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

The Participle as the Part of a Complex Object or a Complex Subject

Similar to the Infinitive Participle I may form part of a Complex Object or Subject when combined with a noun (pronoun) to which it stands in predicate relation.

Compare:

• I saw him run along the street. (Infinitive Complex Object) – He was seen run along the street. (Infinitive Complex Subject)
• I saw him running along the street. (Participle Complex Object) – He was seen running along the street. (Participle Complex Subject)

Such complexes occur after verbs denoting physical perceptions – 'to see', 'to hear', 'to feel', 'to watch', 'to find', 'to catch'.

Infinitive Complex Subject

Complex Subject

Noun/Pronoun + Predicate + Infinitive

The combination of a noun in the common case (or a pronoun in the nominative case) and an infinitive forms a complex subject (1).
The predicate which is usually expressed by a verb in the passive voice  is placed between the noun and the infinitive. The relation between the noun and the infinitive is that of subject and predicate.

Note 1: - According to another interpretation the subject is expressed by a noun or pronoun and the infinitive is regarded as a part of the predicate.

Key examples:

• He is said to be a good teacher. 
• The boy is known to have passed his exams well. 

The predicate in sentences with a complex subject can be expressed by: