Higher Lessons in English Part 19

2. By giving him a few hints he was prepared to do the work well.

3. Desiring an early start the horse was saddled by five o'clock.

+Direction+.--_Compose sentences in which each of these three participles shall be used as an adjective modifier, as the princ.i.p.al word in a prepositional phrase, as the princ.i.p.al word in a phrase used as a subject or as an object complement, as a mere adjective, as a mere noun, and in an absolute phrase_:--

Buzzing, leaping, waving.

LESSON 40.

VERBS AS NOUNS--INFINITIVES.

+Introductory Hints+.--_I came to see you_. Here the verb _see_, like the participle, lacks a.s.serting power--_I to see_ a.s.serts nothing. _See_, following the preposition _to_, [Footnote: For the discussion of _to_ with the infinitive, see Lesson 134.] names the act and is completed by _you_, and so does duty as a noun and as a verb. In office it is like the second kind of participles, described in Lesson 37, and from many grammarians has received the same name--some calling both _gerunds_, and others calling both _infinitives_. It differs from this participle in form, and in following only the preposition _to_. Came _to see_=came _for seeing_.

This form of the verb is frequently the princ.i.p.al word of a phrase used as a subject or as an object, complement; as, _To read good books_ is profitable; I like _to read good books_. Here also the form with _to_ is equivalent to the participle form _reading_. _Reading good books_ is profitable.

As this form of the verb names the action in an indefinite way, without limiting it to a subject, we call it the +Infinitive+ (Lat. _infinitus_, without limit). For definition, see Lesson 131. The infinitive, like the participle, may have what is called an _a.s.sumed subject_. The _a.s.sumed subject_ denotes that to which the action or being expressed by the participle or the infinitive belongs.

Frequently the infinitive phrase expresses purpose, as in the first example given above, and in such cases _to_ expresses relation, and performs its full function as a preposition; but, when the infinitive phrase is used as subject or as object complement, the _to_ expresses no relation. It serves only to introduce the phrase, and in no way affects the meaning of the verb.

The infinitive, like other forms of the verb, may be followed by the different complements.

a.n.a.lysis and Parsing.

The +infinitive phrase+ may be used as an +adjective modifier+ or an +adverb modifier+.

1. The hot-house is a trap to catch sunbeams.

hot-house | is trap ============|================ The | a to catch | sunbeams -------'----------

+Oral a.n.a.lysis+.--_To_ introduces the phrase; _catch_ is the princ.i.p.al word, and _sunbeams_ completes it.

+Parsing+.--_To_ is a preposition, introducing the phrase and showing the relation, in sense, of the princ.i.p.al word to _trap; catch_ is a form of the verb called _infinitive_; like a noun, it follows the preposition _to_ and names the action, and, like a verb, it is completed by _sunbeams_.

2. Richelieu's t.i.tle to command rested on sublime force of will and decision of character.

3. Many of the attempts to a.s.sa.s.sinate William the Silent were defeated.

4. We will strive to please you.

+Explanation+.--The infinitive phrase is here used adverbially to modify the predicate.

5. Ingenious Art steps forth to fas.h.i.+on and refine the race.

6. These harmless delusions tend to make us happy.

+Explanation+.--_Happy_ completes _make_ and relates to _us_.

7. Wounds made by words are hard to heal.

+Explanation+.--The infinitive phrase is here used adverbially to modify the adjective _hard_. _To heal = to be healed_.

8. The representative Yankee, selling his farm, wanders away to seek new lands, to clear new cornfields, to build another s.h.i.+ngle palace, and again to sell off and wander.

9. These apples are not ripe enough to eat.

+Explanation+.--The infinitive phrase is here used adverbially to modify the adverb _enough_. _To eat = to be eaten_.

The +infinitive phrase+ may be used as +subject+ or +complement.+

10. To be good is to be great.

To to be good be great ----------------------- | | / | is / ========|================== |

Explanation.--_To_, in each of these phrases, shows no relation--it serves merely to introduce. The complements _good_ and _great_ are adjectives used abstractly, having no noun to relate to.

11. To bear our fate is to conquer it.

12. To be entirely just in our estimate of others is impossible.

13. The n.o.blest vengeance is to forgive.

14. He seemed to be innocent.

+Explanation+.--The infinitive phrase here performs the office of an adjective. _To be innocent = innocent_.

15. The blind men's dogs appeared to know him.

16. We should learn to govern ourselves.

+Explanation+.--The infinitive phrase is here used as an object complement.

17. Each hill attempts to ape her voice.

LESSON 41.

INFINITIVES--CONTINUED.

a.n.a.lysis.

The +infinitive phrase+ may be used +after a preposition+ as the +princ.i.p.al term+ of another phrase.

1. My friend is about to leave me.

to leave | me -------'---- about | / ----------------- | friend | is / ========|===================== My |

+Explanation+.--The preposition _about_ introduces the phrase used as attribute complement; the princ.i.p.al part is the infinitive phrase _to leave me_.

2. Paul was now about to open his mouth.

3. No way remains but to go on.

+Explanation+.--_But_ is here a preposition.

The +infinitive+ and its +a.s.sumed subject+ may form the +princ.i.p.al term+ in a phrase introduced by the preposition +for+.