Az Eszterházy Károly Tanárképző Főiskola Tudományos Közleményei. 1991. British and American Philologycal Studies (Acta Academiae Paedagogicae Agriensis : Nova series ; Tom. 20)

A. I. Pronichev: On the Question of Distinguishing Between Syntactic Constructions in English

52 In this sentence the words "to close a door" have a figurative meaning. But if we use the word "door" with the definite article, the whole word combination will obtain its direct meaning. Or let us take this example

: 18. Houses built in our town have all modern conveniences

. In this context the participle "built" expresses the meaning equivalent to the present indefinite tense (Houses that are built). But if the substantive to which the word "built" refers obtains the meaning of definiteness, then it will require a continuous aspect to express the present (The houses being built

...). On the other hand, if we use the participle "built" after this substantive with the definite article, it will express the past (The houses built in our town = The houses that were built). At the same time the continuous form of this participle seems to be improbable with the word "Houses" when it has the indefinite meaning in the given context {* Houses being built in our town

...). Summary The participle occurring after a substantive and the verbs to see, to watch, to notice, to observe is not always the second element of the "Accusative with the Participle" construction. Sometimes it is an attribute to the preceding substantive. The meaning of definiteness or indefiniteness of the preceding substantive can help us distinguish between these two syntactic meanings of the participle. If the substantive has the meaning of definiteness, then the participle is, as a rule, the second element of the above mentioned construction, and if the substantive has the meaning of indefiniteness, then the following participle is, as a rule, an attribute to it, because such a substantive requires some modification. The infinitive occurring after a substantive and the verbs to want, to need, to wish, to like is not always the second element of the "Accusative with the Infinitive" construction. Sometimes it is used as an attribute to that substantive. Here, too, the meaning of definiteness or indefiniteness of the substantive can help us distinguish between these two syntactic meanings of the infinitive. If the substantive has the meaning of definiteness, then the infinitive is the second element of the "Accusative with the Infinitive" construction, and if it has the meaning of indefiniteness, the infinitive is an attribute to it.