动词不定式作定语是一个热门考点,各种大小考试必考。
一、不定式定语和被修饰词(名词或代词)之间是逻辑动宾或逻辑介宾关系。举例:
I have letters to write.我有许多信要写。
New York’s a place to visit.纽约是个游览的好地方。《韦氏词典》
He has got many things to do. 他有许多要做的事情。
Please give me something to drink. 请给我点喝的。
There are five pairs to choose from. 有五对可供选择。
I have no house to live in. 我没有房子住。
I need a pen to write with. 我需要一支笔来写字。
a pen to write with一枝可以用来写字的钢笔
a table to write on一张可写字的桌子
a table to sit down at 一张可以用坐下来吃饭(写字)用的桌子
a stool to sit on一张可以坐的凳子
a child to look after一个需要照看的小孩
a nice man to work with一个好共事的人
a chair to sit on一张可以坐的椅子
当不定式中的动词与所修饰的名词或代词构成动宾关系且动词为不及物动词时,需用“不定式 介词”的结构,这种情况下的介词不能省略。
There are some things to be grateful for.有一些事应该为之表示感激。
Give me some paper to write on.给我一些纸写字。
二、不定式定语和被修饰词之间是语义上的主谓关系
1.如果被修饰前有序数词、the next、the last、the only 等修饰词的时候,则不定式定语和被修饰词之间是逻辑主谓关系。举例:
She needs to win the next two games to save the match.
只有下面的两场获胜,她才能挽回败局。
He was among the last to leave.
他是最后离开者之一。
They were the first men to land on the moon.
他们是首批登上月球的人。
This is the only place to get a drink after hours.
这是酒吧正常关门时间之后唯一能喝一杯的地方。
Education is the only weapon to fight the spread of the disease.
教育是战胜这一疾病蔓延的唯一手段。
The only way to conquer a fear is to face it.
克服恐惧的唯一方法是正视恐惧。
A high gate blocks the only entrance to the rear.
一座高大的门挡住了通往后面的唯一入口。
The only way to improve is through hard work and dogged perseverance.
要更上一层楼,唯一的途径就是艰苦奋斗,不屈不挠。
dogged [dɔːɡd , ˈdɔːɡɪd]
adj.顽强的;坚持不懈的
The only way to satisfy the golf boom was to build more courses.
满足这场高尔夫球热的唯一途径是增建球场。
She was the only woman to rise to such an exalted position.
她是唯一高升到如此显赫地位的女人。
以上10个经典例句摘自《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》
exalted [ɪɡˈzɔːltɪd]
adj.地位高的;高贵的;显赫的;兴奋的;兴高采烈的
You're moving in very exalted circles!
你这是出入于显贵要人的圈子呀!
He lovesparties;he is always the first to come and the last to leave.
他喜欢参加聚会,总是第一个来最后一个走。《英语常见问题解答大词典》P669
The next train to arrive was from New York. 下一列到站的车是从纽约开来的。
He was always the first to come and the last to leave the office. 他总是最早到办公室,最晚离开。
2.常见的不定式定语和被修饰词之间是语义上的主谓关系
He is not a man to bow before difficulties.他不是在困难面前低头的人。《英语常见问题解答大词典》P669.
三、某些动词或形容词后可接不定式时,它相应的同根名词也常用不定式做定语,即被修饰词是动词派生的抽象名词或形容词派生的抽象名词时,一般用不定式作为后置定语。举例:
He made an attempt to learn English well.他试图学好英语。(attempt to do sth)
His ability to get on with people is his chief advantage.他能和人相处是他的主要优势。(be able to do sth)
I don't trust his promise to come for a visit.我不相信他来访的诺言。(promise to do sth)
Her anxiety to succeed led her to work hard.她迫切想成功,这促使她努力工作。(be anxious to do sth)
His wish to visit China is quite understandable. 他访问中国的愿望是完全可以理解的。(名词 wish 派生自动词 wish)
He is known for his ability to speak four languages. 他以能讲四国语言而闻名。(名词 ability 派生自形容词 able)
还有一些常见名词:way,time,reason,chance,opportunity,need,wish,effort,right,ambition后常常接不定式作定语。
It's time for you to get up and go to school.你该起床去上学了。
There is no reason to doubt his word.没有理由怀疑他的话。
They have now an opportunity to go abroad to study further.他们现在有机会出国深造。
I"m not sure about his ability to complete the task alone
I have no time to go to the movie. 我没有时间去看电影。
There’s no need to send for a doctor. 没必要叫医生来。
Where’s the best place to meet? 在哪里见面最好?
Is that the way to do it? 是这样做的吗?
四、不定式可以修饰不定代词(这种用法实际属于第一种用法,因为比较常见所以特拎出来单独讲一讲):
I have nothing to say on this question.在这个问题上,我没有什么话要说。
We are looking for somewhere to live.我们正在找一个地方住。
I'm going to the post office;do you have anything to be sent?我要去邮局,你有什么要寄的东西吗?
Can you give me something to help me get to sleep?
你能不能给我点能让我入睡的东西?
《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》
Would you like something to eat?
你想吃点什么吗?
I was banking on getting something to eat on the train.
我指望在火车上能找到吃的。
Her job has something to do with computers.
她的工作与计算机有些关系。
You need something to cheer you up ─ I know just the thing!
你需要点什么使你高兴起来,我知道什么正合你的需要。
《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》
I combed the shops looking for something to wear.
我跑遍商店寻找可穿的东西。
He wasn't badly hurt ─ that's something to be thankful for.
他的伤不重,这倒是值得庆幸。
This role gave her something to get her teeth into
这一角色让她全情投入其中。
《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》
Let me get you something to drink, then I must circulate.
我给你找点喝的,然后我得去应酬一下。
《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》
I went in the room and told her I had something to say to her
我走进房间,告诉她我有话要和她说。
I'd give anything to see him again.
只要能再见他一面我愿付出任何代价。
I'd hate anything to come between us.
我不喜欢任何有损我们之间关系的事情。
I haven't got anything to write with.
我没有笔可以写字。
Can you do anything to hurry my order up?
你能不能设法让我点的东西快点送来?
I'd hate anything to happen to him.
但愿他平安无事。
I certainly don't have anything to prove ─ my record speaks for itself.
我当然不用证明什么——我的纪录就可说明一切。
Do you have anything to declare?
你有什么要申报的吗?
I'd give anything to be like you.
我真希望能像你一样。
《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》
I hope I haven't said anything to upset you.
但愿我没有说过让你不高兴的话。
《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》
Anything to create a scene and attract attention will do
任何能引起争吵、吸引注意力的事情都可以。
Nobody could think of anything to say
谁也想不出什么话说。
I would never do anything to hurt him
我决不会做任何伤害他的事情。
She's never had any drug problems or done anything to give jazz a bad name.
她从没有吸过毒,也没做过任何有损爵士乐名声的事。
I would do anything to induce them to stay
我会想尽一切办法劝他们留下来。
He'd have done anything to anybody to save his own skin.
为了活命,他可以不顾任何人,不择手段。
It cost us nothing to go in.
我们没花钱就进去了。
Number Ten had nothing to say on the matter.
唐宁街十号对此不作评论。
The new restaurant is nothing to get excited about.
这家新餐馆没什么值得特别激动的地方。
She's saved a little money but nothing to speak of.
她攒了一点钱,不过数目不值一提。
Don't worry, you have nothing to fear from us.
别担心,你一点也不必害怕我们。
After his wife died, he had nothing to live for.
妻子去世后,他便没有了生活目标。
There's nothing to be afraid of.
没有什么要害怕的。
Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of.
精神病并不可羞愧。
There's nothing to cry about.
没有什么值得哭的。
At the time we'd really nothing to tell the police.
当时我们真的没有什么能跟警方说的。