在英語學習中,“目的”的表達在許多語境中會常常用到。由于“目的”的表達方式多種多樣,若掌握其表達的一般性規律,做到活學活用,就可以起到事半功倍的作用。現將“目的”的表達方法歸納如下:
一、含表達“目的”的狀語的常見句型
句型一:
A does sth
in order thatso that
A (or B)
may(not)might(not)can(not)could(not)
do that
句型二:
A does sth
toso as(not) toin order(not) to
do that
1.如果主句主語與從句主語相同,都是A,一、二句型可以互換。如果主句和從句主語不相同,即從句主語為B,就不能用句型二。例如:
He went early in order thatso that he could get a good seat.
= He went early
in order toso as toto
get a good seat.
Mom puts the box in the shade so that the sun won’t burn the little plants.
本句就不能轉換為:
Mom puts the box in the shade
in order not toso as not to
burn the little plants.
2.當強調動詞不定式所表示的目的時,可用in order to或 so as to替代動詞不定式,使用二者時語義均比單獨用動詞不定式強。兩者的區別是:in order to 表示目的語義更強,強調動作與目的的必然關系,書面語氣重,一般位于句首或句末;so as to 則一般位于句末,語氣稍弱,多用于口語中。例如:
People had to walk many kilometers in order to fetch wood.
In order to get there in time,we started early.
He got up early so as to get to the school in time.
3.作目的狀語的for短語、動詞不定式和目的狀語從句往往可以互換。例如:
He says that he will go back to England soon for a holiday.
=He says that he will go back to England soon to spend a holiday.
=He says he will go back to England soon so that he can spend a holiday.
4.動詞不定式作目的狀語,其邏輯主語應是句子主語,否則應用 for 引出其邏輯主語。例如:
School was closed early for us to get home ahead of the storm.
The box is too heavy for the boy to carry.
二、運用表達“目的”的狀語時應注意的問題
1.so that 引導的目的狀語從句與結果狀語從句的區別。so that 用作復合連詞,既可以引導目的狀語從句,又可以引導結果狀語從句。表“目的”時可用 in order that 替換,且從句的謂語通常含有may/might,can/could,will/would或should 等情態動詞,用以表示推斷的含義;而表示“結果”時,從句謂語動詞多采用陳述式,以表示客觀事實。例如:
I’m going to the lecture early so that I will get a good seat.(表目的)
I went to the lecture early,so that I got a good seat.(表結果)
2.for fear that,in case二者也可以引導目的狀語從句,意為“為了不……”“以免”,相當于so that... not, in order that... not,它們引導的從句常用should+動詞原形。例如:
He repeated the answer for fear that there should be any mistake.
Please remind me of it again tomorrow in case I forget.
3.對目的狀語提問時,可用“What... for”。例如:
People use metal for making machine.
→What do people use metal for?
Miss Gao hurried off to look after the boy.
→What did Miss Gao hurry off for?
4.在go/come and do sth結構中,and后的動詞(短語)也起目的狀語的作用。例如:
I may go and work on the farm.
Can you come and play football?
5.一般來說for+Ving 不可用作目的狀語。例如:
I went there for seeing her.(×)
I went there to see her. (√)
但for后面如果跟名詞化的動名詞,就可以作目的狀語了。例如:
They went out to sea for whale hunting.
Tomorrow he will go for hare shooting.
以上hunting和shooting都是名詞化的動名詞。
(責任編輯周侯辰)