Chapter 4 不定式
4.10 不定式的时态和语态(一):被动式(to be done)
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):

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。
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。
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。
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.
5 It is necessary for us to be constantly reminded of our shortcomings.
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。
7 No one hoped to be laughed at like that.
8 She asked to be given an easy assignment.
9 Mr. Johnson preferred to be given heavier work to do.
10 It is known that electrical and chemical energy began to be studied systematically in the last century.
三、作宾语补足语的被动不定式
11 He wanted the letter to be delivered at once.
四、作表语的被动不定式
12 These sheets are to be washed.
13 This form is to be filled out in ink.
五、作状语的被动不定式
14 She was too old to be assigned such work.
15 He was afraid to be fooled.
最后请注意,to let(出租)和to blame(责备)这两个短语是固定用法,主动形式表示被动意思。比如:
16 You should be to blame for it.
不能说:
You should be to be blamed for it. *
17 The house is to let.
不能说:The house is to be let. *
4.10.3 双重被动式
与被动不定式有关的还有一个双重被动结构。所谓双重被动,就是指句子的谓语是被动的,谓语后面所接的不定式也是被动的,因而形成两个被动结构连用的现象,即称为双重被动结构。
我们先来看单一被动句。单一被动有两种情况,其一,可以是句子的谓语用主动,而不定式用被动,比如上面讨论过的例句:
1 No one hoped to be laughed at like that.
2 This form is to be filled out in ink.
其二,也可以是句子的谓语用被动,而不定式用主动,比如:
3 You are not allowed to smoke here.
妙语点睛 句子的主语you与allow是被动关系,所以谓语要用被动的are allowed;但you与smoke是主动关系,所以不定式要用主动的to smoke。
4 You are not allowed to take the exam paper out of the classroom.
妙语点睛 句子的主语you与allow是被动关系,所以谓语要用被动的are allowed;但you与take是主动关系,所以不定式要用主动的to take。
如果句子的谓语与不定式都采用被动结构,即变成双重被动。比如:
5 The book is not allowed to be taken out of the library.
妙语点睛 我们看到,这个句子的谓语用了被动的is not allowed,同时不定式也用了被动的to be taken。
另外,不定式还可能是完成被动式。比如:
6 The book is said to have been published.
妙语点睛 句子的谓语用了被动的is said,而不定式用了完成被动式to have been published。
再比如:
7 The construction is reported to have been completed.
妙语点睛 句子的谓语用了被动的is reported,而不定式用了完成被动式to have been completed。
至于不定式何时要用完成式,我们将在下一节详细讨论。
思维总结
通过这一节的学习,读者要了解不定式各种可能的结构形式,并真正理解各种形式所能表达的各种含义。要能够正确判断不定式何时该用被动式,何时该用主动式。为了检验自己的掌握程度,请读者做下面的练习。
思维训练4.10 Key
一、用括号中动词的适当形式填空。
1. A: This letter needs to ______ (send) immediately. Will you take care of it?
B: Right away.
2. He asked to ______ (send) to work in Tibet.
3. It is easy to ______ (fool) by his lies.
4. He is easy to ______ (fool).
5. “I considered it an honor to ______ (invite) to address the meeting of world-famous scientists,”said Professor Leacock.
6. Don't all of us want to ______ (love) and ______ (need) by other people?
7. Clint wants us to tell him the news as soon as we hear anything. He wants to ______ (tell) about it immediately.
8. Give him some books to ______ (read).
9. The house is to ______ (let).
10. The reason is not far to ______ (seek).
11. The magazine is interesting to ______ (read).
12. It is necessary for us to ______ (constantly, remind) of our shortcomings.
13. The report is difficult to ______ (write).
14. Everyone hates to ______ (use).
15. They found the lecture hard to ______ (understand).
二、选择最佳答案填空。
16. It is known that electrical and chemical energy began ______ systematically in the last century.
A. study B. to study C.to be studied D.studied
17. Mr. Johnson preferred ______ heavier work to do.
A. to be given B. to be giving C.to have given D.having given