Russian Language Grammar
Infinitive
The infinitive ends in either one of the following suffixes: -ть, -ти, -чь.
чита-ть |
to read |
нес-ти |
to carry |
бере-чь |
to keep, to safeguard |
The endings of the infinitive are: -ать, -ять, -еть, -уть, -оть, -ыть, -ти, -чь, -зть, -сть, -ить.
The ending may concide with the suffix: нести
Or may not: читать, говорить.
The infinitive of verbs ending in -ть may be stressed on any syllable: читать, работать.
The infinitive of verbs ending in -ти or -чь is stressed on the ending: нести, беречь.
The only exceptions to this are perfective verbs with the prefix вы- which is always stressed: вынести – to take (to carry) out.
Usage of the Infinitive
A. The following types of constructions do not differ from the English ones:
1. With one subject for both verbs:
Я хочу спать. |
I want to sleep. |
Она любит читать. |
She likes to read. |
Он решил уехать. |
Не decided to leave. |
2. Sometimes, with different logical subjects for each verb:
Она просила меня приехать. |
She asked me to come. |
Он всех заставляет работать. |
Не makes everybody work. |
B. The following constructions illustrate the usage of the infinitive characteristic of the Russian language:
1. With verbs denoting the beginning, continuation, or cessation of an action – the verb complement stands in the imperfeaive:
Он начинает ходить. |
Не is beginning to walk. |
Я продолжал писать. |
I continued to write. |
Мы кончили есть. |
We finished eating. |
2. In expressions of purpose, the English "to" is sometimes omitted in translation, especially with verbs of motion:
Он пошёл купить хлеба. |
Не went to buy some bread. |
Они поехали завтракать. |
They have gone to have lunch. |
Otherwise, two clauses may be joined with чтобы or для того чтобы (see “Conjunctions”):
Он пришёл, чтобы всё узнать. |
Не came to find out everything. |
3. The infinitive is used with должен – must, have to; обязан – obliged; готoв – ready; намерен – intend; рад – glad:
Он должен идти. |
Не must go. |
Я рад слышать это. |
I am glad to hear this. |
4. The infinitive is used with надо – (one) should, has to; нужно – (one) should, has to; необходимо – it is necessary; можно – (one) may, it is possible; нельзя – (one) can't, should not; трудно – difficult; хoрошо – good, nice; and other predicative adverbs:
Надо учиться. |
One has to study. |
Это трудно понять. |
This is difficult to understand. |
Хорошо жить в деревне. |
It is nice to live in the country. |
5. As a subject of a sentence, the infinitive often expresses a business-like or peremptory order:
Выдать господину Иванову… |
Issue to mister Ivanov… |
He курить. |
No smoking. |
Молчать! |
Silence! Quiet! |
6. In interrogative sentences, the infinitive may express indecision, emotion, doubt, or a question addressed to oneself or to another person.
Что делать? |
What shall I do? (lit.: What to do?) |
Зачем сердиться на него? |
Why be angry with him? |
He сидеть же здесь весь день? |
You don't expect (me) to sit here all day? |
Пойти или не пойти? |
Shall (we) go, or shall we not? |
Быть или не быть. |
То be or not to be. |
Дать вам денег? |
Shall I give you some money? |
Налить вам молока? |
Would you like some milk? (lit.: To pour you some milk?) |
7. With the particle бы the infinitive expresses a wish:
Отдохнуть бы сейчас. |
It would be nice to rest now. |
Поехать бы куда-нибудь на море. |
I’d love to go somewhere to the sea. |
8. With не ... ли the infinitive expresses a mild suggestion:
He послать ли ему денег? |
Maybe (we) should send him some money. |
He поехать ли в театр? |
How about going to the theater? |