The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction

The Objective-with-the-Infinitive is a construction in which the infinitive is in predicate relation to a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the objective case. In the sentence this construction has the function of a complex object.

In translating the Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction into Russian we nearly always use a subordinate clause.

He’s a wonderful teacher and I’ve never seen him lose his temper or get angry about anything. (Wilson) - Он замечательный учитель, и я никогда не видел, чтобы он вышел из себя или рассердился из-за чего-нибудь.

However, sometimes a sentence containing the Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is rendered by a simple sentence.

… the bombing at night made the old walls shake to their foundations. (Heym) - … от ночных бомбежек старые стены содрогались до самого основания (бомбежки заставляли старые стены содрогаться).

The use of the Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction

1. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs denoting sense perception, such as to hear, to see, to watch, to feel, to observe, to notice, etc.

I haven’t heard anyone call me. (Wilde) - Я не слышал, чтобы кто-нибудь меня звал.

After verbs of sense perception only the Indefinite Infinitive Active is used. If the meaning is passive we use Participle II.

I saw the fire slowly conquered. (Collins) - Я видел, что пожар постепенно потушили.

If a process is expressed Participle I Indefinite Active is used.

He saw Fleur coming. (Galsworthy)

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

I believe him to have no conscience at all. (Hardy) - Я считаю, что у него совершенно нет совести.

3. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs of declaring: to pronounce, to declare, to report.

The surgeon pronounced the wound to be a slight one. - Врач сказал, что рана легкая.

4. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs denoting wish and intention: to want, to wish, to desire, to mean, to intend, to choose (in the meaning of “хотеть”).

He intended me to go with him in India. (Ch. Bronte) - Он хотел, чтобы я поехала с ним в Индию.

5. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs denoting feeling and emotion: to like, to dislike, to love, to hate, cannot bear, etc.

I hate him to be flogged. (E. Bronte) - Я терпеть не могу, когда его бьют.

6. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs denoting order and permission: to order, to allow, to suffer, to have, etc.

She suffered Mr. Franklin to lead her back into the room. (Collins) - Она позволила мистеру Франклину отвести себя обратно в комнату.

7. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs denoting compulsion: to make, to cause, to have, to get (in the meaning of “заставлять”).

I cannot get her to finish her lessons. (A. Bronte) - Я не могу добиться, чтобы она закончила свои уроки.

Exercise 1. Point out the Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction. Translate into Russian.

1) It was the first time he had ever seen her weep. (Buck)

2) He didn’t mean this to be a long meeting. (Snow)

3) … without remonstrance she suffered me to have my own way. (Ch. Bronte)

4) I came to get someone to tell me the truth. (Hansford Johnson)

5) I’ll have Bertha bring you breakfast. (Stone)

6) I have never known Hector Rose to behave like this. (Snow)

7) Conrad pulled out a chair and made her sit down. (Greene)

8) He … looked at his watch, rang the bell, and ordered the vehicle to be brought round immediately. (Eliot)

9) Paul felt his heart lift as at a great victory. (Cronin)

10) You make me think of spring flowers… (Braine)

11) She watched him to go up the street and enter a door. (Faulkner)

12) Young people of this class never do anything for themselves that they can get other people to do for them. (James)

13) He said he wouldn’t suffer a word to be uttered to him in his uncle’s disparagement. (E. Bronte)

14) He heard the town clock strike twelve. (Faulkner)

15) Harriet, pale and trembling… suffered her to go on uninterrupted. (Dickens)

16) “You will not allow this base newspaper slander to shorten your stay here, Mr. Winkle?” said Mrs. Pott, smiling through the traces of her tears. (Dickens)

17) I don’t like him to be so long alone. (Hansford Johnson)

18) From the extreme freshness and purity of her complexion I estimated her age to be sixteen, or less perhaps. (Clark)

19) I can’t bear anyone to be very near me but you. (Eliot)

20) At any moment he was expecting Eric to pull a gun and rob him. (Wilson)

21) He decided to write her… and ask for explanation, as well as have her meet him. (Dreiser)

22) Why can’t he get a valet to stay with him longer than a few months? (Shaw)

23) He then ordered her horse to be put into the gig. (Hardy)

24) Mrs. Merridew instantly permitted herself to be taken by the arm, and led into the garden… (Collins)

Exercise 2. Translate into English, using the Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction where possible.

1) Пеготти (Pegotty) знала, что мистер Мердстон (Murdstone) черствый и жестокий человек, и не хотела, чтобы миссис Копперфильд (Copperfield) выходила за него замуж.

2) Мистер Мердстон заставил жену повиноваться ему во всем.

3) Дэвид чувствовал, что рука его матушки дрожит.

4) Пеготти не могла выносить, чтобы с Дэвидом плохо обращались.

5) Мистер Мердстон и его сестра считали Дэвида ленивым и упрямым мальчиком.

6) Мистер Мердстон приказал, чтобы Дэвида заперли в его комнате.

7) Дэвид проснулся, услышав, что кто-то шепотом зовет его.

8) Пеготти слышала, что мистер Мердстон собирается отдать Дэвида в школу.

9) Мистер Мердстон не хотел, чтобы Дэвид жил дома, и добился того, что миссис Копперфильд отдала его в школу.

10) Пеготти видела, что миссис Копперфильд несчастна, но не могла ничего сделать, чтобы помочь ей.

11) Мистер Мердстон хотел, чтобы Пеготти отказали от места (to dismiss), но миссис Копперфильд не могла допустить, чтобы ее верная служанка ушла от нее .

12) Мисс Бетси увидела, что в сад вошел грязный оборванный мальчик.

13) Мисс Бетси чувствовала, что Дэвид говорит правду.