Download Infinitives

INFINITIVES
SEEM + INFINITIVE
PASSIVE + INFINITIVE
Jelena Basta
e-mail: [email protected]
Types of infinitives
• For the purpose of our class we will need 3 types
of infinitive (although there are more than 3 ):
Type of Infinitive
Simple Infinitive
Progressive/Continuous
Infinitive
Perfective Infinitive
Form
to work, to fall (to +
verb)
to be working, to be
falling (to be + verb+ing)
to have worked, to have
fallen (to HAVE + past
participle)
always HAVE, never HAS, because this is an infinitive
Seem+ infinitive
Main clause
Dependent clause
It seems (that) they own a company.
They seem to own a company.
The subject of the dependent clause goes first. Then we
add the verb SEEM (in the suitable person – here we
omitted –S because of the plural). We look at the
tense of the verb “seem” and the verb from the
dependent clause. If they are in the SAME tense,
we use the SIMPLE INFINTIVE after the verb!!!
Seem + infinitive
Main clause
Dependent clause
It seems (that) the prices are rising.
The prices seem to be rising.
First, write the subject of the dependent clause. Then,
add the verb SEEM (in the same tense as in the
main clause, BUT pay attention to the person!!!).
Finally, add the infinitive. If the verb in the
dependent clause is in the CONTINOUS aspect,
write the PROGRESSIVE/ CONTINOUS infinitive.
Seem+ infinitive
Main clause
Dependent clause
It seems (that) he stole the jewellery.
He seems to have stolen the jewellery.
The same rule again: write the subject of the dependent
clause, write the verb SEEM in the suitable tense and
person. Finally, if the verb of the dependent clause is
in the “older”(Past Simple -stole) tense than the verb
in the main clause (Present Simple – seems), use the
PERFECT INFINITIVE!!!
Seem + infinitive
The same rule as in the previous case will be valid for
the following sentence:
It seems (that) the prices have risen.
The priceS seem to have risen.
Why? Because the Present Perfect Tense in the
dependent clause (have risen) is considered to be
“older” than the Present Simple Tense (seems) in
the main clause.
Seem + infinitive
To sum up the rules:
Verbs in the main and dependent
clause
Type of infinitive
The SAME tense of the verb in both
the main and the dependent clause
Simple infinitive
The verb in the main clause in the
SIMPLE aspect and the verb in the
dependent clause in the CONTINOUS
aspect (but in the same tense).
The verb in the dependent clause in
the “older” tense than the verb in the
main clause
Progressive/
Continuous infinitive
Perfective infinitive
Seem + infinitive
Take a look at some other cases:
It seemed (that) John was a liar.
John seemed to be a liar.
This example follows the above-mentioned rules. We kept the
tense of the verb “seem” (here, it is the past simple). Then,
we take a look at the verb in the dependent clause, and see
it is in the Past Simple Tense. Since the verbs in the main
and dependent clause are in the SAME tense, we used
SIMPLE infinitive.
Seem + infinitive
It seemed (that) the inflation was growing.
The inflation seemed to be growing.
Here, we had the PAST tense in both the main and
dependent clause. BUT, the aspect was different.
We had the PAST CONTINOUS tense in the
dependent clause. That is why we used the
PROGRESSIVE/ CONTINOUS infinitive.
Seem + infinitive
It seemed (that) the children had broken the vase.
The children seemed to have broken the vase.
Here we used the PERFECTIVE infinitive because the
verb in the dependent clause (had broken) was in
the “older” tense than the verb in the main clause
(seemed). In the main clause we had the Past
Simple Tense, while we had the Past Perfect in the
dependent clause.
Seem + infinitive
To refer to the future, we use the SIMPLE infinitive.
It seems they will improve the production process.
They seem to improve the production process.
We used “SEEM” and NOT “seems” because of the
subject “they”. We used SIMPLE infinitive to refer to
the action expressed by some future tense.
Passive + infinitive
The rules for the passive + infinitive construction are
the same as the rules for seem+ infinitive
construction.
Take a look at the sentence:
Main clause
Dependent clause
It is believed (that) they work as managers.
Passive Voice – Present Simple
the same tense
Present Simple Tense
Passive + infinitive
It is believed (that) they work as managers.
They ARE believed to work as managers.
Explanation: We used “ARE believed” here because
the subject “they” is in plural. Then, we observed
the two verbs (the ones in the main and dependent
clause). Since BOTH verbs are in the SAME tense
(Present Simple), we will use the SIMPLE infinitive.
N.B. Even though the verb in the main clause is in
the PASSIVE voice, it is still in the present.
Passive + infinitive
Present Simple- Passive
Present Continuous
It is said (that) inflation is increasing.
Inflation is said to be rising.
Here, we chose PROGRESSIVE/ CONTINUOUS
infinitive, because the verb in the dependent
sentence is in the same tense as the verb in the
main clause, BUT in the CONTINUOUS aspect.
Passive + infinitive
Present Simple- Passive
Past Simple
It is claimed (that) two companies lost a lot of money.
Two companIES ARE claimed to have lost a lot of…
“ARE” and NOT “is” because of the plural subject
We used the PERFECTIVE INFINITIVE (to have lost)
because the verb in the dependent clause is in the
“older” tense (past simple) than the verb in the main
clause (present simple).
Passive + infinitive
Past Simple – passive
Past Simple
It was thought they possessed a real small fortune.
They WERE thought to possess a real small fortune.
“WERE” (NOT “was”) because of the plural subject
SIMPLE infinitive, because both clauses contain the
SAME tense (past simple).
Passive + infinitive
Past Simple –passive Past Continuous
It was said they were planning a major investment.
They WERE said to be planning a major investment.
Both the verb in the main and the dependent clause
are in the SAME tense, BUT the verb in the
dependent clause is in the CONTINUOS aspect. That
is why we used the PROGRESSIVE/CONTINOUS
infinitive.
Passive + infinitive
Past Simple
Past Perfect
It was thought the board had made a decision.
The board was thought to have made a decision.
WAS because of the singular subject
We used the PERFECTIVE INFINITIVE (to have made)
because the verb in the dependent clause is in the
“older” tense (past perfect) than the verb in the main
clause (past simple).
Passive + infinitive
And finally, to refer to the future, we use the SIMPLE
infinitive.
It is believed that the company will enlarge.
The company is believed
to enlarge.
Passive + infinitive
We use the passive + infinitive:
1.
2.
3.
when the statement is speculative (the information is
not confirmed)
e.g. Many investment banks are believed to have
suffered losses in recent months.
mainly in newspaper reporting
e.g. The Hungarian economy is expected to expand by
6% over the next two years.
with verbs such as:
SAY, THINK, ALLEGE, CONSIDER, BELIEVE, REPORT,
RUMOUR, SUPPOSE, KNOW, EXPECT, UNDERSTAND,
THINK, etc.
HOMEWORK


Course book: Revise the exercise Seem +
infinitive, pp. 108-109
Work book: Do the exercises on pp. 67-69