1. It was practically impossible for them to agree upon anything.
2. She planned for them to go on a tour in the Alps in July.
3. I rang for you to help the man with the luggage.
4. His behavior made it difficult for me to admit my mistake.
5. There was nothing for him to say.
6. For Dan to pay a compliment was really a hard thing to do.
7. That is not for me to decide.


b) State the function of the Gerundial construction. Write down its name in the space provided.

1. I insist on all the students' taking part in the discussion.
2. The worst thing is your lying here all day long.
3. I am not the cause of their going away.
4. Your arguing will not help us to settle the question.
5. After his being away for some time the crisis came.
6. It was so strange his being mistaken.
7. He was trying to approach without his seeing her.

1. It's quite natural that he should act like that.
It's quite natural like that.
2. The main thing is that we work in close cooperation.
The main thing is in close cooperation.
3. Let us wait till a definite answer arrives.
Let us wait .
4. This is a lesson which you shall remember forever.
This is a lesson forever.
5. I shall leave this magazine that you may read it.
I shall leave this magazine it.
6. He is just the man whom you should have consulted.
He is just the man .
7. The ice has become too thin, so the boys can't go skating.
The ice has become too thin skating.

a) Complete the sentences making Gerundial constructions out of the elements in brackets. Insert prepositions where necessary.

1. We were surprised (he, to take) the whole affair into his hands.
2. I count (Mr. Frost, to come) to the meeting.
3. (He, to be) at the reception will carry more weight.
4. Sam's idea (Jim, to go) to his uncle annoyed him.
5. It is not worth while (you, to worry) .
6. I understand perfectly (the girl, not to want) to leave.
7. The functioning of the mechanism depends (it, to be handled) properly.

b) Complete the sentences using Gerundial predicative complexes instead of clauses. Remember to use prepositions where necessary.

1. The woman couldn't bear the idea that her daughter should marry a man without fortune.
The woman couldn't bear the idea a man without fortune.
2. That he was frank with me was quite a surprise to me.
with me was quite a surprise to me.
3. We were all surprised that she had accepted Jack's proposal.
We were all surprised Jack's proposal.
4. She never dreamt that her son would become an educated man.
She never dreamt an educated man.
5. I don't remember that you ever said a rude word to me.
I don't remember a rude word to me.
6. Lady Bracknell was glad that Jack had a house at Belgrave Square.
Lady Bracknell was glad a house at Belgrave Square.
7. I've never thought that he will scrape through his exams.
I've never thought through his exams.

a) Make an Objective predicative construction with an Infinitive out of the elements provided. Use the particle to with the Infinitive if required.

1. Your words made (I, to feel) young again.
2. I didn't mean (he, to follow) the rules so blindly.
3. I know (the man, to be) a most decent person.
4. She heard (the footsteps, to die away) .
5. The doctor ordered (the room, to air) immediately.
6. The advice was really useful. I believe (it, to do) them a lot of good.
7. I wouldn't have (anybody, to think) ill of her.
8. It was difficult for me to get (they, to believe) me.
9. Mother used to watch (we, to play) tennis.
10. People who knew her felt (she, to be) a woman of strong will.
11. Each of us told a story and that made (the time, to pass) .
12. I had got (they, to take) me to town in their car.
13. Could such a trifle cause (she, to stay) home for weeks?
14. I suspected (he, to know) more than he had said.
15. I felt (something hard, to strike) my leg.

b) Complete the sentences using Objective predicative constructions instead of clauses.

1. I suppose you have no objection if I talk to you when I want to say something.
I suppose no objection if I talk to you when I want to say something.
2. If you want that a thing should be well done, do it yourself.
If you want , do it yourself.
3. She could almost hear how the girl's heart was beating.
She could almost hear .
4. Hilda Murray ordered that the curtains should be drawn.
Hilda Murray ordered .
5. She intended that Roger and Tom would come home soon.
She intended home soon.
6. He believed that the stranger had been a policeman in the past.
He believed a policeman in the past.
7. They found that the village was destroyed.
They found .

c) Make use of the information provided to complete the following sentences with appropriate types of Objective predicative constructions.

1. – How do you know Ann smokes? – I saw .
2. – Why did David resign? – They made .
3. My house needs repairing. I must have .
4. Is John's hair blue now? – Yes, he has dyed .
5. Is she an efficient secretary? – No, we don't believe .
6. Why does Andy look so depressed? – I don't know, but I've never seen .
7. My watch needs fixing. – Take it to the watch-maker's to have .

1. We consider необходимым to raise the subscription fee.
2. Helen thought мудрым to warn everyone beforehand.
3. She judged ошибкой that he had so let her down.
4. He made очевидным that he wasn't going to give in.
5. I find необычным how this fruit tastes.
6. I reckon хорошей идеей to borrow this book instead of buying it.
7. I will think странным that you should be frightened.

a) Make an Absolute nominative construction with Participle I out of the elements provided.

1. She sat on the porch, (Mary, to play) with her doll.
2. (It, to be) pretty late, he went home.
3. Everything remained as she left it, (the fire, to burn) in the grate.
4. (The car, to stop) , the boys jumped out into the grass.
5. (Circumstances, to permit) , they'll be through with it by the end of May.
6. But they did it, (the company, to know) nothing about it.
7. It was Christine herself, (her face, to smile) towards them.

b) Complete the sentences using Absolute nominative constructions with Participle I instead of clauses.

1. David appeared in the open door; one hand clutched a sheaf of bills.
David appeared in the open door, a sheaf of bills.
2. Johnathan shook his head slowly; his tongue was bulging his cheek.
Johnathan shook his head slowly, his cheek.
3. While Marcellus strode heavily to and fro, his impatience mounted.
Marcellus strode heavily to and fro, .
4. The boy sat in the baking sun; his chin rested on his chest.
The boy sat in the baking sun, with on his chest.
5. Once he burst into the studio and his usually placid eyes blinked hard.
Once he burst into the studio, hard.
6. He was standing now while the waves were breaking at his feet.
He was standing now, at his feet.
7. She continued silent and her smile was glowing with all its insolence.
She continued silent, with all its insolence.

c) Complete the sentences using Absolute nominative constructions with a non-verbal second component instead of clauses.

1. His coat and vest were off now and Cowperwood was listening to Aileen's account of her troubles.
now, Cowperwood was listening to Aileen's account of her troubles.
2. He stood beside me in silence; his candle was in his hand.
He stood beside me in silence, .
3. She pressed his hand mutely, her eyes were dim.
She pressed his hand mutely, .
4. They were returning to Fanny's and their hands were full of flowers.
They were returning to Fanny's, of flowers.
5. When that was over, she sat back with a sigh and softly rubbed her knees.
, she sat back with a sigh and softly rubbed her knees.
6. As the front door was open, she could see straight through the house.
, she could see straight through the house.
7. The question was rather difficult to answer, and I asked for permission to think it over.
to answer, I asked for permission to think it over.