“There be结构”的非谓语形式探究
■本站特约作者 刘永科
顾名思义，“非谓语动词”（non-predicate verb），就是“不作谓语”的一种动词形式。它是动词的一个语法范畴，也是英语中最容易见到的语法现象之一。它包含：动词不定式、动名词、目前分词、过去分词。
在现实语言中，英语存在句“there be句型”也有着各种非谓语形式。本文拟对对此作一探讨。
“There be结构”的非谓语形式，主要有以下几种：
1. 不定式：There to be
2. 动名词：There being
3. 目前分词：There being
在上述3个结构中，there充当“非谓语动词的逻辑主语”。
大家一般说的There be存在句，一般都觉得，there只不过起引导用途，没实质意义。由于句子的主语在be之后，而且be的单复数是由后面的主语决定，而非由there决定。剑桥出版的《当代英语语法》把there称为dummy subject（虚拟主语）：
English clauses which are not imperatives must have a subject. Sometimes we need to use a “dummy” or “empty” or “artificial” subject when there is no subject attached to the verb, and where the real subject is somewhere else in the clause. “It” and “there” are the two dummy subjects used in English.
It’s always interesting to find out about your family history.
To find out about your family history is always interesting.
There are five Dutch people in our village.
“There” operates as a dummy subject in the construction “there is” or “there are”. “There be” indicates that something or someone exists or is in a particular place or situation.
There’s a woman waiting outside who wants to talk to you.
上述语法说明，there虽然只起引导用途，但在句子结构中，它充当了虚拟主语（dummy subject）。但在非谓语形态下，there实质充当了“非谓语动词的逻辑主语”（logical subject）。
1、“There be结构”的不定式形式：there to be
该结构分为如下几种状况，现分述如下。
1. 主语+及物动词+ there to be 型
该种类等于“主语+及物动词+复合宾语”结构，宾语由there充当，宾补由不定式to be充当。比如：
I don’t want there to be any misunderstanding between us. 我不期望大家之间有哪些误会。
Would you like there to be a market near your home？你想你家附近有家商场吗？
We expect there to be no objections. 大家期望不会有人反对。
I don’t mean there to be any unpleasantness. 我无意引起任何的不愉快。
I should prefer there to be no discussion of my private affair. 我倒期望不讨论我私人的事情。
They hate there to be long queues everywhere. 他们不想处处都要排长队。
Teachers don’t want there to be any students lagging behind. 老师不期望有任何学生掉队。
I’d like there to be a pool in the garden. 我想要公园里有一个池塘。
The enthusiasm was causing there to be concern on the Democratic camp. 在民主党阵营中，这种热情引起了大家的关注。
It requires there to be some sort of organic material in the pigment. 它需要在颜料中有某种有机材料。
The participants perceived there to be more species present when the amount of tree cover was higher. 与会者意识到树的覆盖量更高时，会有更多的物种存在。
And they will not allow there to be a waste of time. 他们将不允许有费时的现象。
I needed there to be no one else in the world at that moment. 在那个时刻，我需要在世界上没别的人。
I believed there to be gunfire coming from outside the vehicle. 我相信有来自外面的枪声。
We consider there to be no threat occurring in these districts. 大家觉得这类区域没任何威胁。
So we can not permit there to be proliferation of nuclear weapons. 所以大家不允许有核武器扩散。
用于上述句式的动词，其特征是：
1. 能跟复合宾语（宾补由不定式或to be充当）的及物动词，如cause, require, allow, permit, need, consider, believe等；2. 可以表达人的“意愿型”动词，如“想要，喜欢，厌恶，期待”等：want, expect, like, hate, would like, prefer, mean, intend等。除此之外，在let后面也可接theretobe，但要省略to。比如：
Don’tlettherebeanynoise.不允许有任何吵闹。
Lettherebenomistakeaboutit.这事不要出错。
2. It is + 形容词（或名词）+ for there to be 型
该种类等于“It is + 形容词（或名词）+ for sb. to do”结构：It是形式主语，“for there to be”是真实主语，there代替sb.充当不定式的逻辑主语，for there to be看作动词不定式的复合结构。比如：
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要紧了。
In that case it is impossible for there to be an escape from the building. 在那种状况下根本没从楼里逃出的可能性。
It's normal for there to be a little leftover glue on the drum. 有一点残余的胶留在鼓上是正常的。
It was strange for there to be so few people in the church. 教堂里人这么少真是奇怪。
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一般的。
It is natural for there to be a generation gap between the parents and their child. 父母和孩子之间存在代沟是非常自然的事情。
It is not uncommon for there to be problems of communication between old and young. 老人与年青人之间存在着交流问题是非常容易见到的。
It is impossible for there to be any mistakes.不可能有任何错误。
It is enough for there to be five minutes. 五分钟就足够了。
I think that it’s entirely appropriate for there to be this ambiguity at this point. 我觉得在这个问题上依然含糊不清，这完全是可以理解的事情。
It is a pity for there to be any disagreement in the family. 家庭不和实在是非常遗憾。
It is a shameful thing for there to be both rich men and beggars on such a tiny piece of land. 在这么小的一片土地上，既有富人也有乞丐，真是可耻的事。
It’s a great pity for there to be much trouble in the class. 太遗憾了，这个班上有很多的麻烦。
除此之外，偶尔也有“Sb. + be + 形容词 + for there to be...”的句子：
I’m anxious for there to be plenty of time for discussion. 我迫切期望有充分的时间进行讨论。
3. 主语+不及物动词+ for + there to be 型
该种类与“主语+ wait for sb. to do”结构相似：wait是不及物动词，“for there to be”等于for sb. to do，there代替sb.充当不定式的逻辑主语，for there to be视为动词不定式的复合结构，作目的状语。比如：
They planned for there to be a meeting on Monday. 他们计划周一开会。
Jill is waiting for there to be a big party. 吉尔等着举行一次盛大的晚会。
We hope for there to be no wars and killings in the world. 大家期望世界上没战争和杀戮。
The secretary arranged for there to be another interview. 秘书另外安排了一次会谈。
He has called for there to be better communication between referees and players. 他需要裁判和球员之间有更好的交流。
4. 用于其他结构中的for there to be：
Our hope is for there to be a peaceful world. 大家期望世界和平。（for there to be...作表语）
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。（for there to be...作结果状语）
The components of most double stars are close enough for there to be strong gravitational attraction between them. 大部分双星的子星都非常挨近，所以它们之间存在非常强的万有引力。（for there to be...作结果状语）
For there to be profit in a deal, there must be two elements: a bargain and change. 一桩买卖要获得盈利，需要拥有两个条件：一是便宜，二是有变化。（for there to be...作目的状语，等于含有逻辑主语的不定式放在句首）
For there to be successful communication, there must be attentiveness and involvement in the discussion itself by all present. 为了进行成功的交流，所有参加讨论的人都需要认真倾听，热情参与。（for there to be...作目的状语，等于含有逻辑主语的不定式放在句首）
In order for there to be peace, our plan requires an international response. 为了有和平，大家的计划需要国际的回话。（In order for there to be...作目的状语，等于含有逻辑主语的不定式放在句首）
We talked about the need for there to be peaceful resolutions of conflicts. 为了获得和平解决冲突的方法，大家商谈了有关必要性。（for there to be...作目的状语，等于含有逻辑主语的不定式放在句末）
2、“There be结构”的动名词形式：there being
“There be结构”的动名词形式为there being。它可以作句子的主语，作及物动词的宾语和介词的宾语。这个时候，there充当了动名词的逻辑主语。比如：
1. 句子主语
There being a public bus service is a great convenience to people’s life. 有了公交车对大家生活十分便捷。
There being some suspicion between us made me anxious. 大家之间有了猜疑让我焦虑不安。
The prison is heavily guarded. There being no hope of escape is certain. 监狱被严密看守。没期望逃脱是一定的。
现实语言中，“There be结构”的动名词形式用作主语，不是十分容易见到。
2. 动词宾语
I don't remember there being aliens in the Battleship game when I was playing. 我不记得，我玩战舰游戏时有外星人这回事。
I can't imagine there being a better place to coach basketball than
You prefer there being only five houses in a 300-lot development. 你更喜欢在300套房屋的开发中，只存在五个房屋。
It's hard to imagine there being a more soulful woman in
It means there being no settlement blocks in this problem. 这意味着在这个问题上没什么解决的障碍。
I don’t mind there being any objection to our plan. 我不在意对大家的计划有反对建议。
She denied there being any misunderstanding between them. 她不承认他们之间有任何误会。
I wouldn't mind there being something eye-catching at the butcher counter. 我不在意在屠夫柜台上有哪些抢眼的东西。
I don't recall there being very much to do about any of those situations. 我不记得，对于那些状况有不少事要做。
The realist acknowledges there being a domain beyond the conceptual sphere. 现实主义者觉得，有一个超越定义范围的域。
And yet I don't recall there being any lengthy discussion in baseball circles. 但我不记得，在棒球界中有哪些冗长的讨论。
We must avoid there being any harm done to our environment. 大家需要防止对环境导致的任何伤害。
“There be结构”的动名词形式作及物动词宾语，这种动词主如果一部分能跟动名词的及物动词，如：remember, recall, deny, mind, imagine, prefer, mean, admit, avoid等。
3. 介词宾语
“There be结构”的动名词形式作介词宾语的状况特别多。一般说来，只须是能跟动名词作宾语的介词，几乎都可以跟there being。比如：
What’s the chance of there being an election this year? 今年举行选举的可能性有多大？
I talked about the possibility of there being another acute phase in this economic crisis. 我谈到了这场经济危机中另有一个紧急阶段的可能性。
I never dreamed of there being a picture on the wall. 我根本没想到墙上有张画。
Well, I've never heard of there being any disparity between the two. 嗯，我从来没听说过两者之间有哪些差距。
The Chinese are proud of there being the Great Wall in the north of
He was disappointed at there being no money left. 他对不剩一点钱感到失望。
No one told him about there being a meeting that afternoon. 无人告诉他那天下午有个会议。
John was relying on there being another opportunity. 约翰指望还另有一次机会。
They were completely unaware of there being anything extraordinary. 他们完全没觉察到这件事有哪些出奇的地方。
I was wrong about there being some misunderstanding between us.觉得大家之间有误解是我的错误。
Virtually all of the evidence argues against there being a causal factor. 事实上，几乎所有些证据都反对存在因果原因的说法。
They've gone through debates here without there being any significant effect on their work. 他们在这里进行了多次辩论，但对他们的工作没任何显著的影响。
And as a result of there being physical violence at home, the couple broke up at last. 因为家庭暴力的结果，这对夫妇最后分手了。
The idea of there being a massive attack in the
3、“There be结构”的目前分词形式：there being
“There be结构”的目前分词跟动名词在形式上一致，其主要用途是在句中作缘由状语。既能够放在句首，也可以放在句末，there为逻辑主语。比如：
There being nothing to do, we went home disappointedly. 无事可做，大家失望地回家了。
There being no bus, we had to walk home. 由于没公交车，大家只好走着回家。
There being no one to help me, I had to do it all alone. 因为每个人帮我，我只好自己干。
There having been no rain, the ground was dry. 一直没下雨，土地干旱。
There being nothing to do, I went to bed. 由于没事可做，所以我就上床睡觉了。
There being nothing eatable within his reach, Oliver replied in the affirmative. 奥立弗看看左右前后已没任何可吃的东西，便回答说吃好了。
There being no birds in the valley, there were no foredawn songs to warn of daybreak. 因为山谷中没鸟，所以就没拂晓歌曲提醒黎明。
There being nothing intelligent to say to that, we said nothing. 既然对此没什么好说的，大家什么也没说。
At his store he had idled, there being no need to write. 在酒店里他什么事都不干地打发时间, 由于那天他无需写信了。
The rest were ordered back to
除去作状语外，目前分词there being还可以作某些动词的复合宾语，其中there为宾语，being为宾补。这种动词多表示“看见”型的，如see, notice, find, foresee等。
I don't see there being a very large effect. 我看不到有很大的影响。
I haven't really noticed there being a lot more scouts at those games. 我还没注意到，在那些比赛中有更多的侦察员。
You'd never find there being a vacant city. 你永远也找不到一个空置的城市。
I foresee there being consistency across the board for policing drug testing. 我预见到，在监督药物测试时，会有一种一致性。
4、“There be结构”的被动式：There is said to be...
“There be结构”没过去分词形式。缘由是，be动词的过去分词虽然是been，但没办法表被动，所以，该结构无过去分词。但它可以有被动语态，这虽然与讨论的问题关系不大，但也是一种特殊使用方法，在此一并论述。
大家常说：He is said to be an agricultural scientist. 据了解他是一位农业科学家。
原来，这个句子是如此转换来的：
A. People say that he is an agricultural scientist.
B. → That he is an agricultural scientist is said.（因主语太长，看上去头重脚轻。大家一般使用形式主语It替代真实主语that从句，见C句。）
C. → It is said that he is an agricultural scientist.
D. → He is said to be an agricultural scientist.
转换的结果是，He作了主语，is said意为“被说”，to be an agricultural scientist成为动词不定式。
据此，从理论上讲，there be 句型假如充当了某个及物动词的宾语从句，那样，这个及物动词，就能用于上述句式的转换。比如：
1. People say that there will be an election this week.
→ It is said that there will be an election this week.
→ There is said to be an election this week.
不定式本身表示以后，所以will 不再出现，不可以说There will be said to be。
2. The media report that there is oil under that desert.
→It is reported that there is oil under that desert.
→There is reported to be oil under that desert.
3. People expect that there will be a keen fight in the local elections.
→It is expected that there will be a keen fight in the local elections.
→There is expected to be a keen fight in the local elections.
4. People think that there will be a strike soon.
→It is thought that there will be a strike soon.
→There is thought to be a strike soon.
5. People suppose that there are more than 3000 languages in the world.
→It is supposed that there are more than 3000 languages in the world.
→There are supposed to be more than 3000 languages in the world.
但，并不是所有接宾语从句的及物动词，都可以如此用。据我所知，具备该使用方法的动词是比较有限的，如say, report, expect, think, believe, suppose, understand 等。
1. There is/are said to be... 据了解有......
2. There is/are reported to be... 据报道有......
3. There is/are expected to be... 预计有......
4. There is/are thought to be... 大家觉得有......
5. There is/are believed to be... 大家觉得有......
6. There is/are supposed to be...大家觉得有......
7. There is/are understood to be... 大家都了解有......
因为There在此只引导用途，所以，用is还是are要视后面主语的单复数而定。
5、关于“There be + no + 动名词”
There is no denying that she is very efficient.
There is no saying when it will sTOP raining.非常难说这场雨什么时间会停。
There is no telling when she will come back.说不准她什么时间回来
There is no knowing when we shall meet again.不了解何时大家再相见。
There is no mistaking what ought to be done.该干什么是不会弄错的。
There is no persuading him to go there. 劝说他去那儿是不可能的。
There is no going back to the life she had. 她没办法再回到以前的生活。
Thereisnoexpectingwhatwillhappen.没办法预料会发生任何事情。
There is no getting over the difficulty. 这困难没办法克服。
There is no holding back the wheel of history. 历史的车轮不可阻挡。
There is no parking between 9 am and 6 pm. 上午9时至下午6时禁止停放机动车。
There is no gainsaying her ability. 她的能力是无可不承认的。
There is no accounting for tastes. 人各有所好。
There is no reasoning with such a stubborn man as Peter. 跟彼得这种固执的人讲理真的是不可能的事。
There is no typing up this letter within five minutes. 不可能在五分钟内打完这封信。
There is no blinking the possibility of a scandal. 不可以无视发生丑闻的可能性。
Remember, once you've signed the contract, there is no turning back. 记住，一旦签了合同，就不可能反悔了。
