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Is there any 'for + NP + to-infinitive' where the NP is not the semantic subject of the infinitive?

English Language & Usage Asked on January 24, 2021

In (a), for example, you is the semantic subject of apologize:

a. I’ve been waiting for you to apologize.

Is there any for + NP + to-infinitive where the NP is not the semantic subject of the infinitive?

One Answer

"Subject" is a syntactic and not a semantic function. If you are talking about semantic roles, in your example "you" is a potential undergoer who is expected to perform something. In a sentence such as: "it was hard for him to leave", instead, "him" encodes an experiencer.

Answered by user373710 on January 24, 2021

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