Forms of the Infinitive

1.

Forms of the Infinitive
Simple Infinitive:
Continuous Infinitive:
Perfect Infinitive:
Perfect-Continuous Inf.:
Can/could
May/might
Must
Shall/should
Will/would
to write
to be writing
to have written
to have been writing
+ to Infinitive

2.

I. ABILITY - INABILITY
II. PERMISSION – PROHIBITION
present:
Can (may) I use your phone?
I can speak Italian fluently.
Yes, you can (may).
I can’t see anything.
No, you can’t (mustn’t).
past:
OFFERS/SUGGESTIONS
I could swim at the age of 3.
Can I help you?
I couldn’t read when I was 5.
We can go out. We could watch
I was not able to find the answer. TV.
can/could
III. POSSIBILITY
IV. LOGICAL ASSUMPTIONS
general/theoretical:
He didn’t call. He could (might)
Going to a gym can be boring. have lost his phone.
specific:
That can’t be Sue! Sue is just 18!
She should take a map – she Jim couldn’t have cooked dinner,
could (may, might) get lost. he has been at work since morning.
past:
CRITICISM
He could (might, would) have You could at least be polite to her!
come with us, if he hadn’t
You could have called to cancel the
missed the train.
meeting!

3.

may/might
II. POSSIBILITY
specific:
I. PERMISSION – PROHIBITION She should take a map – she
May (can) I use your phone?
may/might (could) get lost.
Yes, you may (can).
past:
He might (could, would) have
come with us, if he hadn’t
missed the train.
III. LOGICAL ASSUMPTIONS
The computer is out of order. It
may be broken.
He didn’t call. He might (could)
have lost his phone.

4.

must/have to
I. OBLIGATION/DUTY/NECESSITY
II. ABSENCE OF NECESSITY
present:
present/future:
I must call him for further
You don’t have to (don’t need
information. (speaker’s decision)
to/needn’t) dress formally.
He says that we have to be there by 7 .
past:
(sb else’s decision)
past:
I had to call him for further
information.
He said we had to be there by 7.
He didn’t have to invite them
to the party.
PROHIBITION
You mustn’t (can’t) park here.
III. LOGICAL ASSUMPTIONS
He isn’t at home. So he must be on
his way home.
He must have already left.

5.

shall/should/ought to
I. OBLIGATION/DUTY/NECESSITY
III. CRITICISM
We should/ought to clear away the
mess in the kitchen.
(weak obligation)
present/future:
He should call us back.
She should have told us.
You ought to be more careful.
II. PROBABILITY
The weather should/ought to get
better tomorrow. (almost certain
about future)
ADVICE
general advice:
You should/ought to stop
smoking.
asking for advice:
Shall I enter the competition?
IV. OFFERS/SUGGESTIONS
Shall I give you a lift?

6.

will/would
I. PROBABILITY
He will call me tonight. (100% certain)
II. POSSIBILITY
past:
If he hadn’t miss the train, he would (could,
might) have come with us.
III. OFFERS/SUGGESTIONS
Would you like a cup of tea?

7.

need (-/?)
= must
have (got)
I need not have told you about that.
I’ve got to get a new coat.
had better = should
You’d better stop crying.
be able to = can
I am able to do it myself!

8.

1. Ей действительно приходилось метаться между
ночлежкой и улицей?
2. Не может быть, что ты живешь в таком роскошном доме!
3. Тебе нельзя мириться с бедностью, тебе следует
вырваться из этого замкнутого круга!
4. Если он останется в этой ветхой лачуге, он может
потерять самоуважение, чувство собственного достоинства
и свою индивидуальность.
5. Должно быть, у него закончились деньги.
6. Живя в суровых условиях, ему постоянно приходится
сводить концы с концами.