The use of the Subjective Infinitive Construction

The Subjective Infinitive Construction

The Subjective Infinitive Construction is a construction in which the Infinitive is 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 subject, the other forms part of a compound verbal predicate.

Edith is said to resemble me.

The Subjective Infinitive Construction 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 herd to laugh heartily.

The rider was seen to disappear in the distance.

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

He was thought to be the honest and kindly.

My father… was considered by many to be a great man.

Phillip Bosinney was known to be a young man with without fortune.

3. With the verb to make.

Little Abraham was aroused … and made to put on his clothes.

4. With 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.

From this example we can see that in translation sentences containing the Subjective Infinitive Construction after verbs in the Passive Voice a complex sentence is mostly used: its principle clause is of the type which in Ukrainian syntax is called “indefinite personal”

After verbs in the Passive Voice the Subjective Infinitive Construction is more characteristic of literary than colloquial style, except with the verbs to suppose, to expect, to make; with these verbs the Subjective Infinitive can be found in fiction and in colloquial language.

The Subjective Infinitive Construction is used with the word-groups to be likely, to be sure, and to be certain.

The parish is not likely to quarrel with for the right to keep the child.

But he is sure to marry her.

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.

They seemed to have quite forgotten him already.

Her eyes appeared always to gaze beyond, and far beyond.

Only yesterday, we happened to see Soames Forsyte.

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.

In translating this construction into Russian a subordinate clause or an infinitive is used.

The construction can have different functions in the sentence.

It can be:

1. Subject (often with the introductory it)

For me to ask would be treason, and for me to be told would be treason.

I sometimes think it is a shame for people to spend so much money this way

2. Predicative

That was for him to find out.

2. Complex Object.

He waited for her to speak.

He asked for the papers to be brought.

3. Attribute.

The best thing for you to do is to bide here with your load.

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

4. Adverbial modifier of purpose

Here’s the thermometer: they’ve left it for the doctor to see instead of shaking it down.

c) of result

The pleasure of accompanying you was too great a temptation for me to resist.

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