Type 3: V + NG + to-infinitive –We asked the taxi-driver to stop
The verbs in this type are speech-act verbs: advise, allow, ask, beg, expect, invite, tell, persuade, urge. For this reason the referent of the NG is always human. The NG is both the object of the main verb and the implicit subject of the embedded to-infinitive clause. This NG behaves as if it were the object of the finite verb and can become subject in a passive clause. This divisibility of the NG is an important feature of ditransitive and most complex transitive complements. As with other verbs of this type, passives are common.
They persuaded us to stay. We were persuaded to stay.
A television campaign is advising Teenagers are being advised to keep off drugs.
teenagers to keep off drugs.
Semantically, we persuade, advise and invite someone, not a whole situation. Note that, when a to-infinitive clause is ellipted, to remains (They invited us to stay and we agreed to).
Factual verbs such as believe, consider, know, report, suppose also take NG + to-infinitive as a ‘raised object’ alternative 2 to a that-clause complement 1. Passive forms are common in formal styles 3:
1 People consider that he is a great actor.
2 People consider him to be a great actor.
3 He is considered (to be) a great actor.
