing crowd were scattered by the mounted police. - The running crowd was scattered mounted police.

If the subject is expressed by a numeral or a noun denoting a measure of time, distance, weight, etc., with a definition expressed by a numeral, the predicate can be singular or plural, depending on whether this quantity is considered as one whole or there are in view of the components of this whole:
30 miles is a day's journey in these hills. - 30 miles is a day's travel among these hills.
6 cm of aluminum are required to stop all beta rays. - It takes 6 centimeters of aluminum to stop all beta particles.

If two homogeneous subjects, expressed by nouns or pronouns, are connected by conjunctions and or both... And, the predicate is in the plural:
T he Earth and other planets move aroundtheSun.- The Earth and other planets move around the Sun.
Both the dog and his master were dragged ashore by Peter and Hans.- Both the dog and its owner were pulled ashore by Piet and Hans.

If two subjects, expressed by pronouns or nouns, are joined by conjunctions neither...nor,either...or,notonly…butalso, the predicate verb agrees in person and number with the last subject:
Either Margaret or I'm going with you. - Margaret or I will go with you.
Neither Margaret nor her sisters were ready. - Neither Margaret nor her sisters were ready.

If two subjects are joined by a conjunction aswellas, the predicate agrees in person and number with the first subject:
John ,as well as his brothers, doesn't bear townsfolk.-John, like his brothers, can't stand townspeople.