THE SUBJECTIVE INFINITIVE CONSTRUCTION

The Subjective Infinitive Construction. consists of two parts: nominal + verbal:

He is said to be ninety.

The children seem to have arrived last week.

Nominal + Verbal

The verbal part of the construction (an infinitive or an infinitive phrase) is in the relation of secondary predication to the nominal part (a noun in the Common case or the personal pronoun in the Nominative case).

The Subjective Infinitive Construction performs the syntactical function of a complex subject.

USAGE:

2.1

The Subjective Infinitive Constructionis used with the verb-predicate in the Active voice, if the verb-predicate is expressed by the verbs: a) to seem = to appear = здаватися: She seems to be very sleepy today. b) to prove = to turn out = виявлятися: Theyturned outto be friends. c) to happen= to chance = траплятися: If you happen to pass a supermarket, perhaps you could get some eggs.

E.g.: Heseems to be a great athlete = (It seems that he is …)

He seemed to be a great athlete = (It seemed that he was …)

He seems to have been a great athlete = (It seems that he was …)

He seemed to have been a great athlete = (It seemed that he had been)

NOTE:

1)“Seem” can be used to talk both about objective facts and about subjective impressions and feelings: Milkseems to be sterilized.

2)“Seem” is often followed by “to be”: She doesn’t seem to be ready yet.

3) “Seem”, “appear” are copular verbs if they are followed by adjectives (not adverbs): You seem angry about something. He appears angry today.

4)“Appear” is rather more formal than “seem”.

5)“Seem” can be used in the structure with “can’t”. This is not possible with “appear”: I can’t seem to make him understand.

6)After “to appear”, “to happen”, and “to seem”all analytical forms of the infinitive are rather broadly used:I happened to be looking outof the window when they arrived. He seems to be following us. He appeared to have been running all the way. The man seemed to have come far off.

7) After the verbs ‘to prove” and “to turn out” the infinitival part is mostly expressed by the phrase “to be + noun/or adjective”: The night turned out to be cold.

2.2

The Subjective Infinitive Constructionis used with the verb-predicate in the Passive voice, if the verb-predicate is expressed by: a)verbs of saying: to announce, to declare, to report, to say, to state:She was announced to be the winner. He is said to have returned at last. b)verbs of mental activity: to believe, to consider, to expect, to find, to know, to mean, to presume, to regard, to suppose, to think, to understand: He is supposed to be quite rich. Sheis believed to have been born 58 years ago. c)verbs of sense perception: to feel, to hear, to see, to watch (The non-perfect Active Infinitive in the Common Aspect is used here): He was seen to come out of the house. d)the verb “to make”: He was made to tell them everything.

NOTE:

1)Be supposed to is rather used like should, to talk about what people have to do according to the rules or the law, or about what is expected to happen: You are supposed to start work at 8.30 every morning.

2) Be supposed to can express a contrast between what should happen and what actually happens: Catsare supposed to be afraid of dogs, but out Tibby has just chased Mr. Glidewell’s bulldog right down the road.

3)Not supposed to can refer to prohibitions. You’re not supposed to park on double yellow lines. People under eighteen aren’t supposed to buy alcoholic drinks.

2.3

The Subjective Infinitive Constructionis used with the phrases: “to be likely”, “to be unlikely”, “to be sure”, “to be certain” (In this case the non-perfect forms of the infinitive are used, with future reference): He is sure to become your friend. I’m likelyto be busy tomorrow.

Exercise 22. Define the Subjective Infinitive Construction:

1.He seems to be very intelligent. 2.They don’t seem to like their presents. 3.He seems to have missed the train. 4.This tyre is likely to burst. 5.We are supposed to leave now. 6.We were made to wait. 7.He has never been known to behave like that. 8.He is known to have been a spy. 9.He is considered to be a good officer.10.The expedition is reported to be moving north. 11.The computer is expected to save the scientists a lot of time. 12.The President is believed to be in London now. 13.She is supposed to be an experienced secretary. 14.This discovery is considered to be the result of a long and thorough investigation. 15.This man is said to be a good psychologist.

Exercise 23. Transform the following sentences, using the Subjective Infinitive Construction. Use the verbs given in brackets:

Pattern: History repeats itself. – History is known to repeat itself.

1.Leonardo da Vinci discovered and laid down immortal principles in the theory of art. (to know) 2.Leonardo da Vinci designed the first parachute. (to suppose) 3.Rapid expansion of industrialisation leads to an exhaustion of natural resources. (to believe) 4.Close cooperation between scientists and scientific institutions all over the world is one of the most striking characteristics of modern science. (to consider) 5.Charles Spencer Chaplin made more people laugh than any human being in the history of the world. (to know)

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 1888

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