在英語中,疑問詞+動詞不定式的用法較為普遍,現(xiàn)在將其歸納如下:
“疑問詞+動詞不定式”結(jié)構(gòu)中的疑問詞,包括疑問代詞what which who和疑問副詞when how where 等。這些疑問詞和不定式一起構(gòu)成了不定式短語,這種結(jié)構(gòu)在句子中除了不能作謂語外,可做主語、賓語、表語等。例如:
1. She didn’t know which bus to take.她不知乘哪路公共汽車。(做動詞賓語)
We must first solve the problem of whom to serve.我們必須首先解決為誰服務(wù)的問題。(做介詞賓語)
2. When to start remains undecided.何時出發(fā),尚未決定。(做主語)
3. The difficulty is how to do the most of work with the least of money.困難是如何盡量少用錢多辦事。(做表語)
這種結(jié)構(gòu)相當(dāng)于一個名詞從句,不論它在句子中做什么成分,常常都可用同等成分的從句替代。改為從句時只要在疑問詞后面填加一個適當(dāng)?shù)闹髡Z并將不定式動詞改為適當(dāng)形式的謂語既可。所以上述幾句可分別改成:
She didn’t know which bus she should take.
We must first solve the problem of whom we should serve.
When we should start remains undecided.
The difficulty is how we ought to do the most of word with the least of money.
當(dāng)這種結(jié)構(gòu)做賓語的時候,常常置于show, find out, learn, teach, tell, advise, wonder, know, discuss, remember, forget, explain 等動詞之后。例如:
The dictionary didn’t tell the Frenchman how to pronounce the word .
那本詞典沒有告訴那個法國人怎樣讀那個詞。
The teacher showed us how to read a book. .
老師指點(diǎn)我們怎樣讀書。
She hore I’ll advise her which to choose.
她希望我建議她選擇哪一個。
You’d better find out where to put these pens.
你最好了解一下應(yīng)把這些鋼筆放在哪里。
另外,值得注意的是在動詞know 的后面一般用帶疑問詞的不定式做賓語:
誤:I know to say them in English.
正:I know how to say them in English.
在下面的句子中,含有“疑問詞+動詞不定式”結(jié)構(gòu)的,其中的told 有taught的意思,不含有這種結(jié)構(gòu)的,其中的told 有ordered 的意思。例如:
The professor told the students how to do the experiment.
這位教授教學(xué)生們?nèi)绾巫鰧?shí)驗(yàn)。
The professor told the students to do the experiment at once.
這位教授要學(xué)生們立刻做實(shí)驗(yàn)。
像這種結(jié)構(gòu)的還可以獨(dú)立成句。例如:
What to do?
怎么辦?
How to get rid of the trouble?
如何擺脫困境?