在某些特殊结构中,动名词可以用主动形式表示被动意义,这主要见于以下几种情况:
一、“需要”型
在need, want, require, like(想要)几个表示“需要”的动词后,英语习惯上用动名词的主动形式表示被动意义。这些动词也可接不定式的被动式。The window needs(requires, wants)cleaning(to be cleaned).
如:
He needs encouraging. 他需要鼓励。
Your hair wants cutting. 你需要理发了。
The front gate requires mending. 前门需要修理。
从意义上看,以上三句的动名词均含有被动意味,但用的都是主动形式。不过,如果改用不定式,则要用被动式,如上面也可说成:
He needs to be encouraged. 他需要鼓励。
Your hair wants to be cut. 你需要理发了。
The front gate requires to be mended. 前门需要修理。
二、“值得”型
这类词比较典型的有三个,它们是(be) worth, deserve [dɪˈzɜ:v] ,merit [ˈmerɪt]——它们后面跟的动名词习惯上要用主动式表示被动意义,不能直接使用被动式。如:
The film is worth seeing twice. 这个片子值得看两遍。
None of it is worth keeping. 这东西一点儿也不值得保存。
They merit praising. 他们值得表扬。
说明:从搭配上看,be worth 和 merit 后只能跟动名词,不能跟不定式;而 deserve 后则通常是接不定式的。如:
They deserved to be congratulated. 他们值得祝贺。
She deserved to win because she was the best. 她有资格获胜,因为她是最优秀的。
只有当它后面所接动词具有被动意义时才可用动名词,且要用主动形式表示被动意义;此时若改成不定式,则要用被动形式。如:
我认为他的文章不值一读。
I don’t think his article deserves reading.
=I don’t think his article deserves to be read.
As your instructor advised, you ought to spend your time on something worth researching into(to be researched into).
分析: 该句是复合句。worth researching into作后置定语修饰something。
译文: 正如你导师所建议的,你应该把时间花在值得研究的问题上。
He deserves to be locked up for ever for what he did.
他做了这样的事,应该终身监禁。[also V -ing]
He deserves locking up for ever for what he did.
His children's books are classics that deserve to be much better known .
他的儿童书非常经典,应该为更多人所知晓。
《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》
可以改为:His children's books are classics that deserve much better knowing.
三、“超越”型
这类介词主要有 past, beyond 等,它们均表示“超越”“在……之外”,它们后接动名词通常用主动形式表示被意义。如:
He is past saving. 他已无法挽救了。
The pain was almost past bearing. 疼得简直受不了啦。
The problem is past understanding. 这个问题无法理解。
Such hardships are beyond bearing. 这样的苦是不堪忍受的。
四、“忍受”型
bear“承担;忍受;支撑”后接动名词主动式表示被动概念,除bear外,不可接不定式的被动式。
He can't bear being laughed at.
他无法忍受遭人嘲笑。
He can't bear to be laughed at.
他无法忍受遭人嘲笑。
最后送大家一句表示谦虚的话:
I really don't deserve such an honour ( or a gift).
愧不敢当。
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