Infinitive Constructions

In ME we find the following predicative constructions with the infinitive:

1) The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction;

2) The Subjective Infinitive Construction;

3) The for-to-Infinitive Construction.

The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction (Accusative with the Infinitive).
The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is a construction in which the infinitive is in predicate relation to a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the objective case. In the sentence this construction has the function of a complex object.

In translating the Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction into Russian we nearly always use a subordinate clause.

Ex.: I see the boy run.

The Use of the Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction

1. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs denoting sense perception, such as to hear, to see, to watch, to feel, to observe, to notice, etc.

Ex.: I saw Brown enter the room. (Braine)

After verbs of sense perception only the Indefinite Infinitive Active is used. If the meaning is passive we use Participle two.

Ex.: I saw the fire slowly conquered. (Collins)

If a process is expressed Participle one Indefinite Active is used.

Ex.: He saw Fleur coming. (Galsworthy)

* the verb to see is followed by a clause when it means ‘to understand’.

Ex.: I saw that he did not realize the danger.

After the verbs to see and to notice this construction is not used with the verb to be, a subordinate clause is used in such cases.

Ex.: I saw he was pale.

2. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs denoting mental activity, such as to know, to think, to consider, to believe, to suppose, to expect, to imagine, to find, to feel, to trust.

Ex.: I believe him to have no conscience at all. (Hardy)

After verbs of mental activity the Perfect Infinitive is used but seldom.

Ex. : The doctor found his heart to have stopped two hours before. (Hardy)

With the verbs to think, to consider, to find the same idea can be expressed without an infinitive.

Ex.: Boldwood thought her beautiful. (Hardy)

3. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs of declaring, such as to report, to declare, to pronounce.

Ex.: They reported the plane to have landed.

4. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs denoting wish and intention: to want, to wish, to desire, to mean, to intend, to choose.

Ex.; I want you to come and dine with me. (Dickens)

5. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs and expressions denoting feeling and emotion: to like, to dislike, to love, to hate, cannot bear, etc.

Ex.: I can’t bear him to be separated from me.

6. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs denoting order and permission: to order, to allow, to let, to suffer, to have, etc.

Here we find The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction only if the object is expressed by a noun or pronoun denoting a lifeless thing or when the infinitive is passive (except to suffer, to have)

Ex.: Mr. Dombey suffered Florence to play with Paul.

Ex.: I didn’t allow the name to pass my lips.

Ex.: He ordered the picture to be carried away.

He ordered the secretary to bring the letters.

7. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs denoting compulsion: to make, to cause, to get, to have.

Ex.: She caused a telegram to be sent to him. (Galsworty).

8. Though the infinitive as a rule is not used with verbs requiring prepositions, the Objective with the Infinitive is widely used with the preposition for. Occasionally it occurs with the preposition on or upon.

Ex.: I rely on you to come in time.

The Subjective Infinitive Construction

The Subjective Infinitive Construction (also called the Nominative-with-the-Infinitive Construction) is a construction in which the infinitive is in predicate relation to a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the nominative case.

The peculiarity of this construction is that it does not serve as one part of the sentence: one of its component parts has the function of the subject, the other forms part of a compound verbal predicate.

Ex.: She is said to resemble her father.

The Use of the Subjective Infinitive Construction

It is used with the following groups of verbs in the Passive Voice:

1. With verbs denoting sense perception: to see, to hear:

Ex.: The rider was seen to disappear in the distance.

If a process is expressed Participle one Indefinite Active is used.

Ex.: Tess’s father was heard approaching at that moment. (Hardy)

2. With verbs denoting mental activity: to think, to consider, to know, to expect, to believe, to suppose.

Ex.: The manuscript is believed to have been written in the 15^th century.

3. With the verbs denoting inducement and compulsion to make, to let.

Ex.: He was allowed to enter the room.

4. Verbs of saying and reporting (to say, to report)

Ex.: The treaty is said to have been signed yesterday.

It is also used with the word-groups to be likely, to be sure, to be certain.

Ex.: This fire is certain to produce a panic in the morning. (Dreiser)

Compare: He is sure to come. Он обязательно придет.

He is sure of coming. Он уверен, что он придет.

The Subjective Infinitive Construction is used with the following pairs of synonyms: to seem and to appear, to happen and to chance; to prove and to turn out.

Ex.: The experiment proved to be a failure. (Collins)

The for-to-Infinitive Construction

The for-to-Infinitive Construction is a construction in which the infinitive is in predicate relation to a noun or a pronoun preceded by the preposition for.

This construction can have different functions in the sentence.

It can be:

1. Subject (often with the introductory it).

Ex.: I sometimes think it is a shame for people to spend so much money this way. (Dreiser)

2. Predicative.

Ex.: That was for him to find out.

3. Complex object.

Ex.: He waited for her to speak.

4. Attribute.

There was really nothing for him to do but what he had done. (Dreiser)

5.Adverbial modifier.

a) of purpose.

Ex.: He stepped aside for me to pass.(Du Maurier)

b) of result.

He spoke loud enough for you to hear.

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 2558