网友的问题是：怎样判断一个名词后面的 to，是介词还是不定式符号？

一、不定式作定语，说明被修饰词的具体内容。

不定式与被修饰词可以表示多种关系，例如：“同位关系”（the job to drive a car for the boss）或“动状关系”（ the best way to solve the problem）。如果被修饰名词是由同源动词变化而来的，那么它跟不定式可以是“动宾关系”（his plan to study English = He plans to study English.）。总之，关系非常复杂，总体而言，不定式描述被修饰词的内容、方式、目的等关系。可以仔细体会。例如：

an incentive to use less engergy

her ambition to be a pop star

a good chance to show your talent

his determination to succeed

the ability to read and write

the intention to travel

an appointment to see the doctor

an agreement to always tell each other the truth

her anxiety to go

his attempt to get a job

the way to communicate

the courage to speak the truth

enough confidence to go ahead

the campaign to improve our environment

her curiosity to know

his decision to retire

the best way to solve the problem

a desire to go on vacation.

a strong effort to reduce pollution

his failure to reply to my letter

the freedom to wear trousers

his impatience to leave

your invitation to talk at the conference

the need to find a solution

an obligation to help support his parents

the order to start the attack

the patience to wait

her permission to use her car.

a permit to fish in this lake

a plan to study English

the power to hire and fire employees

his promise to help me

his qualifications to lead the company

her refusal to help

the right to vote

the strength to carry you

a tendency to be fat

his unwillingness to accept the job

the will to survive the earthquake

his willingness to learn

his wish to become a football star

二、从 the key to (doing) sth，看介词 to 表达“对象关系”。

英语中，介词to表示“针对关系、对象关系、方向关系”，具有针对性。这是它最基本的用法。由于 to 是介词，如果需要接动词时，则用doing 形式。常见的表达有：

the answer to the question

the solution to the problem

the response to the inquiry

the reaction to the proposal

the reply to the letter

the key to the door

notes to the text

the exit to the cinema

the entrance to the hall

the bridge to knowledge

the way to school

the road to victory

the key to success

a visit to the Great Wall

a letter to the president

the Monument to the People's Heroes

a challenge to the theory

a victim to drugs

the reform to the old system

changes to the essay

三、关于 way to do 和 way to doing 的纠葛

这是全国高考英语试题的一个句子：

Starting your own business could be a way to achieving financial independence, on the other hand, it could just put you in debt.

此句引出争论：a way 之后为何不用to achieve，而用to achieving？

由于这个问题与网友的问题有某种关联，所以，我谈谈个人的看法。

1. 当way 表示“方法，方式”（method, means）之意时，用“to do”作定语，不用to doing。

2. 当 way 表示“道路”（path, road）之意时，后面的to是介词，“way to ...”意为“通向......之路”，后接名词或动名词。way的意义分“具体”和“抽象”两种情况，分述如下：

一、way to + 地点名词

Can you tell me the way to the railway station?  你能告诉我往火车站的路怎么走吗？

I ran across Tom on my way to school. 在去学校的路上我碰到了汤姆。

I passed the store on my way to the library. 我在去图书馆的路上经过了那家商店。

二、 way to + 抽象名词

Self-help is the best way to success.  自助乃是通向成功的最佳之道。

I believe this treaty will pave the way to peace in Europe. 我相信这个条约将为欧洲的和平铺平道路。

The ideas of Marxism-Leninism point the way to victory.  马克思列宁主义的思想指引着通向胜利的道路。

三、 way to doing：

Take a deep breath and start on your way to winning your selection. 深吸一口气，然后开始步入你赢得这个选举的征程。

This could be one of the stepping stones on the way to achieving a harmonious society. 这可能成为走上和谐社会之路的一块垫脚石。

You will help them more by helping them experience a success and face problems and obstacles on the way to succeeding.

你们所需要做的只是帮助他自己去经历成功，并且自己去面对迈向成功路上所遇到的问题和障碍。

以下例句来自国内外出版的英文报刊：

1. A far higher nominal exchange rate would surely be a better way to achieving such a real appreciation than higher inflation.

相比于更高的通胀率，名义汇率大幅提升无疑是实现实际升值的更好途径。

2. I think the best squad, as opposed to the best starting eleven, goes a long way to winning the league. 我认为最好的班底，而不是最好的开场11人，在赢得联赛的途中要走很长的路。

3. “We are on a very good way to achieving the set goals,” admitted Mercedes' Norbert Haug during a teleconference with German media this week.  “我们在朝着一个好的方向达到预定的目标。”豪格在本周与德国媒体的远程电信会议中承认道。

4. Despite the great efforts made, there is a long way to go to achieving the objective of controlling the water pollution and turning the water clean in HRB. 10年过去了，尽管做出了巨大的努力，要实现淮河水质变清，还要走很长的路。

关于习语：on the way/one’s way to (doing) sth. 也是从“在......途中”，引申出“快要/就要/正要做某事”。

I’m on the way to completing the report.  我就要完成报告了。

He is well on his way to recovery.  他正在顺利康复。

By following these four steps, you’ll be on your way to getting credit for your knowledge and accomplishments. 通过以下四个步骤，你将为你的知识和成就获得相应的学分。

关于这句话：Starting your own business could be a way to achieving financial independence, on the other hand, it could just put you in debt.

其中，a way to 也是“通向......之路”，“通向......之道”；financial independence 英语常见的表达，不外乎这几个意思：“经济独立；财务独立；财政独立”。意思是说，在经济上不依赖别人。本句译为：

自主创业，或许是一条（通向）实现经济独立之道；但另一方面，它也会让你身负债务。