Have + object + verb or to + be + past participle?

Question

Hi,

I've spent some time reading an exciting novel and now I am having a hard time to understand the following sentence from the book:

"I've ordered the bulk of our food stores moved onto the ice and the remaining boats put off."

The problem is that I am not sure if I should understand the sentence according to the structure Have + object + verb form (e.g. We need to have the curtains cleaned). Or is this, perhaps, a reduced clause using the passive infinitive structure (to + be + past participle)?

Here is how I understand the sentence with added words:

"I've ordered the bulk of our food stores [to be] moved onto the ice and the remaining boats [to be] put off."

So what do you think?

Thanks

BarbaraPA · Accepted Answer

Right.

Captain: Move most of food stores onto the ice!

Mate: Aye aye! And the boats?

Captain: Ah yes. Put off the reamaing boats!

(I have no idea what it means to "put off" boats though!)

Captain's wife: what were just doing?
Captain: I've ordred the bulf of the food stored moved onto the ice.. etc.

Gomez123 · Answer

Hi, I'm not a English professional, but with the word order Have + object + verb you change the meaning of the sentence. Have + Object + Verb means we arrange for somebody else to do something for us.

E.g.

Sarah cut her hair. -> Sarah cut her hair self
Sarah has her hair cut. -> Sara let somebody cut her hair.

This works in differnt timeform
Sarah will have her hair cut
Sarah will cut her hair.

CalifJim · Answer

EagerSeekerHere is how I understand the sentence with added words:

"I've ordered the bulk of our food stores [to be] moved onto the ice and the remaining boats [to be] put off."

So what do you think?

I think the same thing.

CJ

EagerSeeker · Answer

Grammar GeekRight.

Captain: Move most of food stores onto the ice!

Mate: Aye aye! And the boats?

Captain: Ah yes. Put off the reamaing boats!

(I have no idea what it means to "put off" boats though!)

Captain's wife: what were just doing?
Captain: I've ordred the bulf of the food stored moved onto the ice.. etc.

The name of the novel is Arctic Drift and it's the latest book from Clive Cussler (my favorite author). It is also called a Dirk Pitt novel as it tells about the adventures of him as a marine engineer. He is like the James Bond or Indiana Jones but mostly at sea (and, of course, with lots of beautiful women). I am at the beginning of the novel (prologue) and it is telling an exciting story about two expedition ships become trapped in the ice in the Arctic in 1846.

EagerSeeker · Answer

CalifJim
EagerSeekerHere is how I understand the sentence with added words:

"I've ordered the bulk of our food stores [to be] moved onto the ice and the remaining boats [to be] put off."

So what do you think?
I think the same thing.

CJ

Thank you CalifJim. So we were talking about a reduced clause as the structure to + be + past participle was reduced and expressed only with a single past participle.

It is very hard and slow to read an English novel with so many reduced clauses and phrasal verbs, but I've decided boldly to proceed step by step, word by word.

CalifJim · Answer

EagerSeekerSo we were talking about a reduced clause as the structure to + be + past participle was reduced and expressed only with a single past participle.

Yes.

EagerSeekerI've decided boldly to proceed step by step, word by word.

Good idea.

CJ

BarbaraPA · Answer

Oh, I've read a lot of Dirk Pitt novels! Clive himself has a huge antique car collection, which is why Dirk does too. I have to say, I like his friend Al just as much as Dirk. I thought the one where they had to go through the underground river was a lot of fun. I liked the one with Lincoln's body in the ship in the desert too!

Have + object + verb or to + be + past participle?

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