nominals係列

不定詞之所以叫不定詞,就係因為To+infinitive的詞性不定,除了形容詞及副詞,它比介詞短語更多功能,可作名詞:

I hope to win the lottery. 

句中的to win the lottery是hope的受詞, 又或:

To succeed is my goal. 

句中的To succeed主詞也是名詞.

留意不定詞主語可以延後,英文叫extraposed subject:

It is dangerous to swim in bad weather.

句子的it究竟指什麼呢? 中學時我也有概念, 便是這個it 其實是代替句子的尾部,即to swim in bad weather這infinitival clause (不定詞子句). 換句話說, 句子本身是這樣的:

To swim in bad weather is dangerous.

由於句子主語太長,我們便將它放到最後,而以it 去代替其位置. 這個it, 英文叫anticipatory it或introductory it.句子文法上的主語 (grammatical subject)是it, 但詞義上的主語(semantic subject)卻是to swim in bad weather.

以上例句的主語to swim in bad weather 不是很長, 延後不延後似乎沒有特別差別;但有時候主語可以很長,例如:

It is gratifying to note that more people are realizing the harm of eating fast food.

句子「詞義主語」是 to note that more people are realizing the harm of eating fast food. 如果用它作「文法主語」,便會「頭大身細」:To note that more people are realizing the harm of eating fast food is gratifying.  在這種情況下, 把主語延後,便可使句子更易理解.

加強刑罰解決問題

好多時作文,尤其寫啲social issues,都要提供解決方法。其實social issue的解決方法離不開立法、執法、教育等等，所以有些句子結構又係可以背咗佢的. 今次先介紹吓加強刑罰：

Aother way is to utilize the power of legislation.

Stricter legislation should be passed to offer better protection to homosexuals. 

Through imposing deterrents such as penalities on those who violate the law the number of copyright breach incidents would likely be reduced.

Laws should be tightened to regulate the illegal selling activiity.

Penalties and sentences for students should be made stricter to further deter anyone from plagiarism. 

Stringent punishment and regulations should also be imposed to deter the taxi-drivers from breaching the laws. 

In order to combat these unlawful activities, we need to update the existing laws and legislations. Our current laws were enacted some time ago and are outdated. They are not capable of coping with the fast and emerging infringement activities. 

10大DSE英文5星作文必用句構(6a):不定詞主詞延後

延後主語,英文叫extraposed subject. 這句構我在中學時已經學過,例子:

It is dangerous to swim in bad weather.

句子的it究竟指什麼呢? 中學時我也有概念, 便是這個it 其實是代替句子的尾部,即to swim in bad weather這infinitival clause (不定詞子句). 換句話說, 句子本身是這樣的:

To swim in bad weather is dangerous.

由於句子主語太長,我們便將它放到最後,而以it 去代替其位置. 這個it, 英文叫anticipatory it或introductory it.句子文法上的主語 (grammatical subject)是it, 但詞義上的主語(semantic subject)卻是to swim in bad weather.

以上例句的主語to swim in bad weather 不是很長, 延後不延後似乎沒有特別差別;但有時候主語可以很長,例如:

It is gratifying to note that more people are realizing the harm of eating fast food.

句子「詞義主語」是 to note that more people are realizing the harm of eating fast food. 如果用它作「文法主語」,便會「頭大身細」:To note that more people are realizing the harm of eating fast food is gratifying.  在這種情況下, 把主語延後,便可使句子更易理解.

我被說服

我深信英文怎說?

直譯是I deeply believe that。

實際上，英文會說：I am convinced that....

因為英文convinced解作：completely sure about something。

不要以為convinced是「被說服」...

thus

On PRH, the committee will ensure an adequate supply of land to produce about 15 000 flats each year, thus maintaining an average waiting time of three years.

以上句子來自2010年曾蔭權的施政報告. 後半句用maintaining, 即分詞子句, 我已經談過. 但為何今次再談呢? 因為thus這個連接詞, 突出了子句與主句的關係,就係因果的關係.

另一來自相同施政報告的例句: To help owners and owners’ corporations (OCs) better understand their rights and responsibilities, we will embark on a series of initiatives including establishing a panel of advisors to provide owners involved in building management disputes with impartial and authoritative advice, organising training for office-bearers of OCs, and putting in place a platform for owners to share experience, thus promoting mutual help.

因噎廢食

For fear that, 即「恐怕」.例:I bring an umbrella for fear that it rains today.

也可用for fear of. 如因噎［讀烟］廢食的英文：not eating for fear of choking. 

句構：Asyndeton

今日我遇到一個問題，就係例如以下一句：

I like apples, bananas, oranges, and watermelons.

句中的and可否不要？

上討論區問呢個問題，有高手回答。

原來，跟中文一樣，英文也有修辭手法。其中一種就係為了句子更有節奏感，而刻意不加and:

I like apples, bananas, oranges, watermelons.

這種手法叫Asyndeton。

相反，又可以在一系列事物之間不斷加and，變成：

I like apples, and bananas, and oranges, and watermelons.

同樣，也是增加了節奏感。

詳細可參考這個網址：http://www.virtualsalt.com/rhetoric.htm#Asyndeton

句構： future obligation

在討論區我問了以下兩句有無分別;

"It is not only to deepen students’ understanding of positive values, but also to enable them to know how to uphold positive values."

vs

"It not only deepens students’ understanding of positive values, but also enables them to know how to uphold positive values."

你們認為有無分別?答案可參考各位高手的答案.

句構：不定式與分詞詞組的分別（目的vs因果）

昨日在討論區問了如下問題：

In response to the long-term measures recommended by the School Board, the then Principal initiated the Pledge Day on “Clean LA", to encourage all schools to make the “Clean LA” commitment on that day.

I wonder if it sounds better to replace the to-infinitive clause with a participle clause:

In response to the long-term measures recommended by the School Board, the then Principal initiated the Pledge Day on “Clean LA", encouraging all schools to make the “Clean LA” commitment on that day.

because I think it is seldom to use to-infinitive clauses after a comma.

我覺得個答案幾好。原來to-infinitive詞組與分詞詞組，有一點點微秒的分別。