The Subjective Infinitive Construction. Субъектный инфинитивный оборот

Запомните! Субъектный инфинитивный оборот состоит из:

а) существительного или местоимения в именительном падеже в функции подлежащего;

б) инфинитива, который следует за сказуемым.

Обратите внимание!Сказуемое может быть выражено:

а) глаголами в пассивном залоге:

б) глаголами в активном залоге:

в) выражениями:

Для узнавания субъектного инфинитивного оборота воспользуйтесь следующей инструкцией:

1. Если в предложении встретилось сказуемое, выраженное способами, упомянутыми в пунктах а) б) в), проверьте, следует ли за ним инфинитив.

2. Если за таким сказуемым следует инфинитив, знайте – в предложении имеется субъектный инфинитивный оборот.

3. Соблюдайте следующую последовательность при переводе:

а) начинайте перевод со сказуемого; переведите сказуемое неопределенно-личным предложением типа: говорят, что…; полагают, что…; считают, что… и др.

б) переведите подлежащее (существительное или местоимение);

в) переведите инфинитив глаголом в личной форме, согласовав его с подлежащим (существительным или местоимением).

Например:

3. Оборот «for + сущ. + инфинитив». (For – Phrase)

Оборот состоит из предлога for, существительного в общем падеже или местоимения в объектном падеже и инфинитива.

	Обратите внимание! Оборот обычно переводится обстоятельственным придаточным предложением, вводимым союзом чтобы.
	EXERCISES

I. Insert the particle ′to′ where necessary.

1. I like... play the guitar. 2. My brother can... speak French. 3. We had... put on our overcoats because it was cold. 4. May I... use your telephone? 5. I would rather... stay at home today. 6. Would you like... listen to good music? 7. What makes you... think you are right? 8. I shall... do all I can... help you. 9. I like... dance. 10. Let me... help you with your home work.

II. Use the Infinitive in its proper form.

А. → Passive or Active.

1. The lecturer wants.... The student wants... (to understand, to be understood). 2. We expected the meeting... next month. He expected... the attention of the audience (to hold, to be held). 3. Some changes had.... He wanted... some changes in the project (to make, to be made).

B. → Indefinite or Perfect.

1. She admits... the same mistake in her previous paper (to make, to have made). 2. It’s good... work on time (to finish, to have finished). 3. She confessed... the man before (to see, to have seen).

III. Use the infinitive instead of the subordinate clause.

Model: I have no books which I can read.

I have no books to read.

1. He hopes that he will get the information tomorrow. 2. We should be sorry if we heard bad reports of him. 3. Do not promise that you will do it, if you are not sure of success. 4. He was sorry when he heard of your disappointment. 5. She was sorry that she had missed the beginning of the lecture. 6. There was nothing that he could do except going home. 7. Don’t forget that she has a baby whom she must take care of. 8. She is happy that she has found such a simple solution to this difficult problem.

IV. State the forms and functions of the infinitive. Translate the sentences.

1. Our plan was to introduce new methods of research. 2. Here is an example to be followed. 3. They must continue their space exploration. 4. All you have to do is to write a letter. 5. He continued to read. 6. I didn’t ask to be told the news. 7. He has a lot of work to do. 8. I left my village to enter the university. 9. To make a choice between these two methods was quite difficult. 10. There are lots of contradictions to be found in your report. 11. The conference to be held tomorrow will be devoted to a dramatic breakthrough in astronomy.

V. Translate the sentences. Mind the infinitive.

1. To put it mildly, this work must be done. 2. This method is of great scientific value, to say nothing of its possible economic effect. 3. To tell the truth, we expected quite different results. 4. Our new boss is hard to please. 5. To cut a long story short, he didn’t pass his exam on physics. 6. Our neighbours are difficult to deal with. 7. It is very strange to say the least of it. 8. His behaviour leaves much to be desired. 9. To begin with, everybody makes mistakes. 10. This new actress is pleasant to look at.

VI. Change the sentences according to the model and translate them.

Model: Thomson was the first who discovered the electron.

Thomson was the first to discover the electron.

Томсон первым открыл электрон.

1. Lodygin was the first who invented the electric lamp. 2. Yuri Gagarin was the first who flew into space. 3. Samuel Morse was the first who produced a practical telegraph. 4. You will be the last who will answer at the exam. 5. James Chadwick was the first who discovered the neutron.

VII. Translate the groups of words with the passive infinitive.

Model: The data to be discussed...

Данные, которые нужно обсудить …

(Данные, которые будут обсуждаться) …

1. The problems to be solved...

2. The measures to be taken...

3. The stars to be observed...

4. The decision to be made...

5. The new words to be learnt...

6. The new method to be introduced...

7. The factor to be taken into consideration...

8. The advice to be followed...

9. The secret to be discovered...

10. The conference to be held...

VIII. Translate the sentences with the infinitive in the function of an attribute.

1. The problems to be discussed are of vital importance for our work.

2. The decision to be made is hardly an easy one.

3. There are some measures to be urgently taken.

4. Here are some new expressions to be learnt.

5. This is the issue to be debated in the Parliament.

6. The scientist spoke about the new method to be introduced.

IX. Read and translate the sentences. Mind the place of the infinitive and its functions.

1. To read English books is necessary.

2. To read this English book you will have to use a dictionary.

3. To harness solar energy for practical purposes is the task facing engineers.

4. To harness solar energy for practical purposes the engineers will have to make a lot of experiments.

5. To develop national economy is the main task of the government.

6. To develop national economy the people have to use the natural resources of the country most efficiently.

7. To expand old universities is much cheaper than to build new ones.

8. To expand old universities is a versatile problem.

9. To take correct measurements is not an easy task.

10. To take correct measurements it is necessary to use accurate instruments.

X. Translate the sentences with the construction for + noun (pronoun) + infinitive.

Model: It is desirable for you to know it.

Желательно, чтобы вы это знали.

1. He waited for the paper to be published.

2. There is only one thing for you to do.

3. Here are a few books for you to read.

4. Everybody waited for the lecture to begin.

5. It is difficult for him to solve this problem.

6. It is not advisable for you to keep late hours.

7. High temperature is needed for the reaction to start.

8. Much experimental work is needed for these phenomena to be explained.

XI. Complete the sentences. Use the infinitive.

1. It is necessary for her....

2. It is advisable for them....

3. They waited for us....

4. It was important for them....

5. There was no reason for him....

6. For the experiment... he had to do much work.

XII. Translate the sentences with the Objective Infinitive Construction.

1. We know J. Kepler to have stated the laws of planetary motion. 2. In ancient times people believed the atom to be indivisible. 3. Bohr considered the atom to consist of two parts: the nucleus and electrons. 4. I’d like you to read about the latest discoveries made in the field of astronomy. 5. I didn’t see the professor enter the room. 6. The new method permitted these phenomena to be investigated thoroughly. 7. The professor wanted the post-graduate to find the articles on the latest discoveries in astronomy. 8. The telescope enables scientists to examine celestial bodies. 9. It is necessary to utilize the immense supply of free solar energy to make our star, the Sun, serve mankind. 10. I have never heard anyone give so much interesting information in one report. 11. The engineer wants them to use new methods in their work. 12. We saw the skilled worker assemble the tiny devices very quickly.

XIII. Complete these sentences so that the meaning is similar to the first sentence.

Model: My father said I could use his car.

My father allowed me to use his car.

1. I was surprised that it rained.

I didn’t expect...

2. Don’t stop him doing what he wants.

Let...

3. He looks older when he wears glasses.

Glasses make...

4. I think you should know the truth.

I want...

5. Don’t let me forget to phone my sister.

Remind...

XVI. Translate the folowing sentences into English using the substitution table given below:

1. Мы хотим, чтобы вы рассказали нам о солнечной энергии. 2. Я хочу вам рассказать о солнечной энергии. 3. Он пришел сюда, чтобы рассказать нам о солнечной энергии. 4. Она показала мне эти проекты. 5. Мы знаем, что солнечные лучи приносят огромное количество энергии. 6. Я полагал, что этот ученый уже провел такой опыт. 7. Мы видели, как она проводила опыт.

XV. Put a form of “make” or “lеt” and a suitable verb into each gap.

Model: Thе teacher let me go home early because I fell ill.

1. My children usually go to bed early but I __________ them _________ TV till 10.00 at the week-end.

2. I don't like the sight of blood. It _________ me _________ ill if I see it.

3. My parents weren't strict with me at all. They _______ me ________what I wanted.

4. But they thought that education was very important, so they______ me______ hard for my exams.

5. It was a very sad film. The ending ________ me _______.

6. My parents_________me_______ the piano for two hours every day. I hate it.

7. My brother________me________his car sometimes, but I have to pay for the petrol.

XVI. Translate the following sentences paying attention to the Subjective Infinitive Construction. Mind the verb-predicates which are used in the Passive Voice.

1. These students are considered to conduct research rather well. 2. One of the students is said to be conducting a research work now. 3. That student is supposed to have conducted research last year. 4. This research is supposed to have been conducted by our best students. 5. These students are believed to have been conducting this research since last year. 6. All bodies are known to possess weight.

XVII. Translate the following sentences. Mind the verb-predicates which are used in the Active Voice in the Subjective Infinitive Construction.

1. This student seems to know English well. 2. His knowledge of English appears to be improving. 3. This discovery proved to be of spe­cial value for the development of electronics. 4. The student's answer seemed to satisfy the examiner. 5. This planet appears to possess tre­mendous humidity. 6. I happened to meet some of our students in the museum. 7. They didn't appear to be satisfied with our work. 8. These students proved to be very capable researchers.

XVIII. Translate the following sentences. Mind the words which are used as predicates in the Subjective Infinitive Construction.

1. The weather is likely to change by tomorrow. 2. These students are likely to take part in this discussion as the main problem to be discus­sed is on their speciality. 3. He is certain to make a good report at the conference, for he read a lot of technical journals while preparing for it. 4. He is sure to come in time, he will be the first to make a report. 5. They are sure to be sent to some construction site after graduating from the Civil Engineering Institute.

XIX. Read the following English sentences and find their Russian equi­valents in the right column:

XX. Translate the following sentences into English using the substitution table given below:

1. Известно, что этот аспирант пишет интересную книгу о кометах. 2. Говорят, что он пишет эту книгу с прошлого года. 3. Он, кажется, изучил этот вопрос основательно. 4. Он, вероятно, будет делать доклад об этой книге на научной конференции. 5. Полагают, что две главы этой книги уже были написаны в прошлом году. 6. Эта книга, по-видимому, представляет большой интерес не только для астрономов.

XXI. Read the following Russian phrases and find their English equivalents in the right column:

a)

b)

c)

XXII. Read and translate the sentences with the infinitive constructions.

1. The University of Cambridge is said to have originated in the 12^th centry. 2. We consider silver to be the best of conducting materials. 3. The first type of a solar battery appears to have been demonstrated in 1954. 4. The chemist allowed this substance to be experimented with. 5. The manager knew the work to be under way. 6. For the experiment to be successful he had to do much work. 7. I heard him mention my name. 8. The expeditions to the planets of the solar system are likely to take off from the orbital stations. 9. Many times we heard our lecturer refer to the data obtained by physicists. 10. The workers are certain to achieve good results if they employ new techniques. 11. Everybody knows Mendeleyev to have studied the properties of elements before he arranged them in a Table. 12. It is for you to choose which of the two methods to use. 13. Newton was the first to realize elliptical paths of comets. 14. Nearly a month is required for the Moon to circle the Earth. 15. The history of computers is believed to have started with Charles Babbage who was a professor of mathematics at Cambridge University.

XXIII. Make a written translation of the sentences. Use the infinitive constructions.

1. Сообщают, что открыли новую звезду. 2. Известно, что наука изменила условия жизни современного человека. 3. Наши ученые обязательно примут участие в конференции по астрономии. 4. Древние астрономы считали, что Солнце и звезды движутся вокруг Земли. 5. Крайне важно, чтобы вы прочитали эти книги по астрономии. 6. Предполагают, что Вселенная начала существовать примерно 15 миллиардов лет назад. 7. Мы знаем, что Солнечная система состоит из 9 планет и их спутников, астероидов, комет и их метеоритов. 8. Известно, что каналы на Марсе были обнаружены в 1877 году.

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