The subjective infinitive construction

The Subjective Infinitive Construction consists of:

1. a nominal element – a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the nominative case

2. a verbal element – an infinitive which denotes a state or an action performed by the nominal element

Noun in the common case or Pronoun in the nominative case	A finite verb	infinitive
The painter He	seemed	to see nothing

The Subjective Infinitive Construction is used:

1. with verbs in the passive voice:

1. verbs of sense perception. In this case they are followed by a to-infinitive

e. g. They were heard to enter the house.

NOTE. If the process is meant, participle I is used:

e. g. They were seen swimming across the river.

2) verbs of mental activity

e. g. He was supposed to marry her.

He was known to run faster than anyone else.

3. verbs of saying and reporting (to say, to report):

e. g. The weather is reported to change.

The delegation is said to be arriving at the moment.

4. verbs of inducement and permission (to make, to allow, to let):

e. g. She was allowed to enter the room.

II. with verbs used in the active voice:

to seem, to appear – кажется, по-видимому, похоже

to happen, to chance – случаться, случайно произойти

to prove, to turn out – оказаться

e. g. His illness seemed to have made his eyes larger.

My advice proved to be wrong.

We chanced to meet her in the street.

3. with some modal phrases (to be likely (вероятно), to be unlikely (вряд ли), to be sure, to be certain (наверняка, несомненно)):

e. g. The secret is certain to come out.

THE FOR-TO INFINITIVE CONSTRUCTION

The For-to Infinitive Construction consists of:

1. a nominal element – a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the objective case

2. a verbal element – an infinitive which is in predicate relation to a nominal element. The construction is preceded by the preposition for.

	Preposition	Noun/pronoun	Infinitive
They waited	for	the door	to open
It is useless	for	me	to speak to him

In translating this construction into Russian a subordinate clause or an infinitive is used.

The construction can have different functions in the sentence:

1. subject:

e. g. For me to do it is difficult.

It is difficult for me to do it.

2. predicative:

e. g. This work is for you to do.

3. complex object:

e. g. The boys waited for the competition to begin.

4. attribute:

e. g. The only thing for me to do is to read the story once more.

5. adverbial modifier:

1. of purpose:

e. g. He stepped aside for the girl to pass.

2. of result. In this case the construction is preceded by adverbs enough and too:

e. g. I speak loud enough for you to hear me.

NOTE. After an adjective saying how someone behaves (brave, careless, clever, foolish, generous, good, helpful, honest, intelligent, kind, mean, nice, polite, sensible, silly, stupid, wrong), we use of + object + to-infinitive:

e. g. It was good of you to come jogging with me (= it was a kind action by you).

e. g. It was good for you to come jogging with me (= it was good for your health).