不定式作表语时_to_省略的几种情况

不定式作表语时“to”省略的几种情况

余高峰

《大学英语》精读(复旦大学主编)第一册,第七课,有这样一句话:“It was too late though,and I felt that the kindest thing I could do now would be walk away.”有不少同学对句中“would be walk away”感到不解。他们认为“be walk”不能放在一起,因为它们都是动词。其实,是在“be”和“walk”中间省略了不定式符号“to”,“to walk”作“be”的表语。不定式作表语在大部分情况下是不能省略不定式符号“to”的。然而,在下列几种情况下,不定式符号“to”可以省略。

1.当句子主语是被动词“do”作谓语的定语从句修饰的all,all that, anything,the only thing(way),或thing前面有序数词(first,second)或last等修饰,或者是形容词+最高级修饰时,“to”都可以省略。例如: All you have to do is put it in the toaster and wait till it pops up.　你要做的只是把面包片往烤炉里一放,便可等它跳起来。

Anything we could do was empty the bottle.　我们能做的只是把瓶子倒干净。

In the evening the only thing he did was read the newspaper.　晚上他做的唯一的事,是看看报纸。

The only way you can be strong is stand together.　要强大的唯一办法是团结起来。

All you need to do is p ress the switch,and the motor starts.

　你要做的只是按一下开关,马达就发动了。

2.当主语“thing”被不定式修饰时,其表语的不定式符号“to”也可以省略。例如:

The thing for you to do is face the facts.　你要做的事情是面对事实。

3.当主语是带有动词“do”的由“what”引导的主语从句时,其表语的不定式符号“to”可以省略。例如:

What the plan does is ensure a fair pension for all.　这计划要贯彻的就是保证大家都有一份合理的退休金。

What I want to do is take a holiday right away.　我想能马上就去度假。

4.当主语“all”被以动词“say”作谓语的定语从句修饰时,其表语的不定式符号“to”也可省略。例如:

All they said is hurry up.　他们只是说赶快。

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