The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction

Infinitive constructions.

In Modern English we find the following predicative constructions with the infinitive:

(1) the Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction;

(2) the Subjective Infinitive Construction;

(3) the for-to- Infinitive Construction.

The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction.

The Objective with the Infinitive is a construction in which the infinitive is in predicate relation to a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the objective case. In the sentence this construction has the function of a complex object.

In translating the Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction into Russian we nearly always use a subordinate clause.

He’s a wonderful teacher and I’ve never seen him lose his temper or get angry about anything. (Wilson)

Он замечательный учитель, и я никогда не видел, чтобы он вышел из себя или рассердился из-за чего-нибудь.

THE USE OF THE OBJECTIVE-WITH-THE-INFINITIVE CONSTRUCTION

1. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs denoting sense perception, such as to hear, to see, to watch, to feel, to observe, to notice, etc.

I haven’t heard anyone call me. (Wilde) Я не слышал, чтобы кто-нибудь меня звал.

After verbs of sense perception only the Indefinite Infinitive Active is used. If the meaning is passive we use Participle II.

2. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs denoting mental activity, such as to know, to think, to consider, to believe, to suppose, to expect, to imagine, to find, to feel, to trust, etc.

After verbs of mental activity in the Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction the verb to be is generally used. The use of this construction after most verbs of mental activity is more characteristic of literary than of colloquial style.

I believe him to have no conscience at all. (Hardy) Я считаю, что у него совершенно нет совести.

Everybody expected her to marry Pete. (Caine) Все ожидали, что она выйдет замуж за Пита.

3. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs of declaring: to pronounce, to declare, to report. The surgeon pronounced the wound to be a slight one. Врач сказал, что рана легкая.

4. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs denoting wish and intention: to want, to wish, to desire, to mean, to intend, to choose (in the meaning of ‘хотеть’).

I want you to come and dine with me. (Dickens) Я хочу, чтобы вы пришли пообедать со мной.

5. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs and expressions denoting feeling and emotion: to like, to dislike, to love, to hate, cannot bear, etc.

I dislike you to talk like that. Я не люблю, когда вы так говорите.

6. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs denoting order and permission: to order, to allow, to suffer, to have etc.This restriction does not apply to the verbs to suffer and to have.

Mr. Merdle ordered his carriage to be ready early in the morning. Мистер Мердль приказал, чтобы экипаж был готов рано утром.

I won’t have you speak like it, dear Tess! (Hardy) Я не могу допустить, чтобы вы так говорили, милая Тэсс!

7. The Objective-with-the Infinitive Construction is used after verbs denoting compulsion: to make (in the meaning of ‘заставить’), to cause (in the meaning of ‘заставить’, ‘распорядиться’), to get (in the meaning of ‘добиться’), to have (in the meaning of ‘заставить; сказать чтобы’).

The noise caused her to awake. Or шума она проснулась (шум заставил ее проснуться).

1 cannot get her to finish her lessons. (A. Bronte) Я не могу добиться, чтобы она приготовила уроки.

8. Though the infinitive as a rule is not used with verbs requiring prepositions, Occasionally it occurs with the preposition on or upon (after the verb to rely):

I rely on you to come in time. Я рассчитываю, что вы придете вовремя.

The gerund, however, is also possible here.I rely on your coming in time. Я рассчитываю, что вы придете вовремя.