In English, we have two infinitive tenses: the
present infinitive (
to + VERB) and the
perfect infinitive (
to have + VERBed).
The
present infinitive expresses CONTEMPORANEOUS action (an action happening AT THE SAME TIME as the main action):
John IS proud TO BE president.
Here, John
IS proud (in the present)
TO BE president (also in the present).
The
perfect infinitive expresses PRIOR action (an action that happened BEFORE the main action):
John IS proud TO HAVE BEEN president.
Here, John
IS proud (in the present)
TO HAVE BEEN president (in the past).
Mo2men wrote:The Neanderthals, once considered dull-witted brutes, are now known to have had brains fully as large as our own.
(A) to have had brains
(B) as having brains that are
(C) to have brains that were
(D) that their brains were
(E) that they had brains that were
OA:
The Neanderthals, once considered dull-witted brutes, are now known to have had brains fully as large as our own.
Here, the Neanderthals ARE NOW KNOWN (in the present) TO HAVE HAD brains (in the past).
This sequence is logical.
C:
are now known to have brains
Here, the Neanderthals ARE NOW KNOWN (in the present) TO HAVE brains (also in the present).
Since the Neanderthals no longer exist, this meaning is nonsensical.
Eliminate C.
A VERBing modifier serves to express an action that is CONCURRENT with the main action.
B:
are now known as having brains
Here, the usage of
having implies that the Neanderthals are HAVING brains NOW.
Since the Neanderthals no longer exist, this meaning is nonsensical.]
Eliminate B.
Mary knows that the house is blue.
Here, the
that-clause in blue serves as the DIRECT OBJECT of
knows.
WHAT does Mary know?
She knows THAT THE HOUSE IS BLUE.
Rule:
A passive verb --
is + VERBed,
are + VERBed, etc. -- cannot take a direct object.
D:
are now known that their brains were
E:
are now known that they had brains
Here, each of the
that-clauses in red seems to be serving as the direct object of
are known (passive verb).
Since a passive verb cannot take a direct object, eliminate D and E.
The correct answer is
A.
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