曾经有朋友问我:“I look forward to hear from you soon” 对,还是“I look forward to hearing from you soon” 对。我说后者对,前者错。他说,为什么“to”后面的动词可以有“-ing”呢?
7 M- K- S! K+ n2 I 这问题很有意思,相信其他人也会这样问。- O/ ^$ ?% M4 }- d$ a
这问题就是今天的话题了。3 }7 R. t0 k- n, x- h
大家知道,“to”是不定式动词(Infinitives)的标志,如:to come, to go, to eat, to sleep, to play, to work, to sing, to take等等。0 M7 j4 k6 D0 C
不定式动词是英语三种无限定动词(Non-finite verbs)中的一种。它的主要功能包括协助组成动词句型。例如:
$ M5 |' l5 m1 L; k" X8 d/ t* r 1. 主语+动词+不定式动词/短语$ g" ]' `' H8 ?6 s
(1) Helen likes to sing.
: u4 x y; R" }. Q2 a/ u3 Y- q9 y (2) The man wants to see you.0 Y$ B5 _5 E. ^2 H4 m! n) y# y
2. 主语+动词+宾语+不定式动词/短语
" M: R9 z1 o* S9 A+ { (3) Jack advised me to come.
& y) Z# Y/ X& b; m8 A$ H5 L (4) She asked the boy to go out with his brother./ Y2 [7 d8 q3 }+ D
3. 主语+动词+宾语+不带“to”不定式动词/短语: b9 C4 p& |9 e- P: r. t
(5) We all heard them laugh.3 O8 M0 w' G+ l( b' S8 c
(6) They saw the leaves fall down.
- s/ ]$ q' `# ] (7) Did you notice the old man rush to the bus stop? l* ^& G+ N! A7 s% Z: y, j
(5)-(7)里的“langh, fall, rush”都是不带“to”的不定式动词或短语。4 z# Z& M) a# o9 Y; K9 L; x
此外,当不定式动词在助动词或情态动词后面时,也是不带“to”的。例如:
* t3 z8 E4 e+ A* D (8) John will come soon.
( {$ z, h/ Y! W1 G; e. B" `! J+ H0 ^ (9) Shall I go with them?
2 G5 a8 r- ?; D (10) You may quit whenever you wish.
0 D1 m9 P L% i. C (11) We must not eat too much meat.
% e4 T- e4 z- U) o (12) Tony wished his friends could help him./ \0 N/ t2 N+ J8 F/ Y
不管带“to”与否,不定式动词的性质是不变的。/ ?' x4 {. r$ H% @
“To”的另一个功能是当介词,性质和“at, in, on, for, with”等一样,只是形式和不定式动词的标志一样而已。正因为样貌相似,介词“to”在某些句式中常被误以为是不定式动词中的“to”而引起用法上的错讹。文章开头提到的“hear”和“hearing”之争,便是最好的例子。
* T- c" |, V# Z5 |* @9 @4 r8 _8 C 须知“look forward to” 是个片语动词,这里的“to”是个介词,后面要带宾语(object)(即名词、代词或动名词),如“I look forward to your reply. / …… it. / …… hearing from you.”
: c3 ]! c6 x2 |0 M2 P 下面这句情况一样,所以(13) a 错,(13) b对:
1 a. p/ h* Z/ t9 U' h+ `( o; e (13) a. Are you used to live in a hot country like Singapore?( k, x4 S& t$ F( a5 T7 s) X
(13) b. Are you used to living in a hot country like Singapore?1 W! D! I) X# D4 F( \+ ~) L, B- m
根据这原理,下列这些惯用语中的“to” 都是介词,不是不定式动词的标志。既然是介词,就要有宾语:" h" P5 {+ x6 d7 H# R
(14) Do you object to(反对)picnicking on every weekend?/ ` x3 g5 q1 y- c+ q. |5 o
(15) Many people learn English with a view to(目的是)getting a good job.' k7 K+ w9 p% e' p. D( k
(16) A good government often devotes itself to(致力于) giving the people a good life.
# ?) G0 q, j# c8 r (17) You must not confine yourself to(局限于)talking about your own achievements.
& k/ _# g7 w0 c# F% Z, a (18) Jason prefers working hard to(喜欢) doing nothing.
" L+ `7 C! ^( h (19) Kelvin is addicted to(沉溺于) smoking.7 D$ U: h$ Q7 u* u: M
(20) Qi is much given to(热衷)playing outdoor games. |