请问老师:
I can't decide what to do.
I can't decide what to be done.
是否都正确,含义有何区别?
谢谢。
我认为what to be done是不正确的。
疑问词+to do不定式本质上是wh-疑问词引导的名词性从句的简略形式。当从句的主语在主句中已经出现(通常为句子的主语或宾语),并且从句的谓语是主句谓语时间之后的将来动作,则wh-从句省略主语,同时谓语形式改为to do不定式。例如:
I don't know where I should put the book. = I don't know where to put the book.
I told him what he should do.= I told him what to do.
反过来,疑问词+to do也可以还原成wh-词引导的名词性从句:用主句的主语或宾语作从句的主语,不定式改为情态动词结构。例如:
Please tell me how to do it. = Please tell me how I can do it.
I haven't decided where to go for the holiday. = I haven't decided where I will go for the holiday.
I can't decide what should be done. 这个名词性从句中的成分没有在主句出现过,不能简略为疑问词+不定式结构。
以上内容系根据语法原理进行的推测。供参考并期待指正。
这种情况类似于介词+which+to do作定语,实际是定语从句的简略形式,可以还原为定语从句。
I need a sheet of paper on which I will write a note.
= I need a sheet of paper on which to write a note.
反之亦然:
He wants to build a new house in which to live.
= He wants to build a new house in which he will live.
补充内容:
间接问句(即由一般问句、选择问句或特殊问句转变而来的名词性从句)的使用受句子谓语动词、形容词、或介词的制约,不是可以任意使用的。例如,我们可以说I forget whether Tom was present. 但不能说 I regret whether Tom was present.换句话说,一个句子是否可以使用间接问句,和动词、表语形容词或介词的语义有关。以下为常接间接问句的动词、表语形容词或介词的语义分类在;
1 询问类:ask, inquire, wonder, investigate;
2 知晓类:know, find out, remember, certain;
3 猜测类:guess, estimate, predict, judge;
4 告知类:tell, inform, point out, show;
5 决定类:decide, determine, make up one's mind, agree;
6 依赖类:depend, have a bearing, influence, affect;
7 重要类:significant, important, matter, care;
8 涉及类:concern, about, as to, regarding;
9 惊讶类:surprise, amaze, amazed, amazing; (限于特殊问句)
10 怀疑类:doubt, doubtful, question, questionable; (限于一般或选择问句)
当一个句子的谓语动词、表语形容词或介词为以上语义类别时,我们常可以后接间接问句。
上述第1、2、4、5、8类语义,常可后接疑问词+to do来表示间接问句。这种间接问句的答案带有祈使句的意味,而且常常以祈使句作为答案。因此此类问句也叫做祈使性问句。正因为祈使句是告知、要求、允许、同意某人做某事,因此祈使句的主语必须是人,即不定式的逻辑主语必须是人。这就是为什么疑问词+to do这个结构中不能用被动不定式。例如:
He asked how to pass the exam. I told him," Study harder."= I told him to study harder.
题外话:以上第6、7、9、10类语义的动词、形容词或介词不可后接疑问词+to do不定式。以下四句都是错误的,应该为适当的包含限定动词的宾语从句:
I doubt whether to accept.
It was amazing what to offer.
It depends on how much to pay.
I don't care whether to go or not.
以上系根据Huddleston《剑桥语法》有关内容整理。
继续补充
生成语法根据疑问句的答案,将疑问句在语义上分成信息性问句和祈使性问句。前者的答案为提供某个信息,是一种陈述;后者的答案通常为祈使句,而问句的目的就是征求听话人的建议、允许、批准等。绝大多数的问句是信息性问句,少部分问句是祈使性问句。例如:
信息性问句:
Did he read the book? Yes, he read the book.
Did he arrive today or yesterday? He arrived yesterday.
When did he come back? He came back last week.
祈使性问句:
Shall I open the window? Open it./Go ahead.
Shall I revise it or rewrite it? Rewrite it.
When shall I come back? Come back before 9.
当这样的问句作为名词性从句时,它们仍然在语义上保持着信息性问句或祈使性问句的性质。
I asked him/I told him/It depended on where she was. = I asked him/I told him/It depends on the answer to the question "Where is she?"(信息性问句。)
祈使性问句则是说话人要求或给予建议、允许、批准等:
I told him what he should do. = I told him what to do.
He asked me how he can do it. = He asked me how to do it.
祈使性问句的特点是,从句谓语动作是未发生的动作,是建议、允许、批准在将来才做的动作。正是因为这种祈使句的意义,使得祈使性问句能够简略成疑问词+to do的形式。换句话说,只有祈使性问句才有两种间接问句形式:完整的限定动词问句形式和简略的疑问词+to do形式。也就是说,疑问词+to do 一定是祈使性问句。信息性问句不可以采用疑问词+to do的简略形式。也正因为祈使性问句的祈使意义,疑问词+to do不用被动形式。
I don't know where I am. 不能改写成 I don't know where to be.
I don't know what should be done. 不能改写成 I don't know what to be done.
what should be done的答案是this or that should be done. 即一个陈述,该问句是一个信息性问句,而不是暗示某人(句子主语或宾语)做某事的祈使性问句。按照Huddlestone的观点,信息性问句是没有疑问词+to do这种不定式问句形式的。
学习语法,是要掌握其原理、原则,以便能够推广应用,而不在于具体一个句子的正确与否。一个间接问句之所以能简略成疑问词+不定式,是因为这个是个祈使性问句,即问句中的主语和主句中名词一致,为祈使句的主语,因而可以省略主语;祈使性问句的动作是还没有发生的动作,故用不定式表示还没有发生的动作。于是省略主语和情态动词,得到疑问词+to do这样的简略不定式问句结构。明白这个道理,你就知道为什么疑问词+to be done是不正确的。即使偶尔有人使用,也是错误的使用了这个结构。因此,我建议网友将疑问词+to be done按照语法错误对待。自己写作英文时一定不要使用。
回复刘老师:
我认为:
可以说:I can't decide what should be done.
不可以说:I can't decide what to be done.
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两句话都对。
I can't decide what to do.
I can't decide what to be done.
【区别】
句1:表示主语自己该干什么。等于:I can't decide what I should do.
句2:表示主语自己不一定去做。只是说明“该做什么”,由谁去做不得而知。等于:I can't decide what should be done.
更多例句:
There is no mistaking what to be done. 该做什么是不会弄错的。
Everything is clear now; no one would doubt what to be done. 一切都很清楚, 没有人对所要做的事怀疑。
【请教曹老师】
您的意思是这样的吗?
可以说:I can't decide what should be done.
不可以说:I can't decide what to be done.
还是只能说:
I can't decide what to do.
I can't decide what I should do.
【再问曹老师】
这个句子如何?
Everything is clear now; no one would doubt what to be done.
一切都很清楚, 没有人对所要做的事怀疑。
Everything is clear now; no one would doubt what to be done.
一切都很清楚, 没有人对所要做的事怀疑。
来自《简明英汉词典》
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