SEMINAR 3 Infinitive clauses

Exercise 1.

Rewrite the following sentences using a passive verb with a complex infinitive

e.g. They said that the cabbages are growing fast.

The cabbages are said to be growing fast.

1. They said that the roses were growing very well.

2. They reported that the paintings had been stolen.
3. We believe that they are selling their estate.
4. The doctors thought that the patients were better.
5. We knew that Jim had been working in the company for a long time.
6. People assumed that the crash has taken place three days before.
7. No one is to repeat this story.
8. They say that he has been living in this house for 5 months.
9. We knew that he had visited Paris last week.

Exercise 2
Identify the infinitive clause in the sentences below and decide on its function
(subject, direct object, preopositional object, subject complement,attributive).
e.g. They gratified his desire to know more – to know more attributive
1. To have done it properly would have meant a lot to them.
2. It would have been difficult to solve that problem.
3. To go there would have been wrong.
4. To go there would have been to concede.
5. The only way is to find the money.
6. I know how to do it.
7. She was amazed to see the building.
8. She consented to stay for three more days.
9. He has not given up his wish to visit Thailand.
10. It is hard to understand them.
Exercise 3

Rewrite the following sentences, reducing in each one a finite clause to a to-infinitive clause:

e.g It would have been wrong if we had left the city.

It would have been wrong to have left the city.

1. It would be a mistake to buy the flat.

2. She is uncertain what she is going to say.
3. The dilemma was wheter we should ask for more or not.
4. His decision, that he should leave everything behind was met with oppposition.
5. Some people never know when they should refuse something.
6. When you listen to Jane, you would be tempted to fully trust her.
7. There is only one way in which we can help.

Exercises 4
Write what function the infinitive clause fulfills in the sentence and what is the subject
of the infinitive clause:
e.g. I told John to go. John to go – infinitive clause in direct object position, subject of
to go John.
1. I expect to arrive home this evening.
2. I expect John to arrive home this evening.
3. I promise you not to lie again.
4. The plan is for them to have dinner out tonight.
5. The plan for them to have dinner out tonight was a mistake.
6. To speak in front of a large audience can be a tough experience.
7. For Tom to speak in front of a such a large audience was a rough experience.

Exercise 5
Fill each of the gaps in the sentences below with a correct form of the verb in bold and
another verb of your own choice:
e.g. He once met Chomsky, who ….on the same plane as him. Happen
He once met Chomsky, who happened to be on the same plane as him.
1. It was my aunt who….her…acting. INSPIRE
2. My teacher ….. us…for University. ENCOURAGE
3. However, most of us….. a year off. DECIDE
4. This …. a wrong choice. PROVE
5. I was given jobs in several bars because I…… as a professional bartender before.
CLAIM

EXERCISE 6
Fill each of the blanks with a suitable word

e.g. New measures to reduce traffic jams … to … passed next month.

New measures to reduce traffic jams ARE to BE passed next month
1. They …. strongly advised… leave the building.
2. They are believed … have …..paid more than half a milllion for the house.
3. It’s too late now; there’s nothing else….be…
4. There are (1)…. (2). (3)…. (4)…no survivors from the crash.

Sources
Broughton, G. 1990. Penguin English Grammar A-Z Exrecises for Advanced
Students. London: Penguin
Cloze, R,A. 1989. A University Grammar of English. Workbook. Harlow: Longman
Side, R. G. Wellman. 2002. Grammar and Vocabulary for Cambridge Advanced and
Proficiency. Harlow: Longman.