9. Objective infinitive construction

USAGE

EXAMPLES

1. After the verbs of sense perception: to see, watch, observe, notice, hear, feel, smell, etc.

I saw him enter the room.

2. After the verbs of mental activity: to think, expect, know, believe, prefer, feel, imagine, find, etc.

I would prefer you not to complain all the time.

I consider John (to be) a good driver.

3 After the verbs of request, order and permission: to ask, beg, beseech, implore, allow, let, suffer, order, cause, etc.

Walter asked him to stay for dinner.

For a while she allowed her thoughts to wander.

They let us examine the documents.

I won’t have you stay here..

The general ordered us to wait.

The noise caused her to awaken.

4. After the verbs of wish and intention, liking and disliking: to wish, want, desire, mean, like, dislike, intend, hate, etc.

I want you to translate the text.

5. After the verbs of declaring: to declare, pronounce, report, etc.

They reported the boat to have been seen not far away.

6. After the verbs: to wait, rely, listen, etc. (with prepositions)

I rely on you to come in time.

USAGE

EXAMPLES

1. After the verbs of sense perception: to see, watch, observe, notice, hear, feel, smell, etc.

He was heard to mention the matter.

2. After the verbs of mental activity: know, believe, prefer, feel, imagine, find, etc.

He is known to have left for London a week ago.

3 After the verbs of request, order and permission, compulsion: to ask, beg, beseech, implore, allow, let, suffer, order, cause, etc.

He was ordered to go there right away.

He was made to translate the text.

4. After the verbs of declaring: to declare, pronounce, report, etc.

He is said to have arrived in London.

5. After some verbs in the Active Voice: to seem, appear, turn out, prove, happen, chance, etc.

He seems to have left for London.

It turns out to be raining now.

I happened to come across him in the street.

6. After the word-groups: to be likely, to be unlikely, to be certain, to be sure, etc.

It is unlikely to rain soon.

He is sure to come soon.

You are certain to like it.

FUNCTION

EXAMPLES

COMPLEX SUBJECT

For John to say such a thing is nonsense.

It would be difficult for him to find words that sounded well.

It took three years for the students to read the book.

COMPLEX PREDICATIVE

The only sensible thing was for you to go away.

It is not for you to make terms.

COMPLEX OBJECT

They waited for the boy to answer.

We longed for the lesson to be over.

I think it necessary for the students to learn the Infinitive.

COMPLEX ATTRIBUTE

There are several people for you to consult.

The teacher can always find something for you to do.

COMPLEX ADVERBIAL MODIFIER OF

PURPOSE

He opened the door for her to go out.

RESULT

The bridge was too narrow for the truck to cross.

The bridge was wide enough for the bicycle to cross.