英語講義【60】具副詞功能的不定式動詞短語

不定式動詞（the infinitive）或不定式動詞短語（the infinitive phrase）的功能之一是脩飾動詞。這種具副詞功能的不定式動詞或短語，和分詞短語一樣，可以在句子中發揮不同作用，包括“目的、結果、原因、比較”。

　　Ⅰ表示目的，如：
　　● To learn a language well, one must make great efforts and work with tenacity.
　　● To prevent war, big or small, it is important to promote international understanding.
　　● Zhiqiang came to my office to ask a question.
　　● The warden walked around the building to see that nothing went wrong. 　　表示“目的”的不定式動詞短語可以在句首，也可以在句尾。在句首時，可以加上“in order”；在句尾時，可以附以“so as”，如：
　　● In order to win the table-tennis match, the players practised day and night.
　　● Betty worked very hard so as to catch up with the rest of the class.

　　Ⅱ表示“結果”，如：
　　● Indonesia beat Denmark to take the first place in the badminton tournament.
　　● Sam passed the final examination to qualify for the next phase of study.
　　表示“結果”的不定式動詞短語出現在句尾，而且經常以預料不到的情況出現，如：
　　● After the short meeting, they separated, never to see each other again.
　　● Li Qi rushed to the bus station as fast as he could, only to find the last bus already gone.

　　Ⅲ表示“原因”，如：
　　● I was really a fool not to listen to you at that critical moment.
　　● No gambler wins in the end and you would do well to avoid gambling of all forms.

　　Ⅳ表示“比較”，如：
　　● She opened her lips, as though to speak.
　　● Her friend looked at him, as if to have something important to tell him.

　　必須注意的是，含“比較”意思的不定式動詞或短語前麪要用“ as if ”或“as though”引導。

　　除了直接脩飾謂語動詞之外，不定式動詞或短語還可以和介詞“ with, for”連用，如：

　　● With nobody to help, the poor man worked late into the night.
　　● The police removed the road block for the cars to pass.
　　● With little money to be used, Judy could not buy any more expensive things.
　　● For a lesson to be fruitfully taught, the teacher must make thorough preparations before going to class.
　　● For such a scheme to work well, the staff concerned have to be devoted and effective.
　　● With limited power to be exercised, the new manager could get nowhere.