Predicative Constructions that Function as Objects

A predicative complex is a syntactical unit intermediate between a phrase and a clause. It consists of two parts, the first denotes the doer of the action and the second one denotes the action itself. The first part of the predicative complex may be either a noun or a pronoun and is called a nominal part. The second part may be an infinitive, a participle, a gerund, an adjective, an adverb or a noun and is called a verbal part.

The for-to-infinitive construction is a predicative complex in which the nominal part is introduced by the preposition for, while the verbal part is an infinitive with the particle to. The construction can be used as an indirect object of certain verbs (ask, watch, etc.) and adjectives (anxious, eager, impatient, sorry, willing):

I watched for him to appear through the bushes.

Everybody was impatient for the experiment to begin.

The gerundial construction is a predicative complex with the predicate part expressed by a gerund. It may be either a direct or an indirect object in the sentence:

She liked his worrying about his wife.

He insisted on my claims being acknowledged.

The following predicative constructions can perform the function of an object only.

The objective with the infinitive construction may combine with a wide range of verbs and is usually used as a direct object, though it may also occur in the function of an indirect object.

Verbs which may take the objective with the infinitive construction as a direct object:

a) and require the infinitive with the particle to:

― verbs of wish and intention (wish, want, desire, choose, prefer, should / would like, intend, mean, etc.): I did not mean it to be told to her;

― verbs of attitude (like, dislike, love, hate, cannot bear, etc.): I can’t bear people to be unhappy or upset;

― verbs of mental activity (think, suppose, consider, believe, know, find, expect, imagine, understand, assume, acknowledge, feel, trust, etc.): I supposed him to have been marriedto her years ago;

― verbs of declaring (declare, report, pronounce, etc.): Everybody pronounced him to be a complete failure;

― verbs of inducement (order, command, ask, allow, etc.): She would not allow the life of the child to be risked;

b) and require the bare infinitive (the infinitive without to):

― verbs of sense perception (see, hear, feel, observe, notice, etc.): We saw planes zoom into the air;

― the verbs let, make: She made him cry.

The objective with Participle I construction can be used with:

― verbs of sense perception: There we saw the crocodiles swimming about;

― the causative verbs have and get: He got them running his errands every day.

The objective with Participle II construction can be attached to verbs of four semantic groups:

― verbs of sense perception: I heard my name called;

― verbs of mental activity (think, believe, consider, remember): At first she thought Johnny killed;

― verbs of wish: Nobody wanted it done in such a way;

― the causative verbs have and get: I would like to have my hair cut.

The objective construction with non-verbals can be attached to:

― verbs of mental activity and sense perception: I thought it a wonderful opportunity;

― causative verbs: All this made her angry.

THE ATTRIBUTE

The Attribute is a secondary part of the sentence which refers to a noun or another word of nominal nature (pronouns, substitute words), thus forming a nominal phrase with its headword.

Like any part of the sentence, from the point of view of its structure the attribute can be expressed by:

a) a single word-form (synthetic and analytical):

The sand glittered like whitesugar in the sun.

She is a more beautiful girl.

b) a phrase:

It was a letter from his devoted friend.

c) a predicative complex. There are two predicative complexes that can function as an attribute ― the For-to-Infinitive Construction and the Gerundial Predicative Complex:

This is a lesson for you to remember for the rest of your life.

He is just the man for you to consult.

I am the cause for your going away.

There were no signs of his supporting us.

d) a clause:

He is the man I am particularly fond of.

I know a place around the corner where we can have a cup of strong coffee.

From the point of view to their connection with the headword and other parts of the sentence, attributes may be divided into:

a)non-detached (close) attributes.Non-detached attributes form one sense group with their headword and are not separated form it by commas:

The ladies present were shocked.

I haven’t got time to spare.

Her walkingshoes were elegant.

Non-detached premodifying attributes may be unextended, consisting of one word only, or form chains of homogeneous attributes with identical reference. Attributes with identical reference are usually interchangeable and are set off by commas or joined by a conjunction:

There were yellow, white, and crimson flowers in the garden.

If attributes form a string with different reference (in which case their order is fixed) no commas are required:

We saw a large black and white hunting dog there.

b) detached (loose) attributes:

And for a moment I hesitated, unable to start talking.

Detached attributes are separated by commas. They are loosely connected with the headword and are often optional from the point of view of structure, although very important semantically.

From the point of view of the position of attributes in the nominal phrase, they may be:

a) premodifying (i.e. preceding the noun they modify):

She is a pretty girl.

b) postmodifying (i.e. following the item they modify):

The people involvedwere reported to the police.

He would not run the risk of being too late.

The position of an attribute depends on the following factors:

1. The morphological nature of the attribute. Adjectives, Participle I, nouns, ordinal numerals and quotation nouns generally premodify the headword (a little man, riding clothes, apple trees, a child’s language, the third attempt, “a-place-for-everything-and-everything-in-its-place” kitchen).

Adverbs, statives, cardinal numerals and infinitives are generally postmodifying attributes (the woman upstairs, the child asleep, page five, money to spend).

2. Attributes are used in postposition in some fixed phrases, in several institutionalized expressions (mostly in official designations): the president elect, attorney general, proof positive, court martial, Poet Laureate, time immemorial

3. A few adjectives have special meanings when they occur after the noun. Compare:

the present members (= those who are members now)

the members present(=those who are present here, not absent)

I think the picture would look better on the opposite wall.

I noticed that the man opposite was staring at me.

Janet is a responsible girl.

The girl responsible has been expelled.

4. The extension of the attribute. Non-detached attributes are postmodifying when expressed by extended phrases or complexes. Compare:

It is a sensiblesuggestion.

It is a suggestion sensible in many ways.

He found himself in a difficultsituation.

He found himself in a situation difficult from his point of view.

We are looking for skilledpeople.

We are looking for people skilled at design.

5. Sometimes the headword is embedded between parts of the attribute. This happens with different, similar, the same, next, last, first, second, etc.; comparatives and superlatives; and a few other adjectives like difficult and easy.

a different life from this one

the best mother in the world

the next house to the hotel

the best man available

the simplestway out possible

THE APPOSITION

The apposition is a peculiar attribute expressed by a noun or nominal phrase and referring to another noun, nominal phrase, or a clause. The apposition may give another name to, or description of the person or non-person, or else put it in a certain class of persons or non-persons.

From the point of view of their relation to the headword, appositions are subdivided into two types:

a) non-detached appositions:

Sir Peter, Doctor Watson, Colonel Davidson, Mount Everest, etc.

Your friend George Lamb has just telephoned.

b) detached appositions:

Cooper was three inches taller than Mr. Warburton, a strong, muscular young man.

References to words, books, are often expressed in the appositive form: the word “geese”, the good ship “Venus”, the play “Romeo and Juliet”.

Date: 2015-12-18; view: 1152