I provide a syntactic analysis of the take-time construction (It took an hour to complete the test). The investigation provides insight into well-known issues concerning the related tough-construction. Using a battery of standard syntactic diagnostics, I conclude that the take-time construction and the tough-construction require a predication analysis of the antecedent-gap chain, not a movement analysis. I also conclude that the nonfinite clause is in a modificational relationship with the main clause predicate, not a selectional relationship. Broadly, this study expands the class of tough-constructions, illustrating crucial variation among predicates, and pointing the way to a unified analysis. The investigation also reveals undiscussed aspects of English syntax, including the fact that English has a high applicative position.

中文翻译：

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花时间进行艰难的建设

我提供了对耗时构造的句法分析（完成测试用了一个小时）。调查提供了有关相关的众所周知的问题的洞察力艰难的-建造。使用一系列标准句法诊断，我得出结论，花时间构造和艰难的-构造需要先行间隙链的预测分析，而不是运动分析。我还得出结论，非限定子句与主子句谓词处于修饰关系，而不是选择关系。从广义上讲，这项研究扩大了艰难的-构造，说明谓词之间的关键变化，并指出统一分析的方式。调查还揭示了英语句法未讨论的方面，包括英语具有很高的应用地位这一事实。