The complex subject
1. Study the following information.
The 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 the construction is that it doesn’t 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. E.g. Michael is said to be a good student.
The Complex Subject is used with the following groups of verbs in the Passive:
with verbs denoting sense perception: to see, to hear, etc. E.g. The robber was seen to run out of the bank.
Note. If a process is expressed, Present Participle Active (V-ing) is used. E.g. The robber was seen running out of the bank at that moment.
with the verbs denoting mental activity: to think, to consider, to know, to expect, to believe, to suppose. E.g. He was thought to be honest. The manuscript is believed to have been written in the 15th century.
with the verb to make. E.g. He was made to review his decision.
with the verbs to say, to report, to allege, to suppose. E.g. He is said to have been suspected of a crime.
with the word-groups to be sure, to be certain, to be likely, to be unlikely. E.g. He is sure to lose the case.
Note the difference between: He is sure to come. – Він напевне /обов’язково прийде. He is sure of coming. – Він певен, що прийде.
6) with the following pairs of synonyms (that are used in the Active): to seem / to appear (здаватися), to happen / to chance (the latter is literal – трапилось так, випадково), to prove / to turn out (виявлятися, з’ясуватися). E.g. They seem to have forgotten their promise. We happened to see them yesterday. The investigation proved to be a failure.
2. Complete the sentences as in the examples.
E.g. People know that she works hard. – She is known to work hard.
It is thought that he left the country. – He is thought to have left the country.
1. It is expected that he will win the election. – He _____________________________ 2. It is thought that the queen is the richest woman in the world. The queen ______________________ 3. It is said that she speaks seven languages. She ______________________________________ 4. It is believed that the stolen jewellery has been found. The stolen jewellery ________________________________________ 5. It is said that he is a prominent statesman. He ___________________________ 6. It is expected that the Prime Minister will form the new government. The Prime Minister ____________________________. 7. It is alleged that he has stolen the money . He ____________________________. 8. It is reported that the world leaders have already reached an agreement. The world leaders ________________________________ . 9. It is reported that the criminals have escaped from prison. The criminals ___________________. 10. It is expected that the treaty will be signed. The treaty ______________________. 11. People say that the Prime Minister is in favour of the new law. The Prime Minister ______________________________________ . 12. They say that the party in power will lose the election. The party in power _____________________________ . 13. The newspapers report that two people were injured in the accident. Two people __________________________ . 14. People say that three men were arrested after the explosion. Three men ____________________________. 15. They believe that the thieves got in through the kitchen window. The thieves ______________________. 16. They believe that the wanted man is living in New York. The wanted man ______________________. 17. They said the novel had been published. The novel ________________________. 18. They know that he was wrongly accused. He _______________________________. 19. They believe she was taking drugs. She __________________________________. 20. The police report that some papers have been stolen. Some papers____________________________.
3. Turn the following sentences into the sentences with the complex subject.
A. E.g. He is waiting for someone. - He seems to be waiting for someone.
1. You are worried about something. You seem _________________ 2. Ann knows this subject well. Ann appears ____________________. 3. That man is looking for something. That man appears ________________. 4. The fax machine has broken down. The fax machine seems _____________________. 5. They have signed the document. They seem _________________________. 6. My friends have argued over your offer. They appear ________________________.
B. E.g. She was tired. – She appeared to be tired.
1. She was taken aback. (to seem) _________________ 2. The boy is busy. (to appear). ____________________ 3. The situation has changed a lot. (to be likely) ______________________. 4. He didn’t have any money on him. (to happen) _______________________5. She will never speak to me again. (to be sure) _______________________6. These problems are solved in different ways. (to suppose) _______________________________