Субъектный инфинитивный оборот (сложное подлежащее)/ the subjective infinitive construction

Субъектный инфинитивный оборот – это конструкция, в которой инфинитив находится в предикативных отношениях с существительным в общем падеже и местоимением в именительном падеже.

Laser is known to be used in medicine.	Известно, что лазер используется в медицине.
He is known to live here.	Известно, что он живет здесь.

Особенность этой конструкции заключается в том, что, строго говоря, она не является одним членом предложения: один из ее компонентов имеет функцию подлежащего (laser; he), другая ее часть выступает как часть составного глагольного сказуемого (to be used; to live). Тем не менее, широкое распространение получила точка зрения, согласно которой эта конструкция рассматривается как один член предложения – сложное подлежащее. На русский язык данная конструкция, как правило, переводится придаточным дополнительным предложением.

Сложное подлежащее используется со следующей группой глаголов:

1. чувственного восприятия to see, to hear, to notice в пассивном залоге	The patient was heard to cough heavily. Слышали, как пациент сильно кашлял. The doctor was seen to enter the ward. Видели, как доктор вошел в палату.
2. ментальной деятельности to think, to consider, to believe, to expect, to suppose, to know в пассивном залоге	He is thought to be honest and kind. Считают, что он честный и добрый человек. He is considered to have been one of the most talented scientists of his time Считается, что он был одним из наиболее талантливых ученых своего времени.
3. сообщения, говорения to say, to report,to state, to announce (объявлять), а также с глаголами, передающими приказ, просьбу, разрешение, ожидание to order, to ask, to allow, to expect в пассивном залоге	She is said to be working on her new book. Говорят, что она работает над своей новой книгой. The delegation is reported to have left St.Petersburg. Сообщают, что делегация уехала из Санкт-Петербурга. He was announced to have got a Nobel Prize. Объявили, что он получил Нобелевскую премию.
4. после выражений to be likely (вероятно), to be unlikely (маловероятно), to be certain, to be sure (несомненно, обязательно, бесспорно) NB -Обратите внимание, что на русский язык конструкции с этими выражениями переводятся простыми предложениями.	He is likely to participate in the conference. Вероятно, он будет участвовать в конференции. He is unlikely to come to the lecture. Вряд ли, он придет на лекцию. He is sure to be asked about it. Наверняка, его спросят об этом.
5. с глаголами в активном залоге to seem, to appear (казаться), to prove, to turn out (оказываться), to happen, to chance (случаться) Отрицательные формы этих глаголов: don’t seem+ инфинитив doesn’t prove +инфинитив didn’t happen+ инфинитив is/are not likely + инфинитив	The first experiment proved to be a success. Наш первый опыт оказался удачным. Only yesterday we happened to see our scientific supervisor. Случилось так, что только вчера мы встретили нашего научного руководителя. They seem to have forgotten our address. Кажется, они забыли наш адрес. He doesn’t seem to know the subject. Кажется, он не знает предмета. He did not happen to be there at that time. Случилось так, что его не было там в это время. He is not likely to come today. Вероятно, он сегодня не придет.

NB: Инфинитив в составе конструкции Сложное подлежащее может передавать:

а) действие одновременное с действием глагола-сказуемого: He is said to live in London. Говорят, что он живет в Лондоне.

б) длительное действие, одновременное с действием глагола-сказуемого: The water seems to be boiling. Кажется, вода кипит.

в) действие, предшествующее действию, выраженному глаголом-сказуемым: They are reported to have accomplished their experiment. Сообщают, что они закончили свой эксперимент.

Инфинитив в составе конструкции может передавать действие, относящееся к будущему после глагола to expect , а также после выражений to be sure/certain, to be likely:

He is expected to give us his answer tomorrow. Ожидают, что он даст ответ завтра.

We are sure to discuss it at the meeting. Мы обязательно обсудим это на собрании.

EXERCISES

Exercise 27. Translate from English into Russian paying attention to the Complex Subject.

1. This patient is said to be discharged tomorrow. 2. This doctor is said to be very experienced. 3. He seems to be very tired. 4. He is said to have owned two dogs and a cat. 5. The sick man doesn’t seem to recognize you. 6. He is expected to take his exam tomorrow. 7. She proved to be a good student. 8. He is unlikely to know about possible complications of this disease. 9. He appears to be ill. 10. Farm animals are expected to be vaccinated next week.

Exercise 28. Rephrase the following sentences using the Complex Subject.

Model:

It seemed that he knew the subject well. He seemed to know the subject well.

1. It happened that we met in the library. 2. It proved that he was a very experienced doctor. 3. It seems that his report has made a deep impression on us. 4. It appears that this discovery was made in the 19^th century. 5. It happened that there was a doctor there at that time. 6. It proved that a book was a great success.

Exercise 29. Rephrase the following sentences using the Complex Subject.

Model:

It is reported that they have collected samples of deadly viruses. They are reported to have collected samples of deadly viruses.

1. It is said that this book has been lost. 2. It is believed that he has a big potential as a scientist. 3. It is known that causative agents of this disease have been discovered. 4. It is considered that this Academy is the best in the country. 5. It is expected that many students will attend the conference. 6. It is considered that the results of the experiment are satisfactory. 7. It is expected that they will come to Moscow.8. It is believed that the heart transplant operation has been successful. 8. It is well-known that doctors need effective preventive measures to eliminate virus diseases. 9. It is believed that cardiovascular disease is one of the most important medical problems.

Exercise 30. Read and translate the following sentences.

1. He is supposed to discharge the patient from the hospital.

2. He is supposed to have discharged the patient from the hospital.

3. He is supposed to be discharged from the hospital.

4. He is supposed to have been discharged from the hospital.

Exercise 31. Open the brackets using the correct form of the Infinitive.

1. He seems (to read) since morning. 2. He appears (to know) English well. 3. They are supposed (to work) on this problem for the last two months. 4. They seem (to discuss) this problem right now. I can hear their voices. 5. The doctor is supposed (to prescribe) you the right medicine. 6. He seems (to satisfy) with the results of the treatment 7. New medical equipment is believed (to help) scientists solve many important problems. 8. She is expected (to operate) on today. 9. Two other diseases, besides diabetes, appear (to associate) with insulin reception defects. 10. Immunoglobulin proteins are stated (to produce) by the body.

Exercise 32. Translate from Russian into English using the Complex Subject.

I- 1. Кажется, он болен. 2. Кажется, он болел. 3. Кажется, они сейчас пользуются словарем. 4.Кажется, студенты поняли это правило. 5.Он, кажется, хорошо ее знает.6. Кажется, ее статья уже опубликована. 7. Кажется, эта задача очень трудная. 8. Оказалось, эта задача очень трудная. 9. Кажется, он уехал на конференцию.

II - 1. Говорят, что он в Москве. 2. Считают, что он один из лучших преподавателей нашей страны. 3. Считают, что он знает этот предмет очень хорошо. 4. Известно, что он опытный хирург. 5. Ожидают, что он примет участие в конференции. 6. Говорят, что он один из лучших врачей в нашей клинике. 7. Считают, что это изобретение поможет нам в нашей работе. 8. Говорят, что институт инфекционных заболеваний сейчас работает над новой вакциной. 9. Говорят, что операция прошла успешно. 10. Ожидают, что он станет главным хирургом (chief surgeon).

Exercise 33. Point out the Complex Subject and translate the following sentences.

1. On physical examination the liver seemed to be enlarged. 2. The damage to the blood supply was supposed to have been present before the operation. 3. Ulcers are known to have a chronic, cyclic course, with remissions from 6 to 12 months. 4. The patient is thought to suffer from pneumonia. 5. Leukoсytosis is known to develop in inflammation. 6. They seem to study biochemistry. 7. He appears to suffer from tuberculosis. 8. Patients with chronic ulcers are known to complain of an acute pain in the stomach. 9. The pain proved to be sharp on physical exertion. 10. Several drugs are known to be available for treatment of cardiac failures.

Exercise 34. Use a subordinate clause instead of the Complex Subject.

1. Exacerbation (обострение) of ulcers is known to occur in spring and autumn. 2. Renal and splenic infarctions are likely to occur in endocarditis. 3. Brain cortex stimuli are considered to send impulses to the stomach and duodenum (двенадцатиперстная кишка). 4. Goat’s milk has been proved to be good for eyes. 5. Our data seem to support this theory.

Exercise 35. Use the Complex Subject instead of a subordinate clause.

1. It was reported that the patient had been suffering from the digestion disturbances for several years. 2. It seems that pathologic changes in the gastric mucous membrane are responsible for the development of malignant tumors of the stomach. 3. It was stated that this patient developed anaemia after profuse bleeding caused by perforated ulcer. 4. It is known that environmental factors are of great significance both for animals and humans.

Exercise 36. Change the sentences using the Complex Subject.

1. It is known that spring and autumn are those seasons when patients with ulcer suffer from the recurrence of the disease.2. It is considered that constant fatigue and emaciation contribute to the onset of gastritis. 3. It appeared that characteristic clinical manifestations of the disease were haemorrhage, vomiting and nausea. 4. It is known that hypothermia can be employed in cardiosurgery. 5. The physician observed that patient’s appetite had been improving gradually. 6. It is known that acute appendicitis begins suddenly with sharp pain which is at first felt in epigastrium and then becomes generalized in the abdomen. 7. It is assumed that both mental and physical overstrain affect the normal function of the heart. 8. It is stated that the body produces special immunoglobulin. 9. It is proved that none of antibiotics is successful in killing this virus. 10. It seems that certain precautions are reasonable.

Exercise 37. Translate the sentences paying attention to the translation of the Complex Subject in the relative subordinate clause (typed in bold).

1. A response which is known to follow recognition was obtained. 2. Coronary risk factors are those abnormalities in persons free of coronary heart disease which are known to be associated with significantly increased risk of developing the disease in subsequent years. 3. The hippocampus is an area deep within the brain which is thought to be a center for emotions and perception of reality. 4. This effect was revealed in subgroups of patients who are known to have had arrhythmia for different lengths of time. 5. Individuals who are thought to be allergic to animal fur were inoculated the animal fur antigen.

Exercise 38. Fill in the gaps with the appropriate form of the Infinitive. Translate the sentences.

1. The patient was known … stool retention accompanied by nausea a month before his present admission to the hospital.

a) to have

b) to have had

c) to be having

2. Sensitivity to this antibiotic was reported … not only in this animal but in the herd on the whole.

a) to be present

b) to have been present

3) Preventive vaccination was found … since no cases of hepatitis were diagnosed after its administration.

a) to be effective

b)to have been effective

4) Skin irritation was revealed … after each parenteral administration of this medication.

a) to occur

b) to have occurred

c) to have been occurring