Multiple Verb Complements 181 That clauses are the simplest type of noun clauses. They consist of the introductory word that ϩ a sentence in its normal statement word order. As is often the case with that clauses used in nonsubject roles, the word that is often omitted, especially in casual speech. For example: Obj that clause I told him ∅ his plan was very risky. Obj that clause We reminded the kids ∅ it was time to go to bed. The deletion of that from a that clause poses special problems for nonnative speakers because the deletion erases one of the key signals that we rely on to identify that clauses. From this point on, we will put that in parentheses to remind us that we often delete it. The verbs that take this complement type have a restricted range of meaning. Most of the verbs express some form of communication: for example, convince, tell, warn, write. Here are some example sentences using these verbs: We convinced them (that) it was a bad idea. I told you (that) I needed to leave early. The lifeguards warned the swimmers (that) the tide was dangerous. My parents wrote me (that) they were coming for Christmas. Exercise 11.8 Underline and label the object ϩ that clause complements in the following sentences. Note that all of the introductory thats have been deleted. Confi rm that these are that clauses by inserting the missing that. Obj that clause I bet you / New England will win the Superbowl this season. 1. My boss told me I would have to work late tonight. 2. We satisfi ed them our emergency plans met all state and federal requirements. 3. I urged the company they reconsider their decision. 4. We will inform them the meeting has been cancelled. 5. The consultant advised the union the contract would have to be rewritten. 6. The salesman assured us the car was in perfect running order. (i-viiiB,001-328B) whl bk.indd 181 3/16/09 12:34:16 PM 182 Verb Phrases 7. I’ ll bet you we can’t get a taxi at this time of day. 8. Convince me I’m wrong. 9. We instructed everyone they would have to fi ll out new payroll forms. 10. I e-mailed them we would be back a day early. 11. Don’t remind me this was my idea to begin with. 12. Man, that really taught me I should get everything in writing. 13. Promise me you will be careful. 14. My boss fi nally persuaded the company they should revise the policy. 15. I warned them they would get into trouble. 6. To phrase ϩ that clause A few verbs that express communication have an unusual feature: they use a prepositional phrase beginning with to (a to phrase) instead of the expected object. Using the verb say as an example, where we would expect Obj that clause X I said him that we needed to leave soon. we fi nd instead a to phrase in place of the object: to phrase that clause I said to him that we needed to leave soon. Using an object with verbs that take a to phrase is a common error for nonnative speakers. Here are some more examples of both the incorrect and correct forms: Wrong: X He mentioned us that his son was moving to Chicago. Right: He mentioned to us that his son was moving to Chicago. Wrong: X They explained us that our cost estimates were too low. Right: They explained to us that our cost estimates were too low. Wrong: X We pointed out them that they were behind schedule. Right: We pointed out to them that they were behind schedule. (i-viiiB,001-328B) whl bk.indd 182 3/16/09 12:34:16 PM Multiple Verb Complements 183 Even though the verbs that take the to phrase ϩ that clause complement are all verbs of com- munication, we cannot conclude that therefore all verbs of communication take to phrases. Some do, but some don’t. For example, compare say and tell: I said to Jane that we would have to leave a little early. I told Jane that we would have to leave a little early. Say takes a to phrase, but tell takes an object. Unfortunately, you just have to know which verbs take the to phrase and learn them as variations of the normal object ϩ that clause complement types. Here are the most common verbs that take a to phrase instead of the expected object complement: acknowledge explain remark admit mention report announce point out say complain propose signal confess prove state declare recommend suggest Exercise 11.9 Many of the following sentences incorrectly use objects where they should use to phrases instead. If the sentence is incorrect, replace the object with a to phrase. If the sentence is correct as it is, write OK above the object. to you Let me prove you that my plan will work. 1. He pulled me aside and remarked me that the meeting was going very well. 2. In no uncertain terms, they stated us that they were upset about what had happened. 3. Please suggest them that they should take their conversation out into the hall. 4. You should point out the committee that they have already approved the proposal. 5. I confessed him that I didn’t really like sports. 6. We reminded them that we were already pretty late. 7. Senator Blather acknowledged the reporters that he had never actually voted on the bill. 8. She explained them that the hotel did not have any more available rooms. (i-viiiB,001-328B) whl bk.indd 183 3/16/09 12:34:16 PM 184 Verb Phrases 9. They informed us that our fl ight had been cancelled. 10. We complained them that we had confi rmed reservations. 11. The committee will report them that they recommend moving the plant to Ohio. 12. We admitted them that we had probably made a mistake in our recommendations. 13. They said me that I should wait here. 14. They reminded me that I should wait here. 15. I proposed them that they should accept the offer. 7. Object ϩ infi nitive In this construction, the object is followed by an infi nitive (together with all the infi nitive’s complements and modifi ers, if any). For example: Obj Infi nitive phrase Ralph expected the office to be empty on a Sunday morning. Many verbs take this complement type. Fortunately, the verbs tend to fall into four distinct groups based on meaning. Here are the four groups with some examples of each: Verbs of permission: allow, enable, help, inspire, permit, require The company authorized the project team to go ahead. Verbs of cognition: assume, expect, feel, imagine, know, understand John considered his job to be vital to the company’s success. Verbs of causation: cause, drive, force, get, intend, lead, mean, prompt I got a friend to drive me to the station. Verbs of naming: appoint, choose, elect, name, vote They chose Alice to lead the new task force. Exercise 11.10 Underline and label the object (Obj) and infi nitive phrase (Inf ) in each sentence (include the infi nitive’s complement). Above the italicized verb classify the verb as permission, cognition, cau- sation, or naming. (i-viiiB,001-328B) whl bk.indd 184 3/16/09 12:34:16 PM Multiple Verb Complements 185 causation Obj Inf I asked a friend to take notes at the meeting for me. 1. We expected them to be ready by now. 2. The government permitted the project to go ahead under certain restrictions. 3. Roberta wanted the kids to go to summer school this year. 4. The coupon entitles you to buy a second ticket at half price. 5. Remind me to get some gas on the way home. 6. I believed myself to be entirely in the wrong. 7. T hey used the loan to buy some much-needed equipment. 8. The news prompted us to reconsider what we were planning. 9. The VP asked Anne to head up the new division in Europe. 10. Please allow us to help you with that. 11. His parents encouraged her to apply to Duke. 12. I knew them to be better players than they had fi rst appeared. 13. He inspired us to try even harder. 14. The CEO picked an outsider to head the review committee. 15. The results forced us to reevaluate all of our plans. 8. Object ϩ base form Only a few verbs take this complement type, but they are commonly used. Here is an example: Obj Base form He made me do it. The term base form is also called an unmarked or bare infi nitive. All of these terms refer to the same thing: a verb phrase that contains a base-form verb followed by that verb’s complements and modifi ers (if any). We can see that this complement type is indeed a base form by using the verb be. For example: DO Base form They let Mary be the leader in the new project. (i-viiiB,001-328B) whl bk.indd 185 3/16/09 12:34:16 PM 186 Verb Phrases If the verb be were not in its base form, it would be is to agree with its subject Mary: X They let Mary is the leader in the new project. Nonnative speakers commonly make mistakes with this complement type because it is eas- ily confused with the much more frequent object ϩ infi nitive complement. That is, nonnative speakers sometimes overgeneralize the to of the object ϩ infi nitive complement to the less-com- mon object ϩ base form complement. For example, compare the following two sentences: Object ϩ infi nitive: We allowed them to fi nish. Obj ϩ base form: X We let them to fi nish. In the second example, the to has been added to the base form in mistaken analogy to the more common infi nitive complement. Here are some more examples of the correct and incorrect use of the object ϩ base form complement and object ϩ infi nitive complement: Obj Base form Correct: Please let me help you. Obj Inf Incorrect: X Please let me to help you. Obj Base form Correct: I once saw Pelé play football. Obj Inf Incorrect: X I once saw Pelé to play football. Most of the verbs in the group refer to sense perception: for example, hear, see, and watch. Another common group refers to causation: for example, cause and make. A particularly com- mon verb in this group is have, which in this context means to “cause someone to do something.” For example: I had my assistant take notes during the meeting. Here is a list of the more common verbs that take the base-form complement: feel let observe have listen to overhear hear make see help notice watch (i-viiiB,001-328B) whl bk.indd 186 3/16/09 12:34:17 PM Multiple Verb Complements 187 Exercise 11.11 Choose the correct complement type (base form or infi nitive) from the two forms in parentheses. I heard them (come in/to come in ) late last night. 1. The doctor felt the patient’s pulse (fl utter/to fl utter) irregularly. 2. Would you call them and have them (make/to make) a reservation for us? 3. Please watch the kids (play/to play) in the backyard for a few minutes, will you? 4. Did you actually hear him (say/to say) that we might quit? 5. I consider them (be/to be) ready to go. 6. We listened to them (discuss/to discuss) what they should do. 7. You will notice the car’s performance gradually (get/to get) worse over time. 8. I need to help the kids (get/to get) ready for bed. 9. Have them (give/to give) me a call. 10. We couldn’t help overhearing them (talk/to talk) about the incident. 9. Object ϩ present participle This type uses a present participle verb phrase (Pres Part VP) as a complement. For example: Obj Pres Part VP We watched him fixing his bicycle. Obj Pres Part VP She found them watering the garden. Obj Pres Part VP I couldn’t help hearing the group discussing their project. The verb catch often has the negative implication of discovering somebody doing something improper. For example: The teacher caught several students cheating on the exam. The manager caught some employees sleeping on the job. The audit caught several offices overcharging customers. (i-viiiB,001-328B) whl bk.indd 187 3/16/09 12:34:17 PM . Object ϩ present participle This type uses a present participle verb phrase (Pres Part VP) as a complement. For example: Obj Pres Part VP We watched him fixing his bicycle. Obj Pres Part VP She. were behind schedule. Right: We pointed out to them that they were behind schedule. (i-viiiB,001-328B) whl bk.indd 182 3/16/09 12:34:16 PM Multiple Verb Complements 183 Even though the verbs that. bill. 8. She explained them that the hotel did not have any more available rooms. (i-viiiB,001-328B) whl bk.indd 183 3/16/09 12:34:16 PM 184 Verb Phrases 9. They informed us that our fl ight had