Q.19. Describe infinitives and its uses?
Related Questions -
Q. Define non-finite verbs and describe infinitives and its uses.
Ans. There are three types of non-finites verb as -
(i) Infinitive (ii) Gerund (iii) Participle
The infinitive is the base of a verb, often following by to.
Examples: -
Birds love to sing.
To respect our parents is our duty.
1. The infinitives is a verb noun.
2. The words to is frequently used with the infinitive, but is not an essential part or sign of it.
Bid him go there.
I bade him go.
Let him sit here.
3. The infinitive without to is also used after the verbs will, would, shall, should, may, might, can, could and must.
I will pay the bill.
You should work harder.
Use of the infinitive: -
The infinitive, with or without adjectives, may be used, like a noun: -
1. As the subject of a verb as:
To find fault is easy.
To err is human.
2. As the object of a transitive verb as:
I do not mean to read.
He likes to play cards.
3. As the complement of a verb as:
Her greatest pleasure is to sing.
His custom is to ride daily.
4. As the object of a preposition as:
He had no choice but to obey.
5. As an objective complement as:
I saw him go.
The Infinitive is also Used: -
1. To qualify a verb, usually to express purpose as:
He called to see my brother.
I come to bury.
2. To qualify an adjective as:
Figs are good to eat.
This medicine is pleasant to take.
3. To qualify a noun as:
This is not the time to play.
You will have cause to repent.
4. To qualify a sentence as:
To tell the truth, I quite forget my promise.
When the infinitive is thus used it is called the gerundial or qualifying infinitive.
5. The infinitive may be active or passive when active it may have a present and a perfect form, and may merely name the act or it may represent progressive or continued action.
Active:
Present: to love
Perfect: to have loved
Present continuous: to be loving
Perfect continuous: to have been loving.
When passive the infinitives has a present and a perfect form.
Passive:
Present: to be loved
Perfect: to have been loved.
Q.20 What is the gerund? Write the usages? (2008 - 09)
Ans. Definition: -
A gerund is the form of the verb which ends in – ing and has the force of a noun and a verb.
Examples of Gerund: -
Playing cards is not allowed here.
I like reading poetry.
He is fond of hoarding money.
Use of the Gerund: -
A gerund being a verb noun may be used as –
1. Subject of a verb as:
Seeing is believing.
Hunting deer is not allowed in this country.
2. Object of a transitive verb as slop playing:
Children love making mud castles.
3. Complement of a verb, as:
Seeing is believing.
What I most detest is smoking.
4. Absolutely as:
Playing cards being his aversion, we did not play bridge.
Q.21 What is the participle write their uses? (2008 - 09, 11 - 12)
Ans. Definition: -
A participle is that form of the verb which part takes of the nature both of a verb and of an adjective.
Or A participle is a word which is partly a verb and partly an adjective.
Example: -
Hearing the noise, the boy woke up.
Use of the participle: -
It will be noticed that the continuous tense (active voice) are formed from the present participle with tenses of the verb be as –
I am loving. I was loving. I shall be loving.
The perfect tenses are formed from the past participle with tense of the verb love as –
I have loved. I had loved. I shall have loved.
We have seen that participles qualify nouns or pronouns. They may be used:-
1. Attributively as.
A rolling stone gather no moss.
His tattered coat needs mending.
2. Predicatively as.
The man seems worried.
He kept me waiting.
3. Absolutely with a noun or pronoun going before as :
The weather being fine, I went out. God willing, we shall have another good monsoon.
5An absolute phrase can be easily change into a subordinate clause as – Spring advancing, the swallows appear.
Related Questions -
Q. Define non-finite verbs and describe infinitives and its uses.
Ans. There are three types of non-finites verb as -
(i) Infinitive (ii) Gerund (iii) Participle
The infinitive is the base of a verb, often following by to.
Examples: -
Birds love to sing.
To respect our parents is our duty.
1. The infinitives is a verb noun.
2. The words to is frequently used with the infinitive, but is not an essential part or sign of it.
Bid him go there.
I bade him go.
Let him sit here.
3. The infinitive without to is also used after the verbs will, would, shall, should, may, might, can, could and must.
I will pay the bill.
You should work harder.
Use of the infinitive: -
The infinitive, with or without adjectives, may be used, like a noun: -
1. As the subject of a verb as:
To find fault is easy.
To err is human.
2. As the object of a transitive verb as:
I do not mean to read.
He likes to play cards.
3. As the complement of a verb as:
Her greatest pleasure is to sing.
His custom is to ride daily.
4. As the object of a preposition as:
He had no choice but to obey.
5. As an objective complement as:
I saw him go.
The Infinitive is also Used: -
1. To qualify a verb, usually to express purpose as:
He called to see my brother.
I come to bury.
2. To qualify an adjective as:
Figs are good to eat.
This medicine is pleasant to take.
3. To qualify a noun as:
This is not the time to play.
You will have cause to repent.
4. To qualify a sentence as:
To tell the truth, I quite forget my promise.
When the infinitive is thus used it is called the gerundial or qualifying infinitive.
5. The infinitive may be active or passive when active it may have a present and a perfect form, and may merely name the act or it may represent progressive or continued action.
Active:
Present: to love
Perfect: to have loved
Present continuous: to be loving
Perfect continuous: to have been loving.
When passive the infinitives has a present and a perfect form.
Passive:
Present: to be loved
Perfect: to have been loved.
Q.20 What is the gerund? Write the usages? (2008 - 09)
Ans. Definition: -
A gerund is the form of the verb which ends in – ing and has the force of a noun and a verb.
Examples of Gerund: -
Playing cards is not allowed here.
I like reading poetry.
He is fond of hoarding money.
Use of the Gerund: -
A gerund being a verb noun may be used as –
1. Subject of a verb as:
Seeing is believing.
Hunting deer is not allowed in this country.
2. Object of a transitive verb as slop playing:
Children love making mud castles.
3. Complement of a verb, as:
Seeing is believing.
What I most detest is smoking.
4. Absolutely as:
Playing cards being his aversion, we did not play bridge.
Q.21 What is the participle write their uses? (2008 - 09, 11 - 12)
Ans. Definition: -
A participle is that form of the verb which part takes of the nature both of a verb and of an adjective.
Or A participle is a word which is partly a verb and partly an adjective.
Example: -
Hearing the noise, the boy woke up.
Use of the participle: -
It will be noticed that the continuous tense (active voice) are formed from the present participle with tenses of the verb be as –
I am loving. I was loving. I shall be loving.
The perfect tenses are formed from the past participle with tense of the verb love as –
I have loved. I had loved. I shall have loved.
We have seen that participles qualify nouns or pronouns. They may be used:-
1. Attributively as.
A rolling stone gather no moss.
His tattered coat needs mending.
2. Predicatively as.
The man seems worried.
He kept me waiting.
3. Absolutely with a noun or pronoun going before as :
The weather being fine, I went out. God willing, we shall have another good monsoon.
5An absolute phrase can be easily change into a subordinate clause as – Spring advancing, the swallows appear.