LESSON XCI.

CONSTRUCTIONS OF INFINITIVES.

The chief constructions of the infinitives, including those already given, are the following:

I. The simple infinitive, without to, is used after the verbs may, can, must, dare, etc., as,

Men must work.

II. Both the infinitive with to and the participial infinitive may be used, like a noun

1. As the subject of a verb; as,

To see is to believe.

Seeing is believing.

2. As a predicate nominative; as,—

To hesitate is to fail.
Begging is not serving.

3. As the object of a verb; as,—

We purpose to call a meeting.

We purpose calling a meeting.

4. As the object of a preposition.

She was about to speak.

On reaching the door, he paused.

III. The infinitive with to is used

1. To modify a noun, an adjective, or an adverb; as,There is a time to weep.

She is eager to go.

He is old enough to know better.

2. To express purpose, consequence, etc.; as,—

He came to assist his comrades.

3. Elliptically or absolutely; as,

He was petrified, so to speak.

To tell the truth, I do not believe it.

IV. The infinitive, usually with to, is used with a noun or a pronoun as the object of a verb; as,

He maketh wars to cease.

I asked him to sing.

In this construction, the noun or pronoun which is used with the infinitive as the object of the verb is called the subject of the infinitive. The subject of an infinitive is in the objective case.

A few simple verbs, such as let, hear, see, etc., take in this construction the simple infinitive; as, Let me go; I saw him fall.

V. The participial infinitive, like the noun, takes a possessive noun or pronoun; as,

Much depends on Robert's receiving the message.
His coming was not unexpected.

EXERCISE I.

Point out the infinitives in the following sentences, and state the construction of each ·

1. For him, to hear is to obey.

2. A sower went forth to sow.

3. He taught her to see new beauties in nature. - IRVING

4. I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts.
5. The sun is just about to set. - TENNYSON.

6.

7.

And many a holy text around she strews
That teach the rustic moralist to die. - GRAY.

She heard the birds sing, she

Saw the sun shine. — LONGFELLOW.

8. After tarrying a few days in the bay, our voyagers weighed anchor, to explore a mighty river which emptied into the bay. IRVING.

9. And fools who came to scoff remained to pray.

10. I did send to you for gold to pay my legions.— SHAKESPEARE. II. Hast thou a charm to stay the morning star? — COLERIDGE. 12. Upon the landlord's leaving the room, I could not avoid expressing my concern for the stranger.- GOLDSMITH. To live in hearts we leave behind

13.

Is not to die. - CAMPBELL.

14. Beyond that I seek not to penetrate the veil. - WEBSTER.

III. Write two sentences containing infinitives used like adjectives.

IV. Write three sentences containing infinitives used like adverbs.

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LESSON XCII.

CONSTRUCTIONS OF PARTICIPLES.

Participles modify nouns or pronouns. They may be used

I. Attributively; as,

The rising sun hides the stars.

II. Appositively, usually equivalent to an implied clause; as,

Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise again.

III. Predicatively; as, —

Here it runs sparkling.

He kept us waiting.

IV. Absolutely; as,

The service having closed, we left the church.

EXERCISE I.

Parse the participles and the infinitives in the following

sentences:

1. As we stood waiting on the platform, a telegraphic message was handed in silence to my companion. — HOLMES. 2. An uprooted tree came drifting along the current, and became entangled among the rocks.

3. "Ah!" cried he, drawing back in surprise.

4. The turban folded about his head

Was daintily wrought of the palm-leaf braid.

5. At each corner of the building is an octagon tower, surmounted by a gilt ball and weathercock. - IRVING.

6. All the stories of ghosts and goblins that he had heard in the afternoon, now came crowding upon his recollection. 7. I saw you sitting in the house, and I no longer there. 8. The snow fell hissing in the brine,

And the billows frothed like yeast.— LONGFellow.

9. Upon his advancing toward me with a whisper, I expected to hear some secret piece of news. - ADDISON.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. - Bible.

11. His father being at the warehouse, did not yet know of the accident. - GEORGE Eliot.

12. The wind having failed at sunset, the crew set to work with a will.

13. Here is a good place to test the qualities of a book as an out-door companion.

14. There is not wind enough to twirl

The one red leaf, the last of its clan,
That dances as often as dance it can,
Hanging so light, and hanging so high,

On the topmost twig that looks up at the sky. - COLERIDGE. 15. The talent of success is nothing more than doing what you can do, well. - LONGFELLOW.

16. To reverse the rod, to spell the charm backward, to break the ties which bound a stupefied people to the seat of enchantment, was the noble aim of Milton. — MACAULAY.