The use of the subjective infinitive construction

The SIC is used with the following groups of verbs in the Passive Voice:

1. With verbs denoting sense perception: tosee, to hear etc.

Mr. Bob Sawyer was heard to laugh heartily. (Dickens)

Слышно было, как весело смеется Боб Сойер.

2. With verbs denoting mental activity: to think, to consider, to know, to expect, to believe, to suppose.

He was thought to be honest and kindly. (Dreiser)

Его считали честным и добрым человеком.

3. With the verb to make.

Little Abraham was aroused... and made to put on his clothes... (Hardy)

Маленького Эбрахама разбудили и заставили одеться.

4. With the verbs to say and to report.

The gods had given Irene dark-brown eyes and golden hair, which is said to be the mark of a weak character. (Galsworthy)

Боги наделили Ирэн темно-карими глазами и золотистыми волосами, что, как говорят, является признаком слабости характера.

The Subjective Infinitive Construction is used with the word-groups to be likely, to be sure, andto be certain.

But he is sure to marry her. (Hardy)

Но он бесспорно (несомненно) женится на ней.

This fire is certain to produce a panic in the morning. (Dreiser)

Этот пожар бесспорно (несомненно) вызовет утром панику.

The for-to-Infinitive Construction.

The for-to-Infinitive Construction is a construction in which the infinitive is in predicate relation to a noun or pronoun preceded by the preposition for.

The construction can have different functions in the sentence. It can be:

1. Subject(often with the introductoryit).

I sometimes think it is a shame for people to spend so much money this way. (Dreiser)

Я часто думаю, что стыдно людям тратить на это так много денег.

2. Predicative. іменна частина присудка

That was for him to find out.(Eliot) / Выяснить это должен был он.

3. Complex object.

He waited for her to speak.(Hardy) / Он ждал, когда она заговорит.

Не asked for the papers to be brought. / Он попросил принести бумаги.

4. Attribute. означення

There’s nobody here for him to play with.(Hemingway)

Здесь нет никого, с кем он мог бы поиграть.

Не had even had a comfortable house for her(his niece) to live in. (Trоllоре)

У него даже был удобный дом, где она могла бы жить.

5. Adverbial modifierобставина:

(a) ofpurpose. мети

Не stepped aside for me to pass. (Du Maurier)

Он отошел, в сторону, чтобы я могла пройти.

(b) of result.

Не spoke loud enough for you to hear.

Он говорил достаточно громко, чтобы вы могли его слышать.

With the expressions to be sorry, to be gladthe infinitive is used only if the subject of the sentence represents at the same time the doer of the action expressed by the infinitive.

I am glad to have seen you.(Dreiser)

20. Predicative constructions with the gerund.

Like all the verbals the gerund can form predicative construc­tions, i. e. constructions in which the verbal element expressed by the gerund is in predicate relation to the nominal element ex­pressed by a noun or pronoun.

I don't like your going off without any money.(Maltz) Мне не нравится, что вы уходите без денег.

Here the gerund going offis in predicate relation to the pro­noun your, which denotes the doer of the action expressed by the gerund.

The nominal element of the construction can be expressed in different ways.

1. If it denotes a living being it may be expressed:

(a) by a noun in the genitive case or by a possessive pronoun.

Do you mind ту smoking?(Hardy)

Вы ничего не имеете против того, чтобы я курил?

(b) by a noun in the common case.

I have a distinct recollection of Lady Chilterri always gettingthe good conduct prize! (Wilde)

Я отлично помню, что леди Чильтерн всегда получала награды за примерное поведение.

§ Occasionally examples are found where the nominal element of the construction is expressed by a pronoun in the objective case.

I hope you will forgive me disturbingyou. (Da Marnier)

Надеюсь, вы простите меня за то, что я вас побеспокоил.

2. If the nominal element of the construction denotes a lifeless thing, it is expressed by a noun in the common case (such nouns, as a rule, are not used in the genitive case) or by a possessive pronoun.

I said something about my clock beingslow. (Du Maurier) Я сказала, что мои часы отстают.

... Peggotty spoke of... my room, and of its beingready for me. (Dickens)

... Пеготти говорила... о моей комнате и о том, что она уже приготовлена для меня.

3. The nominal element of the construction can also be expressed by a pronoun which has no case distinctions, such as all, this, that, both, each, something.

I insist on both of them comingin time.

Я требую, чтобы они оба пришли вовремя.

Again Michael... was conscious of something deep and private stirringwithin himself. (Galsworthy)

Майкл опять почувствовал, что в его душе шевельнулось что-то глубокое и затаенное.

§ A gerundial construction is nearly always rendered in Russian by a subordinate clause, generally introduced by то, что; тем, что; как, etc.

His being a foreigner, an ex-enemy was bad enough. (Alding­ton)

To, что он был иностранец, бывший неприятель,было уже плохо.

Her thoughts were interrupted at last, by the door opening gently.(Reade)

Ее мысли были наконец прерваны тем, что дверь тихонько открылась.

Ibegan to picture to myself... my being- found dead in a day or two, under some hedge.(Dickens)

Я начал представлять себе, как через день или два менянайдут мертвым под каким-нибудь забором.

21. Predicative and absolute constructions with the participle.

The Objective Participial Construction is a construction in which the participle is in predicate relation to a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the objective case.

In the next berth she could hear her stepmother breathing heavily.(Hardy)

Ей было слышно, как на соседней койке тяжело дышит ее 1 мачеха.

In the sentence this construction has the function of a complex object. It usually corresponds to asubordinate object clause in Russian.

The Objective Participial Construction may be found:

(a) after verbs denoting sense perception, such as to see, to hear, to feel, to find, etc.

Then he looked out of the window and saw clouds gathering. (Dreiser)

Потом он выглянул из окна и увидел, что собираются тучи.

I heard my wife coming...(Conan Doyle)

She could feel her hands trembling exceedingly.(Hardy)

(b) after some verbs of mental activity, such as to consider, to understand.

I consider myself engaged to Herr Klesmer.(Eliot)

Я считаю себя помолвленной с господином Клесмером.

(c) after verbs denoting wish, such as to want, to wish, to de­ sire. In this case only Participle II is used.

The governor wants it done quick.(Bennett)

Отец хочет, чтобы это было сделано быстро.

(d) after the verbs to have andto get; after these verbs only Participle II is used.

I had my coat altered.

Я переделала пальто (т. е. поручила кому-то переделать его).

Не ... had several bottles of wine brought... (Dreiser)

Ему ... принесли несколько бутылок вина.

The Subjective Participial Construction.

The Subjective Participial Construction is a construction in which the participle (mostly Participle I) is in predicate relation to a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the nominative case, which is the subject of the sentence.

Особливістю цієї конструкції є те, що не служить однією частиною речення: один з його складових частин має функцію суб'єкта, інших форм частина складеного дієслівного присудка.

Thehorse was seen descending the hill.(Hardy)

Видно было, как лошадь спускалась с холма.

Then Bathsheba's footsteps were heardcrossing the room.(Hardy)

Было слышно, как Батшеба прошла через комнату.

The Nominative Absolute Participial Construction.

The Nominative Absolute Participial Construction is a construc­tion in which the participle stands in predicate relation to a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the nominative case; the noun or pronoun is not the subject of the sentence.

The door and window of the vacant room being open,we looked in. (Dickens)

Так как дверь и окно пустой комнаты были открыты, мы заглянули в нее.

In the Nominative Absolute Participial Construction Participle I (in all its forms) or Participle II is used.

It is used in the function of an adverbial modifier. It can be an adverbial modifier:

(a) of time.

The lamp having been lit, Mrs. Macallan produced her son's letter. (Collins)

Когда зажгли лампу, миссис Макаллан достала письмо от сына.

This duty completed, he had three months' leave. (Hardy)

Когда эта работа была закончена, он получил трехмесячный отпуск.

(b) of cause.

It being now pretty late, we took our candles and went upstairs(Dickens)

Так как было довольно поздно, мы взяли свечи и пошли наверх.

(с) of attendant circumstances. супутніх обставин.

In this function the Nom. Absolute Part. Cons. is mostly placed at the end of the sentence. In rendering it in Russian a coordinate clause or ! деепричастный оборот is used.

(d) of condition.Inthis function the Nominative Absolute Participial Construction occurs but seldom and is almost exclusively used with the participles permitting and failing.

Weather (time, circumstances) permitting, we shall start to­morrow.

Если погода (время, обстоятельства) позволит, мы поедем завтра.

Conciliation failing, force remains; but force failing, no further hope of conciliation is left.¹

Если не удается достигнуть примирения, приходится применить силу; но если сила не помогает, не остается никакой надежды на примирение.

The Prepositional Absolute Participial Construction.

The Absolute Participial Construction may be introduced by the preposition withand is then called the Prepositional Absolute Participial Construction. It is in most cases used in the function of an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances.

This construction is rendered in Russian by a coordinate clause or деепричастный оборот.

They were walking on again, with Hugh calmly drawing athis pipe.(Lindsay)

Они снова шли вперед; Хью спокойно покуривал свою трубку.

The daughter sat quite silent and still, with her eyes fixed on the ground.(Dickens)

Дочь сидела молча и неподвижно, опустив глаза в землю.

22. Modal verbs (can, could, may, might). Meaning and use.

Can expresses:

1. Mental, physical, circumstantial ability (Можливість)

Can you lift the box?

2. Permission можете + инф. (Дозвіл)

You can go now.

3. Request (Вопрос)

Can you do me a favour?

4. Prohibition нельзя + инф. (Запрет)

You can’t cross the street here.

1. We use could|couldn’t to describe general ability in the past.

But if we mean that someone managed to do smth in the particular situation, you have to use: Was|were able to do smth.

Was|were able to = managed «смог», «удалось»

The nagative couldn’t is possible in all situations.

2. We use could (do) in a number ways:

a) It is a past of can, expressing general ability in the past. (ми могли б)

b) Sometimes we use could to speak about possible future actions. In this case it has a present or a future meaning.