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The Objective Infinitive Construction
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(Complex Object)
| The Objective Infinitive Construction (Complex Object) consists of a nominal element (a noun in the Common case or a pronoun in the Objective case) and an Infinitive which is in predicate relation to the noun in the Common case or the pronoun in the Objective case. The whole construction forms a complex object of some verbs. It is rendered in Russian by anobject clause. The Objective Infinitive Construction (Complex Object) is used in the following cases: | ||||||||
| 1. | After verbs of sense perception: see, hear, feel, watch, observe, notice, etc. With these verbs only a bare non-perfect, non-continuous, active Infinitive is used. After these verbs the Infinitive indicates that we heard or saw the whole of the action or event, that’s why it is often translated into Russian by a verb in the past tense. | |||||||
| · I saw the man break the window. (I saw the complete act.) · I heard the dog bark. (I heard a dog give one bark.) | ||||||||
| 1.1. If the meaning is passive, Participle II is used. | ||||||||
| · She watched the work completed. | ||||||||
| 1.2. If the process is expressed Participle I is used | ||||||||
| · She watched them completing the work. | ||||||||
| Note: | If the verb see or notice is used with the meaning realize, or the verb hear with the meaning learn, the Objective Infinitive Construction cannot be used. In such cases a subordinate object clause is used. | |||||||
| · I saw (= realized)that he didn’t understand me. · I hear (= learn) that he lives In Khabarovsk again. | ||||||||
| 2. | After verbs of mental activity: think, believe, consider, expect, understand, suppose, find, etc. After these verbs the Infinitive may be used in any form though non-perfect forms are more frequent (always with the particle to). | |||||||
| · I thought him to be an excellent choice. · I believed her to be watching TV in the drawing room. | ||||||||
| Note: | After these verbs, however, the Objective Infinitive Construction is rather literary. These verbs are more often used with an object clause. | |||||||
| · I thought that he was an excellent choice. | ||||||||
| The Infinitive may be omitted when followed by an adjective (or sometimes a noun). | ||||||||
| · I think him ___ very clever and talented. · I believe her ___ a good friend. | ||||||||
| 3. | After verbs of feeling and emotion: like, love, hate, dislike, cannot bear, etc. | |||||||
| · She hated him to speak like that. · The child loved his mother to sing to him. · I can’t bear him to be separated from me. | ||||||||
| 4. | After verbs of wishandintention: want, wish, desire, intend, mean, etc. After these verbs only non-perfect forms of the Infinitive with the particle to are used. | |||||||
| · He wanted the fax to be sent today. · She only wished you to be near him. | ||||||||
| 5. | After verbs of declaring: declare, report, pronounce, etc. | |||||||
| · I declare you to be out of your mind. · They reported the plane to have landed. | ||||||||
| 6. | After verbs of inducement: have, make, force, cause, get, etc. of which the first two take a bare Infinitive. In the Construction some of them acquire a different meaning: make - заставить, get - добиться, have – заставить, сказать чтобы… | |||||||
| · I hope you’ll have him ___ sign the papers. · Beauty makes the world ___ go round. · I can’t get him to do it properly. | ||||||||
| 7. | After verbs of order or permission: let, allow, order, tell, ask, suffer, etc. | |||||||
| · Poor old thing let her ___ enjoy her little illusion. | ||||||||
| Note: | With these verbs except suffer, tell and let we find the Objective Infinitive Construction only if its first part denotes a lifeless thing (expressed by a noun or a pronoun) or when the infinitive is passive. | |||||||
| · I didn’t allow the name to pass my lips. · The boss asked the letter to be delivered at once. | ||||||||
| If the object is expressed by a noun or a pronoun denoting a living being and the Infinitive is active, there are two direct objects and there is no Infinitive Construction. | ||||||||
| · He | ordered | the secretary | to bring the letters. | |||||
| Object 1 | Object 2 | |||||||
| 8. | After some verbs requiring a prepositional object: count on, look for, listen to, rely on, wait for. | |||||||
| · We counted on you to come and help us. · I waited for her to overcome her shyness. | ||||||||