Infinitive Complex Object

Complex Object
Subject + Predicate + Complex Object (Noun/Pronoun + Infinitive)

The combination of a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the objective

case and an infinitive used after the predicate forms a complex object. The
relation between the noun (pronoun) and the infinitive is that of subject and
predicate.

Key examples:
 I saw the boy raise his hand.
 I heard him call my name.
 I want you to know that it doesn't matter.

The infinitive may be used as a part of a complex object after the following
verbs:

1. to hear, to see, to watch, to feel, to let, to make. After these verbs the
infinitive has no particle 'to'.

Patterns. Read and memorize!

1. I heard him describe his new bedroom suite.
2. He makes his children go to bed early.
3. I saw him whitewash the fence.

2. to want, to expect, to know, to suppose, to consider, to believe. After these

verbs the particle 'to' is used before the infinitive.

Patterns. Read and memorize!

1. He wanted me to help him choose a new computer.
2. I consider Bill to be Jack of all trades.
3. I expected him to paint the walls green.

Exercise 2
Change the complex sentences into simple ones using complex objects.

Model:
A: I think that the flat is very cosy.
B: I think the flat to be very cosy.
1. I think that a shower is a most important convenience.
2. I think that our water supply is not good.
3. I saw that he pressed the bell.
4. I did not expect that they would come in time.
5. I watched how he spoke on the phone.
6. He heard that the telephone rang.
7. I saw that he took out his latch-key.
8. She believed that he had stolen her money to pay his debts.
9. He wants that this work will be done.
10. He wants that this work will have been done by Friday.
Answer key:
1. I think a shower to be a most important convenience.
2. I think our water supply not to be good.
3. I saw him press the bell.
4. I did not expect them to come in time.
5. I watched him speak on the phone.
6. He heard the telephone ring.
7. I saw him take out his latch-key.
8. She believed him to have stolen her money to pay his debts.
9. He wants this work to be done.
10. He wants this work to have been done by Friday.
Exercise 3
Combine the following sentences using either Complex Object or that-clause
(pay attention to Sequence of tenses).

1. They haven’t seen. The railway accident occurred near the station.
2. I heard. They argued about different tastes in art.
3. I see. Your tastes differ greatly.
4. We heard. He made a report on his new discovery.

Answer key:
1. They haven’t seen the railway accident have occurred near the station. - They haven’t seen
that the railway accident had occurred near the station.
2. I heard them argue about different tastes in art. / I heard them arguing about different tastes
in art. - I heard that they argued about different tastes in art.
3. I see your tastes differ greatly. - I see that your tastes differ greatly.
4. We heard him make a report on his new discovery. / We heard him making a report on his
new discovery. - We heard that he made a report on his new discovery.
Exercise 4
Practise in using Comlpex Object after 'make'. Change the sentences according
to the model.

Model:
A: His mother advised him to write a story.
B: His mother made him write a story.
1. His father advised him to quit smoking.
2. His brother advised him to get a new job.
3. Mary’s teacher advised her to take part in the writing contest.
4. Her parents advised her to move to Chicago.
Exercise 5
Practise sentences with Complex Object after the verb 'want'. Say that you (he,
she, they, etc.) want somebody to do the following.

Model:
A: I want to be introduced to Mr Laurie. (the host)
B: I want the host to introduce me to Mr Laurie.
1. The patient wanted to be examined. (the doctor)
2. The man wants to be treated for rheumatism. (Doctor House)
3. He wished to be cured of his illness. (the specialist)
4. Usually English people don’t like to be asked personal questions.
(strangers)

Answer key: 1. The patient wanted the doctor to examine him. 2. The man wants Doctor House to
treat him for rheumatism. 3. He wished the specialist to cure him of his illness. 4. Usually English
people don’t like strangers to ask personal questions.

Exercise 6
Combine sentences using Complex Subject.

Model:
A: I heard him. He answered the door-bell.
B: I heard him answer the door-bell.
1. He saw her. She burst into tears.
2. I haven’t heard him. He called my name.
3. The nurse watched the boy. The boy cried.
4. I felt his hand. His hand shook.
5. We saw a man. The man pulled the door open.
Answer: 1. He saw her burst into tears. 2. I haven’t heard him call my name. 3. The nurse watched
the boy cry. 4. I felt his hand shake. 5. We saw the man pull the door open.

Exercise 7
Practise in using Complex Object.

a. Say what you (he, she) would (should) like me (him, her…) to do.

Model:
to fix an appointment for someone for Monday
A: I would like you to fix an appointment for me for Monday.
1. to have a good time at the party;
2. to arrange everything by the time I come back;
3. to show them the historical monuments of the city;
4. to tell me the news in brief.

b. Ask a friend if he wants you to do the following. Work in pair.

Model:
to take care of the tickets
A: Do you want me to take care of the tickets?
B: Yes, do please.
1. to come and help you with the packing;
2. to brief the pressman about the State Visit;
3. to show you some historical places of our city;
4. to entertain the guests;
5. to make a speech in Italian.

c. Say that you want certain thing (to be) done.

Model:
to answer a telephone call
A: I want a telephone call to be answered
1. to publish the historical manuscripts;
2. to do the steak well;
3. to do the work properly;
4. to forget this incident;
5. to tell the story in brief.

d. Ask a friend if he has heard or seen the following. Work in pair.

Model:
the Chairman – to make an announcement
A: Did you hear the Chairman make an announcement?
B: Yes, I certainly did. (No, I am sorry, I didn’t.)
1. they (to tell) about the car accident;
2. these flowers (to grow) in your country;
3. he (to do) the role of Richard III;
4. George (to take) the papers out of his brief-case.

Exercise 8
Read the extract from the poem pointing out complex objects. Learn
the extract by heart.

The Wind
(by R. L. Stevenson)
I saw you toss the kites on high
And blow the birds about the sky.
And all round I heard you pass
Like ladies’ skirts across the grass.
Oh, wind, a-blowing all day long,
Oh, wind, that sings so loud a song!
I saw the different things you did.
But always you yourself you hid.
I felt you push, I heard you call,
I could not see yourself at all.
O wind, a-blowing all day long!
O wind, that sings so loud a song !
Infinitive Complex Subject

Complex Subject
Noun/Pronoun + Predicate + Infinitive
The combination of a noun in the common case (or a pronoun in the nominative
case) and an infinitive forms a complex subject (1).
The predicate which is usually expressed by a verb in the passive voice is
placed between the noun and the infinitive. The relation between the noun and
the infinitive is that of subject and predicate.

Note 1: - According to another interpretation the subject is expressed by a noun

or pronoun and the infinitive is regarded as a part of the predicate.

Key examples:
 He is said to be a good teacher.
 The boy is known to have passed his exams well.

The predicate in sentences with a complex subject can be expressed

by:

1. The same verbs that can be followed by a complex object (that is verbs of
sense perception: to see, to hear…, verbs of mental activity: to know, to
suppose…; verbs of inducement: to order, to cause, to allow…,). The verbs are
used in the passive voice.

Patterns. Read and memorize!

1. He was supposed to bring this book from London. (Predicate is
underlined.)
2. They are heard to have come from the South.
3. They were seen to go home together. This article is expected to be
published next month.

2. verbs of saying: to say, to report, to announce... in the passive voice.

Patterns. Read and memorize!

1. The building of the new hostel is reported to be over.
2. He was said to be writing a new play.

3. the verbs to seem, to appear, to prove, to happen, to turn out, to chance in

the active voice.
1. The telephone happened to be out of order.
2. The young man proved to know everybody.
3. The house seems to have been damaged by the earthquake.
4. compound predicate: to be likely, to be unlikely, to be sure, to be certain, to
be bound.
1. They are likely to return on Sunday.
2. Their team is certain to win. / Their team is bound to win.
3. He is sure to miss this train.
4. This house is likely to have been built many centuries ago.

Note. – As part of a complex subject the infinitive is always used with the
particle to.
 Go to the 'The Infinitive' page