Basic English Grammar with Exercises

Test your knowledge

Exercise 2

Determine whether the following verbs have got finite or non-finite clausal

complements.

(1) a Bobby believes Betsy to be beautiful.

b Terry tried to travel to Toronto.

c Thomas thinks that Ron runs too fast.

d Hetty hopes for Hugh to hug her.

e Alan asked if Sam could stay longer.

f Sam answered that he had to leave.

Now consider the following data. What conclusions can you draw concerning the

types of clausal complements?

g Bobby believes that Betsy is beautiful.

h Hetty hopes that Hugh will hug her.

Exercise 3

In the following sentences, give the possible referents of the pronouns.

(2) a John said that he would never kiss Jenny.

b George believes that Jonathan hates himself.

c While Mary and Fanny were sleeping, Jack and Bob were making dinner for

them.

d While Mary and Fanny were sleeping, Jack and Bob were making dinner for

themselves.

e Sarah told to Edith that she would never be able to live alone.

f When Harry and Rita wake up too late, he always gets angry.

g Mrs Green agreed that her neighbour could give her his keys while he would

be away.

Exercise 4

To what extent does the Case Filter explain the contrasts in grammaticality in the

sentences below?

(1) a. *It seems John to have left.

b. It seems that John has left.

(2) a. Mary believes him to be a fool.

b. *Mary believes he to be a fool.

(3) a. *John to prove the theorem would be great.

b. For John to prove the theorem would be great