精品译文　A：我猜想我本该带把伞来。

B：如果有一把当然好啦，但是今早你怎么能知道呢？

从这个对话我们能推断出，今天早上天气一定很晴朗，不像要下雨的样子，但是在说话的这个时候似乎要下雨了。这是旧TOEFL的一道听力题，所以在听的时候，考生要能够听出这个弦外之音。另外，这里的should've brought以及could have known这种过去虚拟的谓语形式，我们在《英语语法新思维中级教程——通悟语法》里详细讨论过。其实，这里的could have known这种谓语形式具有非常丰富的言外之意，有兴趣的读者可以参见《英语语法新思维中级教程——通悟语法》。

4.7.4　原因状语

表示产生某种感情的原因。这种用法的不定式不多见，在此不过多阐述，仅举几例予以说明。请看例句：

1　They laughed to see the clown.

=They laughed as they saw the clown.

精品译文　看到那小丑他们都大笑起来。

2　I was delighted to meet him.

=I was delighted as I met him.

精品译文　见到他我很高兴。

3　He is happy for his daughter to marry a wealthy man.

=He is happy as his daughter married a wealthy man.

精品译文　因为他女儿嫁给了一个有钱人，他为此感到很高兴。

思维总结

对于不定式用作状语的情况，最重要的就是作目的状语。另外，不定式作状语，在结构上并没有什么特点，因为英语中的状语本来就没有什么特点，很难找出一个共性的结构规律。所以读者即使有时很难判断某个不定式到底是作状语还是别的什么成分也没关系，只要能够理解句义即可。





4.8　不定式的作用（七）：独立使用的不定式

这节主要讨论两个内容：一是不定式引导的短语，作独立成分；二是不定式引导一个完整的句子。

4.8.1　不定式作独立成分

不定式可用作独立成分，用来修饰整个句子，常见的有：to begin with（首先），to tell the truth（老实说），to make a long story short（长话短说），so to speak（可以这么说），to be brief/exact/frank/honest（简单地说/确切地说/坦率地说/坦白地说），to say nothing of（姑且不说），to say the least（至少可以这么说）等等。请看例句：

1　To begin with, on behalf of all of your American guests, I wish to thank you for the incomparable hospitality.

妙语点睛　这是1972年尼克松访华时致的祝酒词开篇的一句话。

精品译文　首先，我谨代表你们所有的美国客人向你们表示感谢，感谢你们无可比拟的盛情款待。

2　About an hour into the match, Eddie's favorite wrestler, Bob Armstrong came into the ring for his match. Eddie was overjoyed to say the least.

精品译文　比赛进行了大概一个小时后，轮到埃迪最喜欢的摔跤手鲍勃·阿姆斯特朗上场比赛了，埃迪简直是欢喜若狂。

3　A: You're in pretty lousy mood, huh?

B: To say the least.

精品译文　A：你的心情糟透了吧？

B：何止是啊。

4　I have a point there, to say the least.

精品译文　至少可以这么讲，我说的是有道理的。

5　To make a long story short, he is in hospital now.

精品译文　一句话，他现在医院里。

4.8.2　不定式引导独立的句子

有时不定式可引导独立的句子，表达愿望、担心、惊讶等强烈的情感。常见的结构是：to think, to imagine，这样的结构常理解为：“你想想……竟有这样的事”。这种句子在TOEFL考试中屡见不鲜。请看例句：

1　To think she wanted to walk all the way to the park.

=It's too far to walk to the park.

精品译文　你想想看，她竟然想大老远地走到公园去。

2　To imagine even for a minute that I would do a thing like that on purpose.

=I would never do that intentionally.

精品译文　你想想看，我能故意做出那种事来吗？

当然，有时也会用其他动词的不定式结构来引导独立地句子，比如：

3　To spend so much money on something he didn't even need.

=He spent money unwisely.

精品译文　他竟然花那么多钱买了一些自己根本不需要的东西。

思维训练

Exercise 4.8

在A、B、C和D选项中，选出与题干中的句子意思最接近的一个。

1. To think she might have missed the plane.

A. It's possible she might have missed the plane.

B. She heard that her flight had been canceled.

C. It's a good thing she didn't miss her flight.

D. She didn't think the passengers would miss her.

2. To think I trusted you!

A. I never trusted you.

B. I think I can trust you.

C. I thought you trusted me.

D. I was wrong to have trusted you.

3. To think he used to be overweight.

A. He doesn't think he is overweight.

B. He thinks about his weight too much.

C. He is trying to gain weight.

D. He isn't overweight any more.

4. To think I originally wanted to take five courses this term!

A. I couldn't have managed five courses.

B. To think I ate all five courses.

C. I thought you wanted to take five courses.

D. I didn't think I could graduate in five terms.

5. To think she's been here six weeks already!

A. It doesn't seem as though she's been here that long.

B. I think she'll be ready to travel soon.

C. She's been considering the offer for nearly six weeks.

D. Every six weeks she comes here to visit us.

6. To think I was once interested in becoming a veterinarian.

A. I don't want to be a veterinarian anymore.

B. Do you think it's a good idea to become a veterinarian.

C. I once met a very interesting veterinarian.

D. Will you become a veterinarian after college?

7. To imagine even for a minute that I would do a thing like that on purpose.

A. I briefly thought about doing it.

B. I found it difficult to do properly.

C. I would never do that intentionally.

D. I can't imagine how much time that would take.





4.9　不定式的逻辑主语

我们先要简单说明一下什么是逻辑主语，然后分别讨论不定式的逻辑主语的两种构成方式。

4.9.1　何谓逻辑主语

在英语中，逻辑主语都是针对非谓语动词来说的。对于三种非谓语动词都有一个逻辑主语的问题，这是因为它们都是动词的变化形式。既然是动词，就应该有动作的执行者，即主语。之所以称之为逻辑主语，是为了区别于句子结构上的语法主语，因为句子谓语的主语和非谓语动词的逻辑主语并不总是统一的，有时并不一致。请比较：

1　He was anxious to meet you.

2　He was anxious for his sister to meet you.

妙语点睛　在例句1中，句子的主语是he，不定式to meet的动作也是由he发出，因此he也是不定式的逻辑主语。此时我们说，句子的主语和不定式的逻辑主语一致。在例句2中，句子的主语是he，不定式to meet的动作不是由he发出，而是由his sister发出，因此his sister是不定式的逻辑主语。此时我们说，句子的主语he和不定式的逻辑主语his sister不一致。

精品译文　1. 他渴望认识你。

2. 他渴望让他妹妹认识你。

对于动名词和分词，同样存在句子的主语和逻辑主语或一致，或不一致这两种情形，对此我们将在第五章和第六章分别讨论。在此先分析不定式的逻辑主语。

4.9.2　不定式逻辑主语的构成（一）：for+名词或代词+to do

从以上例句我们看出，不定式逻辑主语的构成通常是在to do前面添加for引导的一个介词短语，从而构成“for+名词或代词+to do”结构，这里的名词或代词即为不定式动作的逻辑主语。比如我们在4.7节中讨论过的这个句子：

1　Monkey-hunters use a box with an opening at the top, big enough for the monkey to slide its hand in, inside the box are nuts. The monkey grabs the nuts and now its hand becomes a fist. The monkey tries to get its hand out but the opening is big enough for the hand to slide in, but too small for the fist to come out. Now the monkey has a choice, either to let go of the nuts and be free forever or hand on to the nuts and get caught. Guess what it picks every time? You guessed it. He hangs on to the nuts and gets caught.

妙语点睛　这里都是采用了for来引导不定式的逻辑主语。具体来说，不定式to slide its hand in的逻辑主语是the monkey，而该句的主语是monkey-hunters；不定式to slide in的逻辑主语是the hand，而该句的主语是the opening；不定式to come out的逻辑主语是the fist，而该句的主语是the opening。所以我们看到，这里的句子的主语与不定式的逻辑主语都是不一致的。

请再比较：

2　1) The father will be proud for his son to win the gold medal.

2) The father will be proud to win the gold medal.

妙语点睛　在例句1）中，不定式to win的逻辑主语是his son，而该句的主语是the father，即句子的主语与不定式的逻辑主语是不一致的。在例句2）中，the father既是句子的主语，同时也是不定式to win的逻辑主语，即句子的主语与不定式的逻辑主语是一致的。所以，我们看到两句话的差别在于：例句1）中夺金的是his son，例句2）中夺金的是the father。

精品译文　1）如果儿子能够赢得金牌，作为父亲他将会非常自豪。

2）如果这位父亲能够赢得金牌，他将会非常自豪。

3　He was very willing for everyone else to come.

精品译文　他很愿意让其他所有的人都来。

在以上的例句中，不定式“for+名词或代词+to do”结构都是用在作表语的形容词后面的，此时的不定式短语相当于一个状语，比如表示结果（如the opening is big enough for the hand to slide in）、条件（如for his son to win the gold medal）或其他意义。下面我们来看看不定式短语“for+名词或代词+to do”作主语的例子：

4　It's important for you to go there in person.

妙语点睛　注意这里的不定式for you to go there in person虽然表面上也是在形容词important后面，但实际上是作主语的，所以原句的结构是For you to go there in person is important.

精品译文　你有必要亲自去那一趟。

5　It is very common for him to be absent without leave.

妙语点睛　注意这里的不定式for him to be absent without leave虽然表面上也是在形容词common后面，但实际上是作主语的，所以原句的结构是For him to be absent without leave is common.

精品译文　不请假就擅自离开是他的一贯作风。

下面我们再来看不定式“for+名词或代词+to do”结构放在名词后面作定语的例子。比如：

6　Both Chinese and American parents were asked what they wanted most for their children. Chinese parents wanted their children to be successful, while American parents expressed a desire for their children to be happy.

妙语点睛　该句中的不定式短语for their children to be happy是在desire后面作定语，表示同位关系。

精品译文　在一次访问中，中美两国的父母被问及他们对孩子的最大的愿望是什么，中国的父母表示，希望自己的孩子将来能出人头地、取得成功，而美国的父母们则表示，最大的愿望就是希望自己的孩子能过得幸福。

这就是中美文化的差异或者说是价值观念的差异——要幸福还是要成功？每个人都有自己的答案，但也许很难选择，因为幸福与成功之间并不能划等号。最好是做一个在物质与精神两方面都很富有的人。

我们下面来看不定式“for+名词或代词+to do”结构作目的状语的例子：

7　For any adhesive to make a really strong bond, the surfaces to be glued must be absolutely clean and free from moisture or grease.

妙语点睛　该句中的不定式短语for any adhesive to make...放在句首作目的状语。

精品译文　对于任何黏合剂，要想粘得牢固的话，则被粘的表面必须绝对清洁且不能潮湿和有油渍。

再比如下面这个例句：

8　Hilary: Hi Catherine. How's life?

Catherine: Everything's great! How are you and Kevin?

Hilary: We're fine, too. You should find a boyfriend and then we all could go out on dates together.

Catherine: Not for me! I think campus love is a waste of time. I'd rather be studying.

Hilary: But studying all the time is so boring! You need to enjoy life while you're here. I know I do.

Catherine: You know my parents have sacrificed a lot for me to come here. They want me to do well. How will they feel if they hear that I'm spending most of my time with my boyfriend instead of my textbooks!

妙语点睛　该句中的不定式短语for me to come here用在句末作目的状语。

精品译文　希拉里：你好，凯瑟琳，最近怎么样？

凯瑟琳：一切都还好。你和男友凯文好吗？

希拉里：我们也很好。你也应该找个男友，这样我们大家就可以一起出去玩了。

凯瑟琳：我可不！我觉得在大学谈恋爱是浪费时间，我宁愿学习。

希拉里：但老是学习也挺无聊的，你也需要享受生活啊，我就知道享受。

凯瑟琳：你知道，我父母为了让我能来上大学付出了很多。他们希望我有出息。如果他们知道我把大把的时间花在交男友上面而不是在学习，他们会怎么想啊！

我们下面来看不定式“for+名词或代词+to do”结构作表语的例子：

9　The eye of an animal is quite easy to see. How then can the eyes be prevented from spoiling the animal's blending with its environment? One solution would be for the animal to keep its eyes closed when danger threatens.

妙语点睛　该句中的不定式短语for the animal to keep...放在be动词后面作表语。

精品译文　动物的眼睛很容易被发现，因此，如何防止眼睛不破坏动物与其周围环境的融合呢？有一个方法是，当危险来临时，动物们可以把自己的眼睛闭起来。

综上所述，不定式的逻辑主语常由“for+名词或代词”引出，这里的“名词或代词”即是不定式的逻辑主语，来说明不定式动作的执行者。这个“for+名词或代词+to do”结构在句中可以作状语、主语、定语或表语等等。

4.9.3　不定式逻辑主语的构成（二）：of sb. to do

除了上面讨论的for引导不定式的逻辑主语外，在某些特殊情况下，我们要用of来引导逻辑主语。这种特殊情况就是我们在4.6.3小节讨论过的这样的形容词：用来说明人的性格特征或行为表现的形容词，当它们与不定式连用时，要用“of+名词或代词”这一结构引出不定式的逻辑主语。这样的形容词主要有：brave, careful, careless, clever, cruel, foolish, generous, kind, modest, nice, polite, rude, selfish, silly, stupid, thoughtful等。请看例句：

1　It's wise of you not to argue with your boss.

精品译文　明智的做法是不要与你的老板争论。

2　It's generous of him to lend me his car.

精品译文　他很慷慨，把他的车借给了我。

3　It was very careless of him to make such silly mistakes.

精品译文　他太粗心了，居然犯了这样愚蠢的错误。

这种结构的用法非常有限，仅限于作主语的不定式，不能像“for+名词或代词+to do”结构可以用来作各种成分，比如作状语、主语、定语或表语等等。

另外值得注意的是，用of的句子，可以用“人”作主语将句子改写，而用for的句子则不能。试比较：

4　1) You are wise not to argue with your boss.

2) You are important to go there in person. *

究其原因，是因为wise是强调人的性格特征或行为表现的，所以可以用“人”作主语；而important这样的形容词是强调事情的，不是强调人的，所以不能用“人”直接作它的主语。关于这一点，读者可参见4.6.1小节的内容。

思维总结

不定式的的逻辑主语主要是通过介词for来引导，此时不定式的逻辑主语与句子的主语是不一致的。另外，对于某些形容词则要用of来引导不定式的逻辑主语，读者对这些形容词要特别注意。

思维训练

Exercise 4.9

选择最佳答案填空。

1. It is wise 　　　 the experiment that way.

A. of him to do

B. for him to do

C. of his doing

D. that he do

2. 　　　 a really strong bond, the surfaces to be glued must be absolutely clean and free from moisture or grease.

A. Any adhesive to make

B. To make any adhesive

C. For any adhesive to make

D. Making any adhesive

3. Both Chinese and American parents were asked what they wanted most for their children. Chinese parents wanted their children to be successful, while American parents expressed a desire 　　　 happy.

A. their children to be

B. for their children

C. their children are

D. for their children to be





4.10　不定式的时态和语态（一）：被动式（to be done）

4.10.1　不定式时态/语态简介

不定式作为一种动词的变化形式，具有动词的一般特征，即有时态和语态的变化。英文中把动作的完成程度分为四种，即有四种不同的体态（aspect）：一般式、进行式、完成式和完成进行式。同理，不定式也具备这四种体态，而且不定式同样还有语态方面的变化。因此，不定式的时态和语态的构成如下（以write为例）：



四种体态 主动 被动

一般式 to write to be written

完成式 to have written to have been written

进行式 to be writing 一般不用

完成进行式 to have been writing 一般不用


从以上的表格我们看到，不定式可能有六种不同的结构形式。搞清楚不定式的各种构成形式之后，接下来更重要的是要搞清楚每种形式都能表达何种意义。本节将讨论不定式的一般被动式to be done。

4.10.2　被动不定式

一般来讲，在句中若出现了不定式动作的执行者时，则不定式用主动形式；若没有执行者，或不定式所修饰的成分是不定式动作的承受者，则不定式用被动形式。请比较：

1　1) He wants someone to take some photographs.

2) He wants some photographs to be taken.

妙语点睛　在例句1）中，因为有someone充当take的执行者，所以不定式用主动的to take。在例句2）中，因为he不是take的执行者，且找不到其他的执行者，所以不定式用被动的to be taken。

精品译文　他想找人拍几张照片。

2　1) I have three letters to type today.

2) I want the letters to be typed at once.

妙语点睛　在例句1）中，句子的主语I是动作type的执行者，所以不定式用主动的to type。在例句2）中，句子的主语I不是动作type的执行者，不是I来type，对the letters来说就是“被打字录入（be typed）”，所以不定式用被动的to be typed。

精品译文　1）我今天要打印三封信。

2）我想找人立即把这些信打印出来。

3　1) I have a lot of clothes to wash.

2) I have a lot of clothes to be washed.

妙语点睛　在例句1）中，由“我”自己来洗衣服，即I是动作wash的执行者。在例句2）中，用被动to be washed则表示并不是“我”来洗衣服，而是让别人来洗。

精品译文　1）我有很多衣服要洗（自己洗）。

2）我有很多衣服要洗（找别人洗）。

我们再来看更多的例句：

一、作主语的被动不定式

4　It's an honor for me to be invited to address the international conference.

精品译文　我很荣幸能受邀在这次国际会议上发言。

5　It is necessary for us to be constantly reminded of our shortcomings.

精品译文　经常有人提醒我们注意自己的缺点是必要的。

二、作宾语的被动不定式

6　She doesn't like to be treated as a distinguished guest.

妙语点睛　she是动作treat的承受对象，是动作的承受者。

精品译文　她不喜欢被人当作贵宾。

7　No one hoped to be laughed at like that.

精品译文　谁也不会希望自己被那样嘲笑。

8　She asked to be given an easy assignment.

精品译文　她要求分给她一份轻松的活。

9　Mr. Johnson preferred to be given heavier work to do.

精品译文　约翰逊先生宁愿被分配做繁重些的工作。

10　It is known that electrical and chemical energy began to be studied systematically in the last century.

精品译文　众所周知，电能和化学能是在上个世纪开始被系统研究的。

三、作宾语补足语的被动不定式

11　He wanted the letter to be delivered at once.

精品译文　他想让信立即发出。