Syntax B

Handout 1a - KEY

 

Lesson 1 – Handout 1a - KEY

 

Leave out everything you can in the following sentences

 

1. shortening to ‘to’ (leaving out the infinitive):

It’s impossible to force people to do what their basic nature tells them not to.

 

2. shortening down to the last element (leaving out to and possibly other elements such as auxiliary verbs):  

I want to eat pineapples, lie in the sun and get brown.

3.  

I hope to be eating pineapples on a beach in Acapulco this time next week and thoroughly enjoying myself.

4. 

 She expected it to have been booked and paid for already.

 

 5. shortening of the passive infinitive, after the verbs such as wish, want + object+passive infinitive:

‘Must the flight be booked now?’ ‘ Yes, she wants it booked straight away.’

6.  

I didn’t want my bags searched like hers.

7.  

She wants his pocket money stopped for six months.

 

8.   Explain the difference between the following sentences:   

She clearly expected you to book it. = she clearly thought that you would book it.

She clearly expected you to have booked it. = ……………that you had booked it. 

- the perfect infinitive (to have booked) relates to time before that of the introductory verb (expected in this case)

 

References:

Gethin, H. (1992) Grammar in Context. Harlow: Longman, pp. 100-103.