Курсовая работа: Teaching sentence structure

2. I like Al, but I dislike (him, his) forgetting the date of the picnic.

3. They found (our, us) digging in the garden.

4. The twins told of (their, them) finding a dollar bill on the sidewalk near.

5. I was (you, your) walking along the boardwalk at sunset.

PRACTICE 24 Studying Participles and Gerunds

Discuss the difference in meaning between the sentences in each pair.

1. a. I dislike you finding fault with me.

b. I dislike your finding fault with me.

2. a. I remember Sam forgetting the carfare.

b. I remember Sam’s forgetting the carfare

3. a. I could visualize him winning the oratorical contest.

b. I could visualize his winning the oratorical contest.

INFINITIVE An infinitive is a verb form ordinarily introduced by to. It is used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.

Some infinitives of carry are to carry, to have carried, to be carried, to be carrying, to have been carrying, to have been carrying.

Noun: In Colorado we plan to ride one of the last narrow – gauge passenger trains in America. (To ride is the object of the verb plan.)

Adjective: The first steam locomotive actually to work was built in 1801 by a Cornish mine operator. (To work modifies the noun locomotive.)

Adverb: Go to Alabama to find a wood-burning steam locomotive still in operation. (To find modifies the verb go.)

To, the sign of the infinitive, is often omitted after bid, dare, feel, hear, help, let, make, need, please, see, and sometimes after a few other verbs.

Please come. No one dares begin without you.

INFINITIVE PHRASE An infinitive and the words which modify it or complete its meaning form an infinitive phrase.

1. To know the truth is to be free.

The infinitive phrase to know the truth is the subject of the verb is. Truth is the object of to know. To be free is an infinitive phrase used as a predicate noun. Free is a predicate adjective.

2. With a few repairs a Baldwin locomotive built in 1836 was able to give reliable service at the Chicago Railroad Fair in 1949.

The infinitive phrase to give reliable service at the Chicago Railroad Fair in 1949 is used as an adverb modifying the predicate adjective able. Service is the direct object of to give.[4]

SUBJECT OF INFINITIVE After verbs of believing, commanding, expecting, knowing, letting, making, telling, Thinking, wishing, and the like, the infinitive may have a subject. The subject of the infinitive is in the objective case.

The friendly Indians wanted the first Spanish explorers of California to stay.

The first Spanish explorers of California are the subject of the infinitive to stay. The infinitive phrase the first Spanish explorers of California to stay is the object of the verb wanted.

PRACTICE 25 Explaining Infinitives

Diagram the following sentences