Is it a suffix or an ending? Where to find the answer?

The question "Is it a suffix or the ending of a verb?" Has been asked for a dozen years by ordinary people and eminent philologists. The modern approach to the study of the Russian language allows the existence of two points of view, each of which has its pros and cons.

Is it a suffix or an ending?

School grammar has long considered "ti" and "ti" as the ending or formal index of the infinitive. The same position to this day adheres to the majority of benefits intended for higher education institutions. Among linguists, the opinion that "th" is the ending is shared by Shansky NM, Baranov MT, Kuznetsov GS.

Defending their version, scientists argue as follows: the infinitive is the initial form of the verb, hence, it can distinguish an ending. This explanation can not be called satisfactory, moreover, it leads to contradictions. This is due to the fact that the infinitive in modern linguistics is considered an unchangeable word, and, accordingly, can not have an ending.

Is the suffix or ending of the verbs?

New school textbooks support another point of view, according to which "ti", "ti" for verbs - suffixes. This theory was developed by such linguists as Babaytseva VV, Valgina NS. Answering the question: "Is it a suffix or an end?" The scientists, first of all, tried to prove the inconsistency of another position revealing this problem. They argued that the "t" of the verb can not be inflexion, since it does not express the grammatical meaning of the word and does not persist in the forms formed from the infinitive.

Such an approach seems convincing, but it has caused a lot of controversy in linguistic circles. "If" th "is a suffix, then why does not it form the basis of the word?" - this question became one of the main questions for all who got acquainted with the new theory. It is easy to answer it if you recall the basics of morphomics. In modern Russian, suffixes are divided into form-building and word-building. Morphemes of the first type are not included in the basis. It is the form-building suffix that we see in the infinitive.

And what about "ch"?

Do not forget that in Russian there are examples of the initial form of the verb, which end in "ch." How to consider such cases? What is "ch" in these words: the ending or the suffix?

There are also several answers to these questions:

1. Is a suffix.
2. It is an inflection.
3. It enters the root.

The first two points of view are obsolete. "Wh" was defined as a suffix or ending by analogy with "ti" and "ti".

Modern linguistics believes that this combination is part of the root. Prove that this opinion is correct, you can change the verb: oven-bake. In forms formed from the infinitive, "ch" is preserved, hence it is part of the root.

What is the result?

One can not unambiguously answer the question: "Is it a suffix or an ending?". Both points of view, described above, are considered consistent in modern Russian. Each of them has its supporters. However, at present the school curriculum prefers the position according to which "th" is a form-building suffix. In higher education institutions it is common to consider both theories.