The SIC is used with the following groups of verbs in the Passive Voice:
1. With verbs denoting sense perception: to see, to hear etc.
Mr. Bob Sawyer was heard to laugh heartily. (Dickens)
, .
2. With verbs denoting mental activity: to think, to consider, to know, to expect, to believe, to suppose.
He was thought to be honest and kindly. (Dreiser)
.
3. With the verb to make.
Little Abraham was aroused... and made to put on his clothes... (Hardy)
.
4. With the verbs to say and to report.
The gods had given Irene dark-brown eyes and golden hair, which is said to be the mark of a weak character. (Galsworthy)
- , , , .
The Subjective Infinitive Construction is used with the word-groups to be likely, to be sure, and to be certain.
But he is sure to marry her. (Hardy)
() .
This fire is certain to produce a panic in the morning. (Dreiser)
() .
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 pronoun preceded by the preposition for.
The construction can have different functions in the sentence. It can be:
1. Subject (often with the introductory it).
I sometimes think it is a shame for people to spend so much money this way. (Dreiser)
, .
2. Predicative.
That was for him to find out. (Eliot) / .
3. Complex object.
He waited for her to speak. (Hardy) / , .
asked for the papers to be brought. / .
4. Attribute.
Theres nobody here for him to play with. (Hemingway)
, .
had even had a comfortable house for her (his niece) to live in. (Trll)
, .
5. Adverbial modifier :
(a) of purpose.
stepped aside for me to pass. (Du Maurier)
, , .
(b) of result.
spoke loud enough for you to hear.
, .
With the expressions to be sorry, to be glad the infinitive is used only if the subject of the sentence represents at the same time the doer of the action expressed by the infinitive.
I am glad to have seen you. (Dreiser)
20. Predicative constructions with the gerund.
Like all the verbals the gerund can form predicative constructions, i. e. constructions in which the verbal element expressed by the gerund is in predicate relation to the nominal element expressed by a noun or pronoun.
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I don't like your going off without any money. (Maltz) , .
Here the gerund going off is in predicate relation to the pronoun your, which denotes the doer of the action expressed by the gerund.
The nominal element of the construction can be expressed in different ways.
1. If it denotes a living being it may be expressed:
(a) by a noun in the genitive case or by a possessive pronoun.
Do you mind smoking? (Hardy)
, ?
(b) by a noun in the common case.
I have a distinct recollection of Lady Chilterri always getting the good conduct prize! (Wilde)
, .
Occasionally examples are found where the nominal element of the construction is expressed by a pronoun in the objective case.
I hope you will forgive me disturbing you. (Da Marnier)
, , .
2. If the nominal element of the construction denotes a lifeless thing, it is expressed by a noun in the common case (such nouns, as a rule, are not used in the genitive case) or by a possessive pronoun.
I said something about my clock being slow. (Du Maurier) , .
... Peggotty spoke of... my room, and of its being ready for me. (Dickens)
... ... , .
3. The nominal element of the construction can also be expressed by a pronoun which has no case distinctions, such as all, this, that, both, each, something.
I insist on both of them coming in time.
, .
Again Michael... was conscious of something deep and private stirring within himself. (Galsworthy)
, - .
A gerundial construction is nearly always rendered in Russian by a subordinate clause, generally introduced by , ; , ; , etc.
His being a foreigner, an ex-enemy was bad enough. (Aldington)
To, , , .
Her thoughts were interrupted at last, by the door opening gently. (Reade)
, .
Ibegan to picture to myself... my being- found dead in a day or two, under some hedge. (Dickens)
, - .
21. Predicative and absolute constructions with the participle.
The Objective Participial Construction is a construction in which the participle is in predicate relation to a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the objective case.
In the next berth she could hear her stepmother breathing heavily. (Hardy)
, 1 .
In the sentence this construction has the function of a complex object. It usually corresponds to a subordinate object clause in Russian.
The Objective Participial Construction may be found:
(a) after verbs denoting sense perception, such as to see, to hear, to feel, to find, etc.
Then he looked out of the window and saw clouds gathering. (Dreiser)
, .
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I heard my wife coming... (Conan Doyle)
She could feel her hands trembling exceedingly. (Hardy)
(b) after some verbs of mental activity, such as to consider, to understand.
I consider myself engaged to Herr Klesmer. (Eliot)
.
(c) after verbs denoting wish, such as to want, to wish, to de sire. In this case only Participle II is used.
The governor wants it done quick. (Bennett)
, .
(d) after the verbs to have and to get; after these verbs only Participle II is used.
I had my coat altered.
(. . - ).
... had several bottles of wine brought... (Dreiser)
... .
The Subjective Participial Construction.
The Subjective Participial Construction is a construction in which the participle (mostly Participle I) is in predicate relation to a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the nominative case, which is the subject of the sentence.
, : ', 䳺 .
Thehorse was seen descending the hill. (Hardy)
, .
Then Bathsheba's footsteps were heardcrossing the room. (Hardy)
, .
The Nominative Absolute Participial Construction.
The Nominative Absolute Participial Construction is a construction in which the participle stands in predicate relation to a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the nominative case; the noun or pronoun is not the subject of the sentence.
The door and window of the vacant room being open ,we looked in. (Dickens)
, .
In the Nominative Absolute Participial Construction Participle I (in all its forms) or Participle II is used.
It is used in the function of an adverbial modifier. It can be an adverbial modifier:
(a) of time.
The lamp having been lit, Mrs. Macallan produced her son's letter. (Collins)
, .
This duty completed, he had three months' leave. (Hardy)
, .
(b) of cause.
It being now pretty late, we took our candles and went upstairs(Dickens)
, .
() of attendant circumstances. .
In this function the Nom. Absolute Part. Cons. is mostly placed at the end of the sentence. In rendering it in Russian a coordinate clause or! is used.
(d) of condition. Inthis function the Nominative Absolute Participial Construction occurs but seldom and is almost exclusively used with the participles permitting and failing.
Weather (time, circumstances) permitting, we shall start tomorrow.
(, ) , .
Conciliation failing, force remains; but force failing, no further hope of conciliation is left.1
, ; , .
The Prepositional Absolute Participial Construction.
The Absolute Participial Construction may be introduced by the preposition with and is then called the Prepositional Absolute Participial Construction. It is in most cases used in the function of an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances.
This construction is rendered in Russian by a coordinate clause or .
They were walking on again, with Hugh calmly drawing athis pipe. (Lindsay)
; .
The daughter sat quite silent and still, with her eyes fixed on the ground. (Dickens)
, .
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22. Modal verbs (can, could, may, might). Meaning and use.
Can expresses:
1. Mental, physical, circumstantial ability ()
Can you lift the box?
2. Permission + . ()
You can go now.
3. Request ()
Can you do me a favour?
4. Prohibition + . ()
You cant cross the street here.
1. We use could|couldnt to describe general ability in the past.
But if we mean that someone managed to do smth in the particular situation, you have to use: Was|were able to do smth.
Was|were able to = managed ,
The nagative couldnt is possible in all situations.
2. We use could (do) in a number ways:
a) It is a past of can, expressing general ability in the past. ( )
b) Sometimes we use could to speak about possible future actions. In this case it has a present or a future meaning.
