Therebe句型是一种应用十分广泛和频繁的句型。但是对therebe句型的多变的特点及其特殊结构的复杂性,并不是每个考生都熟悉了解。在大学英语四六级考试题中也常常遇到这一句型结构的试题。
例如:Annneverdreamsof_________forhertobesentabroadverysoon.(CET-4,1998.6-43)
动词dreamof要求跟V-ing分词结构作宾语,更准确地讲是介词of后要求跟V-ing分词结构作宾语,therebeingachance意为"有一个机会";A)和C)两项均不符合句子结构的要求,所以不是答案选项,而D)项beingachance虽然是V-ing分词结构,但语义不通,故不能用。
又如:NoonehadtoldSmithabout____alecturethefollowingday.(CET-4,2001.1-66)
A)therebeB)therewouldbeC)therewasD)therebeing
该题的答案为D)。介词about后要求跟V-ing分词结构作宾语,therebeing(alecture)意为"有(一个讲座)",而A)、B)和C)项内容均不符合结构要求,故不能雪再如:
ItisfairlycommoninAfricafortheretobeanensembleofexpertmusicianssurroundedbyotherswhojoininbyclapping,singing,orsomehowaddingtothetotalityofmusicalsound.(CET-4,1995.1)
该句子中出现了fortheretobe的结构,如果按照上一题的解题思路去理解:介词后要求跟V-ing分词结构作宾语,那么,这一结构似乎是错的;但是,实际上此结构没有错,此处只能够用fortheretobe,而不能用therebeing。为什么呢?这就是本文想要解答的问题:therebe句型的特殊结构及其用法。笔者将therebe句型的几种特殊结构及其用法进行归纳、总结如下,供读者参考。
一、therebe句型与各种情态动词连用。
例如:Theremustbesomethingwronghere.
Theremightstillbesomevacantseatsintherear.
Thereoughttobesomethingwithwhichtofillyourstocking.
二、therebe句型中的谓语动词be被belikelytobe,happentobe,seem(tobe),occur等代替,用来描写事物。例如:
Therearelikelytobemoredifficultiesthantheyhavebeenpreparedfor.
Therehappenedtobenobodyintheroom.
Theredoesn'tseemtobemuchhopeofourbeatingthatteam.
Thereseemsnodoubtthatthegeneralcharacterofthelandscape,therelativelengthofdayandnight,andtheclimatemustallplayabigpartindeterminingwhatkindofpeopleweare.
Therehaveoccurredmanygreatchangessincewemetlast.
三、therebe句型中的谓语动词be被一些不及物动词代替,如live,stand,exist,remain等,用来表示"静止、存在、有"。例如:
Therelivesafamilyoffiveinthevillage.
Thereremainsnothingmoretobedone.
TherestandstheMonumenttothePeople'sHeroesatthecenteroftheTian'anmenSquare.
Thereexistdifferentopinionsonthisquestion.
四、therebe句型中的谓语动词be被一些不及物动词代替,如come,springup,appear,emerge,arrive,enter,follow,等,用来表示"突然出现"。例如:
Thereappearstobenosubstituteforthisstuffyet.
Therecameacompanyofactorsandactresses.
Therefollowedaspiriteddiscussionafterclass.
五、therebe句型中be用不定式,形成"(for)theretobe+宾格词"结构,表示"有"或"存在(某种情况)",在"(for)theretobe+宾格词"的结构中,主语是宾格词。这种不定式结构在句中作逻辑宾语、状语和主语。
1."theretobe+宾格词"在句中作宾语。例如:
Thestudentsexpectedtheretobemorereviewingclassesbeforethefinalexams.
"theretobe+宾格词"结构在句中作动词expect的宾语,句中的宾格词morereview-ingclasses作"theretobe"不定式结构的逻辑主语。特别应该注意的是there后的不定式只能用"tobe"的形式,因为这种不定式结构是从"therebe"结构转化而来的。又如:
Peopledon'twanttheretobeanotherwar.
Membersliketheretobeplentyofchoice.
Perhapstransportationandthemeansofcommunicationhavereallymadeitpossiblefortheretobeanendtothebigcities.
ItisfairlycommoninAfricafortheretobeanensembleofexpertmusicianssurroundedbyotherswhojoininbyclapping,singing,orsomehowaddingtothetotalityofmusicalsound.
"theretobe+宾格词"结构在句中作介词for的宾语,句中的宾格词anensembleofexpertmusicians作"theretobe"不定式结构的逻辑主语。
2."fortheretobe+宾格词"在句中作状语。例如:
Itisn'tcoldenoughfortheretobeafrosttonight,soIcanleaveJim'scaroutquitesafely.("fortheretobe+宾格词"作结果状语)
特别应该注意的是,"fortheretobe+宾格词"在句中作状语时必须用介词for引出therebe后面的宾格词。又如:
Fortheretobesuccessfulcommunication,theremustbeattentivenessandinvolvementinthediscussingitselfbyallpresent.("fortheretobe+宾格词"作目的状语)
Theyplannedfortheretobeanothermeeting.("fortheretobe+宾格词"作目的状语)
3."theretobe+宾格词"在句中作主语。例如:
It'sagreatpityfortheretobemuchtroubleinthecompany.特别应该注意的是,"fortheretobe+宾格词"在句中作主语时必须用介词for引出therebe后面的宾格词。又如:
Itisimpossiblefortheretobeanymoreapples.
Fortheretobesofewpeopleinthestreetswasunusual.
六、therebe句型中be用V-ing分词,形成"(of)therebeing+宾格词"结构,表示"有"或"存在(某种情况)",在"(of)therebe-ing+宾格词"的结构中,主语是宾格词。
1."therebeing+宾格词"在句中作宾语。例如:
Haveyoueverthoughtoftherebeingsomanyworkunitsforyoutochooseonthetalent'smeeting?("therebeing+宾格词"作宾语)
"therebeing+宾格词"结构在句中作介词of的宾语,句中的宾格词somanyworku-nits作"therebeing"V-ing分词短语结构的逻辑主语。又如:
Noonehadtoldhimanythingabouttherebeingabeautifulstoryaboutthelake.Johnwasrelyingontherebeinganotheropportunity.
2."therebeing+宾格词"在句中作状语。例如:
Therebeingnocauseforalarm,shewentbacktoherbedroom.("therebeing+宾格词"作原因状语)
"therebeing+宾格词"结构在句中作状语,句中的宾格词nocause作"therebeing"V-ing分词短语结构的逻辑主语。又如:
Therehavingbeenastrongsuspicionagainsttheabilityofthedirector,thedepartmentaskedhimtoresign.("therebeing+宾格词"作原因状语)
Therebeingnothingtobedone,theyhavetogobackhome.("therebeing+宾格词"作原因状语)
Therebeingnofurtherbusiness,thechairmanclosedthemeeting.("therebeing+宾格词"作原因状语)
3."therebeing+宾格词"在句中作主语。例如:
Therebeingabusstopsonearthehouseisagreatadvantage.
"therebeing+宾格词"结构在句中作主语,句中的宾格词abusstop作"therebeing"V-ing分词短语结构的逻辑主语。
七、therebe句型中be用be+V-ed分词,形成"therebe+V-ed分词+宾格词"结构,表示"有"或"存在(某种情况)",在"therebe+V-ed分词+宾格词"的结构中,主语是宾格词。例如:
Therewasfoundalotoffoodinthekitchencupboard.
TherearenowpublishedmillionsofbookseveryyearinChina.
TherewasshownattheexhibitionanelectroniccomputermadeinShanghai.
1.V-ing分词在"therebeno"结构中作主语,表示"不可能"、"无法"。例如:
ThereisnodenyingthefactthatChinaisstilladevelopingcountry.
Thereisnojokingaboutsuchmatters.
Thereisnotellingwhatwillhappentohimnext.
2.thereisnopoint+V-ing分词,表示"没有必要","无用","没有意义","没有用处"。例如:
Wearedisappointedwiththenewofficerelectedinourbridgeclub,butthereisnopointworryingaboutit.
3.thereisnouse+V-ing分词,表示"无用","没有意义","没有用处"。例如:
Thereisnouseadvisinghimtogiveupsmoking.
4.thereisnogood+V-ing分词,表示"无用","没有意义","没有用处","没有益处"。例如:
Thereisnogooddiscussingthematterwithsuchafool.
九、在由"therebe+主语名词"引起的句子中,修饰主语的情况。
1.在由"therebe+主语名词"引起的句子中,用来修饰主语的不定式可以用被动形式,也可以用主动形式。例如:
Thereisnotimetolose/tobelost.
Therearestillmanythingstotakecareof/tobetakencareof.在口语中多用主动形式。但是有时候两种形式可能表示不同的意思。试比较:
Thereisnothingtodonow.(Wehavenothingtodonow.)
Thereisnothingtobedonenow.(Wecandonothingnow.)
Thereisnothingtosee(nothingworthseeing).
Thereisnothingtobeseen(nothingthereatall).
2.在由"therebe+主语名词"引起的句子中,用来修饰主语的分词或分词短语在意思上相当于一个定语从句。例如:
Therewere200childrenstudying(=whowerestudying)music,dancing,ordramatics.
Isthereanythingplanned(=thathasbeenplanned)fortonight?