3. The Subjective Infinitive Construction
The Subjective Infinitive Construction (traditionally called the
Nominative-with-the-Infinitive Construction or Complex Subject)) is
a construction in which the infinitive is in predicate relation to a noun
in the common case or a pronoun in the nominative case.
The peculiarity of this construction is that it does not serve as one
part of the sentence: one of its component parts has the function of
the subject, the other forms part of a compound verbal predicate. The
sentence with the Subjective Infinitive Construction after verbs in the
Passive Voice are mostly translated by a complex sentence: its principal
clause is of the type which in Russian syntax is called ‘indefinite
personal’.
The Subjective Infinitive Construction is used after:
a) The verbs of sense perception:
to see, to hear,
etc. These verbs are
used in the Passive Voice.
The rider
was seen
to disappear
in the distance.
Видно было, как всадник скрылся вдали.
If a process is expressed Participle I Indefinite Active is used.
Tess’s father
was heard
approaching
at that moment (Hardy).
В этот момент они услышали,
что подходит отец Тэсс
.
b) The verbs denoting mental activity:
to think, to consider, to know,
to expect, to believe, etc.
The people
of all ancient civilizations are known
to have made
maps.
Известно,
что люди
всех древних цивилизаций
составляли
карты.
c) The verbs denoting statement, supposition, reporting, etc.:
to
report, to suppose, to prove, to turn out, to appear, to say, to seem;
after
the constructions:
to be (un)likely – вероятно, маловероятно, вряд ли
to be certain, to be sure – обязательно, наверняка.
Sentences of this kind are rendered in Russian by a simple sentence
with a modal word.
Note
the difference between:
He is sure to come.
Он
обязательно
придет
.
He is sure of coming.
Он уверен, что придет.
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