不定式具有它自己的獨立主語時,二者即構成不定式獨立結構,常用作狀語,表伴隨情況。如:
(1)We divided the work, he to clean the window and I to sweep the floor. 我們分了工,他擦窗戶,我掃地。(he…window和I…floor皆為不定式獨立結構)
(2)A number of officials followed the emperor, some to hold his robe, others to adjust his girdle, and to on. 許多官員尾隨皇帝之后,有的拎著皇帝的衣袍,有的則給他整腰帶等。(some…robe和others…and so on皆為不定式獨立結構)
不定式獨立結構偶爾亦可用作主語。如:
(3)I to bear this is some burden. 我負擔此物頗不輕松。(I to bear this是不定式獨立結構)
10.7 “for+名詞(代詞)+不定式”結構
for加名詞或代詞賓語再加不定式可構成復合結構,它在句中可用作:主語、表語、賓語、定語、狀語等。
1)用作主語。如:
(1)For a child to do that job is just inconceivable. 讓一個孩子做這項工作那真是不可思議。
(2)For the goods to be packed in strong cases is necessary. 把貨物包裝在堅實的箱子里是必要的。
[注]以上兩句常用形式主語it,可變?yōu)椋?/p>
?、買t’s just inconceivable for a child to do that job.
?、贗t’s necessary for the goods to be packed in strong cases.
清注意下面句子中的形容詞后接的“of+名詞(或代詞賓語)+不定式”結構:
(3)It’s kind of you to say so. 謝謝你的美言。(此句可簡化為It’s kind of you.)
(4)It is very good of you to come. 謝謝你的光臨。
(5)How silly of you to do that. 你干那事,真傻。
這種形容詞還有honest,bad,stupid,bold,clever,cruel,courteous,nice,rude,sensible,tactful,thoughtful,typical,wise,wrong等。
在時也可用形容詞后接的“to+名詞(或代詞賓語)+不定式”結構。如:
(6)It will hardly be convenient to me to release you from your engagement. 由我使你免于踐約,那將是不適當?shù)摹?to也可代之以for)
2)用作表語。如:
(7)That is for you to decide. 那是由你決定。
(8)A solution would be for shops to open at noon and close about 9 p.m. 辦法將是商店中午開門,晚上9點關門。
3)偶爾用作動詞的賓語。如:
(9)I meant for you to eat, son. 我的意思是要你吃,孩子。
(10)He shouted to me to come. 他大聲叫我來。(to me to come在此用作shouted的賓語)
但更多是用作某些形容詞的賓語。如:
(11)He was anxious for his brother to meet you. 他急于要他的兄弟見你。
(12)He was quite willing for everyone else to come. 他很愿意讓別的人都來。
4)用作定語。如:
(13)It’s time for us to go. 是我們走的時候了。
(14)That would be a matter for the people to decide. 那是應由人民決定的事。
5)用作目的狀語。如:
(15)He stood aside for her to pass. 他靠邊站讓她過去。
(16)For a vote to be valid, the deputy must be present and vote in person. 為了使每一票都有效,代表必須出席親自投票。
10.8 “疑問詞+不定式”結構
疑問詞who,what,which,when,where和how后加不定式可構成一種特殊的不定式短語,它在句中可用作主語、賓語、表語等。
1)用作主語。如:
(1)When to start has not been decided. 何時動身尚未決定。
(2)How to earn daily bread by my pen was then the problem. 如何靠我的筆吃飯在當時是一難題。
2)用作賓語。如:
(3)I don’t know what to do. 我不知道該怎么辦。
(4)He did not know whether to go there or not. 他不知道是否該去那里。
3)用作表語。如:
(5)The difficulty was how to cross the river. 困難在于如何過河。
(6)The question was where to go. 問題在于到哪兒去。
4)用于雙重賓語。如:
(7)I can tell you where to get this book. 我可以告訴你哪里可以買到此書。
(8)I asked him how to learn English. 我問他如何學習英語。
有時疑問詞前可用介詞。如:
I have no idea of how to do it. 我不知道如何做此事。
10.9 不定式的完成式
不定式完成式所表的動作發(fā)生在謂語動詞之前,它在句中可用作主語、表語、賓語、狀語、補語等。
1)用作主語。如:
(1)To have known her is a privilege. 認識她真是榮幸。
2)用作表語。如:
(2)This house seems to have been built by a good architect. 我所房子似乎為一出色建筑師所建。
3)用作賓語。如:
(3)By 1992, he hopes to have opened a branch overseas. 到1992年,他希望能在海外開一分店。
4)用作定語。如:
(4)There is no need to have bought a new pair of shoes for me. 沒有必要給我買一雙新鞋。(to have bought意謂“已買”)
5)用作狀語。如:
(5)He is too young to have seen the old society. 他太年輕,沒有見過舊社會。
6)用作賓語補語。如:
(6)They might have found it to have lived long, had not a particular circumstance occurred. 如不是情況特殊,他們是不可能長久住在一起的。(現(xiàn)在多用一般式to live)
7)用作主語補語。如:
(7)The game was originally scheduled to have taken place in Rome. 這場球賽原本定在羅馬舉行。(亦可用一般式to take place)
[注]動詞remember后接不定式完成式可表過去完成的動作,如:I remember to have seen it. (我記得見過它。)
不定式完成式亦可表過去未完成的動作。如:
(8)I intended to have finished my work last night. 我本想昨晚完成作業(yè)的。(現(xiàn)在多說I had intended to finish…)
(9)We were to have sailed next morning. 我們本定于第二天早啟航。
10.10 不定式的進行式
不定式進行式表示正在進行的與謂語動詞同時發(fā)生的動作,其含義與一般進行時態(tài)相似。它在句中可用作主語、表語、賓語、狀語、補語等。
1)用作主語。如:
(1)Just to be doing something was a help. 做點事是有益處的。
2)用作表語。如:
(2)What he really wants is not to be wanting somebody. 他的真正需要不在急需一個什么人。
3)用作賓語。如:
(3)You won’t want to be washing at this time of night. 在夜里這時候你不要洗澡。
4)用作定語。如:
(4)Well, it’s time to be making for home. 好,是回家的時候了。
5)用作狀語。如:
(5)You are too young to be meeting young men. 你太小,不能交男朋友。
6)用作賓語補語。如:
(6)Let’s be moving, we’re wasting time. 我們就走吧,我們在浪費時間呢。
7)用作主語補語。如:
(7)Come, I’m supposed to be calling you to lunch. 喂,我是來叫你吃午飯的。
10.11 不定式的被動式
不定式被動式在句中可用作主語、表語、賓語、狀語、補語等。
1)用作主語。如:
(1)To be obeyed was natural to her. 她天性要別人聽命于她。
2)用作表語。如:
(2)The problem remains to be solved. 這個問題還有待解決。
3)用作賓語。如:
(3)It needs not to be said that they are very happy together. 不消說他們在一起非常幸福。
4)用作定語。如:
(4)There were plans to be made at once. 要立即制定計劃。
5)用作狀語。如:
(5)He has returned only to be sent away again. 他回來之后又被打發(fā)走了。
6)用作賓語補語。如:
(6)The captain ordered the flag to be hoisted. 船長命令升旗。
[注]want,like,wish,have ,get,leave,see,watch,hear,make等動詞后用作賓語補語的被動不定式可省去to be。在美國英語中,動詞order后用作賓語補語的被動不定式亦可省去to be。
7)用作主語補語。如:(美國英語亦可省去to be)
(7)The book is intended to be read and not to be torn. 這書是供人閱讀而不是供人撕毀的。
8)用于“for+名(代)詞+不定式”結構。如:
(8)He was anxious for the performance to be repeated. 他盼望表演重復一次。
9)有些句子習慣上須用不定式被動式。如:
(9)Such things are to be seen any day. 這種事哪一天都可遇到。
(10)Sure you know what is to be done. 你肯定知道應該怎么辦。
(11)This is a day never to be forgotten. 這是令人難忘的一天。
(12)There was no sound to be heard. 聽不到有什么聲音。
(13)The infectious disease is likely to be wiped out in a few years. 這種傳染病在幾年之內即可消滅。
但在下列情況下,則既可用被動式亦可用主動式,而意義無甚區(qū)別:
(14)The house is to be let (to let.) 此房出租。(被動式似較多用,to let多作在廣告中)
(15)There is no time to lose(to be lost.) 時間緊迫。(口語中多用主動式)
(16)It’s too hot to eat(to be eaten.)這東西太燙,不能吃。
但有時二者卻有所區(qū)別。如:
(17)There is nothing to do. 無事可做。(有“無聊”之義)
(18)There is nothing to be done. 不能做什么了。(意謂“沒有辦法了”)
(19)There is nothing to see. 沒有什么可看的了。(即“沒有什么值得看的了”)
(20)There is nothing to be seen. 看不見有什么。(即“什么也沒看見”)
(21)I am ready to shave. 我要刮臉了。(自己刮自己的臉)
(22)I am ready to be shaved. 我準備好刮臉了。(由別人給刮臉)
有些句子雖表被動,但習慣上卻用主動式。如:
(23)She’s to blame for this. 這應怪她。(亦可說She is to be blame for this.)
(24)The reason is not far to seek. 道理很淺顯。
(25)What’s to pay? 要付多少錢?
英語里還有一種雙重被動式(double passive),即“be+過去分詞+不定式被動式”結構。常用這種雙重被動式的動詞有allow,announce,attempt,believe,desire,enable,expect,intend,know,mean,order,permit,propose,report,say等。如:
(26)The books are not allowed to be taken out of the room. 不許將書攜出室外。
(27)More than 250 tons of oranges are expected to be harvested this year in the county. 這個縣今年可望收獲250多噸柑橘。
(28)I let him know what was intended to be done. 我告訴他應干什么。
10.12 不定式的否定式
不定式的否定式由not或never加不定式構成。如:
(1)He decided not to do it. 他決定不做那事。
(2)Try not to be late. 盡量不要遲到。
(3)This is some information not to say. 這是一些不可對人言的情報。
試比較下列句子:
(4)She wished never to see him again. 她希望永不再見到他。
(5)She never wished to see him again. 她從不希望再見到他。
(6)Let’s not go. 我們不要去吧。
(7)Don’t let’s go. 我們可不要去。(語氣較上句強)
(8)It doesn’t seem to be right. 這似乎不對頭。(較口語化)
(9)It seem not to be right. 這似乎不對。
10.13 不帶to的不定式
關于不帶to的不定式(包括某些動詞原形在內)的用法,有以下幾種情況。
1)動詞原形go與come等在口語中可后接不帶to的不定式。如:
(1)Go tell him. 去告訴她吧。
(2)Come have a glass. 來喝一杯吧。
(3)Try knock at the back door if nobody hears you at the front door. 前門如沒有人聽見,你就試敲后門。
上述句中動詞原形之后亦可用and和不帶to的不定式。如:
(4)Go and tell him. 去告訴她吧。
(5)Tom told me to be sure and remember the rabbits every day. 湯姆告訴我每天都一定要記得喂兔子。
2)在rather than與other than等之后用不帶to的不定式。如:
(6)I would rather go than stay. 我寧愿走不愿留。
(7)No one could do other than admire it. 人人都不得不贊賞它。
3)含do的名詞性從句用作主語時,其表語如是不定式,在口語中常省去to。如:
(8)“All I did was hit him on the head,” the boy said. “我只是打了他的頭,”那男孩說道。
(9)What a fire-door does is delay the spread of a fire long enough for people to get out. 防火門的用處就是減緩火的蔓延,讓人們逃脫。
4)cannot but,cannot choose but與cannot help but之后的不定式一般皆不帶to。如:
(10)I cannot but admire his courage. 我不能不欽佩他的勇敢。
(11)He could not choose but love her. 他不禁愛上了她。(在當代英語中choose多被help所代替)
(12)The cause could not help but be advanced today. 今天不能不推進這一事業(yè)。
在連詞but之前如有動詞do,其后的不定式亦不用to。如:
(13)We have nothing to do now but wait. 現(xiàn)在我們只得等待。
(14)Theodore never does anything but talk. 西奧多光說不干。
連詞but之前如無do,其后的不定式一般皆帶to。如:
(15)They desired nothing but to succeed. 他們只想成功。
(16)I have no choice but to accept the fact. 我只有承認事實。
5)在一些固定詞組中須省去to。如:
(17)I hear that little beggar of mine let fly at you with his catapult yesterday. 我聽見昨天我那個小家伙用彈弓射你了。
(18)I used to sit there, making believe to learn Japanese. 我常坐在那里,裝作學日語。
(19)If I can’t have the real thing, I can make do with the imitation. 如果我得不到真品,那也可以用仿制品對付一下。
6)為了避免重復而省去to。如:
(20)I’m really puzzled what to think or say. 我真不知道該怎么想怎么說才好。
(21)It’s just impossible to see that and not weep. 看見那個景象而不哭是不可能的。
但兩個不定式如有對照或對比之義,則不可
(22)To be or not to be — that is the question. 是生還是死,這就是問題所在。
(23)I came not to scold, but to praise you. 我不是來罵你而是來夸你的。
7)疑問詞why引導的省略句中的不定式在當代英語中一般須省去to。如:
(24)Why talk so much about it? 這樣大談它干么?
(25)Why not try again? 干么不再試呢?
10.14 省去動詞原形的不定式
如句子前面已經(jīng)出現(xiàn)過同樣的動詞,為了避免重復,句子后面的不定式常省去動詞原形,只留下不定式符號to。如:
(1)He may go if he wishes to. 他可以走,如果他愿意的話。(省去前已出現(xiàn)的go)
(2)A number of veterans retired and some were ready to. 很多老隊員已退役,有一些也準備退役。(省去前已出現(xiàn)的retire)
(3)Don’t go till I tell you to. 等我叫你走你再走。(省去前已出現(xiàn)的go)
(4)You will make it if you try. 你會成功的,如你試圖的話。(try后省去to make it)
(5)I wish you would come if you had time. 我希望你來,你如有時間的話。(time后省去come)
10.15 分裂不定式
在不定式符號to和動詞原形之間有時可插入一個副詞,構成所謂分裂不定式(split infinitive)。所插入的副詞習慣上常與不定式的動詞原形連用,故分裂不定式要合乎習慣,不可濫用。如:
(1)He liked to half close his eyes. 他喜歡半閉著眼睛。
(2)He was too ill to really carry out his duty. 他病得實在不能履行職責了。
(3)He prepared to silently accompany her. 他準備默默地陪伴著她。
(4)It is too heavy for me to ever lift. 它很重,我都掀不動它。
有時在to和動詞原形之間可插入一個以上的詞。如:
(5)He made up his mind to once more become a suitor to her hand. 他下決心再一次向她求婚。
運用分裂不定式往往可以避免歧義。如:
(6)I remember to have plainly refused his offer. 我記得已明確地拒絕了他的建議。
如將副詞plainly置于to have refused之前就會產(chǎn)生歧義,因為它既有可能修飾不定式,也有可能修飾remember。