淺談”to + gerund 動名詞” – 中英文說文解字系列之五

動名詞/gerund = 動詞 + ing, 顧名思義, 就是動詞形成的名詞 – 仍保有動詞的作用和意涵。動名詞同名詞一樣, 可作為句子的主詞或受/賓詞 – 如 Seeing is believing 這句中, seeing 與 believing 都是動名詞。Swimming(主詞)is a good exercise; I like swiwwing (受詞)。

 不定詞/infinitive = to + 動詞: 最常見到的不定詞是在一句中,在第一個動詞後的每一動詞前加上to, 例: I want to go outside to exercise. 一句中可以有數個不定詞。

 動名詞前的 to, 是介系詞/preposition； 也就是說： 一個句子中的動名詞， 是其前面的介系詞 to 的受詞， 例： I am committed to finishing this job這句中， finishing 是 to 的受詞。

不定詞中的 to, 不是介系詞, 這個 to，是組成不定詞的的一部分 （有不需加上 to 的不定詞，容另文說明） 。

  請看下面例句:

動名詞 gerund 與 to

 I am looking forward to seeing you/hearing from you.

 The president is committed to reducing the budget deficit.

The mayor is dedicated to helping the homeless people in this city.

The principal is devoted to improving students’ reading ability.

This is the key to solving the problem.

He pleaded guilty to abusing animal.

The engine is essential to moving the car.

In addition to writing poems, he writes fictions.

I am close to finishing my job.

I am used to getting up early (指目前 習慣)。

比較:  I used to get up(不定詞)early(指從前習慣)。

He adjusted well to being let go/laid off.

上面例句中, to 後面的字, 都是動名詞, 作為介系詞 to 的受詞。

 不定詞 infinitive 與 to

 To see (主詞) is to believe (主詞同位格).

 I want to get something to eat to replenish my energy.

The governor needs to collect more tax to balance the budget.

He asks for a large amount of money to pay off his debt.

He walks a long distance every day to improve his health.

上面例句中的 to, 不是介系詞, 它与後面的動詞, 構成不定詞。 不定詞可當主詞、受詞、形容詞用或副詞用。不定詞与動詞一樣, 有不同的時式 tenses。