there be ...

"There be"是英语中最常见的又是非常重要的句型,它是表示"存在" 的一种基本方式,其句型结构通常为:There be + sb./sth. + somewhere/doing sth.但作为英语教师,仅仅知道这点用法还远远不够,"There be"还有更多较为特殊的用法。下面笔者想通过例子来共同商榷。

我们都知道 "There be" 后面可跟一个名词或动名词,请看下面例句:

1. There is a shop at the corner, where you can buy fruits.  在拐角处有家商店,你可以在那里买水果。

2. There is no knowing what may happen tomorrow.  谁也不知道明天将发生什么。

同时,我们也可以根据表达的需要,在There与 be之间用上恰当的情态动词can,may,must,should,will等,构成:There will /may/must/can,etc. be... 请看:

1. There will be another bridge across the Yellow River with the quick development of the economy of China.  随着中国经济的飞速发展,黄河上将有另一座桥。

2. There must be some rules for the changes.  这些变化中一定有规律。

3. There may be some errors, but the composition, as a whole, is beyond praise.  这篇作文可能有些小错误,但总的来说是非常好的。

4. There should be some steps to prevent such accidents.  要防止这样的事故,应该采取一些措施。

除此之外,如果您是一位注重课外阅读者,相信也经常可以见到 "There to be" 和 "There being"结构。 例如:

1. It was unusual for there to be so few flowers in the park.  公园里只有这么一点花是不同寻常的。

2. There being no bus, we had to take a taxi.  因为没有公共汽车,我们只好乘出租车。

接下来,我们一起探讨 "There to be"和"There being"的用法及意义:

I. "There to be"的用法及意义:

A. "There to be" 可以用作一个动词的宾语,我们通常称之为复合宾语,其意义常表示对将来的一种意愿或希望,但目前还没"存在"。例如:

1. Would you like there to be a hospital near your home  你想在你家附近有家医院吗  (事实上,目前还没有医院。划线部分作动词like的宾语)

2. We teachers don't want there to be any students staying in the classroom after school.  我们老师不希望有任何学生放学后留在教室里。 (实际上所有的学生放学后都离校)

3. She doesn't hope there to be any quarrel between me and her.  她不希望我们之间有什么争吵。(对将来的一种希望)

B. "There to be"也可以用在句型 "It be + adj. for..."中。例如:

1. It is impossible for there to be any more chance.  不可能再有机会。

2. It was too late for there to be any open shops.  时间太晚了,不会有营业的商店了。

3. It is important for there to be a free school for the poor children.  给贫困的孩子建一所免费学校太重要了。

II. "There being"的用法及意义:

A. "There being"可以用作一个介词的复合宾语,跟 "There to be"不同的是:"There to be"往往表示目前"没有存在"的事物;而"There being"则通常表示"已经存在"的事情。请看:

1. The Chinese are proud of there being the Great Wall in North China.  中国人以在中国北部有个长城而自豪。

2. No one told him about there being a meeting that afternoon.  没人告诉他那天下午有个会。

3. You were wrong about there being some misunderstandings between us.  认为我们之间有误解,那你就错了。

B. "There being"还可以用作副词,在语法上叫"独立结构"。如:

1. There being nothing to do, we went home separately.  由于没有什么事要做, 我们就各自回家了。

2. There being no teacher in the classroom, the pupils began to talk freely.  由于教室里没有教师,学生们开始自由交谈。