The subjective construction with an infinitive

§ 123. The construction consists of a noun (or a noun-pronoun) in the common case or a personal pronoun in the nominative case and an infinitive. The peculiarity of the construction is that the first element is separated from the second one by a finite verb-form which together with the infinitive forms a compound verbal predicate of double orientation, whereas the nominal part of the construction forms the subject of the sentence. Thus the construction does not function as one part of the sentence but falls into two parts each functioning separately.

Semantically of these two parts of the predicate only the second one refers to the subject, as only this part denotes either the action or the state of the person or non-person expressed by the subject. Thus in the sentence: He is said to know five languages it is the relation. He knows five languages that is important.

In between the subject and the infinitive there is a part of the predicate expressed by a finite verb which grammatically indicates subject-predicate relations. However, Semantically this finite verb cannot serve as the predicate of the subject, as it denotes somecomment, orestimate, orjudgement, or conclusion, orattitude to the action or state expressed by the infinitive. The comment or attitude comes from somebody not mentioned in the sentence, therefore such sentences can be transformed into complex ones with the indefinite-personal subject in the principal clause:

He is reported to have left. ————> They report (or somebody reports) that he has left.

The car was heard to turn round the corner. ——> They heard (somebody heard) that the car turned round

the comer.

The subjective infinitive construction is used with a limited number of finite verbs either in the passive or in the active voice:

I. Verbs used in the passive voice fall into four groups:

1)verbs of sense perception (hear, see, observe, watch, etc.). When used in the passive voice they are followed by a to-infinitive. They express the idea of evidence. The same idea is also rendered by some other verbs in the passive voice (such as find, discover).

Hewas seen to enter the building. (Somebody was a witness of this fact)

Theywere heard to quarrel. (Somebody heard them and therefore was a witness of their quarrel)

The boywas found to be sleeping at home. (Somebody found the boy and he was sleeping)

2)verbs of mental perception (think, know, mean, believe, expect, consider, assume, presume, suppose) With this construction these verbs denote different shades of expectation, opinion, judgement:

Patwas supposed to come with me tonight.

The Paliamentis expected to introduce some changes into the laws.

Programmed instructionis considered to have many advantages.

3)verbs of saying and reporting (say, report, declare, predict, etc). These verbs also express some judgement or opinion:

Blackberriesare said to have a lot of vitamins.

A new starwas reported to have appeared in the East.

4)Causative verbs (cause, make, order, allow, etc.) The verb to make when used in the passive voice is followed by a to-infinitive.

Julewas made to repeat her words.

The doctorwas ordered to change his shift.

No damwas allowed to be built in this part of the country.

II. The following verbs ace used in the active voice:

1.Verbs expressing subjective orpersonal attitude to facts and their evaluation (to seem, to appear, to happen, to chance, to turn out, etc.).

The structureseemed to have been properly designed.

Your friendturned out to be stronger than we expected.

Everybodyappeared to be enjoying themselves.

Hechanced to be in the park when I was there.

I was to tell you the news if Ihappened to run into you.

2.Modal phrases expressing different shades of probability or certainty (to be (un)likely, to be sure, to be certain, to be bound); also adjectives or nouns with the link-verb to be expressingestimate of different kind (pleasant, hard, easy, difficult, terrible, apt, etc.). As probability mostly implies a future action the non-perfect infinitive is generally used after to be likely. With modal phrases expressing certainty both non-perfect and perfect infinitives are possible. The modal phrases to be apt, to be bound generally refer to habitual actions or states and are accordingly followed by the non-perfect infinitive:

Weare certain to come to an agreement.

Youare not likely to believe my story.

A strawberry, unless fresh-picked,is bound to exude juice.

These objectsare sure to be wanted as evidence.

Heis alwaysliable to do idiotic things.

A girlis apt to be a little nervous on her wedding day.

Chrisisis apt to strike suddenly like influenza.