Similarities and Difference of the Infinitive and the Participle

【Abstract】Non-finite verb is the verb’s non-predicate from. It is different from the finite verb. That is to say, non-finite verb cannot be used as predicate alone in a sentence, is not restricted by subject’s person and number, either. But it can act as the participle. They have similarities and differences and this paper will discuss about them.

【Key words】 similarities, differences, participle, Infinitive

Ⅰ. Introduction

Non-finite verb is the verb’s non-predicate from. It is different from the finite verb. That is to say, non-finite verb cannot be used as predicate alone in a sentence, is not restricted by subject’s person and number, either. But it can act asthe participle. They have similarities and differences and this paper will discuss about them. At the first, please see their forms. The Infinitive: To -Infinitive--to listenBare Infinitive--listen The Participle: The Present Participle: Doing + ing --sayingThe Past Participle Regular: Do + ed/d--listened Irregular: Done--beaten Then, please see their comparisons.

Ⅱ. Participle

Participles come into varieties: past and present. They are two of five forms that every verb has. Present participle has forms as follow:

But past participle has only one form. As predicative,The present participle is the predicative to present the subject’s character. And usually, the subject is an object. Eg: The story is amusing. The past participle is the predicative to represent the subject’s condition and feeling. And usually, the subject is a person. Eg: She seemed quite delighted at the idea. When the participle acts as the predicative it can be used in the inversion construction and be placed at the beginning of a sentence. Eg: Leading to the park is a very delightful road. As attribute Participle often acts as attribute;. The present participle is usually in the end of a sentence and used with only. As It rained heavily, causing severe flooding in that country. Expressing way or attending circumstance The place of the participle is as same as A. As Retreating the enemy devastate the country. Absolute construction The participle can have own logic subject which is always nouns or pronouns. It places before the participle to make up a participle absolute with participle. This construction is usually be used as adverbial and appears in writing English ever more. It use is as adverbial. As The question being settled, we went home.

Ⅲ. The Infinitive

Infinitive is one form of non- finite form. It cannot be used as predicate alone, but it can compose compound predicate with auxiliary verbs, modal auxiliary verbs, the other of verbs and words.

As subject, An infinitive or an infinitive phrase can be the subject of the verbs appear, be, seem. The infinitive can be place first: as: To save money now seems impossible. But it is more usual to place the pronoun it first, and move the infinitive or infinitive phrase to the end of the sentence in order to keep balance the sentence. As: It seems a pity to refuse. It here is as the anticipatory it, namely as the formal subject. Usually infinitive constructions of this type consist of it +be + adjective + infinitive. As: It would be criminal to cut down any more trees. But sometimes a noun can be used instead of an adjective: as: It would be a crime to cut down any more trees. An it + infinitive construction may be preceded by believe / consider / discover / expect / find /think (that) and wonder (if): He thought (that) it would be safer to go by train. As predicate: The problem is to find a solution. The infinitive can be the predicative of a sentence when the subject is my / your / his / her / our / their + suggestion, advice, request, etc. nouns .

IV. Comparing the present participle with the infinitive

When they are used as object complement, the infinitive represents the whole course of an action but the present participle expresses a part of an action’s course.

I saw him go upstairs. (go upstairs is already finished)

I saw him going upstairs. (go upstairs is doing now)

In the following sentence pattern: verb + object + infinitive (without “to”), as object complement, infinitive express the object’s action is over; verb + object + present participle, participle express the object’s action is doing.

Just then he heard someone sing in the next room.

Just then he heard someone singing in the next room.

Sometimes the infinitive expresses onetime action, but the present participle shows repeated action. AS: She felt the tears roll down her cheeks. (means that tears roll down one time) She felt the tears rolling down her cheeks. (means that tears are continuous to roll down) An infinitive is limited indicate purpose, reason, and consequence and often placed behind the embellishing word or sentence as a projective, and capable of indicating time, reason, consequence, purpose, way or condition, and usually placed before the embellishing word or sentence. as: He left, never to return. Calling early, she found him at home

V Conclusion

As we stated above, we can know the infinitive, the participle are all able to acts as predicate, attribute, object complement and subject complement. The infinitive can acts as subject. The infinitive and the participle can act as adverbial, too. But object only can be acted by the infinitive; the infinitive and the gerund also have a special construction: absolute construction. And they three have some differences in grammar. Of course except these, there are some similarities and differences among of them. This paper only gives the scope of them. As the non-finite verb, they act the important roles in English study. We must know them completely.

Bibliography

[1]章振邦,《新编英语语法教程》,上海外语教育出版社;2000年出版;

[2]张道真,《实用英语语法》,外语教学与研究出版社;1996年出版;

[3]曹焰,张春光,《英语正误语法指南》,山西教育出版社;1997年出版;

作者简介:

王绡,河南永城人,炮兵学院外语教研室讲师

陈于全,安徽怀宁人,炮兵学院外语教研室讲师