Predicative Constructions

with the Infinitive

Complex Object
and
Complex Subject
 COMPLEX OBJECT

I saw it

Jack crossed the street

 COMPLEX OBJECT
1st predication 2nd predication

I saw it
a predicative construction

saw Jack crossed the street

SB heard MY FRIEND/ HIM/HER DO STH
made

Noun in the Common case/ The Objective with

Pronoun in the Objective Case the Infinitive Construction
 COMPLEX SUBJECT
1st predication

2nd predication

a predicative construction
was seen
was heard
JACK/ MY FRIEND/ HE/ SHE is said TO DO STH
is likely
seems
Noun in the Common case/ The Nominative with
Pronoun in the Nominative Case the Infinitive Construction
 COMPLEX OBJECT is used after the
following verbs in the ACTIVE VOICE
• Verbs of sense perception:
e.g. No one has ever heard her cry. TO
• Verbs of permission and inducement:
to let, to have, to make, to bid
e.g. I made/ had/ let him do it.
to get, to force, to order, to induce, to allow…
e.g. I got/ forced/ ordered him to do it. TO
• Verbs of mental activity
e.g. I consider him to be an honest man.
• Verbs of declaring and reporting
e.g. He reported the boat to have been seen not far away.
• Verbs of wish and intention: want, wish, intend…
e.g. I want him to come to the office as soon as possible.
• Verbs of emotion: like, would like/love, can’t bear…
e.g. I can’t bear you to speak of that.
• Verbs requiring a prepositional object:
to count (up)on, to rely (up)on, wait for
e.g. I count/ rely on him to help me.
COMPLEX SUBJECT is used after the
following verbs in the PASSIVE VOICE
TO
• Verbs of sense perception:
e.g. She has never been seen to cry. TO
• Verbs of permission and inducement:
e.g. He was made/ allowed to do it.
e.g. He was forced/ ordered/ induced to do it.
• Verbs of mental activity
e.g. He is considered to be an honest man.
• Verbs of declaring and reporting
e.g. The boat was reported to have been seen there.
after the following verbs and__
expressions in the ACTIVE VOICE__
 Verbs expressing personal attitude: to seem, to
appear, to happen, to chance, to prove, to turn out
e.g. He seems to have unlimited possibilities.
 Modal phrases expressing different shades of
probability or certainty: to be (un)likely, to be sure,
to be certain, to be bound) e.g. He is sure to come.