What an indefinite form. What is the indefinite form of the verb and what is its role
The morphology of the Russian language is multifaceted and interesting. It studies the features of parts of speech, their permanent and variable features. The article discusses verbs-infinitives in detail.
Infinitive
Not everyone knows what an infinitive is. in its original form. It represents the verb in dictionaries. For example, in the explanatory dictionary there is no verb dating, since this is a personal form, the dictionary entry is devoted to the same verb, but in the initial form - meet. You can put the verb in this form by asking the question what to do? or what to do?: dating - what to do? meet, draw - what to do? draw, call back - what to do? call back. The infinitive differs from other verb forms not only in a question. Suffixes of infinitives (verbs in the initial form) are special: -t, -ti, -ch. Therefore, the analyzed word is an infinitive if the verb has such morphemes.
The verb and its indefinite form
Pupils and students who are especially keen on learning the Russian language are concerned about the question of why the infinitive is called the indefinite form of the verb. Firstly, the very word "infinitive" goes back to the Latin word, which translates as "indefinite". Secondly, the form of the verb is not determined by the infinitive, more precisely, its personal form, the form of tense, mood, gender, number, and so on. The infinitive determines the constant features of the verb, such as aspect, conjugation, reflexivity and transitivity. They will be discussed below.
Invariable signs of the verb
When performing, it is required to designate its signs. Permanent signs are indicated by the indefinite form of the verb.
View is a part-time category that reflects the relation of an action to its internal limit: completed / happening. Infinitive verbs that answer a question what to do? look perfect: say, prepare, leave. Verbs in the initial form that answer the question what to do? are imperfect: talk, cook, go. Species pairs are distinguished, that is, words with the same meaning, but of a different type: decide - decide, say - speak, sew up - sew up, bake - bake.
Traditionally defined by the initial form. The 2nd conjugation includes those that end in -it(exception shave, lay, build), and verbs hold, drive, see, watch, hear, breathe, hate, endure, offend, twirl, depend; to the first - all other verbs. The conjugation of not all verbs can be determined by the infinitive. A class is distinguished which, when changed, combine the endings of 1 and 2 conjugations. These are the words to give, eat, run, want.
Transitivity is the next constant feature. Infinitive verbs that can govern a noun in the accusative case are called transitive, and those that cannot are intransitive. For example, sew on (what?) a button, record (what?) a film, draw (who?) a child- transitional; be surprised, call, shoot are not used with the accusative case, that is, intransitive.
Reflexive are those verbs that have the postfix -sya: build, wash, make a reservation. Irreversible - those who do not have this affix.
Question about the morpheme
Indicators of the initial form of the verb - morphemes -t, -ti, -ch - cause discussions among linguists. Many define them as endings, referring to their ability to change: say - said, indicate - indicated. However, the infinitive is considered an invariable form, so it should not have endings. An increasingly common version is that the morphemes denoting the infinitive are inflectional suffixes.
Impersonal form of the verb
Infinitives refer to the impersonal forms of the verb. This is due to the fact that this is an invariable form in which the person, gender, number are not determined. Infinitives do not carry nouns in the nominative case, unlike personal forms. They only name the action without its relation to the person. The infinitive is also not associated with the category of time, which is determined by personal forms. Their inclination is also indeterminate. That is, the infinitive is unreal, it is out of time, it only names the action. Some students ask the question of what is the dependence of the infinitive on the verb. An infinitive is, in a different way, a verb in its initial form.
In Russian grammar, other non-personal forms are also distinguished - these are participles and participles. They, like the infinitive, do not change in faces. A gerund is such an invariable form of a verb that combines the features of an adverb and a verb and answers the question having done what? doing what?: reading, publishing, pointing, humming. The participle is such a form of the verb that denotes a sign by action, combines the signs of an adjective and a verb, answers the questions of adjectives: which? surrounded, acting, watching, forgotten.
The role of the infinitive in a sentence
The peculiarity of the indefinite form of the verb is that it can play the role of any member in the sentence. Quite often the subject is a verb-infinitive in Russian. Examples: Seeking the truth in everything was her goal in itself. To appreciate the work of others is worthy. It's useless to talk to him. Denoting an action, the infinitive plays the role of a predicate: You will not see rest! Don't understand him. She is unrecognizable. Often it comes in following the auxiliary verb: The family wanted to stay here for a month. Lena started working immediately after her appointment. He stopped joking after receiving the remark.
Minor members of the sentence can also be expressed in the indefinite form of the verb. So, the infinitive plays the role of an object in sentences: The captain gave the order to advance. They agreed to meet. She quickly got used to work. The definition can be expressed in the infinitive: She had a desire to change the world for the better. He took the opportunity to leave. The hope of leaving by morning reassured them. The circumstance represented by the initial form of the verb: Vera was going to go to the sea. Volunteers stopped by the lake to feed the birds. Children come to her from all over the city.
Infinitives in folklore and fiction
Infinitives have long been used by the people in oral folk art, more precisely in proverbs. The indefinite form of the verb in them is necessary to create a generalization of the content: Promise less, sin less. To indulge a thief is to steal yourself. Not hard to do, but hard to come up with. In fiction, infinitive verbs are widely used. Examples: “Dense stump - I will be able to live”, “That’s why I called you - to find out”, “Let me come first”, “and no one cared about his worries, and so - just to talk”(Shukshin V.M. "Stoves-benches"); "No one wants to change... equilibrium","the habit of smilingin a way... slightly pulled aside the lower part of his... face","you could ask not to sprinkle it with crushed peanuts"(Iskander F.A. "Summer Day").
In contact with
Indefinite verbs are used in dictionaries. What is an infinitive? Features are as follows:
- Verbs in the indefinite form answer the questions "what to do?" and “what to do?”.
- Endowed with grammatical features of the form (perfect or imperfect).
- It is returnable and non-returnable.
- Saved.
- When forming, the suffixes of the indefinite form of the verb -t, -ti, -ch are used. For some verbs it is –st, -sti.
Important! Any verbal word form can be put in the initial one with the help of the question “what to do?” or “what to do?”.
Such word forms are called indefinite because it is impossible to determine their main grammatical features: time, person, mood, gender and number, which distinguishes them from the rest.
Indefinite form of the verb: signs
Signs of the indefinite form of the verb
The main features are the endings of verbs in -ti, -t and -ch. The questions “what to do?” will help determine this. and “what to do?”.
Examples of Education
The infinitive ends with the suffix -ti if it is preceded by a consonant: come, crawl, shake. The suffix -т is used after vowels: write, fly, shoot, pull.
In some words ending in -ch, there is no ending in the initial form, and -ch is included in the structure of the root. For example, attract, bake, protect, crush.
How to use the indefinite form of a verb
The infinitive is needed to form other verb forms and check spelling.
Often the endings of verbs in personal word forms are unstressed, which raises doubts about their writing. To check spelling, you need to know how to put a verb in the indefinite form.
For example:
- Build - What to do? build. So, it is correct to write the ending -ish.
- Glues, glued - What to do? glue. The correct spelling is -it and -il.
- Hated - What to do? hate. Correctly write the vowel -e.
The unstressed suffix in the infinitive indicates its spelling in the past tense, in the gerund and participle form.
Glue - glued - gluing - gluing - gluing.
What is a reflexive or irrevocable verb
Sometimes, after the word-forming suffix -t, -ty, -ch, an additional postfix -sya or -s is used. For example, pray, take care, ask, take cover.
Postfix allows you to define the returnable and non-returnable form.
The rule explains that word forms with -sya (-s) are considered reflexive and mean the action of someone or something directed at themselves, contact or position of the object. For example, tip over, deteriorate, equip, wade.
Irreversible infinitives express an action to someone or something. For example, winding, eavesdropping, ironing.
reflexive verb
Signs of transitive and intransitive infinitive
Transitivity in an indefinite form allows you to identify an additional word that indicates an object or phenomenon involved in the action.
As an additional word is used:
- A noun or pronoun used in the accusative case and without a preposition. For example, put on a coat, cook dinner.
- A noun (accusative or genitive) that expresses an attitude or proportion of something and is used without a preposition. For example, pour tea, wait for guests.
- A negative expression with an infinitive uses a noun or a pronoun in the genitive. For example, not to have a chance, not to hurt her.
Additional words give meaning to the infinitive, and without them the essence of what is happening is lost. Some part of the action is transferred to objects or circumstances, they acquire a clear semantic load.
In the intransitive infinitive, the action denotes one word.
Perfect and imperfect species
Verbs are classified into perfect and imperfect.
Imperfect characterize an action that lasts without a specific time reference. These actions can be called eternal, there is no indication of their completeness or incompleteness. They ask the question “What to do?”.
- I'm about to go on a trip.
- Street lights began to go out.
Perfect infinitives indicate completed action or something that is bound to happen. The result can already be observed or it is still to be expected. The question "What to do?" is used.
- After opening the can, the contents must be transferred.
- Did you receive instructions on what to report?
Known a minor part of dual infinitives. They are used in both forms in one word form. They are defined by meaning. For dual verbs in the infinitive, you can put a standard question.
- Tomorrow the entire area should be cleared. - "What to do?".
- Clean up trash on your desk and in your room. - "What to do?".
- Need to explore the city. - "What to do?".
- They were to explore the city at dawn. - "What to do?"
Perfect and imperfect view
The indefinite or initial form of the verb (and strictly the language of science - it is called the infinitive) linguists call its form, denoting the strictly action itself, regardless of such grammatical categories as person and number, and answering the question "what to do?". The word "do" itself is one example of an infinitive, or indefinite form of a verb.
This gives an answer to the question, what is the peculiarity of the indefinite form of the verb.
In the Russian school, the topic of the infinitive is usually touched upon in the middle classes.
Formal signs of the infinitive
In Russian, the signs of the infinitive are the suffixes "t" or "ti": go, run, stand, crawl, find, determine, etc. After vowels, "t" is used, after consonants - "ti": run, but go.
It also matters that the infinitive always answers one question - what to do?
The group of verbs that ends with “ch” stands out in particular: lie down, bake, protect, burn, etc. Initially, in the Old Russian language, they also had the suffix “ti” after “g” at the end: lay down, pekti, protect, burn. Such an archaic form has been preserved to this day in other Slavic languages closest to Russian - Ukrainian and Belarusian. In Russian, "gti" gradually transformed into "ch".
In English, the indicator of the indefinite form is the particle to used before the verb: to go, to love, to run, etc. The infinitive has its own formal features in every language, but it is not possible to consider them all within the framework of one publication, and it is not makes sense. Everyone who has studied English knows this, and it doesn't matter if it was taught in the first grade or in the older ones.
In Russian, a verb in an indefinite form is characterized by such constant features as transitivity, reflexivity, type of conjugation. All this is also studied in the middle classes, which can be easily remembered.
According to the indefinite form, the conjugation of those verbs is usually determined, the ending of which in other forms is unstressed. We all heard about it more than once in the school class at Russian lessons.
Features of the syntactic role of the infinitive
If the various variants of the conjugated forms of the verb in the sentence most of all gravitate towards the role of the predicate, and the remaining cases of their use are rather an exception to the rule, then the infinitive can be used as any member of the sentence: subject, object, definition.
In a sentence, it is usually used together with a predicate, in the role of which a noun, an adverb, an indefinite form of another verb, or a full adjective in the instrumental case with a linking verb is used.
Watch to the world positively is an important skill.
Believe the deceiver is stupid (option: no sense).
Save- it means to earn.
come in the area became unsafe in the evenings.
Make no mistake means to do nothing.
Predicate
There are two cases of using the indefinite form of the verb as a predicate:
- As part of a compound predicate of a two-part sentence.
- In a one-part impersonal sentence.
Examples of two-part sentences:
- I have to do it.
- I really want you help.
- worker finished grind detail.
- He dreams go abroad.
- He continued vigorously work over the project.
- The new employee soon adapted to the team and stopped working. set extra questions.
Examples of impersonal one-part sentences:
- Well, how not be in love this city!
- Impossible pass the!
- How would we meet.
Definition
As an inconsistent definition, the verb in the indefinite is used when explaining a noun.
Often we tend to desire (to what?) hug immensity.
Usually in such cases, the indefinite form of the verb is combined with abstract nouns expressing desire, aspiration, intention, habit, inclination, ability, readiness, etc.
Circumstance
Usually in this role, the indefinite form appears with the verb of movement or other action and explains why this action was taken. Between the predicate and such a circumstance, the goal can be put "to".
For example:
- I went to drink water.
- The major came out to check the posts.
- They came to Sochi to relax by the sea.
Addition
The infinitive acts as a complement when it refers to the subject to which the action expressed by the predicate is directed. So, in the sentence "I want to help you" it is part of the compound verb predicate. But if we say “I asked a colleague to help me”, “help” already acts as an addition. This nuance must be taken into account in order to determine the role of the infinitive in such sentences.
Here are some more examples in which the indefinite form acts as a complement:
- We asked a friend meet us at the station.
- The boss persuaded him take vacation later.
- The boss asked me come in to him as soon as I get to work.
Stylistic nuances of using the indefinite form of the verb
Verbs in the indefinite form are often used in official instructions, orders, written and oral orders. Speeches addressed by officers to soldiers are especially often saturated with them.
Through the infinitive, an indication is conveyed of the rigidity of a particular order or requirement, the rigor of its observance. For example: "Ensure the result no later than July 20." It sounds even stricter than the form of the imperative mood - "provide". Although the imperative itself, especially if it is not accompanied by the word “please”, carries a considerable similar load.
It is not surprising why their use is so popular in the army, where great importance is attached to discipline, diligence and subordination, and in civilian structures with a rigid administrative vertical, for example, government bodies.
Yes, and various prohibitions, designed in the form of a combination of the infinitive and the particle “not”, have the same function: do not smoke, do not litter, etc.
After all this, you are unlikely to have any doubts about what the indefinite form of the verb is.
When it comes to the form of the verb, we say: “Build the verb in the form of the 2nd person plural of the future tense.” Based on this, we can say that the form of the verb is person + number + time. Building your answer according to this formula, you will never miss anything. Now let's move on to the definition of all three terms.
Person and number to determine the form of the verb
The face is the one who performs the action. To determine it, ask a question to the verb who? or what? If the answer is:
- I / we - then this is a 1st person verb, it refers directly to the speaker or the group of people in which he is a member. For example: I cook, we build;
- you / you - this is a 2nd person verb, it refers to the one / those with whom we are talking. For example: you lie, you go,
- he / she / it / they - then this is a 3rd person verb, it refers to someone else (not to the speaker and not to the interlocutor). For example: he runs, she drinks, they are friends.
Time to determine the form of the verb
Determining the time is very simple: it is done almost intuitively:
- In present tense verbs, the action is happening now, right now. Even if the time is not indicated in the sentence, you can understand it yourself. For example: sculpt (when?) now building (when?) today,
- in past tense verbs, the action takes place in the past: yesterday, a week ago, etc. For example: drawing (when?) yesterday,
- in future tense verbs, the action will only take place in an hour, tomorrow, etc. For example: learn (when?) tomorrow.
Infinitive
Verbs in the indefinite form do not have gender, person, or number, but they do have an aspect. These verbs end in -ty, -ty or -who. Their form is determined using the question:
- what to do?, then it is imperfect. For example: (what to do?) read ;
- if a question is asked about the verb what to do?, he is perfect. For example: (what to do?) read.
Other verbs also have aspect, but this is not indicated when determining their form. It is worth noting that perfective verbs do not have a present tense, because the action is either completed in the past or will be completed in the future.
It is easy to determine the form of the verb, since everything is done almost intuitively, the main thing is to remember the algorithm: person + number + time.
Knowledge of any language is unthinkable without knowledge of the basic units of speech. No less important are grammatical rules that allow all parts of speech to be harmoniously connected with each other using cases, prepositions, and conjugations. Russian is a predicative language, it uses action categories or verb constructions more often. When getting acquainted with this part of speech, students will learn how it is formed and what the indefinite form of the verb is.
In the textbook for grade 4, when children get acquainted with this concept, a rule is given.
The indefinite form of the verb is the initial and invariable form from which all verbal parts of speech (participles, verbal adjectives) and forms of the verb formed during conjugation are formed.
What questions does the indefinite form answer: what to do? (what to do?).
The indefinite form in linguistics is called the term "infinitive" (from Latin Infinitus). By the infinitive, it is impossible to say who and when performs any action (for example, “to walk”: it is not clear who and when did it, there is no indication of either the number or the time). Its morphological features are the suffixes -t (-ty) (for example, id ti, saying be) or root ending in -ch (for example, le whose, se whose).
Peculiarities
The indefinite form of the verb does not change. This is the peculiarity of the infinitive, so it cannot be conjugated or otherwise changed.
The initial form of a verb can only have permanent features:
- Conjugation (1st, 2nd, different conjugations).
- Return (returnable, irrevocable).
- Transitivity (transitive or intransitive).
- View (imperfect or perfect).
The infinitive is devoid of signs of person, time or number, so it is impossible to tell from it who and when performs the action.
How to find the infinitive
For those who are learning Russian as a foreign language or for children who do not read enough, the issue of finding the infinitive can present some difficulties. How to find the indefinite form of a verb.
Those who know Russian at the level of their native language, as a rule, do not experience any special difficulties with this. How to put the verb in an indefinite form: mentally ask questions of the infinitive - “what to do?” or “what to do?”.
The infinitive can also be defined in another way:
- Find out what form the verb in the sentence belongs to.
- “Cut off” the personal endings that appear during conjugation, and (if necessary) the past tense suffix -l-.
- Substitute the infinitive suffix -t (-ti) for the rest or simply ask the appropriate question.
Let's look at the following example: "They diligently wrote letters in a notebook." The initial form in this case will be "prescribe".
How we defined it:
- We ask the question: They (what did they do?) Prescribed.
- The question "what did you do?" indicates that the verb is imperfective (without the prefix “s”), which means that to determine the infinitive, you also need to ask without the prefix “s”: “what to do?”.
- We remove the ending -and and the past tense suffix –l-. We have: prescription-.
- We substitute the infinitive suffix -t for the rest of the word: (what to do?) - prescribe.
Note that in this case, you can make a mistake and call “prescribe” as an answer, this will be wrong, since “prescribe” answers the question “what to do?”, That is, it stands in its perfect form.
Important! When determining the initial form, it is necessary to put a question to the verb in the sentence itself in order to determine its form.
A hint on how not to make a mistake when determining the (in) perfect form: in the infinitive, all prefixes and suffixes (with the exception of the past tense suffix -l-) of the form of the verb with which you are working in the text are preserved.
Note! In the process of searching for N.F. you can go in two ways: ask the question - "what to do?" or “what to do?”, or follow the above method.
syntax function
What is the role of the indefinite form of the verb in the sentence. It can perform various syntactic functions. A summary of the possible members of the sentence, expressed by the infinitive, is given in the table:
The infinitive as an object is almost never found. However, in the sentence “He ordered coffee to be served”, “serve” can be interpreted as an addition (ordered what?).
Definition online
If you find it difficult to determine the initial form yourself or are not sure that you did it correctly, you can check yourself using online services for.
Since the definition of the infinitive is a mandatory part of it, you can go to any web page that offers this service and enter the desired verb in the form in which it is used in the sentence.
The first word that will be indicated will be N.f. verb..
Note that, in general, the ability to determine parts of speech, change them by person, number, tense, largely depends on innate literacy and linguistic instinct. But even if this is not all right, learning what questions an indefinite form answers is not so difficult. For the rest, follow the above schemes and tips.
To consolidate (or form) knowledge on this topic, a number of tasks and exercises can be recommended:
- Distinguishing parts of speech with similar endings (put a cast-iron in the oven (n.) - bake pies (ch.), Sing, come here! (proper name) - sing songs (ch.)).
- Transforming an imperfective verb into a perfective verb and vice versa.
- The formation of a verb from a noun (for example, travel - to travel, food - to eat, trip - to travel).
With practice, the necessary skills will come.
Useful video: Indefinite form of the verb
