- •Contents
- •The infinitive
- •1. The forms and categories of the Infinitive. The use of ‘to’-Infinitive and the Bare Infinitive. ‘To’ without the Infinitive.
- •Exercises
- •2. The Infinitive in the function of the Subject
- •Exercises
- •3. The Infinitive in the function of Part of the Predicate
- •Exercises
- •4. The Infinitive in the function of Object
- •Exercises
- •5. The Infinitive in the function of Attribute
- •Exercises
- •6. The Infinitive in the function of Adverbial Modifier and Parenthesis
- •Exercises
- •Of purpose:
- •Of consequence:
- •7. The Complex Object, the For-Complex and the Complex Subject
- •The Complex Object
- •The Complex Subject
- •Exercises
- •Revision of the Infinitive
- •I meant to call
- •Test yourself Test on the Infinitive
- •State the functions of the Infinitive.
- •Paraphrase the sentences using the Infinitive.
- •Find and correct an error.
- •Translate into English.
- •(Keys, p.125) the gerund
- •8. The forms and categories of the Gerund.
- •Exercises
- •9. The Gerund in the functions of Subject, Predicative, Part of Compound Verbal Predicate.
- •Exercises
- •Translate into English:
- •10. The Gerund in the function of Object.
- •Exercises
- •Direct Object:
- •Prepositional Object:
- •11. The Gerund in the function of Attribute
- •Exercises
- •12. The Gerund in the function of Adverbial Modifier
- •Exercises
- •The alternative use of the Infinitive and the Gerund. The Gerund and the Verbal Noun.
- •13. The choice between the Gerund and the Infinitive after some Verbs.
- •Exercises
- •14. The Gerund and the Verbal Noun compared.
- •Exercise
- •Revision of the Gerund
- •The Titanic
- •Test yourself Test on the Gerund
- •I. Define the function of underlined gerunds.
- •II. Complete these sentences with the correct preposition and a verb form to express the ideas in brackets. Make all necessary changes.
- •III. Find and correct errors.
- •IV. Translate the sentences into English.
- •V. Read the news items below and complete what you might say using the gerunds:
- •(Keys, p.126) the participles
- •15. The forms and categories of the Participles
- •Exercises
- •16. Participles in the functions of Attribute, Predicative, and Parenthesis.
- •17. Participles in the Functions of Adverbial Modifier.
- •Exercises
- •Attribute:
- •Predicative:
- •Adverbial modifier:
- •Parenthesis:
- •18. Participle I and the Gerund compared.
- •Exercises
- •19. Complex Object with the Participles
- •20. Complex Subject with the Participles
- •21. Absolute Participial Constructions
- •Exercises
- •Revision of the Participles
- •Test yourself Test on Participles
- •I State the functions of the Participles:
- •II Paraphrase the sentences using Participial constructions (where possible):
- •III Translate into English. Mind the use of Participles:
- •IV Translate into Russian:
- •(Keys, p.127) Revision of the Verbals
- •I. State the functions of the Infinitive.
- •II. Paraphrase the sentences using the Infinitive.
- •III. Find and correct an error.
- •IV. Translate into English.
- •I. Define the function of underlined gerunds.
- •II. Complete these sentences with the correct preposition and a verb form to express the ideas in brackets.
- •III. Find and correct errors.
- •IV. Translate the sentences into English.
- •I State the functions of the Participles:
- •II Paraphrase the sentences using Participial constructions (where possible):
- •III Translate into English:
- •IV Translate into Russian:
The Complex Subject
7.3.1. The Complex Subject is a predicative complex with INF that includes the Subj. (N/Pron. in the Common Case or a Pers. Pron. in the Nominative Case) and the INF phrase. The first – nominal – element of the complex is separated from its predicative element – the INF – by the finite verb: The picture is considered to be one of Rembrandt’s early paintings.
However, the finite verb which structurally is the predicate of such sentence is semantically incomplete (… is considered …). It forms a meaningful unity with the infinitive phrase that follows (… is considered to be one of Rembrandt’s early paintings) thus expressing something that is said in the sentence about the subject. The INF phrase characterizes the subject, but it is done by way of secondary predication:
The picture is one of Rembrandt’s early paintings. à The picture … to be one of Rembrandt’s early paintings.
So the INF may be understood as serving two functions: to make the subject structurally complex by secondary predication and to provide the semantic complement to the finite-verb predicate.
The predicative relations between the Subj. and the INF are similar to the relations between the elements of the Complex Object: The picture is considered to be one of Rembrandt’s early paintings. à We consider the picture to be one of Rembrandt’s early paintings.
7.3.2. The Complex Subject is used with a limited number of finite verbs that are nested in the Subjective Predicative Complex. They are transitive verbs in the passive voice denoting:
saying/reporting/informing (announce, claim, declare, describe, report, say, state, suggest, predict, etc.): He was mentioned to have gone to France some time last month. The delegation was reported to have left the talks in protest;
mental activity (assume, estimate, expect, believe, fear, suppose, consider, know, mean, presume, regard, recognize, think, understand, etc.): Mary is expected to finish her degree paper by May. The picture is presumed to have been stolen from a private collection;
sense perception (feel, hear, see, watch, notice, observe, and also find, discover in the meaning ‘evidence’): He was seen to be talking to somebody by the fence. Tom was never heard to mention his name;
causation (inducement) (force, make, cause, order): They were made to wait in silence. The generals were made to sign the treaty. The circumstances were such that he was caused to stay here longer than he intended to.
Note how suppose has two different meanings in He is supposed to be at work at the moment: ‘People think he is at work’ or ‘It is his duty to be at work’.
Exercises
Ex.1. READ the sentences, STATE the type of the predicative complex with the infinitive. TRANSLATE into Russian.
1. I was asleep and didn’t hear them leave. 2. What should I do for you to forgive me? 3. Buttonwood Street was a lovely place for a boy to live. 4. The day before the inquest a locked drawer in Mr. Waldron's dressing-room table containing some valuable jewelry was discovered to have been opened and emptied. 5. Would you like me to help you about the house? 6. Shall I organize it for you to be met at the airport? 7. Agnes Lockwood was rumored to be by some years younger than the Countess. 8. But the performance was resuming, and she was forced to seem to restore her attention to the orchestra and look straight forward. 9. Do you know him to be a very reliable person? 10. I was waiting for his question to be answered by the speaker. 11. In the evening, as Marianne was discovered to be musical, she was invited to play. 12. I won’t have you talk like this. 13. This story was presumed to be released by Hollywood movie-makers so that to add some intrigue to the matter. 14. “The time has come for us to part.” 15. I thought he seemed anxious for me to join him. 16. I saw him go white at her words. 17. They were known to have been school pals. 18. Her personal beauty was claimed to have excelled all competitors. 19. The thing for us to do is just to do our duty, and not worry about whether anybody sees us do it or not. 20. The English usually prefer their tea to be white. 21. The time available in the test was not nearly long enough for bacteria to appear. 22. Suddenly I felt the earth move under my feet. 23. He was described to be a cool, calm man of steel, with a cold and calculating grey eye, “piercing as an eagle’s”.
Ex.2. USE Complex Object with the Infinitive to paraphrase the sentences with object clauses.
1. I didn’t expect that you would come so soon. 2. Can we confide in her? Do you think she is reliable? 3. She found that it was rather hard to forget that unpleasant conversation. 4. Everyone hates it when children speak like grown-up people. 5. He likes it when his tea is strong and white. 6. Martin noticed that the expression of her eyes had suddenly saddened. 7. I felt that my left arm went suddenly numb. 8. Everyone knows that he once was an outstanding athlete. 9. Everybody knows that the Earth was hot in the past and eventually grew cooler. 10. My mother only wishes that we should be a happy couple. 11. We did not expect that a sightseeing tour would be five hours long. 12. He knew that Nicole used to be an ice-dancer before. 13. I believe Ron is hardly fitting such demanding job as this.
Ex.3. CONSTRUCT sentences with complex object using the objects and infinitives in parentheses.
1. Your enthusiasm makes (I, to feel) young again. 2. I did not mean (he, to follow) the instructions so blindly. 3. We don’t think the producer intended (the scene, to play) like that. 4. I know (the man, to be a star boxer) in his younger days. 5. The doctor ordered (the ward, to air). 6. He had a desire to let (life, go on) as though nothing had changed. 7. I will not allow (myself, to tempt) into telling anybody of my intentions. 8. I won’t have (anybody, to think) ill of her. 9. Mother used to watch (we, to play) football; I wonder now whom she backed. 10. I got (they, to take) me to town in their car. 11. They must be thankful for your advice – I believe (it, to do) them a lot of good. 12. I would like (Nancy, to inform) you about the next committee session.
Ex.4. USE the For-Complex instead of the subordinate clauses. STATE the functions of the for-phrases.
1. He waited that I should declare that I quite understood that he admitted nothing. 2. I wanted this waiting over with and that we should be out in the world as soon as possible. 3. “Please would you tell me,” said Alice, a little timidly, for she was not quite sure whether it was good manners if she spoke first, “why your cat grins like that?” 4. And I can’t live with him! It’s a torture when I see him. 5. Well, can I be present at the meeting? 6. There is nothing else I can do. 7. It’s not good manners if I invite him. 8. He was a long way down the sunny street, and was making expressive gestures that I had to stop. 9. “Either they are all asleep or perhaps they have heard me coming and are waiting that I will open the door. I’d better knock first,” and he knocked. 10. Why reckon the days? One day is enough so that a man should know all happiness. 11. I think that you have no need to inquire about that, nor I to answer you, for that’s my own affair. 12. He held the gate a little way open so that I was able to pass in. 13. You have tortured me so deliberately that I am unable to forgive you at this moment. 14. And then I looked at the stars, and considered how awful it would be if a man turned his face up to them and saw no help or pity.
Ex.5. ADD infinitives to complete for-phrases in the sentences.
1. The game is suitable for (the whole family) …. 2. There is no any pasta for (I) …. 3. The weather is too bad for (we) …. 4. I’m so bored. There is nothing for (I) …. 5. Money is something for (a man) … . 6. There were too many cars in the car park for (he) …. 7. Katherine decided that for (she) …. would be too hard. 8. I know it’s hard for (you) …, but he is in an extraordinary humour today. 9. The most important thing is for (the King) …. 10. It was a big mistake for (Gregory) …. 11. My bookshelves are packed and I will soon need more room for (textbooks) … . 12. They asked for (the papers) …. 13. It might be rather amusing for (twins) … . 14. I knew it would take time for (they) …. 15. For (I) …. was deathlike.
Ex.6. RECONSTRUCT the sentences using the Complex Subject construction.
Model: It is reported that the delegation has left London.
à The delegation is reported to have left London.
1. It is known that he has a large collection of pictures. 2. It can be expected that the weather will improve soon. 3. It is said that the expedition has reached the Rocky Mountains. 4. It may be said that the new theatre is the most beautiful building in the town. 5. It is expected that many people will attend the meeting. 6. It can’t be considered that the results of the experiment are bad. 7. It is considered that this school is the best in the district. 8. It was mentioned that all conference participants are invited to the tour around the city. 9. It can’t be expected that Manchester United will win. 10. It is said that there are many difficulties in solving this problem. 11. It was reported that the ship had arrived in Southampton. 12. It was proved that the man was a secret agent of another country. 13. It is said Jane knows what there is to know about chimpanzees. 14. It is claimed that homeopathic remedies are very effective.
Ex.7. TRANSLATE the sentences, using Complex Object with the Infinitive or a subordinate clause according to the verb meaning. MIND that complex object structure is not used if the verbs see, hear and feel are used to denote cognition and not sense perception.
1. Я увидел, как все посмотрели вверх, и почувствовал, что что-то случилось. 2. Вы слышали, что они уже вернулись? 3. Я слышал, что профессор уже неделю болен. 4. Я видел, что ему не хочется говорить на эту тему. 5. Когда я садился в поезд, я почувствовал, как кто-то потянул меня за пальто (pull at). 6. Я видел, что он попытался завести машину. 7. Я вижу, что вы довольны подарком. 8. Мы чувствовали, что ему не нравится его работа. 9. После захода солнца мы почувствовали, что температура начала падать. 10. Она слышала, как кто-то упомянул мое имя. 11. Мы чувствовали, что он ничего не решил. 12. Кейт уже приехала? Мы слышали, она должна вернуться.
Ex.8. TRANSLATE the sentences into English using the predicative constructions with infinitives, where possible.
А. 1. Машина шла слишком быстро, чтобы я смог рассмотреть лицо водителя. 2. Мне здесь больше нечего делать. 3. Я был слишком расстроен, чтобы мама этого не заметила. 4. Ничто не заставит меня изменить свое решение. 5. Родители всегда хотят, чтобы их дети были здоровыми. 6. Я услышал, как они поссорились, а потом помирились. 7. Все говорят, что он лучший специалист в нашем городе. 8. Я слышал, что космический корабль приземлился в заданном районе. 9. Она говорила достаточно громко, чтобы все могли её слышать. 10. Я слышал, что они поссорились на прошлой неделе. 11. Предполагалось, что мы встретимся возле входа в парк. 12. Полагают, что новый губернатор будет более влиятельным политиком.
Б. 1. Воспоминания о разрыве с Генри были настолько мучительными, что Джейн старалась с головой погрузиться в работу и не думать о нем. 2. Я заметил, что он перебежал улицу напротив магазина одежды. 3. Вам вредно столько курить. 4. Известно, что Джек Лондон был очень трудолюбивым и настойчивым человеком. 5. Вы думаете, мне легко отказаться от этой мысли? 6. Нам будет полезно отдохнуть. 7. Мы все с нетерпением ждали, когда он договорит. 8. Мама испекла пирог, чтобы мы его съели за ужином. 9. Вы слышали, как открылась дверь, и кто-то вошел в комнату? 10. Ему сейчас некогда с вами разговаривать. 11. Видели, как он открыл шкаф и вынул какие-то папки. 12. Вы когда-нибудь видели, чтобы он так поступал?
Ex.9. PRACTICE written translation: TRANSLATE into Russian a short abstract from a Sherlock Holmes story by sir A. Conan Doyle. MIND the use of the For-Complex.
“Again, it is unusual for burglars to operate at so early an hour, it is unusual for burglars to strike a lady to prevent her screaming, it is unusual for them to commit murder when their numbers are sufficient to overpower one man, it is unusual for them to be content with a limited plunder when there was much more within their reach, and finally, I should say, that it was very unusual for such men to leave a bottle half empty. How do all these unusuals strike you, Watson?”