不定式短语

在前面的文章中，我们已经讲解了前两种非谓语动词，分词和动名词。接下来，我们来看最后一种，不定式。

一、不定式短语

不定式，即to的后面加动词。表示动作还没有定下来，它可能发生在未来，也可能不发生。

不定式有“逻辑将要”的含义，故其动作发生在前面的动词之后，而且多表达意愿、目的、企图等。

不定式同时具有与分词和动名词类似的功能。

1.1、名词从句的化简

1.1.1、作主语

不定式和动名词作主语一般可以通用。但在表达还没有做一件事时，使用不定式会更加准确。

• To make large sums of money is my dream.

  That I will make large sums of money is my dream.

  挣大钱是我的梦想。

  注：如果本句用Making large sums of money is my dream.也是对的，但是用不定式暗示“我要去挣钱”，但目前没有挣到钱。

不定式作主语时，可用形式主语It取代，然后将不定式放在句子主干之后。

• It was his job to repair bicycles and at that time he used to work fourteen hours a day.

  It was his job that he repaired bicycles and at that time he used to work fourteen hours a day.

  他那是的工作是修理自行车，并且通常是一天工作14个小时。

• So, it comes as a surprise to learn that giant fish are terrifying the divers on North Sea oil rigs.

  So, it comes as a surprise that we learn giant fish are terrifying the divers on North Sea oil rigs.

  因此，听说北海石油钻井平台上的潜水员受到巨型鱼类的恐吓，确实很让人吃惊。

不定式短语作主语时，一律视为第三人称单数。但and连接的两个不定式短语作主语时，视为复数。

• To become a great scientist is his ultimate goal.

  成为伟大的科学家是他的终极目标。

• To study and to play are equally important.

  学习和玩耍同样重要。

造句练习（注：鼠标选中空白处有惊喜哦）：

• 成为职业篮球选手是我的抱负之一。

  To become a professional basketball player is one of my ambitions.
  It is one of my ambitions to become a professional basketball player.

• 精通一门外语需要不断的努力。

  To master a foreign language takes constant effort.
  It takes constant effort to master a foreign language.

• 提高我们的生产力是我们今年的主要目标。

  To increase our productivity is our main goal this year.
  It is our main goal this year to increase our productivity.

• 对于某些人而言，活着就是受苦。

  For some people, to live is to suffer.
  It is suffering for some people to live.

• 一天大笑三次有意健康。

  It is good for your health to laugh three times a day.
  To laugh three times a day it is good for your health.

• 犯错是人之常情，宽恕则超凡入圣。

  To err is human, to forgive is divine.

• 知道做什么是智慧，知道怎么做是技能。

  To know what to do is wisdom, To know how to do it is skill.

• 让自己的孩子诚实是教育的开端。

  To make your children capable of honesty is the beginning of education.

• 爱是世界上最美的动词。

  To love is the most beautiful verb in the world.

• 人生得一知己足矣。

  It is enough to have one close friend in one’s life.

• 诅咒黑暗不如点亮一支蜡烛。（临渊羡鱼，不如退而结网）

  It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.

1.1.2、作宾语

大部分及物动词，其后既可以用不定式，也可以用动名词，比如begin doing = begin to do。但是，表示“企图”或者“意愿”的及物动词，其宾语是“将要发生的事情”，所以，通常只能用不定式作宾语。

这类动词有：attempt企图、choose选择、decide决定、expect期望、hope希望、intend打算、manage设法、offer/volunteer主动提议、plan计划、want要、wish希望、endeavor努力

另外，需要注意的是，不定式绝对不能作介词的宾语。

• Debbie is only eleven years old and she hopes to set up a new world record.

  Debbie is only eleven years old and she hopes that she can set up a new world record.

  黛比只有11岁，她希望创一项新的世界纪录。

• Last Christmas, the circus owner, Jimmy Gates, decided to take some presents to a children’s hospital.

  Last Christmas, the circus owner, Jimmy Gates, decided that he could take some presents to a children’s hospital.

  去年圣诞节，马戏团老板吉米·盖茨决定送些礼物给儿童医院。

• It has four Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, but the group will need to have only three of them rebuilt.

  It has hour Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, but the group will need that they will have only three of them rebuilt.

  该飞机装配有4台罗尔斯·罗伊斯的默林发动机，但是他们只需要修复其中的3台。

• The pilot managed to circle the balloon for some time.

  The pilot managed that he circled the balloon for some time.

  飞行员设法绕着气球飞了一阵。

在第四大句型中，不定式作不完全及物动词的宾语时，必须用形式宾语it取代，加上宾语补语之后，再加不定式。比如，“某人认为做某事是怎么样的”，即：sb. + think/believe/find/deem/consider + it + (to be) + 名词或形容词（补语） + 不定式（宾语），此时to be可省略。

• I think it necessary to drink a lot of water.

  I think it necessary that I should drink a lot of water.

  我人为每天多喝水很有必要。

• I consider it a great honor to be invited to dinner.

  我认为能被邀请参加晚宴是很大的荣幸。

• I deem it a great honor to serve you.

  我认为为您服务是一项光荣。

• A Frenchman, for instance, might find it hard to laugh at a Russian joke.

  例如，法国人听完一则俄国笑话可能很难发笑。

和名词从句不同，不定式短语可以和动词make组成宾补句型，用于表示“使某种事情变得怎么样”，即：make + it + (to be) + 名词或形容词（补语） + 不定式（宾语）

• The invention of computers has made it possible to free man from the complex labor.

  计算机的发明使得人们有可能从繁杂劳动中解放出来。

• I made it my business to know all about them.

  我把了解他们作为我的业务。

造句练习（注：鼠标选中空白处有惊喜哦）：

• 我主动提议帮玛丽忙，但她拒绝了（take sb. down）。

  I offered to give Mary a hand, but she turned me down.

• 我们企图说服约翰戒烟，但没有效果。

  We attempted to persuade John to quit smoking, but in vain.

• 我不觉得理解VOA的慢速英语节目有难度。

  I don’t think it difficult to understand the VOA Special English.

• 虽然声音被听得很清楚，但费了我很长时间才作出反应。

  Though the sound could be heard clearly, it took me a long time to react.

补充：有些及物动词，即可以用动名词也可以用不定式作宾语，但是意义不同。要区分很简单，动名词表示已经做过的事情，不定式表示正打算做的事情。比如说：

• stop doing（停止做某事）

  stop to do（停下来去做某事）

• remember doing（记得做过某事）

  remember to do（记得去做某事）

• forget doing（忘记做过某事）

  forget to do（忘记去做某事）

1.1.3、作表语

不定式作表语时，通常是名词性的表语。

• The only way to do this was to operate.

  做这件事唯一的办法就是手术。

• My hope is to become a scientist like Einstein.

  我的理想就是做一个像爱因斯坦那样的科学家。

当主语是人时，用不定式作表语，表示一定会发生的情况（如计划，命令，肯定推测等）。

• I am to realize the goal of life.（肯定推测）

  我一定要实现人生的目标。

• You are to be back by 10 o’clock.（命令）

  你必须十点以前回来。

• You are not to smoke in the reading-room.（用于否定句表示“禁止”）

  你不能在阅读室吸烟。

特征动词（seem似乎是、appear看起来是、prove被证明是、turn out结果是）的表语，通常用不定式，此时to be可省略。

• These birds seem (to be) unaffected by climate.

  这些鸟似乎不受气候的影响。

• He appears (to be) a perfectly normal person.

  他看上去是一个完全正常的人。

• The search proved (to be) difficult.

  这次搜索被证明是很困难的。

• He turned out (to be) right.

  结果他是对的。

1.1.4、作宾语补语

当不定式作宾语补语或被动语态的主语补语时，如果不定式是to be，则可以省略。

• She wanted him to repair their son’s bicycle!

  她希望他修理孙子的自行车。

• When it was eventually brought to shore, it was found (to be) over thirteen feet long.

  当终于把它弄上岸后，人们发现它身长超过了13英尺。

1.1.5、作同位语

不定式还可以作同位语。

• My plan to visit the town was refused.

  My plan that I will visit the town was refused.

  我参观小镇的计划被拒绝了。

1.1.6、疑问句 + 不定式

当疑问词和不定式，构成名词短语时，用法和名词相同。

• I was just wondering how to spend the morning.

  I was just wondering how I would spend the morning.

  我正不知道怎么消磨这一上午呢。

1.2、状语从句的化简

不定式作状语，只能表目的和结果。

1.2.1、作目的状语

• Fifteen policemen had to push very hard to get him off the main street.

  Fifteen policemen had to push very hard so that they could get him off the main street.

  15个警察不得不用很大的力气把它推离主要街道。

• When the bull got close to him, he clumsily stepped aside to let it pass.

  When the bull got close to him, he clumsily stepped aside so that he could let it pass.

  当公牛逼近他时，他踉跄地往旁边一闪，牛扑空了。

  注：由于let是不完全及物动词，故此不定式短语类似第四大句型，it是不定式to let的宾语，pass是宾语补语

• It was not long before a helicopter arrived on the scene to rescue the survivors of the plane crash.

  It was not long before a helicopter arrived on the scene so that it could rescue the survivors of the plane crash.

  不久，一架直升飞机抵达飞机失事现场，来搭救这几个幸存者。

• Specially-made lanterns are hung outside each house to help the dead to find their way.

  Specially-made lanterns are hung outside each house so that they could help the dead to find their way.

  特制的灯笼在各家的门外，为的是帮助亡灵看清道路。

有时候，为了强调目的状语，可以将不定式放在句首。

• To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe.

  要想获得知识，就必须学习。但要想获得智慧，就必须学会观察。

• To be really happy and really safe, one ought to have at least two or three hobbies, and they must all be real.

  要想真正幸福和平安，一个人至少应该有两三种业余爱好，而且必须是真正的爱好。

1.2.2、作结果状语

分词短语表示意料之中的结果，而不定式表示意料之外的结果。

• Farm laborers said that they always woke up to find the work had been done overnight.

  农场工人们说，常常一早起来却发现有人在夜里把活干了。

• The small company has beaten other big companies, to win the title of best business-class service.

  这个小航空公司击败了其他大公司从而赢得了最佳商务舱服务奖。

1.2.3、造句练习

注：鼠标选中空白处有惊喜哦

• 憎恨别人，犹如为了除掉一只老鼠而烧掉自己的房子。

  Hating people is like burning down your own house to get rid of a rat.

• 为了赢得这个奖，你应该很努力地奋斗。

  To win the award, you should work very hard.

1.3、定语从句的化简

1.3.1、关系代词作主语

关系代词作主语引导的定语从句，可以化简为不定式短语，此时的先行词，通常被绝对性形容词修饰

• I have no friend to advise me.

  I have no friend who can advise me.

  我没有可以给我忠告的朋友。

  注：因为本句中有绝对性形容词no，所以用不定式作定语，而不用分词

• He was the first person to greet me when I arrive there.

  He was the first person who greet me when I arrive there.

  当我到那儿的时候，他是第一个来迎接我的人。

  注：因为本句中有绝对性形容词first，所以用不定式作定语，而不用分词。

1.3.2、关系代词作宾语

关系代词作宾语引导的定语从句，可以化简为不定式短语，此时的不定式动词必须是及物动词或者及物动词短语，表示“有某事要做”

• I have a letter to write.（我有一封信要写）
• I will write a letter.（我要写一封信）

上面这两句话的中文意思和英文意思是一样的。需要注意的是，这里的不定式to write作定语，修饰名词letter，不定式动词write是及物动词，其修饰的名词letter是不定式的逻辑宾语。

• He never has anything to do.

  He never has anything that he can do.

我们不能说，He is a nice man to work.因为这里的work是不及物动词，不能接宾语man。所以，必须改为，He is a nice man to work with.

1.3.3、关系副词

关系副词引导的定语从句，可以化简为不定式短语，此时不定式动词必须是不及物动词，或者及物动词+宾语

• The time to go is July.（不及物动词go）

  The time when we should go is July.

  应该在7月份去。

• It is time to draw a conclusion.（及物动词draw + 宾语conclusion）

  到下结论的时间了。

• A good place to eat food is the Sichuan restaurant around the corner.

  A good place where we can eat food is the Sichuan restaurant around the corner.

  一个吃饭的好地方就是拐角的那家川菜馆。

• The only way to do this was to operate.

  The only way in which they can do this was to operate.

  做这件事唯一的办法就是手术。

1.3.4、造句练习

注：鼠标选中空白处有惊喜哦

• 我有一封信要写。

  I have a letter to write.

• 他是做最后决定的最佳人选。

  He is the best man to make the final choice.

• 在天黑前，我们还有很长的路要走。

  We had a long journey to make before nightfall.

• 她有四个孩子要照顾。

  She has hour children to take care of.

• 下一列到达的火车是从纽约开过来的。

  The next train to arrive is from New York.

• 克林顿是这次空难中唯一的幸存者。

  Clinton is the only person to survive the air crash.

• 角色扮演（role playing）是一种有效而且自得其乐的英语学习方法。

  Role playing is an effective and enjoyable way to learn English.

二、不定式短语的逻辑主语

当不定式短语的逻辑主语和句子的主语不一致的时候，通常用这样的结构：for + 名词 + 不定式

• He expects for his sister to meet you.

  He expects that his sister can meet you.

  他期望他妹妹认识你。

• There is no need for you to go.

  你没有必要去。

• Dentists always ask questions when it is impossible for you to answer.

  牙科医生总是在你无法作出回答的时候向你提出问题。

• Chinese parents wanted their children to be successful, while American parents expressed a desire for their children to be happy.

  中国父母希望孩子成功，而美国的父母表达了他们的愿望，那就是希望他们孩子幸福。

当代词作不定式的逻辑主语时，要用宾格

• My sister told me that she would love for me to babysit for her.

  姐姐告诉我她很想要我帮她照顾小孩。

当我们想表达“对于···来说做某事是怎么样的”，通常都可以采用不定式带上逻辑主语的结构：It is + 形容词 + for sb. to do sth.

• It is necessary for him to study English every day.

  对他来说，每天学习英语是很有必要的。

在It is + 形容词 + for sb. to do sth.句型中，当表示人物性格的形容词（聪明，善良，粗心，愚蠢等）和不定式连用时，要用of代替for

• It’s wise of you not to argue with our boss.

  明智的做法是不和你的老板争吵。

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

  他太粗心了，居然犯了如此愚蠢的错误。

造句练习（注：鼠标选中空白处有惊喜哦）：

• 此刻，我很难表达我的心情。

  It’s very difficult for me to express my feelings at this moment.

• 你有必要亲自去那里一趟。
  It’s necessary for you to go there in person.

• 他很慷慨，把它的车借给了我。

  It’s generous of him to lend me his car.

三、不定式短语的时态和语态变化

不定式短语，没有“时”的变化，而只有“态”的变化。

不定式有4态，即一般态、完成态、进行态和完成进行态。其构成也非常简单，就是to + 4态。

不定式的被动语态，就是to + 4态的被动语态。但进行态和完成进行态很少用被动语态。

以动词do为例：

• 一般态：主动语态为to do，被动语态为to be done
• 完成态：主动语态为to have done，被动语态为to have been done
• 进行态：主动语态为to be doing，一般不用被动语态
• 完成进行态：主动语态为to have been doing，一般不同被动语态

通常，不定式的一般态是最常用的：

• He wanted some photographs to be taken when he visited Taiwan.（一般态，被动语态）

  他在台湾参观的时候想找人拍几张照片。

不定式的完成态，表示不定式的动作发生在谓语动作之前：

• Fishermen and sailors sometimes claim to have seen monsters in the sea.（完成态，主动语态）

  渔夫和水手们有时声称自己看到过海里的妖怪。

• This building was said to have been build from their own designs.（完成态，被动语态）

  这就说是他们自行设计建造的。

不定式的进行态，表示不定式的动作与谓语动作同时发生。不定式的进行态不常用，通常只用于seem/appear，happen等动词之后，表达“似乎正在做某事”，“碰巧正在做某事”等等。

• A pilot noticed a balloon which seemed to be making for a Royal Air Force Station nearby.

  一个飞行员发现了一只气球，它像是正飞往附近的一个皇家空军基地。

不定式的完成进行态，是完成态的延续动词用法（少见用法）。

• They are said to have been collecting stamps.

  They are said to have collected stamps.

  据说他们一直在收集邮票。

需要注意的是，以下是常见的固定搭配，即只能用不定式，而不能用分词或动名词：

• claim to do（声称…）
• be said to do（据说…）
• be supposed/thought/expected to do（应该…）
• seem / appear（似乎…）

例句：

• Everyone went to the funeral, for the ‘ghost’ was none other than Eric Cox, a third brother who was supposed to have died as a young man.

  大家都去参加了葬礼，因为那“鬼”不是别人，正是农场主的兄弟埃里克·考科斯。人们以为埃里克年轻时就死了。

• When I was a boy, my grandfather tole me how a German taxi driver, Franz Bussman, found a brother who was thought to have been killed twenty years before.

  当我是个孩子的时候，我祖父给我讲了一位德国出租汽车司机弗朗兹·巴斯曼如何找到了据信已在20年前死去的兄弟的事。

造句练习（注：鼠标选中空白处有惊喜哦）：

• 他想要找人立刻把这些信打印出来。

  he wanted the letters to be typed at once.

• 我很抱歉在这个时候还用这么多问题来打扰你。

  I’m sorry to have bothered you with so many questions on such an occasion.

• 她妈妈走进来的时候，他假装正在睡觉。

  He pretended to be sleeping when his mother came in.

• 那个小女孩今晚好像一直在看电视。

  The little girl seems to have been watching TV all this evening.

四、小结

最后，小结一下今天的内容，我们还是直接看图：