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The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction
This construction consists of a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the objective case and the infinitive (mostly Indefinite or Passive). It is always an object in the sentence.
| To see to hear to feel to watch (or any lexical equivalent of the verb of sense perception) | smb. do smth. |
| to let to make to have to get | smb. do smth. |
| to order to allow to forbid | smb. to do smth. smth. to be done |
| to like to prefer to want to know to like to expect (or any lexical equivalent of the verb of mental activity, wish or intention) | smb. to do smth |
E.g. I believe it to have been a mistake.
They reported the enemy to be ten miles away.
I want you to come along with us.
I hate you to be troubled.
I saw him get on the bus this morning.
What makes you think it was me?
Let him sit here if he wants.
The Subjective Infinitive Construction
The construction consists of a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the nominative case and any of the six forms of the infinitive. The construction is considered to be the subject of the sentence.
| smb | is was will be | seen heard expected told ordered asked allowed | to do smth to be done | ||
| smb | is was will be | known supposed believed considered | to do smth to be done to be doing smth to have done smth to have been done to have been doing smth | ||
| smb | is was will be | sure certain bound (not) likely | to do smth to be done to be doing smth to have done smth to have been done to have been doing smth | ||
| smb | seems, seemed, will seem appears, appeared, will appear happens, happened, will happen proved, will prove turned out, will turn out | to do smth to be done to be doing smth to have done smth to have been done to have been doing smth | |||
E.g. She was heard to laugh heartily.
He is supposed to have left.
He is said to be a good doctor.
He seems to notice nothing unusual.
The girl appeared to be everybody’s attention.
He is sure to come.
He was not likely to have made a mistake.
The for-to-Infinitive Construction
This construction consists of three elements: the prepositionfor, a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the objective case and an infinitive, mostly in its Indefinite, Passive or Continuous form. The construction has different syntactical functions in the sentence.
The Subject
| It | is was will be would be | hard easy good bad important impossible not | for smb for smth | to do smth to be doing smth to be done |
E.g. It will be best for her to go back home.
It’s easier for me to go out and buy new pair.
It’s silly for you to be asking me questions.
It is not for me to say so.
| It | is was will be | nice kind sensible silly stupid tactless | of smb | to do smth |
E.g. It was silly of you to ask that question.
It is kind of you to say so.
It will be very sensible of you to go there at once.
The Object
| to long to wait to arrange to mean to be anxious | for smb | to do smth | ||||
| to make to think to believe | it | difficult easy necessary important best | for smb | to do smth | ||
E.g. I’m anxious for you to succeed.
I have arranged for you to have a private room.
He did not mean for you to stay here.
Your attitude made it difficult for him to tell you the truth.
He thinks it best for you to stay here.
The Attribute
| somebody nothing anyone | for smb | to do smth |
| man thing time place | for smb | to do smth |
E.g. There is no one for the children to play with.
There is nothing for me to say.
It is not the right time for us to speak about it.
It was the only thing for me to do.
Date: 2015-12-24; view: 1069
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| Exercise 6. State the type of the objects in the following sentences. | | | The Adverbial Modifier of Purpose |