English grammar

Question

What is correct - I have nevr known him be/being/to be so mean?

Philip · Accepted Answer

to be

Take a look at Why be anonymous?.

Artalt · Answer

Thank you. I did it just now. Where can I read about this point of grammar? What book?

Ter · Answer

I hope I got this right:

"I've never known him" is the main clause.
"to be so mean" is an infinitive phrase that modifies "him" as an adjective.

This might help:
http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/grammar/phraseformulas.html

CalifJim · Answer

artaltWhere can I read about this point of grammar? What book?

Any fairly complete grammar book should cover this. Look under "Verbs with Predicative Complements". You can also try searching the internet.

There are six different patterns that are used.

1a, 1b. VERB + NP + NP; VERB + NP + AP
2a, 2b. VERB + NP + as + NP; VERB + NP + as + AP
3a, 3b. VERB + NP + to be + NP; VERB + NP + to be + AP

where NP is a noun phrase and AP is an adjective phrase.

________

Each verb has its own characteristic patterns among these six. know occurs only in 3a and 3b.

We know him to be an honest man.
We know him to be intelligent.

name occurs only in 1a.

They named the child Mark.

appoint occurs in 1a, 2a, and 3a.

The boss appointed her secretary.
The boss appointed her as secretary.
The boss appointed her to be secretary.

And so on.

CJ

English grammar

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