动词不定式(短语)的句法功能非常广泛,在句中可作主语、宾语、补足语、表语、定语及状语等成分。
一、作主语
(1)动词不定式作主语时,谓语动词常常用单数。例如:
To do morning exercises is useful for our
health. 做早操有利于我们的健康。
(2)如果动词不定式太长,常常用 it 作形式主语,而将真正的主语——动词不定式后置。例如:
It took me
half an hour to walk there.我走到那儿花了半小时的时间。
It’s important for us to learn
English well.对我们来说,学好英语是重要的。
二、作宾语
(1)能够接动词不定式作宾语的有 ask, agree, beg,
decide, determine, fail, hope, manage, offer, plan, , wish 及 would like/love 等动词例如:
I hope to visit this place again.
我希望能再度访问此地。
(2)动词不定式与名等词构成复合宾语时,通常要用 it
作形式宾语,而将真正的宾语——动词不定式后置。例如:
I think it our duty to obey the laws.
我认为遵守法律是我们的义务。
I found it difficult to see him here.
我发现在这里见到他是很难的。
三、作补足语
(1)某些动词在主动式中后接动词不定式作宾语补足语;在被动式中,由于原来的宾语变成了主语,故原来的宾语补足语变成了主语补足语。这类动词常用的有
consider, expect, tell, want, warn, wish,invite等。例如:
They told him not to be
late again.他们告诉他不要再迟到了。→He was told not to be late again.
She invited me to
have dinner with her yesterday.昨天她请我一起进餐。
(2)在feel(一感),listen
to,hear(二听),let,make,have(三让),look
at,see,watch,notice(四看)等词之后接不带to的不定式作宾语补足语,强调动作的完成过程;它们作被动句的谓语时,to要补上。如:
I
heard her sing today.She sang wonderfully.今天我听见她唱歌了,她唱得非常精彩。
She was heard to
sing today.今天有人听见她唱歌了。
She is often heard to sing this song(by
us).我们经常听见她唱这首歌。
四、作状语
⑴动词不定式作状语可表示目的、原因及结果等,其逻辑主语就是句子的主语,因此动词不定式作状语往往用主动式。例如:
Come to see me
again soon. 尽快再来看我。
I trembled to think of it. 我一想到那件事就不寒而栗。
You
couldn't do that to save your life. 你即使为了救自己也不能那样做。
(2) only to do sth. 与
only doing sth. 都可作表示结果的状语,区别是:only to do sth. 表示一个与主语愿望相反的或出乎主语意料的结果,
或用来暗示最初的未能实现的动作;only doing sth. 表示谓语动词本身的动作造成的结果。例如:
I worked hard, only to
fail at last. 我努力工作,结果最后却是失败。
He died, only leaving nothing but debts.
他死了,只留下一身债
五、作表语
(1)动词不定式往往放在系动词be(,become, sound, taste
等系动词后面一般不接不定式)的后面作表语,表示将来的情况,说明主语的内容。例如:
My wish is to become a
teacher.我的愿望是当一名教师。
Your job today is to clean the playground. 你今天的工作是打扫操场。
(2)如果系动词后的动词说明主语的性质,特征,相当于形容词。这时就要用现在分词作表语,而不用不定式。例如:
He said that the
story was interesting.他说这则故事很有趣。
六、作定语
(1)动词不定式常常放在名词或不定代词后面作后置定语,其逻辑主语往往是句子的主语,故动词不定式作定语时往往用主动式;如果动词不定式的逻辑主语不是句子的主语,该动词不定式要用被动式。例如:
Do you have anything to do tonight? 你今晚有什么事要做吗?
I am going to Shanghai
tomorrow. Do you have anything to be taken there? 明天我要去上海。你有什么东西要捎去的吗?