Predicative constructions with the infinitive

Together with a noun or a pronoun infinitives can form predicative constructions. There are three types of Infinitive predicative constructions:

1. The-Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction

2. The Subjective Infinitive Construction

3. The For-to-Infinitive Construction

The objecтive- wiтh- the-infiniтive construcтion

It is а construction in which the infinitive is in predicate relation to а noun in the Common case or а pronoun in the Objective case. In a sentence it is used as a complex object.

1. It is used after verbs denoting sense perception, such as hear, see, watch, observe, notice, feel, etc. The Infinitive is used when the subject of the action expressed by these verbs sees or hears the action expressed by the Infinitive from beginning to end.

Pat saw her drive off about an hour later.

Ralf watched his friend walk away.

After verbs of sense perception only the Indefinite Infinitive Active is used.

Note: a) If the verb ‘see’ has the meaning ‘understand’ а clause is used. I see that you don’t want to go there. b) After the verb ‘hear’ in the meaning ‘learn’ and ‘know’ а clause or а gerund is used. I hear that they have left. I hear of their having left. c) After the verbs ‘see’ and ‘notice’ not the infinitive of the verb ‘be’ but а clause is used. I saw that he was tired.

2. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive construction is used after the verbs denoting mental activity, such as know, think, consider, believe, suppose, expect, find, feel, etc.

He expected his girlfriend to drive him home.

Mr. Graham found his partner to be very efficient.

The infinitive of the link verb ‘to be’ is easily dropped after the verbs think, consider, find if it is followed by an adjective and sometimes (especially after the verb consider) by a noun:

I found her very interesting.

We considered him а good teacher.

But: They considered him to be working at the project.

After the verbs know and think a subordinate clause is more common while the Objective-with-the-Infinitive construction is used in a formal style:

We knew him to be an honest person. –

We knew that he was an honest person.

They thought the expedition to be over. –

They thought that the expedition was over.

The Perfect Infinitive is seldom used after the verbs of mental activity.

3. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive construction is used after verbs of declaring, such as announce, pronounce, declare. The infinitive of the verb ‘be’ can be dropped.

He pronounced the victim to be dead.

I now pronounce you man and wife.

The government declared this territory (to be) а national park.

4. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive construction is used after verbs denoting wish and intention, such as want, wish, desire, mean, need, intend, etc.

I don’t want her to hear about this.

I didn’t mean her to read this paper.

I need him to look into the matter.

5. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive construction is used after verbs denoting feeling and emotion, such as like, dislike, love, hate, etc.

I’d hate you to go.

I’d like you to tell me the truth.

We like our students to take part in college social activities.

6. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive construction is used after verbs denoting order and permission, such as allow, suffer (old use) in the meaning ‘позволять, допускать’ and order in the meaning ‘распорядиться’.

А two-hour break allowed the papers to be printed.

Mr. Dombey suffered Florence to play with Paul.

He ordered the books to be delivered at once.

In modern English а subordinate clause is preferable after the verb ‘order’:

He ordered that the report should be ready by morning.

Note: The verb have in this meaning (допускать, позволять) is used in negative sentences and is followed by а gerundial complex: I won’t have you walking there alone.

7. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive construction is used after verbs denoting compulsion: make, cause, get, have.

O’Henry’s stories make everybody laugh.

The disease caused his temperature to go up.

They had Mother decorate the house.

8. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive construction is used after the verb let:

She let her horse carry her home.

Don’t let him go without breakfast.

9. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive construction is used after the verb rely on (upon).

We can rely on him to keep the secret.