Учебник Кобрина. Грамматика. Синтаксис.1999. Учебное пособие для студентов педагогических институтов и университетов по специальности 2103 "Иностранные языки". Спб., Союз, 1999. 496 с
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THE PREDICATIVE COMPLEXESPredicative complexes (or constructions) are structures intermediate between a phrase and a clause. Unlike phrases they contain two words I which semantically are in subject-predicate relations to one another, as one (the nominal part) denotes the doer of the action or the bearer of the state or quality, while the other (the predicated part) may be either verbal (an infinitive, a participle, a gerund) or non-verbal (an adjective, a stative, an adverb, a noun). But unlike clauses the subject-predicate relations in complexes are not grammatically explicit, that is there is no finite verb-form in them, functioning as the verbal predicate or as a link-verb of a nominal predicate. Therefore complexes have neither real subject, nor real predicate. Still as they have two parts with subject-predicate relations between them the complexes may be transformed into a clause, as in: I heard him cry ——>I heard that he cried. Other peculirities result from their structural features: The fact that they are devoid of the finite verb form renders them dependent on the embedding sentence, and the very absence of the finite verb form is sufficient to show their dependent status as will be shown in the case of different constructions: It raining cats and dogs, we stayed at home (adverbial). It is for you to decide it (predicative). I saw him cross the streat. (object) But in most cases the dependent status of the construction is manifested by special structural devices of linking: 1. It may be overlapping (наложение) when the embedding sentence and the complex share a common element, as in the case of objective predicative complexes:     I saw him enter this door. where him has a double role, referring formally to the predicate of the embedding sentence (I saw him) and referring semantically to the complex, as it denotes the doer of the action ( he entered this door); in such cases the construction functions as one part of the sentence (a complex object). In some cases overlapping is possible with verbs taking a preposition, then the latter is retained between the verb and predicative comples:   We listened to him talking to his neighbour. 2  . It may be blending (слияние), when elements of two structures blend into one syntactical part, usually into а соmpound predicate of double orientation when two elements refer to different doers of the action, as in the subjective predicative construction:  H    e is supposed to have arrived already —> It is supposed (they suppose) that he has arrived already. The first part of the predicate refers to an implied doer not expressed in the sentence, though formally it agrees with the subject he. The second part to have arrived refers to the doer expressed by the subject, though grammatically the reference is not expressed. The elements of the complex structurally make two parts of the sentence - the subject and part of the predicate of double orientation. Predicative complexes comprise the following structures: subjective predicative construction, objective predicative construction, nominative absolute predicative constructions, for-to-infinitive constructions, gerundial complexes. The first two constructions have permanent functions in the sentence, the functions of the last three may vary. Due to the nature of the second part of the constructions (verbal or non-verbal) all the constructions (complexes) fall into two large classes: 1. verbal constructions and 2. non-verbal constructions. I. Verbal constructions can be transformed into clauses with a verbal predicate: We saw the storm approaching ———> We saw that the storm was approaching. It raining cats and dogs, we stayed at home. ——> As it was raining cats and dogs, we stayed at home. The train is reported to have landed. ———> lt is reported (They report) that the plane has landed. II. Non-verbal constructions can be transformed into clauses too, but with a compound nominal predicate. The door was painted green.——> The door was painted and it became green. They elected him president.——> They elected him and he became president (and he is president now). He stood there trembling with his face ablaze. ——> He stood and his face was ablaze. Verbal constructions fall into two groups: 1. those containing an infinitive and 2. those containing a participle. The infinitive constructions are: the objective infinitive construction, the subjective infinitive construction, the for-to-infinitive construction and the absolute nominative infinitive construction. The participial constructions are: the objective participial construction, the subjective participial construction, the nominative absolute participial construction and the prepositional absolute participial construction. The subjective predicative constructions ** It is traditionally called the Complex Subject. The other term often used the Nominative with the infinitive construction does not embrace all variants, as the second element may be not an infinitive. The subjective construction with an infinitive § 123. The construction consists of a noun (or a noun-pronoun) in the common case or a personal pronoun in the nominative case and an infinitive. The peculiarity of the construction is that the first element is separated from the second one by a finite verb-form which together with the infinitive forms a compound verbal predicate of double orientation, whereas the nominal part of the construction forms the subject of the sentence. Thus the construction does not function as one part of the sentence but falls into two parts each functioning separately. Semantically of these two parts of the predicate only the second one refers to the subject, as only this part denotes either the action or the state of the person or non-person expressed by the subject. Thus in the sentence: He is said to know five languages it is the relation. He knows five languages that is important. In between the subject and the infinitive there is a part of the predicate expressed by a finite verb which grammatically indicates subject-predicate relations. However, Semantically this finite verb cannot serve as the predicate of the subject, as it denotes some comment, or estimate, or judgement, or conclusion, or attitude to the action or state expressed by the infinitive. The comment or attitude comes from somebody not mentioned in the sentence, therefore such sentences can be transformed into complex ones with the indefinite-personal subject in the principal clause: He is reported to have left. ————> They report (or somebody reports) that he has left. The car was heard to turn round the corner. ——> They heard (somebody heard) that the car turned round the comer. The subjective infinitive construction is used with a limited number of finite verbs either in the passive or in the active voice: I. Verbs used in the passive voice fall into four groups: 1) verbs of sense perception (hear, see, observe, watch, etc.). When used in the passive voice they are followed by a to-infinitive. They express the idea of evidence. The same idea is also rendered by some other verbs in the passive voice (such as find, discover). He was seen to enter the building. (Somebody was a witness of this fact) They were heard to quarrel. (Somebody heard them and therefore was a witness of their quarrel) The boy was found to be sleeping at home. (Somebody found the boy and he was sleeping) 2) verbs of mental perception (think, know, mean, believe, expect, consider, assume, presume, suppose) With this construction these verbs denote different shades of expectation, opinion, judgement: Pat was supposed to come with me tonight. The Paliament is expected to introduce some changes into the laws. Programmed instruction is considered to have many advantages. 3) verbs of saying and reporting (say, report, declare, predict, etc). These verbs also express some judgement or opinion: Blackberries are said to have a lot of vitamins. A new star was reported to have appeared in the East. 4) Causative verbs (cause, make, order, allow, etc.) The verb to make when used in the passive voice is followed by a to-infinitive. Jule was made to repeat her words. The doctor was ordered to change his shift. No dam was allowed to be built in this part of the country. II. The following verbs ace used in the active voice: 1. Verbs expressing subjective or personal attitude to facts and their evaluation (to seem, to appear, to happen, to chance, to turn out, etc.). The structure seemed to have been properly designed. Your friend turned out to be stronger than we expected. Everybody appeared to be enjoying themselves. He chanced to be in the park when I was there. I was to tell you the news if I happened to run into you. 2. Modal phrases expressing different shades of probability or certainty (to be (un)likely, to be sure, to be certain, to be bound); also adjectives or nouns with the link-verb to be expressing estimate of different kind (pleasant, hard, easy, difficult, terrible, apt, etc.). As probability mostly implies a future action the non-perfect infinitive is generally used after to be likely. With modal phrases expressing certainty both non-perfect and perfect infinitives are possible. The modal phrases to be apt, to be bound generally refer to habitual actions or states and are accordingly followed by the non-perfect infinitive: We are certain to come to an agreement. You are not likely to believe my story. A strawberry, unless fresh-picked, is bound to exude juice. These objects are sure to be wanted as evidence. He is always liable to do idiotic things. A girl is apt to be a little nervous on her wedding day. Chrisis is apt to strike suddenly like influenza. Subjective predicative constructions with non-verbal (nominal) second parts These constructions structurally belong to the same type of subjective predicative constructions, but semantically they are different from those with verbal parts, because the second part of the predicate being a noun or an adjective denotes a new quality or state acquired as a result of the action or denote judgement, opinion of the quality. Because of its meaning the nominal part is sometimes called a subjective predicative. The door was painted green. Suddenly the door was flung open. Some verbs require the second part of the predicate with the preposition as. The plan was declared as ridiculous and absurd. The list of verbs used in these constructions partly coincides with verbs mentioned above as preceding the infinitive. Their number is limited. The following verbs are used in the passive voice: 1. Verbs of mental perception (to accept, to believe, to think, to consider, to expect, to presume, to estimate, to regard, to suppose, etc.); also verbs of saying and reporting (to declare, to describe, to call, to say, to report). He is believed as honest as anyone here. The girl was thought clever. The plan is considered impractical. He was called ‘rising’, ‘promising’ before. 2. Verbs implying that the result of the action will be a new quality, state, or reaction. These verbs are rather numerous and fall into several subclasses: A. Verbs with causative meaning (to make, to render) The room was made comfortable for the child. He was made a knight. The audience were rendered speechless by these words. B. Verbs denoting an action resulting in the change of colour (to paint, to tinge, to dye, to stain, to dust, etc.). The walls were painted light pink. Her hair was dyed red. After staying on the beach an hour his skin was tinged pink. His car had been dusted grey by the journey over bad roads. С. Verbs denoting actions resulting in the change of social rank, status, function of, or giving identification to, a person (to appoint, to call, to christen, to elect, to raise, to select) to mark, etc.); also to train, to bring up, which acquire the meaning of “the change of social status” only in this construction. He was appointed secretary of the state. The child was christened Fernando. The road to the estate was marked private. The boy had been brought up as a Catholic. D. Verbs implying movement to a different position or state (to bring, to fling, to set, to tear, etc.). All the windows were flung open. The little bird was set free. The envelope was torn open. The objective predicative constructions** This construction is often called the complex object. § 124. The objective predicative construction functions as a complex object. It consists of a nominal part and a part which stands in subject-predicate relations to the first part. The nominal part is a noun or a noun-pronoun in the common case or a personal pronoun in the objective case. The second element of the construction is a verbal (an infinitive, participle I, participle II) or non-verbal (an adjective or a noun). Accordingly the following objective construction can be distinguished: I. The objective with the infinitive construction: I saw Nick take your book. We hate him to go away. II. The objective with participle I (or participle II) construction: They heard somebody knocking at the door. We found him murdered in his own house. III. The objective with a non-verbal part construction: I never thought her clever. The objective with the infinitive construction § 125. This construction is the most recurrent as it may be used after a wider range of verbs, both taking a direct (I didn’t want him to see me here) and an indirect non-recipient object (We were relying on him to put things right); in the latter case the objective construction is introduced by the preposition generally used with this particular verb. The objective predicative construction of this type is used after the following verbs: 1. Verbs of wish and intention (to wish, to want, to desire, to choose, to prefer, should/would like, to intend, to mean). Owing to the meaning of these verbs, the infinitive in the construction can be only non-perfect, as it denotes an unfulfilled action. He would like you to see him in his office. I did not mean it to be told to her. 2. Verbs of emotion and attitude (to like, to dislike, to love, to hate, cannot/could not bear). Those too can be followed only by non-perfect forms of the infinitive. I can’t bear people to be unhappy or upset. I hate you to go away. 3. Verbs of mental activity (to think, to suppose, to consider, to believe, to know, to find, to expect, to imagine, to understand, to assume, to acknowledge, to feel, to trust, etc.). After these verbs the infinitive may be used in any form, depending on the time relation between the two actions: He believed Jennie to be playing in the garden. I supposed him to have been married to her years ago. If the action of the infinitive refers to the person denoted by the subject, the corresponding reflexive pronoun is used. I know myself to be rather slow. 4. Verbs of declaring (to declare, to report, to pronounce). With these all forms of the infinitive are possible. They reported the plane to have been lost. 5. Causative verbs (to make, to have) take a complex object with a bare infinitive, usually it is a non-perfect infinitive, as the action is the result of inducement. The verb to gel takes a complex object with a to-infinitive. With other verbs of inducement (to order, to command, to ask, to allow, etc.) the objective with the infinitive construction can have only the passive infinitive. She would not allow the life of thechild to be risked. Note: If the infinitive attached to such verbs is active, it does not form a complex with the preceding nominal part; both the elements should be treated as different parts of the sentence, the first as an indirect recipient object, the second as a direct object: He ordered him to come. (Whom did he order come? What did he order him?) 6. Verbs of perception (to see, to watch, to hear, to feel, to observe, to notice). After these verbs a bare non-perfect active infinitive is used. We saw planes zoom into the air. They felt the earth shake under their feet. After these verbs structures with the link verb to be are not used. Where the need arises, a subordinate clause is used. I saw that she was pretty. (---/---> I saw her to be pretty.) § 126. As was mentioned in § 125 the objective with the infinitive construction may be used with a few verbs as their indirect non-recipient object. These verbs are to wait (for), to rely (on), to listen (to), to look (for), to count (upon). All of them except the verb to listen take the infinitive with the particle to. With the verb to listen a bare infinitive is used. Can I really count upon him to undertake the job? I was relying on him to put things right. I listened to them talk about me. The objective with participle I construction This construction comprises a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the objective case and participle I, which is in subject-predicate relation to the nominal part. In comparison with the infinitive in this position participle I shows more clearly the durative character of the action. The construction functions as a complex object. § 127. The objective with participle I construction can be used with verbs of three semantic groups, although with two of them it occurs very seldom. In all cases only non-perfect forms of participle I can be used. These groups are as follows: 1. Verbs of sense perception (see, hear, feel). There we saw the crocodiles swimming about. Over his shoulder he could hear them snuffing. I felt tears running down my chieks. 2. Verbs of wish. These verbs combine with the construction only occasionally. Nobody wanted him going there alone. 3. The causative verbs to have and to get. He got them running his errands every day. We’ll have them trembling with fear. The objective with participle II construction § 128. This construction shows that the action expressed by participle II is (or was) performed not by the person denoted by the nominal part due to the passive meaning of participle II for most verbs. However after the verbs to have, to get, to want participle II may denote an action performed at the request of the person denoted by the nominal part. The objective with participle II construction can be attached to verbs of four semantic groups. 1. Verbs of sense perception (to see, to hear, to feel, to watch): We heard the door shut. They watched him examined by the doctor. I heard my name echoed in the distance. 2. A few verbs of mental activity (to think, to believe, to consider, to remember). At first she thought Johnny killed. 3. Verbs of wish. Nobody wanted it done in such a way. 4. The causative verbs to have and to get. With these verbs the construction means that the action of participle II is done for the benefit of the person expressed by the nominal part of the construction. How do you think the men would have their wounds dressed, get themselves washed, have their beds made if nobody worked on a Sunday? The objective with participle construction attached to the verbs of this group cannot be transformed into object clauses because these verbs do not take object that- clauses. Objective constructions with non-verbals § 129. Adjectives and nouns which form the second part of these objective constructions are in subject-predicate relations to the first part and show what the person or non-person expressed by it is or becomes, or what quality it acquired. Because of its meaning the nominal part is often called an objective predicative. These constructions may be used after the following verbs: I. Verbs of mental activity and sense perception, which acquire in this construction the meaning of judgement, opinion or conclusion (to appreciate, to believe, to claim, to class, to consider, to condemn, to count, to deem, to esteem, to fancy, to feel, to figure, to imagine, to impart, to interpret, to judge, to look (at, on, upon), to perceive, to picture, to place, to pronounce, to recognize, to regard, to see, to sum up, to take, to think, to view, to visualize, etc.); also after some other verbs (to find, to discover, to welcome, etc.) expressing the same meaning. Occasionally a non-verbal element is introduced by the prepositions as or for. He judged her young and pleasing. The girl condemned herself as stupid. They saw him as the greatest man in Europe. The town esteemed him as a successful man. I figured you for a good guy. These constructions may be transformed into object clauses: I thought it a wonderful opportunity ——> I thought that it was a wonderful opportunity. He found his life dull ——> He found that his life was dull. Several verbs of this group (to consider, to deem, to feel, to find, to regard, to suppose, to think, and some others) may take a complex object with the nominal part expressed by a verbal (an infinitive, a gerund) or by a clause. In this case the formal introductory object it is used: Не thought it useless going to Paris .——> He thought that going to Paris was useless. I consider it possible to talk to him now. They will think it strange that you should be frightened. II. Verbs implying that the result of the action will be a new quality, state, social standing, or attitude to the action. These verbs are rather numerous and form several semantic subclasses. A. Verbs with causative meaning (to make, to render, to hit, to have, to worry, to scare, etc.) implying change of state or impression, as in: This blow made him crazy. The sight of the animal scared the boy stiff. His sudden appearance rendered us speechless. B. Verbs denoting the action resulting in the change of colour (topaint, to dye, to stain, to tinge, to dust) They painted the door green. She has dyed her hair blonde. The storm dusted everything grey. C. Verb denoting actions resulting in the change of social rank, status, function of, or giving identification to, a person (to appoint, to call, to christen, to elect, to raise, to select, etc.) as in: They elected him President. They appointed him chief in the office. I’ll raise my kid a Catholic. The parents christened the boy Paul. They deliberately selected Elizabeth as an ideal mother-substitute. D. Verbs denoting motion, movement to a different position or state (to bring, to carry, to deliver, to fing, to kick, to march, to pick, to put, to send, to tear, to toss, etc.). She pulled the drawer open. I tore the letter open. Christin kicked the door open. The girl clicked her bag shut. Most of the verbs in group II have a very general vague meaning, they are often incomplete without the adjective or noun denoting the result of the action. Therefore they are very closely connected with it, forming a set expression:
to make oneself agreable (comfortable, cosy)
to drive mad (crazy, desperate) to leave somebody stunned (doubtful, weak, indifferent, blind, crippled) 
The absolute nominative constructions§ 130. These constructions are called ‘absolute’ because they are not dependent on any other part of the including sentence, though they cannot be used without it, as they lack a finite verb form and thus have no predicate. From the point of view of their transformational possibility, absolute constructions fall into two types, verbal and non-verbal ones. I. Constructions with verbals as their second part. When transformed into clauses they retain their predicate part, which takes a proper tense-aspect form. She sat on the porch, Mary playing with her doll ————> She sat on the porch, and (while) Mary was playing with her doll. The clauses resulting from such transformations usually have a simple verbal predicate. If the second part includes a form of the verb to be, the predicate of the clause is, of course, a compound nominal one: It being late, he went home ——> As it was late, he went home. II. Constructions with non-verbals with an adjective, a stative, an adverb or a noun (with a preposition) as their second part. When transformed into clauses, a proper form of the link verb to be must be introduced, as these constructions lack a verbal component of their own. He marched out of the room, his head high up ——> He marched out of the room, and his head was high up. Thus clauses resulting from the transformation of constructions of this type always have a compound nominal predicate. § 131. Absolute constructions may have two forms: non-prepositional and prepositional. The latter is introduced by the preposition with (in the case of the infinitive construction it may be without). Dinner over, everybody rose. He was slowly coming to us, with his hands up. Non-prepositional absolute constructions § 132. Non-prepositional absolute constructions are: the absolute nominative with participle I construction, the absolute nominative with participle II construction, the absolute nominative with the infinitive construction, the absolute nominative with the adjective construction, the absolute nominative with the adverb construction, the absolute nominative with a prepositional noun construction. The absolute nominative with participle I construction is the most frequently used. It consists of a noun in the common case or a personal pronoun in the objective case and participle I. Within it all forms of participle I are possible. It being late, he bolted the windows. Everything remained as she left it, the fire still burning. As can be seen from the above examples, the position of the construction varies: it may either open the sentence or close it. The absolute nominative with participle I construction is generally used as an adverbial of reason or of attendant circumstances, although sometimes it is an adverbial of time. Occasionally, especially with the verbs to permit or to fail, it is an adverbial of condition. The construction should be translated into Russian by means of different corresponding adverbial clauses: 1. Of reason. The weather being unusually mild at that time for the season of the year, there was no sleighing ——>As the weather was... (Поскольку (так как) погода была...) 2. Of attendant circumstances. In this case the construction usually comes at the end of the sentence. With a yell, he sprang back, a sweat coming on his skin ———> ... and a sweat came... (и кожа его покрылась потом.) 3. Of time. The car having stopped, the boys jumped out onto the grass ——> When the car stopped... (Когда машина остановилась...) 4. Of condition. Circumstances permitting, they will be through with it by the end of May ——> If circumstances permit... (Если обстоятельства позволят...) The absolute nominative with participle II construction is usually an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances or time: 1. Of attendant circumstances. “Bye,” he said, and walked away, his farewell unanswered ——> ...but his farewell was unanswered, (...но его прощание осталось без ответа.) 2. Of time. Dinner served, Mrs Marlow rang the bell ——> When dinner was served... (Когда обед был подан...) The absolute nominative with the infinitive construction functions as an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances. There they remained, some of them to be entirely forgotten ——> ...and some of them were to be entirely Forgotten. (...причем некоторым суждено было быть полностью забытыми.) The absolute nominative constructions with non-verbals differ from those described above in that their predicate part is verbless, being expressed only by an adjective, stative, adverb or a noun with a preposition. They are semantically in predicate relations to the nominal part of the construction. Therefore in case of transformation an appropriate form of the link verb to be must be supplied. He stepped forward, his face red with anger ——> ...and his face was red with anger. I. The absolute nominative with the adjective construction may be an adverbial of attendant circumstances or of reason: 1. Of attendant circumstances. She stood under the tree, her head full of strange ideas ——> ...and her head was full... (...и голова ее была полна...) 2. Of reason. . Her heart full of despair, she could not say a word ——> As her heart was full... (Так как сердце ее было переполнено отчаянием...) II. The absolute nominative with the stative construction is usually an adverbial of reason or manner: 1. Of reason. The gallery door slightly ajar, I could hear the steps of the soldiers ———> As the gallery door was slightly ajar... (Так как дверь была слегка приоткрыта...) 2. Of manner. This time the fish attacked from below. It hurtled up under the woman, jaws agape ——> ...and its jaws were agape. (...с открытой пастью.) III. The absolute nominative with the adverb construction is usually an adverbial of time. Tea over, she again summoned us to the fire ——> When tea was over... (После чая...) IV. The absolute nominative with a prepositional noun construction is usually either an adverbial of attendant circumstances or time: 1. Of attendant circumstances. I waited, every nerve upon the stretch ———>...and every nerve was upon the stretch. (...и каждый нерв у меня был напряжен.) 2. Of time. All in the room, she called in Molly ———> When all were in the room... (Когда все собрались в комнате...) Prepositional absolute constructions § 133. There are prepositional absolute constructions with participle I or II, with an infinitive, with an adjective, with a stative, with an adverb, or with a prepositional noun. All function mainly as adverbials of attendant circumstances, although sometimes they may be other adverbials. All of them can be transformed into clauses. I. The prepositional absolute construction with participle I. With his head aching from the slap of the bullet and the blood dripping over the ear, he went over to the Frenchman ———> He went over to the Frenchman, his head was aching... and the blood was dripping... (...голова у него болела... кровь сочилась.) II. The prepositional absolute construction with participle II. A Negro boy lay on the pavement, with his throat cut ——> ...and his throat was cut. (...с перерезанным горлом.) III. The prepositional absolute construction with the infinitive. You’ll lose the last minutes, without someone to take care of you ———>...if nobody takes care of you. (...если никто о тебе не позаботится.) This construction is very seldom used. IV. Prepositional absolute constructions with non-verbals. 1. The prepositional absolute construction with the adjective. She hurriedly left the room with her eyes red ———> ...and her eyes were red. (...и глаза у нее были красные.) 2. The prepositional absolute construction with the stative. He stood there trembling, with his face ablaze ——> ...and his face was ablaze. (...и лицо его пылало.) 3. The prepositional absolute construction with the adverb. He turned away, with his hand still up ——>...and his hand was still up. (... все еще не опуская руки.) 4. The prepositional absolute construction with a noun. They marched towards the square, with little flags in their hands ———> ...and there were little flags in their hands. (...с флажками в руках.) The for-to-infinitive constructions§ 134. The for-to-infinitive construction is expressed by a noun in the common case or a personal pronoun in the objective case and an infinitive with the particle to. It is introduced by the preposition for. The construction may function as different parts of the sentence: 1. Subject. In this function it usually follows introductory it and is very seldom placed before the predicate. It was practically impossible for them to meet anybody. For one to spend a summer with them was a wonderful experience. 2. Predicative. The usual link verb is to be, although other link verbs are also possible. That is not for me to decide. What it all means remains for an expert to say. 3. Object. The construction can be used as an indirect non-recipient object of certain verbs (to ask, to watch) and adjectives (anxious, eager, impatient, sorry, willing, etc.). I watched for him to appear through the bushes. Everybody was impatient for the experiment to begin. 4. Attribute. In this function it modifies nouns or indefinite, negative, and universal pronouns. She gave orders for everyone to stop packing. There was nothing for him to say. 5. Adverbial modifier: a) of purpose. I rang for you to show the lady out. Unlike the infinitive, the for-to-construction in this function can be placed only after the predicate. b) of consequence. The chance was too good for Jack to miss it. The real cause of the explosion was evident enough for everyone to discuss it. The gerundial predicative constructions§ 135. The gerundial predicative construction is a predicative complex in which the nominal part is generally a noun/noun-pronoun in the possessive case or a possessive pronoun. Sometimes, however, it may be a noun/noun-pronoun in the common case or a personal pronoun in the objective case. The construction may function as different parts of the sentence: 1. Subject. It is used either with or without the introductory it. Your doing nothing won’t help anybody. Is it worth while your quarrelling all the time? 2. Predicative. The only way out will be his taking the job. 3. Object. The construction may be either a direct object to a verb or an indirect non-recipient object to a verb or adjective. She liked his worrying about his wife. He insisted on my claims being acknowledged. 4. Attribute. The construction is generally used with the preposition of, althougt other prepositions are also possible. The prospect of someone else getting a job moved them to strong moral indignation. 5. Adverbial modifier: a) of time. After his being away for some time the crisis came. b) of attendant circumstances. The car slid away without my having to say anything. c) of concession. In spite of it being cold the bushes swarmed with insects. In this function the construction is always introduced by a preposition. |
