英語中too…to結構常表示否定之意,譯為“太……以至不能”#65377;如:He is too old to work for his bread.他年紀太大以至不能賺錢糊口了#65377;The blizzard was too fierce for us to continue the journey.暴風雪太大了,我們無法繼續前進#65377;然而,有時候卻可以用這一結構來表示肯定的意義,試舉兩例#65377;
例一,當too…to句型中的副詞,其意為“非?!被颉昂堋?extremely or exceedingly),用來修飾其后的形容詞時,在這種情況下, 后面的動詞不定式短語不含否定意義,而具有肯定的意義#65377;
如?押He is too ready to suspect.他好起疑心#65377;
They were too eager to understand what has happened.他們迫切想了解發生了什么事#65377;
上面例句中的形容詞ready#65380;eager等多用來表示主語所處的心情#65380;狀態#65380;態度或傾向,這類形容詞與其后的動詞不定式短語可作為一個意群來看待#65377;常見的這類形容詞還有:anxious#65380;easy#65380;kind #65380;willing #65380;apt #65380;inclined 等等#65377;
如:The people are too anxious to have peace.人民非??释推?65377;
I am too willing to pay the price you asked. 我十分愿意付出你所要的價錢#65377;
She is too apt to slander others她愛中傷他人#65377;
The old man is too inclined to get tired.這位老人很容易疲勞#65377;
例二,在“only (but,all)too…to…”句型中,only too(but too或all too)通常用來修飾后面的形容詞,語氣很強,意為“非常#65380;很#65380;太#65380;特別”(very or exceedingly)時,后面的動詞不定式含有肯定的意思#65377;
如:I am only too glad to accept your offer.我非常樂于接受你的建議#65377;
Without your help , I am but too liable to lag behind. 沒有你的幫助,我就容易落后#65377;
We are all too satisfied to know the progress you have made in recent years.你近年來所取得的進步我們都有很滿意#65377;
從上面的例句可以看出,glad#65380;liable#65380;satisfied等這類形容詞常用來表示某種心情或具有描繪意義,后面的動詞不定式短語則說明前面形容詞,用來表示原因,這樣的句子常含肯定意義#65377;常見的這類形容詞還有pleased#65380;happy#65380;good#65380;thankful#65380;true#65380;delighted#65380;willing等等.
總之,要掌握好“too…to”這一結構所表示的肯定意義,應特別注意句型,并根據其在具體語言環境中與詞的搭配,才不至于產生歧義#65377;
(責任編輯付淑霞)