(COMPLEX SUBJECT)
(the Nominative-with-the-lnfinitive Construction)
The Complex Subject consists of a noun/pronoun (in the nominative case) and the Infinitive. It is considered to be the subject of the sentence, its Russian equivalent is in most cases a subordinate clause.
□ Laser is known to be used in medicine.
, .
The Complex Subject is used with:
1. thefollowinaaroupsof verbs in the Passive: ♦ denoting sense perception: to see, to hear, to notice, etc. ♦ denoting mental activity: to think, to consider, to believe, to expect, to suppose, to know, etc. | 0 The carwas seen to disappear in the distance. , . □ She was heard to laughheartily. , . □ was thought to behonest and kind. . (, ...) □ is considered to have beenone of the most popular writers of his time. , . | ||
♦ the verbs: to say, to report | She is said to be workingat the factory. | ||
(), to order, | , . | ||
to ask, to allow, to state | □The delegation is reported to have leftMoscow. | ||
(), to announce | , | ||
(). | . | ||
2. word groups: to be likely | □ is unlikely to knowher address. | ||
(), to be unlikely | { ), | ||
(, ), | . | ||
to be certain/to be sure | □ is sure to be askedabout it. | ||
(, , | . | ||
, ). | |||
3. pairs of synonyms: | □ They seem to have quite forgottenus already. | ||
to seem/to appear (, | , , . | ||
-), to prove/to | □ The first experiment proved to bea success. | ||
turn out (), | . | ||
to happen/to chance | □ Only yesterday we happened to meetthe man. | ||
(). | |||
. | |||
Neaative forms: | |||
don't seem | □ doesn't seem to knowthis subject. | ||
doesn't prove + infinitive | , , . | ||
didn't happen | □ didn't prove to bea very experienced | ||
engineer. | |||
. | |||
□ didn't happen to bethere at that time. | |||
, | |||
. | |||
is/are not likely + infinitive | □ is not likely to cometoday. | ||
, , . | |||
NOTES:
1. The Infinitive in the Complex Subject is used in all its forms and expresses:
a) a simultaneous action
- is said to live in London.
|
|
, .
b) an action in progress
□ The water seems to be boiling. , .
c) an action prior to the action expressed by the finite verb
□ They are reported to have finished the construction. , .
2. The Infinitive in sentences with the Complex Subject cannot refer to the future except with the verbs and word-groups: to expect, to be sure/certain, to be likely. We are sure to come to the heart of the matter. .
□ He is expected to give us an answer tomorrow. , .
3. If the verbs to prove, to seem/to appear (, ) are followed by adjectives or nouns, the verb to be after them can be omitted.
□ She proved (to be) very clever. .
□ seems ill.
.
□ appears an experienced teacher.
.
COMPARE:
□ seems ill. □ seems to be ill.
. , , .
4. After the verbs in the Passive Voice the Complex Subject is more characteristic of a literary than a colloquial style, except with the verbs to suppose, to expect, to make.
PRACTICE