To stop vs. to be stopped problem

Question

The below sentence is from a book "Everyday Letters."

http://books.google.com/books?id=MFYx0S7mwlcC&pg=PA145&dq=%22expect+delivery+to+stop%22&hl=ko#v=onepage&q=%22expect%20delivery%20to%20stop%22&f=false

If our situation changes, we will call you to resume delivery. In the meantime, we will expect delivery to stop no later than the end of this week.

Since we can use "stop delivery," it also seems that "to be stopped" is possible.

Am I right?

In a book "Practical English Usage" there's the below example sentence regarding my question. It says "The structure noun+infinitive can express the idea of obligation. Active and passive infinitives are both possible, as following, "There is only one thing to do/ to be done."

(But my question sentence is not about "obligation." This question is really boggling me. I would be very grateful if you give me with proper example sentences. Thanks!)

Avangi · Accepted Answer

Stenka25 we will expect delivery to stop no later than the end of this week.

it also seems that "to be stopped" is possible.

Yes. The first is intransitive (active); the second is transitive (passive). We expect you to stop it. (active)

I mention active and passive because your example switches voice.
The passive is not possible in the intransitive sense.

Of course both these infinitives are non-finite, so they don't have tenses.
But I don't think this stops us from referring to the transitive and intransitive senses,
as you would find in the dictionary entry for the verb.
I believe we speak of passive infinitives.

I expect you to go home immediately. (obligation) (active voice)

We know this bird to migrate over a thousand miles. (not obligation) (active)

We know the suspect to be living in this area. (not obligation) (passive)

The passive gets interesting, because the participle can turn out to be an adjective:
We expect the coffee to be hot. (adjective - NOT participle)

We found the vase to be broken. (participle as adjective)
We expect the record to be broken tomorrow. (passive infinitive)

I'm not sure if both participles can be used in the passive infinitive, but I think they can.

I expect you to be workng on your homework. (present participle)

Edit. Forgive me for dragging this out. I'm having second thoughts about intransitive passive.
It's generally considered impossible in the finite form (with certain exceptions),
but I'm thinking about the intransitive verb "to sleep" (the poster child).
The next time I come in here I expect you to be sleeping!

.
(I suppose "sleeping" could be considered an adjective here.)

Avangi · Answer

Hi, Stenka,
I'm not feeling right about a couple of the examples I offered as passive infinitives.

Yours is fine, using the past participle: expect it to be stopped.

I'm going to stick with my original comment about the transitive sense being required.
If you use the present participle, it simply cannot be passive, as I'm looking at it now.
I expect the bus to be stopping at the next intersection. This cannot be passive.

We can use "stop" as the main verb (finite):
The driver will be stopping the bus at the next intersection.

This is active voice, transitive sense, future progressive tense, if I'm not mistaken.

Simple future, passive voice, would be: The bus will be stopped (by the driver) at the next intersection. .

Simple present, passive voice, would be: The bus is stopped (by the driver) every day at this intersection. .

I don't think any of my examples using the "-ing" form of the verb are passive infinitives.

To stop vs. to be stopped problem

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