Non-finite forms: infinitive

Syntactically non-finites possess both verbal and non-verbal features. The verbal character 
of the non-finites in syntax is manifested mainly in their combinability. Similarly to finite forms 
they may be followed by nouns functioning as direct, indirect or prepositional objects, by adverbs 
and prepositional phrases used as adverbial modifiers, and by subordinate clauses. 
The non-verbal character reveals itself in their syntactic functions. Thus, the infinitive and 
the gerund perform the main syntactic functions of the noun, which are those of subject, object and 
predicative. Participle I, II functions as attribute and adverbial modifier, participle II as attribute. 
They cannot form a predicate by themselves, although they can function as part of a com-
pound predicate. 
All non-finite verb forms may function as the so-called predicative constructions, that is, two-
component syntactic units where a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the objective case and 
a non-finite verb form are in predicative relations similar to those of the subject and the predicate:
I saw him crossing the street. 
We waited for the bell to ring.
 

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5 
The Double Nature of Non-finite Forms of the Verb 
Verbal Features 
Non-Verbal Features 
Morphological categories 
Syntactic Combinability 
Syntactic Functions 
& Combinability 
voice 
non-passive / 
passive 
time-relation 
non-perfect / 
perfect 
aspect 
non-continuous / 
continuous 
(only the infinitive) 

by an object
1
 
(direct, indirect 
or prepositional) 
an adverbial 
modifier 
expressed by 
an adverb 
subject
2
, 
object, 
predicative, 
attribute,