一、动词不定式的性质
1. 不定式的动词性质表现在:可有时态和语态的变化,可有自己的宾语和状语并与其组成不定式短语。
Tom was too clever a student to be bluffed.汤姆是个很聪明的学生,不会被虚张声势吓倒的。
Be careful not to be beaten up by the enemy.当心别遭敌人暗算。
She doesn't like to make a scene before strangers.当着生人的面,她不愿大吵大闹。
2. 不定式的名词性质表现在:在句中可用作主语或宾语等。
To be content with little is true happiness.知足常乐。
To err is human,to forgive is divine.犯错是人之常情,宽容才是超凡脱俗。
To do drill is important in language learning.做练习对语言学习来说很重要。
He promised to give me a gift.他答应过给我一件礼物。
I would adore to settle back homeland.我非常喜欢回家乡定居。
二、动词不定式在句中的作用
1. 作主语,或在形式主语结构中作真正的主语。
To serve the people is our duty.为人民服务是我们的职责。
It's been lucky to find you.能找到你是一种幸运。
It's very agreeable to have you here.你在这里很令人愉快。
2. 作主语。
The important thing is to save lives.救人要紧。
This police officer's job is to detect fraud.这位警官负责侦查欺诈案。
The drug is to be taken in drops.这种药要一点点地服用。
3. 作宾语,或在形式宾语结构中作真正的宾语。
I hope to see her soon.我希望很快见到她。
Have you decided to marry her?你决定娶她了吗? I thought it wrong to do this thing.我认为做这件事是错的。
I'm preparing to take the examination next week.我在准备下周的考试。
作定语,通常置于其所修饰的名词或代词之后,与其所修饰的名词或代词可能是主谓关系,也可能是动宾关系。
The bus to arrive was from New York.到站的汽车是从纽约开来的。
I have a lot of work to do.我有许多工作要做。
I want to get something to read during the vacation.我想找点书假期看。
Do you have anything more to say?你还有什么话要说吗?
4. 作同位语。
The officer gave the order to stop the attack.军官发出了停止进攻的命令。
He followed the instruction to walk along a certain street where I picked him up.他照吩咐沿某一条街走,我在那里让他搭车。
They had received instructions to watch him.他们收到了监视他的命令。
5. 作目的状语,其逻辑主语通常是全句的主语。
Jack went shopping to buy something.杰克去商店买了一些东西。
I stayed there to see what would happen.我留在那里看看会发生什么事。
They ran over to welcome the delegates.他们跑过去迎接代表们。
6. 作结果状语,其逻辑主语通常也是全句的主语。
The task is too easy to finish.这项任务很容易完成。
What have I done to offend you?我干了什么惹你生气了?
7. 作原因状语,其逻辑主语通常亦是全句的主语。
I'm miserable to hear the message.听到这个消息我很难过。
I trembled to think of it.我一想到那件事就不寒而栗。
8. 作让步状语。
You couldn't do that to help your friends.你即使为了帮你的朋友也不能那样做。
9. 作条件状语。
To look at him you could hardly help laughing.看到他你就会忍不住笑起来。
10. 作宾语补足语,宾语与用作补足语的不定式构成复合宾语,二者在逻辑上是主谓关系。
I'll leave you to look after my house.我将托你照看我的房子。
We believe her to be innocent.我们相信她无罪。
11. 作主语补足语。
Heat is considered to be a form of energy.热被看作是一种能量。
The big building was found to be empty.这座大建筑物被发现是空的。
12. 作独立成分。
To tell the truth,it wasted time to see that film.说实在的,看那样的电影真是浪费时间。
To be specific,the argument in your graduation thesis is logical.具体地说,你的毕业论文符合逻辑。
How time flies,to be sure!时光真是过得快啊!