Grammar Lab:�Complex Subject��

Ludmila Zharikova

Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University

Інститут

післядипломної освіти

The Subjective-with-the Infinitive Construction

• Subject + predicate + infinitive
• Edith is said to resemble me. Complex Subject

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• Кажуть, що Едіт схожа на мене.
• It is used with the verbs of sense perception, mental activity, order, request, permission, declaring, compulsion (make) – in the Passive Voice; seem, appear, happen, prove, turn out, chance, word-groups to be likely, to be sure, to be un/certain – in the Active Voice.
• We chanced to meet Mark yesterday.
• Ми мали нагоду познайомитися з Марком учора.

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Complex Subject in Use

• After the verbs to seem, to appear, to prove the link-verb to be is often omitted:
• He seems clever.

�The full infinitive is always used in Complex Subject.

(Don’t forget that let is never used in passive, it’s replaced with allow)

Complex Subject Practice

• The public do not walk on the grass. (to expect)
• The public is expected not to walk on the grass.
• It is a mistake. (to believe)
• It is believed to be a mistake.
• The boy is a liar. (to know)
• The boy is known to be a liar.
• We don’t play tennis in winter. (to suppose)
• We are not supposed to play tennis in winter.
• He is a good singer. (to say)
• He is said to be a good singer.

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Complex Subject Practice

• You are very punctual. (to expect)

You are expected to be very punctual.

• The plane reached the USA on time. (to report)

The plane was reported to reach the USA on time.

• The actor is very talented. (to believe)

The actor is believed to be very talented.

• The theatre will go abroad next summer. (to announce)

The theatre is announced to go abroad next summer.

• He rewrote the article once more. (to make)

He was made to rewrite the article once more.

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Complex Subject Practice

• Nobody ever knew him to lose his temper.

He was never known to lose his temper.

• It so happened that I was out of town at the time.

I happened to be out of town at the time.

• We made him withdraw his order.

He was made to withdraw his order.

• It seems that it is improbable.

It seems (to be) improbable.

• He by chance knew the answer to the quiz.

He chanced to know the answer to the quiz.

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Complex Subject Practice

• The doctor didn’t let us visit the patient.

We weren’t allowed to visit the patient.

• Probably he will be here.

He is likely to be here.

• He obviously enjoyed the concert.

He was sure to enjoy the concert.

• I didn’t mean you to hear this.

You weren’t meant to hear this.

• Seemingly they didn’t notice it.

They are unlikely to notice it.

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Complex Subject Practice

• Відомо, що він гарний студент.
• Пітера примусили перевдягнутися.
• Він обов’язково прийде.
• Вчора ми випадково зустріли Тесс.
• Всі вони виявилися гарними акторами.
• Пітер навряд чи повернеться сьогодні.
• Повідомляють, що делегація прибула до Києва.
• Співачку примусили повторити пісню.
• Його книга, без сумніву, буде надрукована.
• Кажуть, що ці будинки були зведені у ХV столітті.

Contact us

• l.zharikova@kubg.edu.ua

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