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.
Task 1

Open the brackets and use the Complex Subject.

Example: He is thought (study) now. – He is thought to be studying now.

1. He is considered (be) a good musician.

2. They are thought (go away) some days ago.
3. James is expected (make) a report next Wednesday.
4. Steve is known (help) them to solve a problem when they were in trouble.
5. Mozart is known (compose) a lot of wonderful pieces of music.
6. The film is considered (be) the worst of the year.
7. She is supposed (work) in the laboratory from 2 to 6 p.m. tomorrow.
8. They are known (make) a new discovery a month ago.
9. He is expected (manage) the business himself.
10. He is said (be) at the customs office now.
11. The delegation is reported (leave) Prague tonight at 11 a.m.
12. They are know (live) in Egypt for a long time.
13. He is believed (work) at an urgent problem now.

Task 2

Choose the correct variant

1. My parents always want … the washing-up.

a) That I did

b) Me do

c) Me to do

d) For me to do
2. Have you ever heard … ? She’s got a marvelous voice.
a) Mary singing

b) That Mary sing

c) Mary sing

d) Mary to sing
3. Are you sure you saw … these boxes?
a) That he open

b) Him opening

c) Him to open
 d) Him open
4. Our new teacher said he’d like … down everything he said.
a) That he must write

b) Us to write

c) Us writing

d) Us write
5. Oh, no! I’ve … again! It’s been the second time this month!
a) Had my wallet stolen

b) Had stolen my wallet

c) Had my wallet to steal

d) Had my wallet stealing

6. He ordered … because they hadn’t managed to find a proper place to meet.
a) The meeting be cancelled

b) The meeting canceled

c) That the meeting was canceled

d) The meeting to be cancelled

7. The president … the countries of Eastern Europe.
a) Is reported that he is visiting

b) Is reported to be visiting

c) Reported to visit

d) Reported to be visiting
8. Hush! Do you feel … behind us? It is so frightening here.
a) Someone breath

b) That someone breath

c) Someone to breath

d) Someone breathing
9. Jennie … a very smart and hard-working girl.
a) Is said that she is
 b) Said that she to be

c) Is said to be

d) Said to be
10. It is absolutely necessary … all the papers with him.
a) That he bring

b) Him to bring

c) That he to bring

d) Him bring

Task 3

1. Choose the sentence with complex object

I did not expect my business partner send me a bouquet of flowers.

I did not expect my business partner to send me a bouquet of flowers
I did not expect my business partner to have send me a bouquet of flowers
2. Rewrite the following sentence using complex object: They know that Tom’s friend is an
excellent professional.

They know Tom’s friend to be an excellent professional.

They know Tom’s friend be an excellent professional.
They know Tom’s friend as an excellent professional.
3. Rewrite the following sentence using complex object: Anastasia saw a professor. He was
explaining students’ mistakes.

Anastasia saw a professor explaining students’ mistakes.

Anastasia saw a professor to be explaining students’ mistakes.
Anastasia saw a professor who was explaining students’ mistakes.
4. Rewrite the following sentences using complex object: The governor of South Carolina was
calling for removal from a ceremonial place at the state house. We heard it.

We heard the governor of South Carolina called for removal from a ceremonial place at the
state house.
We heard the governor of South Carolina to call for removal from a ceremonial place at the
state house.
We heard the governor of South Carolina calling for removal from a ceremonial place at the
state house.
5. Combine the following sentences into one using complex objects: I heard him. He was
speaking English fluently.

I heard him who was speaking English fluently.

I heard him speaking English fluently.
I heard him speak English fluently.
6. Which sentence contains complex object?

Didn’t you hear her sang a pop song?

Didn’t you hear her singing a pop song?
Didn’t you hear that she was singing a pop song?
7. Combine sentences using Complex Object: Tom saw him. He opened the door of the house
in the dark.

Tom saw him open the door of the house in the dark.
Tom saw him to open the door of the house in the dark.
Tom saw him opening the door of the house in the dark.
8. Which sentence is correct?

I noticed him behave badly and asked to settle down.

I noticed him to behave badly and asked to settle down.
I noticed him behaved badly and asked to settle down
9. Remake sentences using complex object: I was so nervous. I felt that my heart was beating
very fast.

I was so nervous that I felt my heart beating very fast.

I was so nervous that I felt my very fast beating heart.
I was so nervous that I felt my heart beat very fast.
10. Choose the right variant.

They didn’t want their luggage carried upstairs.

They didn’t want their luggage to be carried upstairs.
They didn’t want their luggage carry upstairs.
11. Choose the right variant.
 I want some fresh orange squeezed juice.
I want some fresh orange juice to be squeezing.
I want some fresh orange juice to be squeezed.

12. Choose the right variant.

He wanted to have his documents preparing on Monday morning.

He wanted to have his documents prepared on Monday morning.
He wanted to have his documents prepare on Monday morning.
13. Which sentence is correct?

They were considered to be the best architects in the city.

They were consider the best architects in the city.
They were considered to being the best architects in the city.
14. Choose the right variant: The number of the unemployed people in the world is reported
_______with every year.

to be increasing
to be increased
to have been increased
15. Choose the right variant.

It is expected a new bestseller of Doydzh Norman will be published in 2016.

A new bestseller of Doydzh Norman is expected to be published in 2016.
A new bestseller of Doydzh Norman expected to be published in 2016.
16. Rewrite the following sentence: It is believed that the mountain gorillas are very calm and
shy.

The mountain gorillas are believing to be very calm and shy.

The mountain gorillas believe to be very calm and shy.
The mountain gorillas are believed to be very calm and shy.
17. Rewrite the following sentence: It is said that a lot of weightlifters have
enormous muscles.

A lot of weightlifters said to have enormous muscles.

A lot of weightlifters are said to have enormous muscles.
 A lot of weightlifters have said to have enormous muscles.
18. Choose the right variant:

Sandra is seemed to have been dreaming of no one else but John since their first meeting.
Sandra to be seemed to have been dreaming of no one else but John since their first meeting.
Sandra seemed to have been dreaming of no one else but John since their first meeting.
19. Rephrase the following sentence: It appeared that he had spent the night in mountains.

He appeared to have spent the night in the mountains.

He appeared to had spent the night in the mountains.
He appeared to have been spent in the mountains.
20. Translate the following sentence into English: Я хочу подстричься.

I want to cut my hair.

I want to have my hair cut.
I want to have my haircut.