Predicative Complexes with the Infinitive

The infinitive may have a ‘subject’ of its own. Compare:

I want to go there. (I is the ‘subject’ of the predicate want & the infinitive to go.) I want you to go there. (I is the subject of the predicate want, while you is the ‘subject’ of the infinitive to go.)

In this case the infinitive and its ‘subject’ form a complex (you to go). The relation between them is predicative (the same as that between the subject and the predicate in the sentence). That’s why such complexes are called predicative complexes.

Predicative complexes are syntactic units consisting of a nominal element (a noun or a pronoun) and a non-finite form of the verb, where the verbal element is in predicative relation to the nominal element.

pred. relation pred. relation

I saw that he threw it away. I saw him throw it away. ↓ ↓

finite form non-finite form (infinitive)

predicate of the sentence verbal element of the predicative complex

Predicative complexes usually correspond to Ukrainian subordinate clauses: Я бачила, що він його викинув.

A predicative complex could be easily transformed into a subordinate clause. In that case the nominal part of the complex becomes the subject of the sentence and the infinitive is used in the finite form.

e.g.: I believed him to be the best candidate. =

I believed that he was the best candidate.

Therefore, when you are trying to identify a predicative complex, make sure that ‘a noun or a pronoun + the infinitive’ could make the subject and the predicate of a subordinate clause. e.g.: I have some letters to write. ‘Letters to write’ is not a predicative complex. It can’t be transformed into a subordinate clause (‘letters’ is not the subject of the action ‘to write’ but its object). It’s a phrase with the head-word ‘letters’ and the infinitive as an attribute.

I have some letters (what kind of letters?)to write.

Be careful not to confuse a predicative complex with an infinitive phrase ‘the infinitive + a noun or pronoun’. Note that in predicative complexes the nominal element always comes before the infinitive and names the subject of the action. In infinitive phrases the nominal element, if there is one, comes after the infinitive and names the object of the action.

There’s nobody for me to help. (predicative complex)

= Нема нікого, кому б я допомагала.

There’s nobody to help me. infinitive phrase (infinitive phrase)

= Нема нікого, хто б мені допоміг.

In the sentences predicative complexes are treated as a whole. When introduced by preposition ‘for’, they can perform any function, except the one of the predicate.

attribute: Here’s a book for you to read. (= which you can read)

object: I’m waiting for you to read it. (= that you’ll read it.)

Without preposition ‘for’ a predicative complex can function as a complex object or a complex subject.

object: Actually, I expect you to read it. (= that you’ll read it.)

subject: You are sure to like it. (= I’m sure that you will like it.)

We use a predicative complex or a subordinate clause if the predicate of the sentence and the infinitive have different subjects. Compare the ways we express the purpose:

He wrote down the telephone number so as not to forget it.

He wrote down the telephone number for me not to forget it.

He wrote down the telephone number so that I wouldn’t forget it.

We normally translate predicative complexes into Ukrainian using subordinate clauses. e.g.: He wrote down his telephone number for me not to forget it. = Він записав телефонний номер, щоб я його не забула. Nevertheless, some patterns have similar ones in Ukrainian.

e.g.: He asked me to come. = Він попросив мене прийти.

He made me come. = Він змусив мене прийти.

	independent infinitive	wh-phrase	prepositional predicative complex (PC)	PC without prep-n
Subject	To do it was easy. It was easy to do it.	How to get there is a secret.	It’s easy for him to win. It’s nice of her to do it.	He seems to be sleeping.
Predicative	My aim is to win.	The secret is how to get there.	The plan is for them to come and arrange it.
Second. pred-ve	He is hard to talk to
aspect pred-te	They began to talk start, cease, continue
modal pred-te	I can dance well. You ought to go.
pred-te	Why not go there.
Object (what?)	I’m glad to see you. I find it easy to do it. I offered to help.	He doesn’t know how to get there.	I’m waiting for him to come.	I saw him enter the house
At-bute (what kind of )	He’s a man to trust. I have nobody to talk to.	I have no idea what to buy her.	There’s nothing for him to do here.
adv mod. of result	He’s too old to work. Would you be so kind as to help me?		The dress is cheap enough for me to buy it
purpose (why?)	He went to Africa to go on Safari.		Take a gun for you to feel safe.
at-ant circum.	He went to Africa only to die there.		He left for me to lose him forever.
comparison	To give is better than to take.		It’s better than for you to cook
exception	There’s nothing to do but wait.
parenthesis	To be frank, I don’t like it.

_________________________ Practical Grammar

Group Second Year Term 2