17

очень огорчён тем, что произошло. 6. Его поведение на занятиях оставляет желать лучшего. 7. Короче говоря, он не сдал ни одного зачёта и провалился на экзамене. 8. Короче говоря, их вина не была доказана. 9. С тобой бесполезно спорить, ты очень упрям, мягко говоря. 10. По правде сказать, со мной этот номер не пройдёт! 11. Качество вашей работы оставляет желать лучшего. 12. На эту даму всегда приятно посмотреть: великолепная причёска, безупречный макияж, элегантный костюм. – Согласен, но у неё непростой характер, с ней трудно иметь дело.

Ex.24. Write a letter to your soulmate. Share your joys and sorrows with him/her (use infinitives and infinitive phrases):

Model: Dear Valeria,

To begin with, I’d like to thank you for your understanding and support. You were the first to give me a hand when I got into trouble. The photo I found in your letter is cool! You seem to have lost weight and become much more attractive than before! I know I should have answered earlier, but ….

Infinitive constructions For-to-infinitive construction

The preposition for may introduce the construction in which a noun (in the common case) or a pronoun (in the objective case) has an infinitive attached to it: The best thing will be for me to close up shop; This article is easy enough for you to translate (mind that the following sentence is wrong: *This article is easy enough for you to translate it).

The construction is used when the doer of the action (or the bearer of the state), expressed by the infinitive, is different from that of the predicate. Compare: I have closed the window not to catch cold. – I have closed the window for you not to catch cold.

In the sentence the for-to-infinitive construction performs the functions of subject, predicative, object, attribute, adverbial modifier of purpose and consequence and is generally rendered in Russian by a subordinate clause.

The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction (Complex Object)

This construction, in which the infinitive is in predicate relation to a noun (in the common case) or a pronoun (in the objective case), forms a complex object of some verbs. It is used in the following cases:

after verbs of sense perception (see, hear, feel, watch, observe, notice and some others) and the verb listen (to). The infinitive is used in the nonperfect common aspect active voice form without particle to:

They felt the boat shudder; I noticed him throw something into the wastebasket.

NB: the verbs to see, to notice in the meaning “to realize” and to hear in the meaning “to learn = to know” cannot be followed by this construction, only subordinate object clause is possible in this case:

18

Compare: I heard him come downstairs – I hear (= know) you have dropped the idea of changing the place of residence;

NB: after the verbs to see, to notice instead of the complex object with the infinitive to be we use a subordinate clause:

The inspector noticed that the parcel was torn;

after verbs of mental perception (know, think, suppose, believe, consider, expect, understand and some others). The infinitive is always used with the particle to:

I believed her to be examining a patient in the next room; I consider Jane (to be) an expert with her needle; We expect the contract to be abrogated tomorrow;

after verbs of emotion, wish and intention (like, love, hate, dislike, can’t bear, want, wish, desire, intend,mean, would like, would love). After these verbs non-perfect common aspect forms of the infinitive with the particleto are used:

The strikers wanted the head to satisfy their demands within a week; She hated her son to be separated from her;

after verbs of command, request, permission ( have, make, let, get, order, ask, command, cause, induce, allow, suffer (неохотно разрешить,

позволить скрепя сердце) and some others, of which the first three take a bare infinitive):

I cannot allow this matter to go any further; He asked for the file to be copied; I won’t have you speak like that!; I got the assistant to type all my papers.

The subjective-(or nominative)-with-the-infinitive construction (Complex Subject)

The subject of a sentence is sometimes expressed by a noun or a pronoun and an infinitive which follows the predicate. Although these two parts do not stand together they are closely connected and form one syntactic unit – a complex subject: The crew is reported to have landed safely.

Remember three common patterns with this construction:

Pattern A

noun/pronoun passive verb (predicate) to-infinitive

The verbs used in this pattern as predicate are verbs of sense perception (hear, see), verbs of saying and reporting and verbs of mental perception (say, report, announce, declare, state, rumour, acknowledge, allege, expect, know, suppose, think, understand, believe, consider):

She was seen to slap his face; The criminals are said to be hiding in the woods; The actress is rumoured to have been poisoned (Поговаривают, что актрису отравили).

Pattern B

noun/pronoun

active verb (predicate)

to-infinitive

Pattern C

noun/pronoun

19

The verbs used in this pattern are: seem/ appear; happen/ chance (случайно оказываться; случилось так, что …); turn out/ prove (after these two verbs the infinitive is mostly nominal, i.e. presented by to be + noun/ adjective):

They seem to have withdrawn their claim; I happened to see Jack on my way to work.

link verb + certain/ sure/ to-infinitive likely/ unlikely

Use this pattern to express your attitude towards the future or to talk about past possibility:

The resignation of the managing director is certain to arouse new fears about the future of the company; She’s likely to have had some sort of cosmetic surgery. She looks much younger; Clare is unlikely to take a hasty decision.

NB: She seems to know this rider.	They are likely to succeed.
(seem = give the idea or effect of	(likely = probable, expected)
being)	Кажется, у них всё получится.
Кажется, она знает этого наездника.

It’s possible to use there with appear andseem followed byto be or to havebeen:

There appears/ seems to have been a default on payment.

In order to make a negation you can use any of the structures below (the first one is more common in informal English):

These manufacturers don’t seem to know any eye-deceiving tricks. These manufacturers seem not to know any eye-deceiving tricks.

Absolute Infinitive Construction

It consists of a noun in the common case and an infinitive and is generally used in juridical texts and business documents:

The buyers ordered 90 cases of vegetable oil, delivery to be made in May (…

причём поставка должна была быть осуществлена в мае).

Ex.25. Define the syntactic functions of the for-to-infinitive constructions and translate the sentences into Russian:

1. It is necessary for the goods to be packed in strong cases. 2. They were waiting for the moon to rise. 3. He stepped aside for us to pass. 4. The water was too cold for the children to bathe. 5. It is an easy plan for us to fulfil. 6. It’s important for the children to learn to get on with each other. 7. Anna was a suitable child for the Smiths to adopt. 8. He had said enough for me to get alarmed. 9. For him to be so rude was unforgivable. 10. The doctor gave the patient anaesthetic for him not to feel such acute pain. 11. I bet it’s wrong for him to be entrusted with such a challenging task. 12. I was anxious for him to pick up a bargain at the sale.

20

Ex.26. Paraphrase or combine the sentences to get for-to-infinitive constructions.

Model: He doesn’t normally complain. → It’s unusual for him to complain. I’m enclosing a list of my proposals. You can consider them before our

next meeting. →I’m enclosing a list of my proposals for you to consider them …

1. Nowadays women often have managerial jobs. 2. Her suggestion was that the contract should be signed without any delay. 3. Crime, poverty and other problems should be dealt with. The world community is anxious. 4. Passengers should reserve seats on this train. 5. Rainforests should not be cut down. 6. They must get extra funding for the project. 7. Steve rarely went out to dinner. 8. I locked the door and took the phone off the hook. I didn’t want to be disturbed. 9. It is essential that we maintain high standards. 10. Her son is going to take swimming lessons. She has found a good coach (use arrange). 11. James sent his children to the village so that they could be safe there. 12. Can two blue-eyed parents produce a brown-eyed child? 13. He’s the expert you should consul with. 14. He proudly held out his trophy. He wanted us to admire it. 15. We’ve set a trap in our cellar. We expect the mice to get into it.

Ex.27. a) Paraphrase the following sentences using make, have, get, let.

1.The president told his advisors to arrange a press conference.

2.High temperatures can cause the motor to burn out.

3.The policemen forced the smuggler to give away his accomplices.

4.I’ll see to it that you don’t swear in front of the children.

5.I tried to persuade him to do scuba diving but it was all in vain.

6.You may stay up late just this once.

7.Why do you think you have a talent?

8.I hope Angela will persuade her husband to arrange a mortgage.

9.Mike’s parents got angry with him so he was not allowed to join us.

10.They caused me to wait for an hour before my suitcase came round on the conveyor belt.

11.The policeman told me to empty my pockets.

b) Make the sentences passive.

1. The leader made the rebels act violently. 2. He had the gardener mow the grass. 3. He got his son to take a seat in the first row. 4. The mediator had them sign the agreement. 5. I got Dick to help me with the computer software. 6. Tom made his son follow in his footsteps. 7. She let the applicant demonstrate all his skills. 8. I had John reduce the prices. 9. She had the assistant prepare all the financial reports. 10. I let him order some new articles of furniture.

Ex.28. a) Complete the answers using seem and an infinitive in the correct form.

						21
Model:		Vicky:		Have	Nick	and Jane got over their quarrel?
		Daniel:		I think so. They seem to have got over it.
1. Rita: Is Claire in love with Henry?
Sarah: Probably not. She					…	in love with him.
2.	Tom: Do Mike and Harriet really believe there’s life on Mars?
David: Well, yes. They …						there is.
3.	Victor: Has Olga’s English improved?
Emma: Yes,			…		quite a lot.
4.	David: Rita is keen on skateboarding, isn’t she?
Tom: I don’t think so. She					…	it much.
5.	Natasha:		Is Daniel working hard, do you think?
Rachel:		Yes, I think so. He			…	hard.
6.	Sarah: Has Trevor made a good job of those shelves?
Laura: Not really. He …						a very good job of them.

b) Open the brackets using the infinitive in the correct form. Underline the Complex Subject in each sentence.

1.Yesterday’s meeting appears … (hold) in a friendly and cordial atmosphere.

2.The new safety procedures have so far proved … (be) satisfactory. 3. She is unlikely … (remain) coolheaded in a crisis. 4. The constable chanced … (be) in the bank when the incident happened. 5. The burglar happened … (break) into the house when the police arrived. 6. She happened … (turn down) several offers of promotion. 7. Mark seems … (reach) a turning point in his career.

8.Our competitors … (still seem/ keep) the details of their new project a secret.

9.His affairs turned out … (be) in perfect order. 10. The radioactive material is likely … (release) during the fire yesterday. 11. We chanced … (wait) at a busstop when our workmate drove past. 12. Paul seemed … (run) – he was out of breath. 13. Gordon Allison is reported … (work on) a new program for workoriented immigrants these days. 14. Beethoven is known … (continue) writing music after he lost the ability to hear. 15. The scandalous novel is expected … (republish) in April. 16. She is certain … (not/ give) you any further information.

17.Several shoppers were alleged … (injure) by the explosion. 18. The rate of inflation appears … (fall) gradually since the beginning of the year.

Ex.29. Paraphrase the sentences using Complex Subject.

1. The inspector saw the car disappear in the tunnel. 2. Judy considers her cousin a perfect example to follow. 3. They heard the judge announce the verdict. 4. The heads of these states will no doubt discuss the burning issues again at the next conference. 5. We know that the goods sold under Contract № 20 were shipped on the 10th of June. 6. It seemed that Jack knew the subject inside out. 7. The government state that the price of flour has risen by 7.8 per cent. 8. It appears that the performance has made a great impression on the audience. 9. Probably this feature won’t be published in the local newspaper.

22

10. The organizers expect many people to attend the seminar for entrepreneurs.11. George might recover from the shock.

Ex.30. Complete the sentences using infinitive constructions.

1. Tina blew out the candle … 2. Did you notice one of your employees … 3. The manager had his subordinates … 4. The garden gate was heard … 5. There appears … . There’s a lot of debris everywhere. 6. Walter has a drinking problem. He doesn’t seem … 7. Oil prices are certain … 8. You have to pull on

the respirators	… 9. The lady turned out … 10.	I’ve	never heard the
receptionist …	11. She didn’t want her marriage plans	…	12. The lecturer
raised his hand	… 13. From the window we could see …		14. I spotted the

thief … 15. The shopkeeper felt … 16. The recruits are impatient (for) … 17. I consider this newsreader … 18. Modern TV channels are said …

Ex.31. Translate into English using infinitive constructions where possible.

1.Нам нет необходимости менять условия платежа и пересматривать

сроки поставки груза. 2. Нэнси увидела, что комплименты смутили его.

3. “Ветер, кажется, бушевал всю ночь”, – сказала хозяйка. 4. Наш посредник добился того, что конкуренты снизили цены. 5. Терпеть не могу, когда к старикам и детям плохо относятся. 6. Старик в лохмотьях стоял и ждал, когда откроется ломбард. 7. Фрукты недостаточно спелые, поэтому тебе не стоит их покупать. 8. Анна приготовила гостям чистое бельё и тёплую одежду, чтобы те могли согреться и хорошо выспаться. 9. Письма из дома были полны нежности и сочувствия: казалось, что всё прощено и забыто. 10. Почему вы решили (что вас заставило) бросить работу?

11.Первое, что я должен сделать, это выяснить, когда прибывает пароход.

12.Этот маленький странный человечек, казалось, читал мои мысли. 13. Это

предложение наверняка не будет встречено с энтузиазмом. 14. Известно, что он приезжал к ним на завод несколько раз в этом году. 15. Я почувствовал, как он положил руку мне на плечо. 16. Вы можете рассчитывать на то, что он представит точные данные. 17. Я слышала, ваш сын только что развёлся. 18. Мне бы очень не понравилось (hate), если бы коллеги разговаривали со мной таким тоном. 19. Я вижу, вы не верите в любовь с первого взгляда. 20. Натали услышала, как Майкл хлопнул (slam) дверью и заперся у себя в кабинете. 21. Вероятно, его отношение к спорту изменится после несчастного случая. 22. Говорят, что он был шпионом во время войны. 23. Ходили слухи, что председатель правительства болен тропической лихорадкой. 24. Не было ничего необычного в том, что праздничный обед закончился подобным образом. 25. Главный бухгалтер закрыл дверь, чтобы секретарь не услышал того, что он собирался рассказать мне. 26. Утверждали, что спасатель якобы отказался от вознаграждения. 27. Сообщают, что ситуация в регионе быстро ухудшается. 28. Она не позволила дочери заниматься фехтованием. 29. Мария неохотно разрешила Джорджу проводить её до остановки.