+++Tatiana (for “wouldn’t succeed in anything”)

Whenever I see questions like that, I have mixed feelings. Sometimes I know the correct translation because I've been learning on here for some time. But I also know that they have to use a particular grammar pattern from their textbook which was apparently given them as an exercise). This time it was Complex SUBject, which I'm not sure is used.

I understand, but “he was said to succeed in nothing” is (1) unidiomatic (almost ungrammatical) and (2) doesn’t refer to any time past, present or future. It’s like saying О нем говорили ничего не добиться.

I see. Is it possible to use Complex Subject to convey that idea in an ideomatic way?

I can’t think of one way to say this except “it was said of him that he wouldn’t amount to anything“ and even that sounds weird.

Мне всё понятно. Спасибо большое! 🙏👍

Всегда пожалуйста 😊