动词不定式在句中起着名词、形容词和副词的作用,可以担任除谓语以外的其它成份.高考侧重考查其作宾语、定语、目的状语、表语的功能以及不带to的用法.
一、不定式的宾语功能
hope,wish,expect,pretend,plan,decide,seem等动词后需接不定式作宾语.
例:She pretended ______ me when I passed by.(MET’89)
A.not to see B.not seeing
C.to not see D.having not seen
解析:pretend后应接不定式作宾语,其否定式是“not to do”,故选A.
二、不定式的定语功能
不定式作定语,被其修饰的名词为不定式所表动作的逻辑主语、逻辑宾语等.
例1:There are five pairs ______,but I’m at a loss which to buy.
(上海1999)
A.to be chosen B.to choose from
C.to choose D.for choosing
解析:从语境可知,该空作定语修饰five pairs,且five pairs为该空所表动作的逻辑宾语,所以应填不定式to choose from作定语,表示“从……中挑选”,故选B.
例2:It seems that he has no pen ______.
(北京 2003 春)
A.to write B.to write with
C.writing D.writing with
解析:从语境可知该空作定语修饰pen,故选B.
三、不定式的目的状语功能
不定式常作目的状语,同时它可用于一些固定搭配来作目的状语,如 in order (not ) to do,so as (not) to do.
例1:-Mum,why do you always make me eat an egg every day?
-______ enough protein and nutrition as you are growing up.
(上海1999)
A.Get B.Getting
C.To get D.To be getting
解析:从语境可知,每天吃一只鸡蛋的目的是给你提供更多的蛋白质和营养,所以应用不定式作目的状语,故选C.
例2:In order to gain a bigger share in the international market,many state-run companies are striving ______ their products more competitive.
(上海 2002)
A.to make B.making
C.to have make D.having make
解析:从语境可知,许多国营公司正在努力的目的是使他们的产品更具竞争性,所以应用不定式作目的状语,故选A.
四、不定式的表语功能
不定式和-ing形式一样可作表语,说明主语的内容.
例:The purpose of new technologies is to make life easier,______ it more difficult.(NMET’99)
A.not make B.not to make
C.not making D.do not make
解析:本题句意是“应用新技术的目的是使生活变得更安逸,而非更困难”.通常两个以上不定式并列时,后者的to常省掉;但是如果表示对比或对照关系时,后者的to不可以省掉,故选B.
五、不定式的综合考点
高考对不定式的考查并不仅限于考查一般形式,而更多的是考查它的进行式、完成式、被动式、完成被动式等较复杂的结构.
例1:Hurry up,he is sure ______ for us.(NMET’ 95)
A.to wait B.to be waiting
C.waiting D.being waited
解析:be sure 后应接不定式.根据句意,现在之所以应快点走是因为他正在等我们,所以应用不定式的进行式,故选B.
例2:Having a trip abroad is certainly good for the old couple,but it remains ______ whether they will enjoy it.(NMET 2002)
A.to see B.to be seen
C.seeing D.seen
解析:从语境可知,该题第二个分句要表达“他们是否喜欢(去国外旅行),(人们)还不知道”这一意思,故选B.
江苏 郝昌明
