The tense and aspect distinctions of the infinitive.




Week 5

Text: Alternating Current

Grammar: The Infinitive

Essay: Important qualities of a good supervisor

I. Read the text

Alternating Current

Current is defined as increment of electrons. The unit for measuring current was named in honor of A.M. Ampere, the French physicist. Thus it is called ampere. The symbol for current is I. The electric current is a quantity of electrons flowing in a circuit per second of time. The electrons move along the circuit because the e. m. f. drives them. The current is directly proportional to

the e. m. f.

A steam of electrons in a circuit will develop a magnetic field around the conductor along which the electrons are moving. The strength of the magnetic field depends upon the current strength along the conductor. The direction of the field is dependant upon the direction of the current.

If the force causing the electron flow is indirect, the current is called direct (d. c.). If the force changes its direction periodically the current is called alternative (a. c.).

Alternating current is the current that changes direction periodically. The electrons leave one terminal of the power supply, flow out along the conductor, stop, and then flow back toward the same terminal. A voltage that caused current reverses its polarity periodically. This is properly called an alternating voltage. The power supply that provides the alternating voltage actually reverses the polarity of its terminals according to a fixed periodic pattern. A given terminal will be negative for a specific period of time and drive electrons out through the circuit. Then, the same terminal becomes positive and attracts electrons back from the circuit. This voltage source cannot be a battery. It must consist of some types of rotating machinery.

 

II. Guess the meaning of the following international words:

1) physicist, 2) ampere, 3) symbol, 4) second, 5) polarity, 6) period, 7) battery.

 

III. Translate into Russian and Kazakh the words and expression from the text:


1) increment of electrons;

2) measuring;

3) to drive;

4) directly proportional;

5) conductor;

6) strength;

7) causing force;

8) terminal;

9) to flow;

10) to reverse.



 

IV. Complete the sentences using the text:

1. The electric current is …

2. The unit for measuring current is …

3. A steam of electrons in a circuit will develop …

4. The current is called direct if …

5. The current is called alternating if…

6. Alternating voltage is …

7. Alternating voltage source cannot be …

 

V. Answer the questions:

1. Why do electrons move along the circuit?

2. What does the strength of the magnetic field depend upon?

3. What does the direction of the field depend upon?

4. What is the way of alternating current electrons? 5. How does the alternating voltage power supply reverse the polarity of terminals?

 

VI. Grammar:

The Infinitive

 

The infinitive developed from the verbal noun, which in course of time became verbalized, retaining at the same time some of its nominal properties. Thus in Modern English the infinitive, like the participle and the gerund, has a double nature, nominal and verbal.

1. The nominal character of the infinitive is manifested in its syntactic functions. The infinitive can be used:

(a) as the subject of a sentence. To go on like this was dangerous. (Galsworthy)

 

(b) as a predicative. Her plan was now to drive to Bath during the night. (Hardy)

 

(c) as an object. I have never learnt to read or write. (Collins)

 

2. The verbal characteristics of the infinitive are as follows:

(a) the infinitive of transitive verbs can take a direct object. He... began to feel some curiosity... (Eliot)

(b) the infinitive can be modified by an adverb. I cannot write so quickly.

(c) the infinitive has tense and aspect distinctions; the infinitive of transitive verbs has also voice distinctions.

 

 

In Modern English the infinitive has the following forms:

 

  Active Passive
Indefinite to write to be written
Continuous to be writing
Perfect to have written to have been written
Perfect Continuous to have been writing

 

The tense and aspect distinctions of the infinitive.

Like the tense distinctions of all verbals those of the infinitive are not absolute but relative.

1. The Indefinite Infinitive expresses an action simultaneous with the action expressed by the finite verb, so it may refer to the present, past or future.

I am glad to meet you. (Dreiser)

I was glad to see Mr. Paul. (Ch. Bronte)

Mr. Forsyte will be very glad to see you. (Galsworthy)

 

2. The Continuous Infinitive also denotes an action simultaneous with that expressed by the finite verb, but it is an action in progress. Thus the continuous, infinitive is not only a tense form, but also an aspect form, expressing both time relations and the manner in which the action is presented.

They happened, at the moment, to be standing near a small conservatory at the end of the garden. (Collins)

В этот момент они как раз стояли около небольшой оранжереи в конце сада.

 

3. The Perfect Infinitive denotes an action prior to the action expressed by the finite verb.

“I’m glad to have seen you,” he said. (Dreiser)

«Я рад, что повидал вас», — сказал он.

An intimate friend is said to have dined with him that day. (Hardy)

Говорят, что в этот день у него обедал его близкий друг.

 

After such verbs as to mean, to expect, to intend, to hope used in the Past Indefinite, the Perfect Infinitive shows that the hope or intention was not carried out.

 

I meant to have gone there.

Я собирался пойти туда (но не пошел).

I meant to have given you five shillings this morning for a Christmas-box, Sam. I’ll give it you this afternoon, Sam. (Dickens)

Я хотел подарить вам пять шиллингов на рождество, Сэм; я подарю их

вам сегодня, Сэм.

 

The same meaning can be conveyed by the Past Perfect of the finite verb followed by the Indefinite Infinitive.

I had meant to go there.

He had meant to marry me. (Eliot)

Он имел намерение жениться на мне.

 

Some English grammarians prefer the latter construction.

 

N o t e. — The idea, however, is often expressed in the following way: I meant to go there, but never did.

 

4. The Perfect Continuous Infinitive denotes an action which lasted, a certain time before the action of the finite verb. It is not only a tense form, but also an aspect form.

For about ten days we seemed to have been living on nothing but cold meat, cake and bread and jam. (Jerome)

Дней десять мы, казалось, питались только холодным мясом, печеньем и хлебом с вареньем.

 

Exercise 1.

Translate.

1. He objects to spending his summer vocation in the south. 2. He objects to Helen’s spending her summer vocation in the south.3. He has some hope of going there in the autumn. 4. He has some hope of his daughter’s going there in the autumn. 5. I insist on going there at once. 6. I insist on your going there at once. 7. I have no objections to spending the summer on the Volga. 8. I have no objections to my children’s spending the summer on the Volga. 9. She is proud of being Professor A’s pupil. 10. She is proud of her son’s being Professor A’s pupil.

Exercise 2.



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