infinitive

当动词不定式充当名词定语时，它与被它所修饰的名词，在语义上可能存在着主谓关系或动宾关系。

A. 主谓关系

1. He is not a man to bow before difficulties. 他不是在困难面前低头的人。

2. He loves parties; he is always the first to come and the last to leave. (PEG) 他喜欢参加聚会,总是第一个来,最后一个走。

B. 动宾关系

1. Have you anything to declare? 你有什么要申报的吗？

2. I have letters to write. 我有许多信要写。

3. New York's a nice place to visit. (《韦氏辞典》, 电子版) 纽约是个游览的好地方。

C. 介宾关系

a pen to write with 一支可写字用的钢笔

a table to write on 一张可写字(用的)桌子

a table to sit down at 一张可坐下来吃饭(写字)用的桌子

an office to work in 一间可以工作的办公室

a stool to sit on 一张可以坐的凳子

a child to look after 一个需要照看的小孩

a nice man to work with 一个好共事的人

Obviously he had nothing else to write with. (Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code) 显然,他没有别的东西可供写字。(《达·芬奇密码》)

像 a room to live in 和 an office to work in 这样一些结构,也可以理解为被修饰的名词在动词不定式中充当处所状语时必须加一个适当的介词。

在一般情况下人们还是使用 a place to live in。

At one time people thought that Minnesota was not a good place to live in. 过去人们曾认为明尼苏达州不是居住的好地方。

但是,也可以常常看到 a place to live 的用法,英语语法学家认为这种用法是符合英语惯用法的。除了 place 之外,day, way 和 time 的动词不定式定语也可以省略介词。

1. Night was coming on and I had to look for a place to sleep. 夜幕已开始降临,我不得不找个睡的地方。

2. Well, you can certainly afford a decent place to live. (《新编英语语法》) 唔,你一定能付得起一个体面的住地的费用。

3. I took a bus to Hackney for a new place to walk. 我乘上了去哈克尼的公共汽车，去找一个散步的新地方。

4. Carrie looked about... for a place to sit and eat. (Dreiser) 嘉丽环顾四周, 想找一个坐坐和吃饭的地方。

5. "Can you recommend a good place to eat?" "There are many nice restaurants here ____ Loy's the Old National, etc."

A. like as B. as such C. such as D. as (Michigan)

6. The place for you to stay is the university guest house. (CGEL) 供你住的地方就是大学的招待所。

7. We went round the town in search of a place to stay. 为了找一个住的地方我们在镇上转了好久。

大家都知道,动词不定式可用来表示说话人对说话内容所抱的态度,即对句子内容的评论。因此,它不是修饰句子的某个成分的。因此,有的语法学家将这种不定式称作独立不定式(absolute infinitive),请分析下面的实例:

1. We can't go. To begin with, it's too cold. Besides, we've no money. 我们不能走。首先，天气太冷。另外，我们也没有钱。

2. To tell the truth, I was not sorry to be rid of him. (Shaw) 说实话，离开他，我并不难过。

3. To put it mildly, she's just a bit inquisitive. (Snow) 说得委婉些，她只是有点儿爱管闲事。

4. To be frank with you, I like you, and should be glad to give you any help I can. (Voynich) 坦白地对你说，我很喜欢你，很高兴能给你我所能给的一切帮助。

属于此类用法的动词不定式还有: to conclude(最后), to be fair(公平而论), to be honest(诚实地说), to be precise(准确地说), to be truthful(诚实地说), to speak candidly(坦率地说), to put it briefly(简而言之)。

你所提问的句子里的动词不定式 to offset these advantages 也属于上述用法。在此句之前，作者列举了科学家的种种优点。作者认为，科学家们不愿意参加政府事务都是妨碍发挥这些优点的。为了正确理解动词不定式 to offset 的用法，还必须搞清 offset 的含义。请对比下面的例句：

They argued that their wage increase would be offset by higher prices. (EED) 他们争辩说，他们工资的提高会被物价上涨所抵消。

[试译]使这些优点逊色的是,科学家们就整体而论至今仍不愿意接受在政府中的新地位和新职责。

the + 形容词最高级 + 名词与 the first, the last + 名词有相同之处, 见 first $^{4}$ (the first to be held)。

从语法上看,这类动词不定式总是单独使用,其逻辑主语隐含在句子里,在上句里是you。从语义上看,此种结构用于表示惊讶。上句可译为:

你这个傻瓜,竟然把你们的结婚纪念日都给忘了! 类例: That brother of yours, to be so uncouth! (CGEL) 你的那位兄弟,竟是那么粗野! [参见 to think, to(动词不定式符号) $^{8}$ ]

上面的试题把B判为错误，是违背语言实际的。事实上，选项A和选项B都是正确的。英国语言学家R.Quirk等人对此有过明确的论述：如果不定式中的直接宾语和介词宾语是指句子的主语的话，常常可以省略。因此，没有省略直接宾语的句子不能说是错误：

1. The television in the apartment above was loud enough for us to hear(it). (CGEL) 楼上公寓的电视声很响,我们都能听到。

2. My ambitions are modest enough for me to fulfil (them). (CGEL) 我的志向不高,完全可以达到。

3. He was old enough for us to talk to (him) seriously. (CGEL) 他已经很大了,我们完全可以严肃地和他谈谈。

这是一个很难一下子说清楚的问题。R. Quirk 等在 A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language 中也只是提出：“在某些情况下，只有主动语态的不定式后置修饰分句是自然的，如例[5]；有些情况下，则只有被动语态的不定式后置分句才是自然的，如例[6]：

I've got letters to write tonight. [5]

The animals to be found in Kenya...

然而，“某些情况”是指什么情况，“有些情况”又是指什么情况，R.Quirk等并没有交待清楚。

其他语言学家对这个问题的解释,还是很有参考价值的。他们指出,如果句子的主语是动词不定式所表示动作的施事(施动者),则大都采用动词不定式的主动形式来作名词的后

置修饰语：

1. You need something to eat. (EGS) 你需要吃些东西。

2. He had nothing to say against Joe. (Galsworthy) 他没有反对乔的话要说。

3. I want a book to read. (EGS) 我想要一本书来读。

4. I asked her if she had any rooms to let. (Wilde) 我问她是否有房子出租。

5. There being nothing else to do, we went home. (Palmer) 由于没有别的事可做,我们就回家了。

上面各句中的 to eat, to say, to read, to let 和 to do 都是由句子的主语发出的。因此，这里使用 to eat, to say, to read, to let, to do 都是从句子的主语(You, He, I, she, we)的立场来说的，而不是从中心词(something, nothing, a book, rooms)角度来说的，因而，这里不使用 to be eaten, to be said 和 to be read, to be let, to be done 这种被动形式，便是十分自然的了。

当动词不定式的施动者并非是句子的主语时,则两种结构都是可以使用的,而且在语义上并没有什么区别:

1. The best thing $\left\{\begin{array}{l} to do \\ to be done \end{array}\right\}$ is as follows... (CGEL) 应当做的最好的事情如下……

2. Give me a list of the people $\left\{\begin{array}{l} to invite. \\ to be invited.\end{array}\right\}$ (CGEL) 把需要邀请的人员名单交给我。

这一点在存在句型中表现得尤其明显：

1. There were many things to be done. (Dreiser) 有许多事情要干。

2. There is only one thing $\left\{ \begin{array}{ll} to & do. \\ to & be \text{ done.} \end{array} \right.$ (MEG) 只须干一件事。

3. There is nothing $\left\{ \begin{array}{l} to fear. \\ to be feared. \end{array} \right.$ (MEG) 没什么可怕的。

4. There is a lot $\left\{ \begin{array}{ll} to & do. \\ to & be \text{ done.} \end{array} \right.$ (CGEL) 有许多事要做。

5. There was no light to be seen anywhere, and only a few dim stars were shining overhead. (Calduell) 任何地方都看不见什么光，只有几点暗淡的星光在头上闪耀。（钱歌川译文）

6. The Biscuit walked to the window, and looked out. There was nothing to see, but he remained there, looking, for some considerable time. (Wodehouse, Big Money) 饼干走到窗前，向外望去。什么也看不见，但他仍呆在那儿，望了相当长的时间。（同上）

7. He is the man $\left\{\begin{array}{l} to choose. \\ to be chosen.\end{array}\right.$ (CGEL) 他是待挑选的人。

但是应当指出，在某些有限的情况下，在存在句型中使用动词的不定式的主动形式与使用动词不定式的被动式作后置修饰语在语义上是有些区别的。

(A) There is nothing to do. 没有事情可干。

(B) There is nothing to be done about it. (MEG) 对于此事毫无办法。

在句(A)中 to do 表示义务(duty)，而在句(B)中 to be done 则表示可能性(possibility)。(参见 let)

以前的语法学家们把这种无主语亦无宾语的具有主动形式的不定式分析为具有被动意义的不定式 to be read。但是现代的语言学家们则采用了一种新的分析方法。他们认为这里暗含着未表达出来的主语和宾语：

1. The writing is too faint to read = ... for anyone to read it. 字迹模糊,无法阅读。

2. The food is good enough to eat. = ... for anyone to eat it. 这食品很好,可以吃。

该书对上题的分析完全背离了该题所提供的语境：“Can I help you?”它表明问话人要向对方提供服务。因此，答话人的回答应当是：“Yes, I have some clothes to be washed.”意思是：有几件衣服由对方来洗，而不是自己来洗。因此，正确答案是 B。关于 active infinitive 和 passive infinitive 的用法区别，见 infinitive $^{7}$ 。

[附注]对于中学生最好不要出此类试题，因为它带有极强的学术讨论的性质。

首先应当肯定,选项 A 是正确的。因为在此类句型中常常用主动形式的动词不定式表示被动意义。或者解释为:在这种主动形式的动词不定式中暗含着未表达出来的施动者和宾语:

1. The writing is too faint to read. = ... for anyone to read it. = ... to be read. 字迹模糊，无法阅读。

2. The food is good enough to eat. = ... for anyone to eat it. = ... to be eaten. 这食品很好, 可以吃。

其次,应当指出,选项 B 也是正确的。请看下面的例证:

The food was still too high to be reached. (全国高考,95-52-53) 食品仍然太高,它够不到。

不言而喻，上面的试题颇为失当，而该两个版本所作的两种解释都带有片面性。

英语里有一些形容词，如 hard, difficult, easy, impossible，当它们用作表语时，其后的动词不定式，如与主语存在着语义上的动宾关系，通常用主动形式，而不用被动形式，见 hard, difficult。

见

应当牢记,动词不定式的否定式,如同分词和动名词的否定式一样,都是把 not 放在它们的前边:not(never) to do(doing)。

在 in order to 和 so as to 结构中, 也是把否定词 not 放在 to 之前: in order not to, so as not to:

1. When the men building the house saw the bees they ran away quickly in order not to be attacked by the bees. (上海会考, 92-64) 当建造房屋的工人看到蜜蜂时, 他们都急速地跑开了, 以免受到蜜蜂的攻击。

2. Turn the volume down so as not to wake the baby. 把音量调低一些,以免把婴儿吵醒。请做下面的英语试题:

3. She pretended ____ me when I passed by. A. not to see B. not seeing C. to not see D. having not seen(同上)

4. Mrs Smith warned her daughter ____ after drinking. A. never to drive B. to never drive C. never driving D. never drive(同上,91-25)

5. Tom kept quiet about the accident ____ lose his job. A. so not as to B. so as not to C. so as to not D. not so as to(同上,90-28)

6. They have made ____ a rule ____ in the room. A. this; not to smoke B. it; smoking C. it; to not smoke D. it; not to smoke

7. To fetch water before breakfast seemed to me a rule ____. A. to never break B. never to be broken C. never to have broken D. never to be breaking(上海高考,98-18)

选 C 是错误的, 正确的答案是 D。在做有关动词不定式的试题时, 应首先考虑它的语态, 然后再考虑它的时态。由于 the book 与 translate 是被动关系, 因此, 只能在 B 和 D 之间进行选择。又考虑到 translate 所表达的动作先于 is said, 故只能用其不定式的被动完成形式 (to) have been translated(D)。见 invent。

动词不定式的完成形式与被动形式是各类英语试题的常考项目。做此类题时应特别注意两点：第一，注意动词不定式在句中与有关的成分是主动关系还是被动关系。主动关系——选主动形式的动词不定式(to do, to have done, to be doing)，被动关系——选被动形式的动词不定式(to be done, to have been done)。第二，注意动词不定式所表达的动作与句子谓语动词所表达的动作在时间上的先后关系。前者发生在后者之前，使用动词不定式的完成形式(to have done, to have been done)，前者与后者同时发生或者发生在后者之后，则用动词不定式的一般形式(to do, to be done)。在上面的试题中，invent 的动作发生在 is considered 之前，故应选 C (to have invented)。读完下面的类例，就能更深刻地理解这一点。

1. We were proud to have found the cave carvings. 我们为我们发现了岩洞雕刻而感到骄傲。

2. When some money went missing from the bank, O. Henry was believed to have stolen it. (全国高考, 91 - 阅 A) 银行里丢了一些钱, 人们认为是欧·亨利偷的。

3. Robert is said ____ abroad, but I don't know what country he studied in. A. to have studied B. to study C. to be studying D. to have been studying(全国高考,99-14)

4. ——Did you criticize(批评) him for his mistakes? ——Yes, but ____ it.

A. I'd not rather B. I'd rather not have done C. I'd better not do D. I'd rather not doing 3. One of the salesmen in this shop is ____.

A. saying to have been fired B. said to have been fired C. saying to have fired D. said to have fired

4. Mr Brown is said ____ for Italy last week. A. to have left B. to leave C. to be leaving D. to have been left(全国成人高考,94-32)

5. I feel it an honour ____ to speak here. A. to ask B. to be asked C. asking D. having asked(同上,94-33)

6. For centuries, people from all over the world have claimed ____ strange sights: lights in the sky, flying objects and even creatures from other planets. A. to have seen B. having seen C. to see D. seeing(同上,96-40)

7. He claimed ____ in the supermarket when he was doing shopping yesterday. A. being badly treated B. treating badly C. to be treated badly D. to have been badly treated(上海高考,98-16)

8. A Dream of the Red Chamber is said ____ into dozens of languages in the last decade. A. to have been translated B. to translate C. to be translated D. to have translated(全国四级)

9. I'm very sorry to have ____ you with so many questions on such an occasion. A. interfered B. offended C. impressed D. bothered(全国四级,99.6-42)

10. As a public relations officer, he is said ____ some very influential people. A. to know B. to be knowing C. to have been knowing D. to have known(全国四级,01.6-34)

11. The local health organization is reported ____ twenty-five years ago when Dr. Audon became its first president. A. to be set up B. being set up C. to have been set up D. having been set up(全国研考,93-2)

12. The Bunsen burner is so named because it is thought to be invented by Robert Bunsen, who was German by birth. (全国研考, 94–15)

13. Professor Johnson is said ____ some significant advance in his research in the past year. A. having made B. making C. to have made D. to make(全国英语专业四级,99-43)

上面两本书的解答是错误的。上题中的 to have gone 不是表示“已发生的动作”，而恰恰是表示“未发生的动作”或者说“非真实的过去”。原来，hope, mean, be about 的过去时以及 would like, would love 与动词不定式的完成式连用时，表示原来希望、打算实现的事情实际上并未发生，可以译为“本希望……”“本打算……”“本想……”，见 mean $^{5,9}$ 。 [试题句意]我昨天晚上本想去参加聚会,但是为了写完一篇报告我不得不加班干。

上面两本书都谈到了动词不定式最常见的情况,这无疑是正确的。但是,应当补充指出,当先行词含有 first, next, last 这样的词语时,则充当定语的动词不定式,并不表示其动作发生在谓语动词所表达的动作之后,也不表示与谓语动词所表达的动作同时发生,而是表示动作的完成,或者说,具有过去时的含义(参见 first $^{4}$ ):

1. He was the first man to fly across the Atlantic (to fly = who flew). 他是第一个飞越大西洋的人。

2. He was the first to be there (to be there = who was there). 他第一个到达那里。

3. They were the last guests to arrive (to arrive = who arrived). 他们是最后到达的客人。

4. He was one of the first to collect Picasso paintings. 他是最早收集毕加索画的人之一。

5. I arrived first. The next(one) to arrive was James. 我是到达的第一个人。第二个到达的是詹姆斯。

6. China was one of the first countries in the world to study the science of farming. 中国是世界上最先研究农学的国家之一。

动词不定式除表示目的、结果、原因外，还可以表示条件(真实条件和非真实条件)。上句中的动词不定式 to try... 就是一个条件状语。类例：

1. To look at him you could hardly help laughing. 看到他你就会忍不住笑起来。

2. He'd be stupid not to accept that offer. 他要是不接受那个建议,就太愚蠢了。

[句意]反之,假如你的语言学习至今并不成功,那么试试上面所概述的一些技巧,你可能会获得成功。

动词不定式的一个很主要的用法,就是作目的状语。试题(1)中的 To get enough...正好可以回答 Why? 的问题。而动名词 Getting 却不能用作目的状语,不能回答 why? 的问题。而在试题(2)中要求对主语进行回答,只有动名词 Losing 才能“胜此重任”。

上句中的动词不定式短语应分析为结果状语。上句的意思是：“迪斯尼乐园里的许多街道修建得好像是19世纪90年代的美国街道。”动词不定式用作结果状语是很常见的。

1. He returned home to find his friend Tom waiting for him. 他回到家里,发现他的朋友汤姆正在等他。

2. He lived to be a very old man. 他活得很长寿。

动词不定式所表示的结果有时是出乎意料的,甚至是不幸的:

1. Mary drove all the way to Maine, to find that her friends had moved to Florida. 玛丽驱车一路驶到缅因州，结果发现她的朋友已搬到佛罗里达州去了。

2. He left his native country never to return. 他离开了故乡，再也没有回来。

3. We returned by motorcade to the President's residence to find it transformed. (Hillary, Living History) 我们搭乘车队回到总统官邸，发现它已经改头换面了。(希拉里，《亲历历史》)

to be heard from 为 to hear from(收到……的信)的被动形式,应分析为结果状语,修饰 disappeared。

[句意]两年后，她父亲失踪了，以后再也没有听到他的音信。

用动词不定式作结果状语常常表示出乎意料的结果,而用现在分词作结果状语则表示自然的结果,此外,充当结果状语的现在分词的逻辑主语有时并不是句子的主语,而是句子的内容或部分内容(参见 present participle $^{6}$ )。请对比:

1. He hurried to the station only to find the train gone. 他急急忙忙赶到火车站,发现火车已经开走了。

2. He dropped the cup, breaking it into pieces. 他把杯子掉在地上，打成了碎片。

3. The child fell, striking his head against the door... 那孩子跌倒了,头碰在门上……

4. European football is played in 80 countries, making it the most popular sport in the world. （全国高考，98-25）有80个国家踢欧洲足球，它成了世界上最流行的运动项目。

5. By 1820 the population of New York had grown to about 125,000, making it the largest city in the USA. 到1820年，纽约市的人口增长到12.5万人左右，使它成了当时美国最

大的城市。

我国出版的英语语法著作大都把上面的动词不定式分析为原因状语。CGEL则把它分析为形容词的补足语。从结构上说，它与表感情的形容词是密不可分的，因而它与那些修饰谓语动词的动词不定式是不同的。当然，从语义上说，这样的动词不定式有时具有“原因”的意味。下面是最常见的具有此种用法的形容词：

angry, ashamed, content, glad, happy, thankful, annoyed, astonished, bored, delighted, disappointed, frightened, interested, sorry, surprised, worried

He told the organizer that he had been surprised to receive an invitation to the conference but had decided to accept it. 他告诉大家的组织者，他收到大会的请柬感到很吃惊，不过他决定接受邀请。

该书的解答适用于另一结构: find it difficult to do sth., 而不适用于上题。在上题中, the exercise 是直接宾语, difficult 是宾语补足语, 而 to do 是形容词 difficult 的补足语。没有形式宾语 it, 怎么会出现真实宾语呢? 至于为什么选 to do, 而不能选 to be done, 见 difficult, infinitive $^{7-11}$ 。

见 infinitive $^{23-24}$ , expensive, difficult。

动词不定式作定语时总要修饰一个名词。例如：I have many things to do. 其中的 to do 是修饰 many things 的。而在上题中却找不到这样一个被修饰的名词。由此可以证明，上题中的动词不定式绝不是作定语。那么，它是什么成分呢？

上述用法的动词不定式应看作是形容词的补足语(见 infinitive $^{23-24}$ , expensive)。没有这个补足语,形容词的语义是不明确的。只说 The chair is very comfortable. 我们不知道说此话者是说这把椅子看起来舒服,摸起来舒服,还是坐起来舒服。加上 to sit on,意思就明确了。在这种句型中,如果动词不定式用的是及物动词,则句子的主语便是它意义上的宾语(受动者),如果是不及物动词 + 介词,则句子的主语就是它意义上的介词宾语(或者说,是意义上的状语)。

1. Its fur is soft to touch. (Its fur 是 touch 的受动者) 它的毛摸起来很柔软。

2. Robotics is not easy to learn. 机器人学并不是容易学习的。

3. This problem is difficult to solve. 这个问题很难解决。

4. He is difficult to deal with. 他是很难相处的(他是很难对付的)。

5. He's impossible to deal with. 跟他打交道,是不可能的。

6. The man is hard to work with. 这个人很难共事。

7. Large houses are expensive to live in. 大房子住起来是很费钱的。

严格地说,farmland 不是动词不定式 to be built on 所表示动作的承受者,而是它的处所状语。这两种情况是应当区分开来的:

1. $\int (A)$ Some people don't want good farmland to be built on.

$\text{ } (B) Some people don't want a new plant to be built.$

句(B)中的 a new plant 才是动词不定式 to be built 所表示动作的承受者,而句(A)中的 farmland 只是 to be built on 的状语,或者说是介词 on 的宾语。

2. $\int (\mathrm{A})$ a nice place to live in 一个居住的好地方

3. { (B) a nice place to visit 一个游览的好地方

3 $\int (\mathrm{A})$ an office to work in 一间可工作的办公室

$^{3}$ . $\left\{\left(\mathrm{B}\right)\text{a letter to write}\right.$ 一封要写的信

4. $\int (\mathrm{A})$ a chair to sit on 一张可以坐的椅子

5. { (B) a chair to repair 一张需要修理的椅子

我们知道,带 wh-疑问词的动词不定式最常用作动词的宾语:

I don't know what to say/who(m) to speak to/which one to buy/when to start out/how to start the motor/where to put my hat/why to go at all/whether to buy it

由此可以证明，上句中的动词不定式短语 which sweater to buy 是做 decide 的宾语，而在动词

不定式短语中 which sweater 又是动词不定式 to buy 的宾语, 再看下面的实例:

1. I couldn't decide which bicycle to buy. 我不能决定买哪辆自行车。

2. We must decide which one to buy. 我们必须决定买哪一个。

3. Ask him when to open it. 问他什么时候(把它)打开。

4. I can't decide where to go for our holidays. 我不能决定假期去哪里。

5. We can't decide whom to invite. 我们不能决定邀请谁。

6. I told her how to find me. 我告诉她怎么找到我。

7. I don't know whether to answer it. 我不知道是否需要回答。

8. As soon as the reporters know what to write about, they get down to work. 采访记者们一知道他们所要写的新闻，就着手工作。

应当注意,这种动词不定式短语含有情态含义:should。它相当于一个带 should 的宾语从句:

1. I can't decide which sweater to buy! = I can't decide which sweater I should buy!

2. I don't know what to say. = I don't know what I should say.

这里应当附带指出，含 wh-疑问词的动词不定式还可以充当主语(A)、表语(B)、介词宾语(C)和定语(D)等。

A. 1. How to isolate radioactive elements was discovered by the Curies. 如何分离放射性元素是居里夫妇发明的。

2. What to do next hasn't been discussed. 下一步做什么还没有讨论呢。

B. 1. What I want to know is where to begin. 我想要知道的是在哪里开始。

2. The question is how to put it into practice. 问题是如何把它付诸实施。

C. 1. Bill said something to Cohn about what to do. 彼尔对科恩说了几句话,告诉他应该做什么。

2. They exchanged views on the question of whom to elect. 关于应当选谁的问题,他们交换了意见。

3. This book is on how to use a computer. 这本书所论述的是如何使用计算机。

D. 1. The key with which to open the door has been lost. 开这扇门的钥匙不见了。

2. We moved to the country so that the children have a garden in which to play. 我们搬到了乡下,这样孩子们就有一个花园游玩了。

wh-疑问词 + 动词不定式结构是常考题型, 不可等闲视之。

上面的试题不恰当:除选项 B 之外,选项 C 也是正确的。因为动名词和动词不定式都可以作句子或从句的主语。它们的具体用法如下：

A. 当动词所表示的动作不是指某个特定的行为,而是指一般的行为(具有泛指意义)时,既可以使用动名词作主语,也可以使用动词不定式作主语(而上面试题编写者却认为,只有动名词才能用于此种含义):

1. Seeing is believing. 眼见为实(百闻不如一见)。

2. Rowing keeps you fit. 划船使人健康。

3. Refusing invitations is not always easy. 拒绝邀请并不总是容易的。

4. To see is to believe. 百闻不如一见。

5. To change energy from one form into another is not difficult. 把能量从一种形式转化为另一种形式并非困难的事。

6. To teach is to learn twice. 教学是再学习/教一遍等于学两遍。

上面的实例足以证明,动词不定式作主语,可以表示一般的活动。因此,上面试题中的选项 C 是完全正确的。

B. 当动词所表示的动作是指某一特定的活动时,通常用动词不定式作主语:

1. To act like that is childish. 这样做是很幼稚的。

2. To be there is a great pleasure. 到那儿去是一大乐趣。

C. 用动词不定式作主语时,更常采用的形式是:用 it 作形式主语,而将作真实主语的动词不定式置于句末。例如:

1. To read French is easier than to speak it. $\rightarrow$ It is easier to read French than to speak it. 读法语比说法语容易。

2. It seemed a pity to refuse. 拒绝似乎是很可惜的。

3. It is not always easy to refuse invitations. 拒绝邀请并不总是容易的事儿。

4. She said it was absurd to be afraid. 她说害怕是愚蠢的。

5. It was difficult to sell my car. 我的汽车很难卖掉。

D. 用动名词作主语时, 虽然也可用 it 作形式主语, 而将作真实主语的动名词置于句末, 但这仅限于有限的句型: 在 It is 之后接有 no use, no good, fun, a wonder, useless, nice, worthwhile, worth one's while, good, interesting, funny, hopeless 等词或短语:

1. It's no use crying over spilt milk. 为洒了牛奶而哭泣是没有用的(覆水难收)。

2. It's no good waiting this morning. Come back Monday. 今天早晨等待是没有用的。周一来吧。

3. It's not worth your while reading this book, because it isn't accurate. 这本书不值得你去读，因为它不准确。

应当肯定标准答案是正确的。但是，将 Play 改为 To play 和将 watch 改为 to watch 也同样是正确的。标准答案应分别给出 Playing/To play, watching/to watch, 见 infinitive $^{29}$ 。

粗略地说,动词不定式作表语和动名词作表语有以下一些区别:

A. 当动词所表达的动作是指经常性的活动时,既可以用动名词作表语,也可以用动词不定式作表语。例如:

1. My hobby is collecting stamps. 我的业余爱好是收集邮票。

2. My favourite pastime is reading. 我最喜欢的消遣是读书。

3. To know everything is to know nothing. 样样通,样样松。

4. The greatest happiness is to work for the happiness of all. 最大的幸福就是为大家的幸福而工作。

5. Real happiness is to be able to avoid doing what one would rather not do. 真正的幸福就是能够不去做不愿意做的事情。

B. 当动词所表达的动作是指某个特定的行为, 尤其将来的行为时, 通常用动词不定式作表语:

1. Our plan is to finish the work next week. 我们的计划是下星期完成这项工作。

2. The only thing I could do was to leave. 我只得离去/当时所能做的唯一一件事,就是离开。

3. Whether I'm a good man is, of course, for God to judge. (B. Clinton, My Life). 当然, 我是不是个好人, 得由上帝来判断。(《我的生活》)

我们可以把带 to 的动词不定式看作一般情况，而把不带 to 的动词不定式看作特殊情况。如果我们能把这些特殊情况一一记住，掌握整个动词不定式的用法，就比较容易了。 A. 作使役动词 let, have, make 宾语补足语的动词不定式不带 to:

1. Her parents won't let her go out with her boyfriend. 她父母不让她跟男朋友外出。

2. Have Smith come and see me. 让史密斯来见我。

3. If you won't do it willingly, I'll make you do it! 你如果不愿意做那件事，我会强迫你去做！

[注意]但是,使役动词 make 用于被动语态时,则该动词不定式必须加上 to:

She was made to wait for hours. 她被迫等了几个小时。

B. 作感官动词 see, watch, hear, feel, notice, observe 宾语补足语的动词不定式不带 to:

1. Suddenly I saw a bird fly past the window. 突然我看见有只鸟从窗口飞过。

2. I didn't hear you come in. 我没有听到你走进来。

3. I felt something touch my foot. 我觉得有什么东西碰了我的脚。

4. She noticed him leave exactly at eight o'clock. 她注意到他正好是在8点钟离开的。

5. The police observed him enter the bank with a shotgun. 警察看到他带着猎枪进了银行。

[注意]当此类动词用于被动语态时(watch 不用于被动语态),则充当主语补足语(即主动句中的宾语补足语)的动词不定式要带动词不定式符号 to:

He was seen to enter the office. 有人看见他进办公室了。

C. why (not) + 不带 to 的动词不定式(见 why do)

D. had better + 不带 to 的动词不定式(见 had better):

1. You'd better go now if you want to catch the train. 你要想赶上火车,最好现在就走。

2. You had better write to her. 你最好还是给她写信。

E. would rather (sooner) + 不带 to 的动词不定式:

1. I would rather go by train than by bus. 我比较喜欢坐火车,不那么喜欢坐公共汽车。

2. I'd rather do it now than later. 我宁可现在做而不拖到以后。

3. I'd sooner go home. 我宁愿回家。

F. cannot but/cannot help but + 不带 to 的动词不定式, 见 can $^{12}$ 。

我们在

除了非真实条件状语从句之外，还有许多语言手段来表达非真实的情况。动词不定式便是此种手段之一。动词不定式用作条件状语时，它不是通过词汇手段（如 if, as long as,provided 等), 而是通过语法手段来表示条件关系的。因此, 在英译汉时, 要将这种语法手段转化为汉语的词汇手段。请分析下面的实例:

1. You would do well to write more distinctly. (事实是:你写得不清楚,动词不定式 to write more distinctly 提出与事实相反的条件) 你要是写得再清楚一些就好了。

2. In fact, the nation's first settlers would have been very surprised to see how Americans celebrate Christmas today. (VOA) 事实上, 要是美国最早的定居者看到当今美国人庆祝圣诞节的盛况, 会感到十分惊讶。

3. He would have given anything to be friends with Rose. (Maugham) 要是那时他能跟罗丝交上朋友的话, 他是什么都愿意付出的。

4. All that I have I would have given gladly not to be standing here today. (B. Clinton, My life) 如果今天我能够不站在这里的话,那我会很乐意把自己所有的一切都奉献出去的。

从上面的例句不难发现,非完成体的动词不定式既可以表达与现在事实相反的条件或假设(如例1),也可以表达与过去事实相反的条件或假设(如例2)。它们之间的区别可通过句子的谓语动词的时态反映出来。

在你所提问的句子里,动词不定式 to be able to say the rules without a mistake 是表示与过去事实相反的假设。这一点从句子的谓语动词 would have given 可以清楚地看出来。全句似应译为：

要是当时我能一字不差地把那些规则说出来,我是什么代价都愿付出的!

(参见 subjunctive mood)

当看到主句中的 would have given 这一虚拟形式时, 就应想到 to have been able 一定跟非真实的条件有关。我们在

像 will, willingness, attempt, promise, decision, determination, inclination, invitation, proposal, refusal, resolution 这样一些抽象名词，常常需要用动词不定式来使其内容具体化。这样的动词不定式应分析为同位语。例如：

1. Any attempt to leave early is against regulations. (CGEL) 提早离开的企图, 是违背规章的。

2. We gratefully accepted his promise to help us. (CGEL) 我们感激地接受了他要帮助我们的承诺。

3. She lost her will to live... (EED) 她失去了生活的愿望……

4. He made a firm resolution to give up smoking. 他下了决心戒烟。

5. His refusal to play the game provoked the other boys. 他拒绝光明正大地比赛激怒了别的孩子。

动词不定式、现在分词和过去分词都可以用作名词的定语，但是它们所表达的时间关系却是不同的。动词不定式用作定语时，它所表示的动作一般是发生在谓语动词所表示的时间之后：

1. the man to help you 要去帮助你的那个人

2. $\left\{\begin{array}{l} the car to repair \\ the car to be repaired \end{array}\right\}$ (the car that will be repaired) 待修理的汽车

3. The case to be investigated tomorrow... ("that will be investigated") 要调查的案件……

[附注]但是,动词不定式的此种用法有例外,见

《英语语法大全》把“不与动词不定式连用”作为介词的标准之一，是符合英语的一般规律的。但是，有几个介词属于例外：besides, except, but, save 等等。

1. He does everything in the house $\left\{\begin{array}{l} except \\ but \end{array}\right\}\left\{\begin{array}{l} put \\ putting \end{array}\right\}$ the children to bed. 除了安排孩子们上床睡觉之外, 家里的什么活他都干。

2. They did nothing but complain. (PEG) 他们只是报怨。

3. She can do everything except cook. (LDCE) 除了烹调之外, 她什么事都能干。

知道动词不定式和动名词都可以充当表语(主语补语)，这只是个一般的知识。在这个基础上还需要一些更具体的知识。比如，在 the function 充当主语时，其表语(主语补语)只能由动词不定式来充当，而不能由动名词来充当。请看下面的实例：

1. "Did the audience participate in the play?"
   "Yes, those actors ____ to involve the audience."
   A. whom it was the function B. of whom the function was
   C. whose function it was D. whose were the function (TOEFL)

2. The main function of the kidneys is to purify the blood. (FWF) 肾的主要功能是净化血液。

3. The function of an adjective is to describe or add to the meaning of a noun. (LDCE) 形容词的作用是描述或增加名词的意义。

4. The function they perform is to maintain the established order of society. (London) 他们的职务是维护建立起来的社会秩序。