【问】 To put it another way,do you like him? 请问动词不定式(To put…)的逻辑主语是什么?它显然不是句子的主语you。这是否违背了英语的依附原则? 【答】 英语里确实有一个依附原则(ATTACHMENT RULE):当充当状语的分词或动词不定式里没有主语时,通常把句子的主语看作是它的主语: 1. To do good work,one must have the proper toods. (MD) 要想把工作干好,必须有适当的工具(工欲善其事,必先利其器)。 2. For nearly three hours we waited for the decision,only to be told to come again the nextday. 我们等待决定等待了大约三个小时,结果却被告知第二天再来。 但是,有时候这个依附原则是可以打破的,于是便出现了unattached infinitive。这大致有三种情况: A.动词不定式是个评注性状语,隐含的主语是说话人I或we: 1. To put it mildly,she's just inquisitive. (Snow) 说得委婉些,她有点儿爱管闲事。 2. To put it another way,do you like him? 换个说法,你喜欢他吗? 3. To be honest,I do don't know anything about it. (McArthur) 老实说,对于这件事我什么也不知道。 B.隐含的主语是不定代词one: 1. To prevent cavities,dental floss should be used daily after brushing one's teeth. 为了防止齿窝,在刷牙之后应当每天使用牙线。 2. To borrow books from this library,it is necessary to register as a member of the library.[“For one to borrow ……”](CGEL) 要从本图书馆借书,必须登记为本图书馆成员。 C.在科学著作中,动词不定式隐含的主语是作者(I,we)或读者(you): To check on the reliability of the first experiment,the experiment was replicated with asecond set of subjects. 为了核查第一次试验的可靠性,我们用第二套试验对象重复进行了试验。