1、for 和 of 引导的不定式结构的区别不定式是一种非谓语动词,不能单独作谓语,因此没有语法上的主语。但由于不定式表示的是动作,在意义上可以有它的主体。我们称之为逻辑主语。 提起不定式逻辑主语,人们首先想到的会是“for+ 名词(宾格代词) +不定式” 的复合结构。如:It is important for us to study English well然而,有时不定式的逻辑主语须要用 “of+名词(代词宾格)”才行。例如: It is kind of you to help me而不能说:It is kind for you to help me在选择介词“for”还是“of”时,人们往往
2、总是凭感觉而定。有时受习惯影响,多选介词“for”。于是常出现这样的错误: It was careless for him to lose his wayIt is cruel for you to do so由于众多语法书对这种结构中使用“for”与“of”的区别介绍甚少,一些人对其概念认识尚不完全清楚,笔者认为有必要就这一问题作些探讨与介绍。 一、在句中的语法作用不同 a不定式 for 结构在句中可以作主、宾、表、定、状、同位语: 1It is easy for Tom to do this work(主语)汤姆做此工作是容易的。 2Id like for him to come here
3、(宾语)我喜欢他来这里。 3His idea is for us to travel in two different groups(表语)他的想法是:我们分成两组旅行。 4Have you heard about the plan for you to go abroad(定语)你听到让你出国的计划吗? 5The word is too difficult for him to pronounce well(状语)这单词太难,他念不准。 6In the most schools,it is the custom for the headmaster to declare the newter
4、m start在大部分学校,校长宣布新学期开始是一个习惯。 b不定式 of 结构只能在句中作主语。 1It was careless of him to leave his umbrella in the train他把伞丢在火车上真是太粗心了。 2It is awfully good of you to come to see me off at the station谢谢你来车站送我。 二、逻辑主语的名词有所不同 a不定式 for 结构中的名词可以是人,也可以是无生命的事物: 1It is very important for us to study English well我们学好英语是
5、非常重要的。 2It is essential for the classroom to have plenty of light教室光线充足是必要的。 有时还可以是引导词“there”: 3It is a pity for there to be any disagreement in the family家庭不和实在是很遗憾。 4In such case it is impossible for there to be an escape of air from the container在这种情况下,不存在空气从容器溢出的可能性。 b不定式 of 结构中的名词只能是人: It is fo
6、olish of you to lend the money你借钱给人真是太蠢了。 三、表语形容词的语义不同 表语形容词的语义不同是区别 for 结构和 of 结构的最重要标志。 a在“It is(was)+ adj+for sb+to do sth”的句式中,作表语的形容词大多是表事物性质的静态形容词(stative adjective),如:essential,easy,difficult,important,neccessary,(im)possible,hard 等等,这类形容词与 for 后面的名词(代词)关系不密切,无意义上的主表关系。例如: It is neccessary fo
7、r us to practise speaking English every day 句中不定式逻辑主语“us”与表语形容词 “neccessary”无主表关系,我们不能说:We are neccessary to practise speaking English every day因为“人” (we)不能与表“事物性质的形容词”(neccessary )连用在一起。此句的重点,是强调“每天练习说英语”这件事。同样:It was very difficult for Tom to answer this question不能说成:Tom was very difficult to answ
8、er this question而可以说:For Tom to answer this question was very difficult b在“It is(was)+ adj+ of sb”的句式中,作表语的形容词大多是表示人物特征的形容词。如:bold,absurd,brave,careless,careful,clever ,considerate,cruel,foolish ,good ,honest,(un)kind noble,impudent,polite,right,rude,sweet,nutured,silly,stupid,selfish,thoughtful,ung
9、rateful,wicked,unmanly,(un)wise ,wrong 等等。这些表示人物特征的形容词与 of 后的名词关系十分密切,有意义上的主表关系。如: 1It is selfish of you to do so “you”与“selfish”关系密切。“you”既是不定式“to do so”的逻辑主语,又是形容词“selfish”的逻辑主语。此句重点强调的是“人” ,(你这人太自私了)故可以说成: You are selfish to do so又如: 2It is kind of you(= You are kind)to send me a nice present谢谢你送
10、我这么好的礼物。 3It was stupid of her(=she was stupid)to make such a mistake出这样的错她真是太蠢了。 另外,在这个句式中,“it”可以根据情况改为“that”、“this”,如: 4That is very kind of you谢谢你。 5This is very good of you to repair the TV set for me谢谢你帮我修电视机。 较长的句子,还可以加逗号,在 of sb 与 to do sth 中间停顿一下: 6That was smart of you,to hush up the affair
11、 before you heard about it听到此事之前能保持缄默,你是很聪明的。 四、句子的语气有所不同 A在较多的场合中,不定式 for 结构的句式语气带有情态意义。for sb to do sth的复合结构,相当于一个有情态动词的主语从句。例如: 1It is neccessary for us to get the preparations done=( that weshould get the preparations done)我们有必要(应该)把准备工作做好。 2It is hard for which one to be given the reward to=( w
12、hich one should be given the reward to)难就难在应该给哪个人授奖。 3In the old society,it was rare for a poor mans son to go to college(= that a poor mans son could go to college)旧社会,穷人的孩子能上大学是很少见的。 B不定式 of 结构的句式,在语气上往往对前面表人物特征的表语形容词有着某种感叹意味。It iswas adjof sb 相当于 How adj of sb it iswas故在翻译时,多加上“ 太”“真是”“ 实在是 ”等字眼,
13、如前面提到的诸例句: 1It was careless of him to leave his umbrella in the train(= How carelessof him(it was)to leave his umbrella in the train)他太粗心了,竟会把伞忘在车上。 2That was stupid of you to make such a mistake(= How stupid of you tomake such a mistake)你竟然会犯这样的错误,真是太蠢了。 有时,为了加强感叹的程度还可以在表语形容词前加上修饰词: 3That is really
14、 kind of you 4It is awfully good of him to come to see us off at the station 五、由于某些形容词(如:good,right,foolish,wrong,silly)在语义上具有两重性,既可以表人物的特征,又可以说明事物的性质,因此它们可以使用在 for 结构中,也可以使用在 of 结构中,但两种结构在意义上有所区别。试比较: 1It is good for Xiao Wang to travel abroad(= Its good to travel abroad for-Xiao Wang)中心意思是说“旅行是件好事
15、” ,重点在“to travel abroad”不定式所表示的动作。“for Xiao Wang”只表示一种范围。(对于小王来说) 2It is good of Xiao Wang to lend me the money “of”表示一种所属关系,“good”是“Xiao Wang”的所属特征。中心意思是说“小王心眼真好” ,重点在“Xiao Wang”这个人上。又如: 3It is foolish of you to buy that book(= You are foolish to buy that book)你这人真傻,竟买了那本书。(强调“你傻” ) 4It is foolish for you to buy that book(=For you to buy that book is fool-ish(= It is foolish to buy that book for you)你买那本书是愚蠢的。(强调“买那本书” 这件事很傻)