像网友这样的句子,用不定式或现在分词是有区别的——在通常情况下,用不定式表示未发生的动作,用现在分词表示在进行的动作。比较:
There are some young people to do the work. 有一些年轻人要做这工作。
There are some young people doing the work. 有一些年轻人在做这工作。
但网友的句子有点特殊,这个句子用不定式或现在分词都可以,且意思基本相同:
There are 17 people coming to dinner.
=There are 17 people to come to dinner.
这是因为 come 的进行式也可以表示将来,比较:
They are coming.
They will come.