“There be结构”的非谓语形式探究

■本站特约作者  刘永科

顾名思义，“非谓语动词”（non-predicate verb），就是“不作谓语”的一种动词形式。它属于动词的一个语法范畴，也是英语中最常见的语法现象之一。它包括：动词不定式、动名词、现在分词、过去分词。

在现实语言中，英语存在句“there be句型”也有着各种非谓语形式。本文拟对对此作一探讨。

“There be结构”的非谓语形式，主要有以下几种：

1. 不定式：There to be

2. 动名词：There being

3. 现在分词：There being

【注意】在上述3个结构中，there充当“非谓语动词的逻辑主语”。

我们通常说的There be存在句，一般都认为，there只是起引导作用，没有实际意义。因为句子的主语在be之后，而且be的单复数是由后面的主语决定，而非由there决定。剑桥出版的《当代英语语法》(English Grammar Today)把there称为dummy subject（虚拟主语）：

English clauses which are not imperatives must have a subject. Sometimes we need to use a “dummy” or “empty” or “artificial” subject when there is no subject attached to the verb, and where the real subject is somewhere else in the clause. “It” and “there” are the two dummy subjects used in English.

It’s always interesting to find out about your family history.

To find out about your family history is always interesting. (The real subject is “to find out about your family history”. )

There are five Dutch people in our village. (The real subject is the Dutch people – they are in the village.)

“There” operates as a dummy subject in the construction “there is” or “there are”. “There be” indicates that something or someone exists or is in a particular place or situation.

There’s a woman waiting outside who wants to talk to you. (The real subject is the woman – she is waiting outside.)

上述语法说明，there虽然只起引导作用，但在句子结构中，它充当了虚拟主语（dummy subject）。但在非谓语形态下，there实际充当了“非谓语动词的逻辑主语”（logical subject）。

一、“There be结构”的不定式形式：there to be

该结构分为如下几种情况，现分述如下。

1. 主语+及物动词+ there to be 型

该类型相当于“主语+及物动词+复合宾语”结构，宾语由there充当，宾补由不定式to be充当。例如：

I don’t want there to be any misunderstanding between us. 我不希望我们之间有什么误会。

Would you like there to be a market near your home？你愿意你家附近有家商场吗？

We expect there to be no objections. 我们希望不会有人反对。

I don’t mean there to be any unpleasantness. 我无意引起任何的不愉快。

I should prefer there to be no discussion of my private affair. 我倒希望不讨论我私人的事情。

They hate there to be long queues everywhere. 他们不愿意处处都要排长队。

Teachers don’t want there to be any students lagging behind. 老师不希望有任何学生掉队。

I’d like there to be a pool in the garden. 我想要公园里有一个池塘。

The enthusiasm was causing there to be concern on the Democratic camp. 在民主党阵营中，这种热情引起了人们的关注。

It requires there to be some sort of organic material in the pigment. 它需要在颜料中有某种有机材料。

The participants perceived there to be more species present when the amount of tree cover was higher. 与会者意识到树的覆盖量更高时，会有更多的物种存在。

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