The Objective with the Infinitive Construction (Complex object)

In the objective with the infinitive construction the infinitive (usually an infinitive phrase) is in predicate relation to a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the objective case. It is rendered in Russian by an object clause.

 

It is mostly translated into Russian by an object clause.

Subject + Predicate + Noun (Pronoun) + Infinitive

 

- Iwant Mother (her) to helpme.

Я хочу, чтобы мама (она) помогла мне.

- They expect the steamer to leavetonight.

Они ожидают, что пароход отойдет сегодня вечером.

 

The Complex Object is used after the verbs:

   
1. of mental activity:to know, to think, to consider, to believe, to find (считать, полагать), to expect, to suppose (пред­полагать), to imagine, to feel, to trust, to mean, etc. After these verbs the verb to be is gene­rally used. (It can be omitted after the verbs to consider, to find, to declare). The use of this construction after most verbs of mental activity is more characteristic of literary style. 2. of declaring: to pronounce, to declare, to report, to teach. 3. denoting wish and intention: to want, to wish, to desire, to mean, to intend/to choose (= want).     4. denoting feeling and emotion: to like, to dislike, to hate   5. denoting order and permission: to order, to allow, to suffer (неохот­но разрешать, позволить скрепя сердце), to ask (for), to command, to encourage, to forbid, etc. In most cases after these verbs the Passive Infinitive is used.   6. denoting sense perception: to hear, to see, to watch, to feel, to observe, etc. After such verbs the bare infinitive (without "to") is used. After these verbs only the Indefinite Infinitive Active is used. If the meaning is passive we use Participle II. If the process is expressed Participle I Indefinite Active is used.   - Iknew them to beright. Я знал, что они правы. □ We expect them to arrivesoon. Мы ожидаем, что они скоро приедут.   - I find him (to be)a very clever man. Я нахожу, что он очень умный человек. - I don't consider him (to be)an honest man. Я не считаю, что он честный человек.   - The doctor pronounced the woundto be a slight one. Врач сказал, что рана легкая. - He intended me to gowith him to India. Он хотел, чтобы я поехала с ним в Индию. - I want you to stopworrying. Я хочу, чтобы ты прекратил волно­ваться.   - Tell me what you would like me to do.Скажи, что бы ты хотела, чтобы я сде­лал.   - The captain ordered the cases to be loaded. Капитан приказал погрузить ящики. - Не asked for the letter to be sent offat once. Он просил, чтобы письмо было отпра­влено немедленно (отослать письмо немедленно). - She asked to be shownthe photo. Она попросила показать ей фотографию. - Mr Domby suffered his daughter to playwith Paul. Мистер Домби неохотно разрешил своей дочери играть с Полем.   - I saw Brown enterthe room. Я видел, как Браун вошел в комнату. - I felt the blood rushinto my cheeks. Я почувствовал, как кровь прилила к моим щекам. - Isaw the fire slowly conquered.Я видел, как пожар постепенно потушили. - Не saw Fleur coming. Он видел, как Флер подходила к нам.

COMPARE:

Verb + Infinitive

Isaw him enterthe shop. (I saw the whole action - he opened the door, went in and disappeard.)

Verb + Participle I

Isaw him enteringthe shop. (This action was in progress when I saw him).

NOTES:

1. The verbs to see and to hear are followed by a clause (not by the Infinitive Construction) when they are not really verbs of sense perception, i.e. when the verb to see means "to understand" and the verb to hear- "to learn, to be told"

- I saw that she didn't realizethe danger.

Я видел (понимал), что она не осознает опасности.

- I heard that he had leftfor the south.

Я слышал (мне сказали), что он уехал на юг.

 

2. After the verbs to see and to notice the Complex Object is not used with the verb to be, a clause is used in that case:

- I saw that he was pale.Я видел, что он побледнел.

PRACTICE