Основы теории английского языка. Листунова Е.И. - 60 стр.

       3. As part of a compound verbal predicate (see «The Compound
Verbal Predicate»).
       The subjective infinitive is used in this function combined with:
       a) Modal (defective) verbs: can, must, may, ought, shall, will,
need, dare, also to have and to be used as modal equivalents:
       She must speak now or not at all (Cronin). Perhaps he ought to
have answered her like that (Joyce). Is there a stream where we could
bathe? (Galsworthy). We were to go in a carrier’s cart which departed
in the morning after breakfast (Dickens).
       b) Verbs which do not express actions (or states) but denote
modality (intention, determination, desire, etc): to intend, to try, to
fail, to hope, to expect, to wish, etc.
       The child wanted to slip down from its mother’s lap on to the
floor of the car... (Bennett). And yet, though he tried very hard to
convince himself, his heart was not in his work (Cronin). I’d like to
have a look at that part of the world (Galsworthy). He wanted to tell
her of the incident, longed suddenly to end their period of strife
(Cronin).
       c) The combinations to be obliged, to be compelled, to be will-
ing, to be ready, to be eager, etc. which have modal meaning:
       I am eager to hear your story. I feel half inclined to tell him so.
She is ready to help us. We were compelled to spend the night at
Winchester... (Doyle). Is she determined to start instantly? (Kingsley).
All this time, I was deeply anxious to know what she was going to do
with me... (Dickens).
       d) The construction to be going to.., which has often modal
force (ñîáèðàòüñÿ ñäåëàòü ÷òî-òî):
       What are you going to do with it? (Galsworthy).
       e) The following phraseological combinations: had better (best),
had rather, would rather, would sooner, would have which impart
modality to the action expressed by the infinitive:
       You’d better go to bed, Phil; it’s been a long day (Greene).
I would rather not go (Bronte).
       f) Verbs denoting the beginning or the duration of an action: to
begin, to continue, etc.
       The constructions used to + infinitive and would + infinitive
which express repeated actions in the past also belong here:
       Hardly had we left town, when it came on (began) to rain. She
suddenly began to speak (London). Now and again Mrs. Narracombe or

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