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.
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.
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 ______.
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】-Mum, why do you always make me eat an egg every day?
-______ enough protein and nutrition as you are growing up.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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。