Sunday 5 December 2021

Complex Subject

 


Noun/Pronoun + Predicate + Infinitive
The combination of a noun in the common case (or a pronoun in the nominative case) and an infinitive forms a complex subject.
The predicate which is usually expressed by a verb in the passive voice  is placed between the noun and the infinitive. The relation between the noun and the infinitive is that of subject and predicate.


The predicate in sentences with a complex subject can be expressed by:

1. The same verbs that can be followed by a complex object  (that is verbs of sense perception: to see, to hear…, verbs of mental activity: to know, to suppose…; verbs of inducement: to order, to cause, to allow…,). The verbs are used in the passive voice.

Patterns.
  1. He was supposed to bring this book from London. (Predicate is underlined.) 
  2. They are heard to have come from the South. 
  3. They were seen to go home together. This article is expected to be published next month.
2. verbs of saying: to say, to report, to announce... in the passive voice.

Patterns.
  1. The building of the new hostel is reported to be over
  2. He was said to be writing a new play.

3. the verbs to seem, to appear, to prove, to happen, to turn out, to chance  in the active voice. 
  1. The telephone happened to be out of order. 
  2. The young man proved to know everybody. 
  3. The house seems to have been damaged by the earthquake.
4. compound predicate: to be likely, to be unlikely, to be sure, to be certain, to be bound
  1. They are likely to return on Sunday. 
  2. Their team is certain to win. / Their team is bound to win
  3. He is sure to miss this train. 
  4. This house is likely to have been built many centuries ago.

Read the information above and make up 5 sentences with Complex Subject.

6 comments:

  1. 1.Jack doesn’t want you to make him work.
    2.I saw you talk to that boy in the street.
    3.He wants me to do my homework.
    4.He wants you to be ready by five o’clock.
    5.He didn't notice the child run away.

    ReplyDelete
  2. 1. This boy is told to know Spanish.
    2. Micke is sure to come to us.
    3. He seems to be happy
    4. My sister’s mood seems to have changed for the worse.
    5. The new film of this actor appeared to be very inter­est­ing.
    6. The lan­guage of the nov­el turned out to be quite easy.
    7. Julia is not like­ly to come on time tomor­row.
    8. If he con­tin­ues argu­ing, they are sure to fight

    ReplyDelete
  3. 1- His sister is told to be really charming
    2 - Alex turned out to be a very honest and descent men.
    3 - He is unlikely to finish the mending today.
    4 - I happened to have forgotten my workbook at home.
    5 - Moscow is known to be a great place to live.
    6 - Some students were noticed to cheat.
    7 - A girl happened to witness a burglary.
    8 - I am said to be a well-qualified teacher.

    ReplyDelete
  4. She is said to speak English fluently.
    Many people were reported to have become homeless after the flood.
    The company is expected to make profit this year.
    I was supposed to meet Ann at the station at 7.15, but I was late.
    Her mood seems to have changed for the worse.
    He is sure to come to the meeting.
    This film is sure to be a great success.
    She is not likely to come in time tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete
  5. 1) Henry was heard to talk some nonsense
    2)She was said to gain her weight again
    3)We are likely to win the competition
    4)This book seems to have an interesting article
    5)They are sure to miss that game
    6)I’m certain to win
    7)Amanda turned out to be honest with everyone
    8)This place is known to be the best in a country

    ReplyDelete
  6. 1.The tickets were supposed to be sold in the afternoon.
    2.She is known to live in France.
    3.The car was seen to disappear.
    4.They are likely to succeed.
    5.He seems to be sleeping.

    ReplyDelete

Angelina Jolie receives the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 2013 Governors Awards

  Watch the interview and answer the question: What problem does Angelina raise in her acceptance speech?