不定式
一、概說
不定式是一種非限定動詞,通常由"to+動詞原形"構成,如to be,to do,to combine,to expand,to get
up等。這裡的to是不定式的符號,沒有詞義,有時還可以省略。動詞不定式沒有人稱和數的變化。不定式在句中不能單獨用作謂語,但還保留著動詞的若干特徵:可以帶狀語,及物動詞可以帶賓語,系動詞可以帶表語。不定式可以連同它的附屬成分一起組成不定式短語。例如:
We decided to begin the experiment in the afternoon.【在不定式短語to begin the
experiment in the afternoon中,the experiment是begin的賓語,in the
afternoon是狀語。整個不定式短語在句中作謂語動詞decided的賓語。】我們決定了下午開始做實驗。
二、不定式的用法
不定式(短語)在句中起相當於名詞、形容詞或副詞的作用,可作主語、表語、賓語、定語、狀語和賓語補語。
(一)具有名詞的性質
1.用作主語。例如:
(1)To make you understand him completely is impossible.讓你們完全瞭解他是不可能的。
(2)To run machines needs power.開動機器需要動力。
(3)To remember to switch off the electricity is important.重要的是要記住關掉電源。
To live is to function.That is all there is in
living.(Holmes)活著就要發揮作用,這就是生活的全部真諦。
To live of money is the root of all evil.(R.L.Stevenson)迷戀金錢是一切罪惡的根源。
To be ignorant of one's ignorance is the malady of the ignorant.
(A.B.Alcott)不知道自己的無知,是無知者的可悲之處。
To spread knowledge is to spread happiness.(Alfred Nobel)傳播知識就是播種幸福。
不定式、特別是不定式短語作主語時,為了保持句子平衡,往往把主語放在句子末尾,而在它原來的位置上加上引導詞it作形式上的主語。現代英語傾向於採用這種結構,尤其是當主語較長或謂語動詞是被動語態或謂語動詞不是系動詞時,更是如此。而當句子是疑問句或感嘆句時,也必須用這種結構。例如,上述(1)(2)(3)三個例子可轉換為:
(1)It is impossible to make you understand him completely.
(2)It needs power to run machines.
(3)It's important to remember to switch off the electricity.
又如:
It's silly to build a wall around your interests.(Walt
Disney)在自己興趣的周圍建起一座牆,是愚蠢的行為。
It is the duty of a scientist to remain
curiosity.(A.Einstein)科學家的責任是保持好奇心。
It was an easy matter to ?nd the Count when we entered the opera
house.我們走進歌劇場,很容易找到了伯爵。
It's good to have you back safe and sound.你們平平安安回家就好。
It was my privilege to see her out of hers.(W.Faulkner)能參加她的葬禮是我的榮幸。
It was a good thing to work there in the little field beneath the singing
larks.(Liam O'Flaherty)在地裡幹活,傾聽著頭頂上雲雀歌唱,真是樂在其中。
How long will it take you to get there?(疑問句)要花多長時間才能到達那裡?
What a joy it was to see her!(感嘆句)見到她多麼高興!
在以it為形式主語的句子中,它所代表的真正主語有時用不定式複合結構。不定式的邏輯主語用for或of引出。
如果句子中作表語的形容詞表示事物的性質,如important,necessary,possible,easy,dif?cult,hard,heavy等,用for引出。例如:
It is impossible for us to get there before lunch.我們午餐前趕到那裡是不可能的。
It is necessary for you to learn from others.你必須向別人學習。
It is dif?cult for me to believe that you could so forget yourself and your
rearing.我難以相信你會這樣忘記你自己和你的教養。
如果句中作表語的形容詞表示人的特徵、品德或意願,如kind,honest,careless,lazy,stupid,clever,foolish,silly,sel?sh,polite,bad,generous,cruel,willing,reluctant,deliberate等,則用of引出。例如:
(4)It's very nice of you to be considerate.你真好,想得這麼周到。
(5)It's careless of her to notice nothing of it.她很粗心,連這一點也沒注意到。
(6)It is foolish of him to meet her again.他很愚蠢,又跟她相會。
【注】"It is+形容詞+of sb.to do"句型一般可轉換成一個不定式作狀語的句子,語義不變;而"It is+形容詞+for sb.to
do"句型則不可以。例如,上述三個句子可轉換為:
(4)You are very nice to be considerate.
(5)She is careless to notice nothing of it.
(6)He is foolish to meet her again.
2.用作表語。例如:
Her wish was to become a teacher.她的願望是當個教師。
The most dif?cult thing in life is to know yourself.(Thales)人生最難是自知。
To know everything is to know nothing.樣樣都懂,樣樣稀鬆。
There are two tragedies in life.One is not to get your heart's desire.The
other is to get it.(G.B.Shaw)人生有兩種悲劇:一種是得不到你想要的東西,另一種是得到了你想要的東西。
To enlarge or illustrate this power and effect of love is to set a candle
in the sun.(Robert Burton)用筆墨敘述愛情的這種力量和影響,無異於在陽光下點燃一支蠟燭。
What we want is to learn from practice.我們需要的是向實踐學習。
帶wh-疑問詞的不定式短語可作表語。例如:
Our dif?culty is where to ?nd a guide.我們的困難是到哪裡去找嚮導。
用介詞for引出不定式的邏輯主語的不定式複合結構,可作表語;這時,句中的主語是不定式的邏輯賓語。例如:
This form is for you to ?ll(in).這張表格由你來填寫。
A lecture on high-energy physics will be for Professor Bryce to
deliver.高能物理演講將由布賴斯教授來做。
在用不定式作表語的句子中,系動詞除be外,還有seem,happen,appear,get,pretend等。例如:
He seems(appears)to be living in the area.他似乎是住在這個地區。
He appears to have caught cold.他似乎是傷風了。
She pretended not to see him.她裝作沒看見他。
句中如果主語部分有實義動詞do的各種形式,作表語的不定式實際上是do的引申,即表示do所做的內容,這時不定式可省略to。例如:
The least I can do is(to)write to you.我至少能做到的是給你寫信。
What the plan does is(to)ensure a fair pension for
all.實施這項計劃就是保證給所有的人一筆可觀的救濟金。
The only thing I can do now is go on by myself.我現在唯一能做的事就是自己繼續進行下去。
3.用作賓語。不定式用作賓語時相當於名詞,放在某些及物動詞之後。這類及物動詞常見的有:afford,agree,aim,appear,apply,arrange,ask,attempt等。例如:
The owner wanted to make a large purchase of gift before
Christmas.老闆想在聖誕節前做一大筆禮品生意。
I try to keep that in mind.我努力記住這一點。
He had decided to return after receiving the ?rst letter from
Tess.收到苔絲的第一封信後,他便決定起程回來。
用作賓語的動詞不定式有時可以帶上疑問詞how,where,who,when,which,why,what等一起構成不定式短語。能用於這種結構的動詞,常見的有:ask,consider,decide,discuss,explain,?nd
out,forget,inquire,know,learn,remember等。例如:
She forgot which way to take.她忘了該走哪條路。
He didn't know whether to laugh or to cry when he heard the
words.聽了這話,他啼笑皆非。
When I start to paint I know how to place myself in a state of
inwardness.(P.Picasso)我開始作畫時,我知道如何把自己置於一種靈性的境界之中。
用作賓語的不定式後面如果有補語,可以用it作形式賓語,把真正賓語置於補語之後,以免賓語太長使句子顯得不協調。在這種用法中,常見的動詞有think,feel,make,?nd,consider,count,deem,judge,believe,take等。例如:
It is impossible for us to get there before lunch.我們午餐前趕到那裡是不可能的。
It is necessary for you to learn from others.你必須向別人學習。
It is dif?cult for me to believe that you could so forget yourself and your
rearing.我難以相信你會這樣忘記你自己和你的教養。
如果句中作表語的形容詞表示人的特徵、品德或意願,如kind,honest,careless,lazy,stupid,clever,foolish,silly,sel?sh,polite,bad,generous,cruel,willing,reluctant,deliberate等,則用of引出。例如:
(4)It's very nice of you to be considerate.你真好,想得這麼周到。
(5)It's careless of her to notice nothing of it.她很粗心,連這一點也沒注意到。
(6)It is foolish of him to meet her again.他很愚蠢,又跟她相會。
【注】"It is+形容詞+of sb.to do"句型一般可轉換成一個不定式作狀語的句子,語義不變;而"It is+形容詞+for sb.to
do"句型則不可以。例如,上述三個句子可轉換為:
(4)You are very nice to be considerate.
(5)She is careless to notice nothing of it.
(6)He is foolish to meet her again.
2.用作表語。例如:
Her wish was to become a teacher.她的願望是當個教師。
The most dif?cult thing in life is to know yourself.(Thales)人生最難是自知。
To know everything is to know nothing.樣樣都懂,樣樣稀鬆。
There are two tragedies in life.One is not to get your heart's desire.The
other is to get it.(G.B.Shaw)人生有兩種悲劇:一種是得不到你想要的東西,另一種是得到了你想要的東西。
To enlarge or illustrate this power and effect of love is to set a candle
in the sun.(Robert Burton)用筆墨敘述愛情的這種力量和影響,無異於在陽光下點燃一支蠟燭。
What we want is to learn from practice.我們需要的是向實踐學習。
帶wh-疑問詞的不定式短語可作表語。例如:
Our dif?culty is where to ?nd a guide.我們的困難是到哪裡去找嚮導。
用介詞for引出不定式的邏輯主語的不定式複合結構,可作表語;這時,句中的主語是不定式的邏輯賓語。例如:
This form is for you to ?ll(in).這張表格由你來填寫。
A lecture on high-energy physics will be for Professor Bryce to
deliver.高能物理演講將由布賴斯教授來做。
在用不定式作表語的句子中,系動詞除be外,還有seem,happen,appear,get,pretend等。例如:
He seems(appears)to be living in the area.他似乎是住在這個地區。
He appears to have caught cold.他似乎是傷風了。
She pretended not to see him.她裝作沒看見他。
句中如果主語部分有實義動詞do的各種形式,作表語的不定式實際上是do的引申,即表示do所做的內容,這時不定式可省略to。例如:
The least I can do is(to)write to you.我至少能做到的是給你寫信。
What the plan does is(to)ensure a fair pension for
all.實施這項計劃就是保證給所有的人一筆可觀的救濟金。
The only thing I can do now is go on by myself.我現在唯一能做的事就是自己繼續進行下去。
3.用作賓語。不定式用作賓語時相當於名詞,放在某些及物動詞之後。這類及物動詞常見的有:afford,agree,aim,appear,apply,arrange,ask,attempt等。例如:
The owner wanted to make a large purchase of gift before
Christmas.老闆想在聖誕節前做一大筆禮品生意。
I try to keep that in mind.我努力記住這一點。
He had decided to return after receiving the ?rst letter from
Tess.收到苔絲的第一封信後,他便決定起程回來。
用作賓語的動詞不定式有時可以帶上疑問詞how,where,who,when,which,why,what等一起構成不定式短語。能用於這種結構的動詞,常見的有:ask,consider,decide,discuss,explain,?nd
out,forget,inquire,know,learn,remember等。例如:
She forgot which way to take.她忘了該走哪條路。
He didn't know whether to laugh or to cry when he heard the
words.聽了這話,他啼笑皆非。
When I start to paint I know how to place myself in a state of
inwardness.(P.Picasso)我開始作畫時,我知道如何把自己置於一種靈性的境界之中。
用作賓語的不定式後面如果有補語,可以用it作形式賓語,把真正賓語置於補語之後,以免賓語太長使句子顯得不協調。在這種用法中,常見的動詞有think,feel,make,?nd,consider,count,deem,judge,believe,take等。例如:
She thought it unnecessary to quarrel with him over
tri?es.她認為沒必要為小事跟他爭吵。
I did not think it convenient to write about the matter.我覺得寫信談這件事不合適。
He found it utterly impossible to leave the
spot.(T.Hardy)他發現要離開這裡是完全不可能的。
I took it as an honor to have been invited to the
meeting.我把應邀出席這次會議看作是一種榮譽。
Before my graduation from Columbia,the family met with severe ?nancial
reverses and I felt it my duty to leave college and take a job.
(A.Block)沒等我從哥倫比亞大學畢業,家庭經濟嚴重惡化,我感到自己有責任退學找工作。
Do you consider it worthwhile for them to make the
experiment?你認為他們做這實驗值得嗎?
不定式結構一般不可以作介詞賓語,但在含有否定意義的帶有介詞except,but(=except)以及about,save,besides,than的結構中,可以作這些介詞的賓語。例如:
He seldom comes except to look at my picture.除了看我的圖畫,他很少來。
There's no choice but to wait till it stops raining.別無選擇,只有等到雨停下來。
We had no duties provided for us save to eat and
sleep.除了吃和睡外,沒有給我們安排任務。
He was about to start.他即將動身。
介詞except,but,save前面有表意動詞do的某種形式時,不定式通常不帶to。例如:
There's nothing to do except wait till it stops raining.別無辦法,只有等到雨停下來。
I hardly remember what I did besides read.除了閱讀外,我幾乎記不起我還做過什麼。
Now there was nothing he could do except admit defeat.現在他只有認輸。
4.用作賓語補語。不定式作賓語補語時相當於名詞,跟在某些及物動詞的賓語之後,對賓語作進一步的補充說明,並與該賓語構成邏輯上的主謂關係。這類及物動詞常見的有advice,allow,ask,beg,cause,consider,command,compel,drive,encourage等。例如:
I wanted something to happen to me,but nothing
happened.(L.Hughes)我希望在我身上會發生些什麼變化,可是什麼都沒發生。
I know nothing about him and I beg you to tell me
nothing.他的情況我並不知道,我也請求您別告訴我。
在一些使役動詞如make,let,have等和表示感覺的動詞如see,watch,perceive,observe,notice,hear,feel,look
at,listen to等,作賓語補語的不定式須省略to。例如:
She let her hand fall from his arm and said no more.她放開他的胳膊,沒再說什麼。
Electricity makes machines run.電使機器轉動。
Then she turned quickly away,and Reinhard heard her go sobbing up the
stairs.她很快轉過身,萊因哈特聽到她抽泣著走上臺階。
The policeman observed the man open the window.警察看見了這個人開啟窗子。
有時,不定式可以直接置於let後面,而把let的賓語放到不定式後。例如:
It would be a pity to let slip such an opportunity.錯過這樣一個機會真可惜。
在某些表示心理狀態的動詞如believe,?nd,consider,prove,suppose,think,know,understand,judge,guess,declare,take,deny等後,作賓語補語的不定式往往是"to
be+形容詞"。這時,這些動詞後的to be通常可省略。例如:
They believe him(to be)innocent.他們相信他是無辜的。
We found the answer(to be)correct.我們發現這個答案是對的。
They declared themselves(to be)for the plan.他們宣稱自己贊成這個計劃。
但是,如果不定式結構是完成式,則to不能省略。例如:
We believe it to have been a mistake.我們相信這是一個錯誤。
5.用作主語補語。將有賓語補語的句子改用被動語態,則原來的賓語變為主語,原來的賓語補語變為主語補語。主語補語一定要帶to。例如:
This test is thought to have practical value.大家認為這個試驗有實際價值。
He was seen to enter the laboratory.有人看見他走進了實驗室。
6.用作同位語。不定式偶爾可用作同位語,它位於與之同位的抽象名詞之後,使該名詞的內容具體化,並常用逗號、破折號或冒號把它們分開。被修飾的抽象名詞常見的有:idea,fact,belief,ability,attempt,promise,answer,appeal,plot等。例如:
Their aspiration,to become free and independent,is deserving of every kind
of help from us.他們想自由和獨立的願望值得我們給予各方面的援助。
(二)具有形容詞的性質
用作定語。位於被修飾的名詞(短語)之後,說明被修飾詞的特徵。例如:
Can you think up a good way to deal with the ever increasing
prices?你們能否想出一個對付日益上漲的物價的好辦法?
A letter from Clare gave her an excuse to leave.克萊爾的一封來信給了她一個離開的藉口。
At present I have no lawful right to act for her.目前,我還沒有保護她的法律權利。
如果不定式和被修飾的具體名詞之間有邏輯上的動賓關係,則不定式多半表示未來的動作,翻譯時常須在不定式前加"要"字。例如:
We have three machines to repair today.我們今天有三臺機器要修理。
Do you like something to drink?你要喝點什麼嗎?
在處於動賓關係的情況下,如果不定式是不及物動詞,其後要加一個結構上或含義上所需的介詞。例如:
I've got my wife and little boy to look after.(T.Dreiser)我還有老婆和孩子需要我照顧。
You've given me much to think about.你已經給了我許多問題思考。
John is the best man to consult about the matter
with.約翰是可以與之商量此事的最合適的人。
I have enough to eat and occasionally a bed to sleep
in.我有足夠的食物,偶爾也有床可以睡覺。
為了使句子結構勻稱,有時作定語的不定式與其所修飾的名詞分隔開,移到謂語動詞之後。例如:
At the meeting a decision was made to transfer a part of the students to
another school.【不定式短語修飾a decision】會上做出一項決定,把一部分學生轉到另一所學校。
(三)具有副詞的性質
1.用作狀語。不定式(短語)用作狀語主要表示目的、結果和原因,也可以表示條件、方式或比較。
(1)用作目的狀語--可位於句末或句首。有時,為了強調目的,特別是當不定式前有否定詞not時,通常在不定式前加上in order或so
as。前者可位於句末或句首,後者只能位於句末。例如:
We use electrical energy to do many things.我們用電能做許多事情。
He will be in Atlanta Friday to speak with Captain Butler and to escort you
home.星期五他要到亞特蘭大,同巴特勒船長交涉,順便帶你回家。
John hurried in order not to be late for the party.約翰急急忙忙的,為了準時參加晚會。
In order to see better,we took front seats.為了能看得更清楚些,我們坐在前排的座位上。
We should develop new products so as to meet the demand of the world's
market.我們應該開發新產品,以便滿足國際市場的需求。
(2)用作結果狀語--不定式作結果狀語總是位於句末,不定式的邏輯主語往往是句中的主語。能直接用不定式作結果狀語的動詞為數不多,常見的僅有?nd,form,hear,give,learn,make,produce等幾個。例如:
After the war they parted company,never to see each other
again.戰後他們分了手,從此再也沒見過面。
She went abroad never to return.她到國外去了,從此沒有回來過。
在"too+形容詞/名詞+不定式"結構中,不定式表示結果。由於too表示"過量",具有否定意義,所以這類句子在形式上是肯定的,但在內容上是否定的,譯作"太……以致不能……"。例如:
Atoms are too small to see.原子太小,看不見。
This material is too expensive to use in everyday
life.這種材料太昂貴,不能用於日常生活中。
The tea is too hot to drink.茶太熱,不能喝。
This perfume is too expensive to purchase.這瓶香水太貴,買不起。
用於enough,"so+形容詞或副詞+as"或"such+名詞+as"之後的不定式(短語)表示結果,一般放在句末。例如:
The ice is thick enough to walk on.冰很厚,能夠在上面行走。
The auditorium is spacious enough to hold ?ve thousand
people.大禮堂很寬敞,足以容納五千人。
This kind of wood is so heavy as to sink in water.這種木頭非常重,在水裡會下沉。
He was so angry as to be unable to speak.他生氣得連話也說不出來。
It is such a high temperature as to change water into
steam.溫度高到使水變成了蒸汽。
He was in such a state as to be unable even to feed
himself.他的情況這麼糟糕,甚至不能餬口。
His illness is not such as to cause anxiety.他沒有病到引起憂慮。
(3)用作原因狀語--形式跟表示目的狀語相似。區分標誌是:表示目的,不定式前可加in order或so
as,不定式的動作後於謂語動詞的動作;表示原因,則不定式的動作先於謂語動詞的動作。例如:
She wept to hear the news.【原因】她聽到這個訊息哭了。(比較:She wept to obtain
sympathy.【目的】她哭是為了得到同情。)
I pretended to be happy to know him.【原因】(由於)認得他我裝作高興的樣子。(比較:I pretended to
be happy to stop mother from worrying.【目的】我裝作高興的樣子,以免母親憂慮。)
He laughed to see such fun.他看見這麼可笑的事笑了。
I trembled to think of it.一想到這件事,我就不寒而慄。
He jumped with joy to learn his being admitted to the
university.他知道被錄取進大學高興得跳起來。
I'll be glad to drive you home.我將很高興開車送你回家。
(4)用作條件狀語。例如:
To hear him talk,you would think he owned the whole
world.如果你聽他講話,你會以為整個世界都是他的。
A man would be blind not to see that.一個人如果看不到這一點就是瞎子。
They could have done better to have had some tools.他們如果有些工具就會做得更好些。
(5)用作方式狀語--不定式(短語)用連詞as if,as though引導。例如:
He cleared his throat as though to speak.他清了清喉嚨,好像要說話的樣子。
As if to justify his view,he cited some groundless
rumors.好像要證明他的觀點正確似的,他引述了一些毫無根據的傳聞。
(6)用作比較狀語。例如:
I know better than to believe such a man.我不至於相信這樣一個人。
The American president had no better choice than to
resign.這個美國總統除辭職外,別無更好的選擇。
(7)用作讓步狀語。例如:
To do his best,he could not ful?l his task in time.即使他竭盡全力,仍然不能按時完成任務。
You couldn't do that to save your life.你即使為了救自己的命也不能那樣做。
2.用作插入語。不定式通常以固定短語形式構成獨立成分,在句中用作插入語(也稱評註性狀語),對全句作附加說明,表示說話人對所說的話的看法或態度。作插入語的不定式常見的有:to
begin with,to be fair,to be frank,to conclude等。例如:
To begin with,we must consider the problem in an all-round
way.首先,我們必須全面地考慮這個問題。
Among the writers of his age,he was,so to speak,a giant among
dwarfs.在同時代的作家中,他可以說是鶴立雞群。
To tell you the truth,they didn't quite like the
idea.實話告訴你,他們並不很喜歡這種想法。
To conclude,his coming here is a great help to us.總之,他來到這裡對我們幫助很大。
原作者： 漢普森英語