英語講義【149】不定式動詞可以分開嗎?
眾所周知,不定式動詞(Infinitive)的形式是:to + 原動詞, 如:to come, to go, to play, to read, to listen, to sing等等。
在一般情況下,to + 原動詞必須靠攏,但在某些情況里,to和原動詞可以被適當的副詞(Adverb)分開,在某些動詞句型里,to則必須省略。
在什么情況下,不定式動詞的兩部份可以分開呢?分開的目的何在?在大多數場合里,不定式動詞兩部分不分開,只有在特殊環境里才準許讓副詞加入,以便更準確地,更自然地反映某些實際情況。看看下面三個句子:
(1) Bob failed completely to fulfil his duties.
(2) Bob failed to fulfil his duties completely.
(3) Bob failed to completely fulfil his duties.
在(1)里,狀態副詞Completely既可修飾謂語動詞failed,也可修飾不定式動詞to fulfil。在 (2) 里,completely和被修飾的不定式動詞離開太遠,力道不足,效果欠佳。在 (3) 里,completely夾在不定式動詞兩部份之間,把它修飾得既自然又貼切;這個位置,在三個句子中,可說是最恰當的了。
同樣的,(4)比(5)緊湊;(6)比(7)扎實:
(4) It was wrong for Mr Lim to suddenly quit the job.
(5) It was wrong for Mr Lim suddenly to quit the job.
(6) Is it possible for a chaotic country to further develop its economy?
(7) Is it possible for a chaotic country to develop its economy further?
由于不定式動詞的兩部分在適當時分開有其優點,這種用法,在現代英語里越來越普遍。例如:
(8) Civil servants were urged to better serve the public.
(9)The Economic Development Board has just announced some new plans to further promote the economic development.
(10) I dont want you to be forever criticising your friends good efforts.
(11) The new manager wanted the new scheme to be properly implemented.
最后,順便談談什么情況下,不定式動詞中的to要省略。
一、和make, let, 及感官動詞see, hear, watch連用的句型中,to必須省略。例如:
(12) Dont make her cry.
(13) I wont let you go now.
(14) We saw a man jump into the lake.
(15) Have you heard me call you ?
(16) Let us go to watch him play the game.
二、在had better, would rather后面的不定式動詞中的 to要省略。例如:
(17) You had better do the work now.
(18) It is late now. I would rather go tomorrow.
要注意的是,在被動語態中to這符號可能要重現。例如:
(19) Noone can make him understand the real problem. He cannot be made to understand the real problem.
(20) We heard them speak English.They were heard to speak English.
眾所周知,不定式動詞(Infinitive)的形式是:to + 原動詞, 如:to come, to go, to play, to read, to listen, to sing等等。
在一般情況下,to + 原動詞必須靠攏,但在某些情況里,to和原動詞可以被適當的副詞(Adverb)分開,在某些動詞句型里,to則必須省略。
在什么情況下,不定式動詞的兩部份可以分開呢?分開的目的何在?在大多數場合里,不定式動詞兩部分不分開,只有在特殊環境里才準許讓副詞加入,以便更準確地,更自然地反映某些實際情況。看看下面三個句子:
(1) Bob failed completely to fulfil his duties.
(2) Bob failed to fulfil his duties completely.
(3) Bob failed to completely fulfil his duties.
在(1)里,狀態副詞Completely既可修飾謂語動詞failed,也可修飾不定式動詞to fulfil。在 (2) 里,completely和被修飾的不定式動詞離開太遠,力道不足,效果欠佳。在 (3) 里,completely夾在不定式動詞兩部份之間,把它修飾得既自然又貼切;這個位置,在三個句子中,可說是最恰當的了。
同樣的,(4)比(5)緊湊;(6)比(7)扎實:
(4) It was wrong for Mr Lim to suddenly quit the job.
(5) It was wrong for Mr Lim suddenly to quit the job.
(6) Is it possible for a chaotic country to further develop its economy?
(7) Is it possible for a chaotic country to develop its economy further?
由于不定式動詞的兩部分在適當時分開有其優點,這種用法,在現代英語里越來越普遍。例如:
(8) Civil servants were urged to better serve the public.
(9)The Economic Development Board has just announced some new plans to further promote the economic development.
(10) I dont want you to be forever criticising your friends good efforts.
(11) The new manager wanted the new scheme to be properly implemented.
最后,順便談談什么情況下,不定式動詞中的to要省略。
一、和make, let, 及感官動詞see, hear, watch連用的句型中,to必須省略。例如:
(12) Dont make her cry.
(13) I wont let you go now.
(14) We saw a man jump into the lake.
(15) Have you heard me call you ?
(16) Let us go to watch him play the game.
二、在had better, would rather后面的不定式動詞中的 to要省略。例如:
(17) You had better do the work now.
(18) It is late now. I would rather go tomorrow.
要注意的是,在被動語態中to這符號可能要重現。例如:
(19) Noone can make him understand the real problem. He cannot be made to understand the real problem.
(20) We heard them speak English.They were heard to speak English.