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The accusative with the infinitive constructions

The Accusative with the Infinitive (AWI) is a grammatical construction used


in English to express various meanings and functions. It involves the use of a verb
in the infinitive form preceded by the accusative case of a noun or pronoun. This
construction is commonly used in both written and spoken English and plays a
significant role in conveying complex ideas and actions.
The accusative with infinitive construction typically involves a noun or
pronoun (the accusative) followed by an infinitive verb. This construction often
follows verbs of perception (like "see," "hear"), reporting verbs (like "say,"
"claim"), or verbs of belief (like "think," "assume").
For example, after a verb of perception:
- "I saw him leave the room."
Or after a reporting verb:
- "She said him to be the best for the job."
The Accusative with the Infinitive (AWI) is a grammatical construction used
in English to express various meanings and functions. It involves the use of a verb
in the infinitive form preceded by the accusative case of a noun or pronoun. This
construction is commonly used in both written and spoken English and plays a
significant role in conveying complex ideas and actions.
The AWI construction is typically used to express actions or states that are
perceived, believed, or reported by someone else. It is often used in indirect
speech, where the speaker is relaying information or expressing someone else's
thoughts or opinions. This construction allows the speaker to distance themselves
from the statement and attribute it to another person.
For example:
- She believed him to be innocent.
In this sentence, the accusative pronoun "him" is followed by the infinitive
verb "to be." The construction indicates that the subject "she" believed that "he"
was innocent.
- They considered it important to attend the meeting.
Here, the pronoun "it" is in the accusative case and is followed by the
infinitive verb "to attend." The construction conveys that the subject "they"
considered attending the meeting important.
- He thought her to be a talented musician.
In this example, the accusative pronoun "her" is followed by the infinitive
verb "to be." The construction suggests that the subject "he" believed that "she"
was a talented musician.
In these examples, the verb in the infinitive form (to be, to attend, to be) is
preceded by the accusative case of the noun or pronoun (him, it, her).
The AWI construction can also be used to express purpose or intention. In
this case, the verb in the infinitive form indicates the intended action or goal.
For example:
- I bought a book to improve my English.
In this sentence, the infinitive verb "to improve" indicates the purpose of
buying the book, which is to enhance the speaker's English skills.
- They went to the park to enjoy the sunshine.
Here, the infinitive verb "to enjoy" expresses the purpose of going to the
park, which is to bask in the sunlight.
- She took a cooking class to learn new recipes.
In this example, the infinitive verb "to learn" signifies the purpose of taking
the cooking class, which is to acquire new recipes.
In these examples, the verb in the infinitive form (to improve, to enjoy, to
learn) indicates the purpose or intention of the main action (bought, went, took).
Furthermore, the AWI construction can be used to express emotions, beliefs,
or judgments. It allows the speaker to express their opinion or evaluation of a
situation or person.
For example:
- I find it difficult to understand his reasoning.
In this sentence, the pronoun "it" is in the accusative case and is followed by
the infinitive verb "to understand." The construction indicates that the speaker
finds understanding "his reasoning" challenging.
- They consider her to be a reliable employee.
Here, the pronoun "her" is in the accusative case and is followed by the
infinitive verb "to be." The construction suggests that the subject "they" view "her"
as a reliable employee.
- He believes it to be the best solution.
In this example, the pronoun "it" is in the accusative case and is followed by
the infinitive verb "to be." The construction conveys that the subject "he" believes
that "it" is the best solution.
In these examples, the verb in the infinitive form (to understand, to be, to be)
is preceded by the accusative case of the noun or pronoun (it, her, it), expressing
the speaker's opinion or judgment.
In conclusion, the Accusative with the Infinitive construction is a versatile
grammatical structure in English that allows for the expression of various
meanings and functions. It is commonly used to convey reported speech, express
purpose or intention, and express emotions, beliefs, or judgments.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
 https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/
The_accusative_with_infinitive
%2C_and_some_kindred_constructions_in_English_
%28IA_accusativewithin00zeitrich%29.pdf
 https://www.academia.edu/23654777/Learn
%C3%A8d_Syntax_and_the_Romance_Languages_the_accusative_and
_infinitive_construction_with_declarative_verbs_in_Castilian

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