Complex Subject Exercises

Before doing grammar exercises it’s useful to repeat the basics. 

Short Review of the Complex Subject

Complex Subject is a combination of a noun/pronoun and an infinitive. The predicate is placed between the noun and the infinitive.

Noun /Pronoun + Predicate + Infinitive

Key examples:  

• He is said to be a good father.  
• Tom seems to know my brother well.
  

Noun is in the common case; pronoun is in the nominative case.

Predicate can be expressed by:

1. The verbs ‘to hear, to see, to suppose, to believe, to expect, to know, to consider’ in the passive voice. The novel is expected to be published next month.
2. The verbs ‘to say, to report, to announce’ in the passive voice. He was said to be writing a new novel.
3. The verbs ‘to seem, to appear, to prove, to turn out, to happen’ in the active voice. The child seemed to be sleeping.
4. The compound nominal predicate such as: ‘is likely, is unlikely, is sure and is certain’. He is likely to return on Monday.
   

To go into details take a look at the page 'Infinitive Complex Subject Grammar'.

Complex Subject Exercises   

Some exercises include answer keys.

1. Point out complex subject. Pay attention to the voice of the predicate (underlined).
a).

1. The refrigerator is expected to work well.
2. A washing machine is considered to save much time.
3. The sewing machine is supposed to be new.
4. Potted plants are known to take much light.
5. The expedition is believed to have reached its destination.
6. The novel is expected to be published next month.
7. Adam was said to be writing a new novel.
8. Tom and Xenia were seen to go home together.
   

b).

1. She seems to be looking for the clothes brush.
2. He seems to have bought a new smartphone.
3. She appeared to like diamonds.
4. Tom appears to have used another person’s credit card. 
5. He happens to have this record.
6. She happened to damage the vacuum cleaner.
7. The vacuum-cleaner proved to work well.
8. The glass turned out to be broken.
   

2. Make up correct sentence with complex subject.  

Model:
A: the guests, to arrive, tomorrow, to expect
B: The guests are expected to arrive tomorrow.

1. to seem, the kitchen, to be small 
2. the curtain, to be torn, happen 
3. the shelf, to prove, to be shaky 
4. the vase, to have bought, 10 years ago, to know  
5. to come in time, to expect, everybody 
6. people, to suppose, to wash hands before meals 
7. to seem, the basin, to be leaking 
8. to seem, the house, by the earthquake, to have been damaged 
9. not to seem, he, to have returned
   

Answer key:

1. The kitchen seems to be small.
2. The curtain happened to be torn.
3. The shelf proved to be shaky.
4. The vase is known to have bought 10 years ago.
5. Everybody is expected to come in time.
6. People are supposed to wash hands before meals.
7. The basin seems to be leaking.
8. The house seems to have been damaged by the earthquake.
9. He doesn’t seem to have returned.
   

3. Answer the following questions using complex subject.

1. You don’t happen to have lost your keys, do you? 
2. Did he prove to be a good musician? 
3. Did your curtain rods prove to be too big for the window? 
4. Is a washing machine supposed to save time?
   

Answer key:

1.  No, I don’t. I do not happen to have lost my keys.
2. Yes, he did. He proved to be a good musician. 
3. Yes, they did. My curtain rods proved to be too big for the window.
4. Yes, it is. A washing machine is supposed to save time.
   

4. Paraphrase the following sentences so as to use complex subjects.

Model:
A: It is supposed that furnishing a house requires good taste.
B: Furnishing a house is supposed to require a good taste.

1. It is said they have bought a new side-board. 
2. It is said that he has bought a new gaming chair. 
3. It is known that she has passed her exams well. 
4. It seems they need another bookcase. 
5. It turned out that the oil cloth was of good quality. 
6. It is sure that he will miss this train. 
7. It is likely that Tom will return on Monday. 
8. It seems that he hasn’t returned. 
9. It is expected that she will come tomorrow.
   

Answer key:

1. They are said to have bought a new side-board.
2. He is said to have bought a new gaming chair.
3. She is known to have passed her exams well.
4. They seem to need another bookcase.
5. The oil cloth turned out to be of good quality.
6. He is sure to miss this train.
7. Tom is likely to return on Monday.
8. He doesn’t seem to have returned.
9. She is expected to come tomorrow.
   

•   Go to the 'The Infinitive' page 
• 'Infinitive Complex Subject Grammar' page
  
• Go to the 'Complex Object Exercises' page