(1)不定式及不定式短语做主语、宾语、表语、定语、状语
例1.To hold people accountable for their actions is important.
中文译文:督促人们为自己的行为负责是十分重要的。
结构分析:不定式短语to hold people accountable for their action 做主语。
(2)动名词及动名词短语做主语、表语、宾语
例2. It involves probing for deeply rooted concerns, devising creative solutions,and making trade-offs and compromises where interests are opposed.
中文译文:它涉及到探究深层次的关注,想出有创造性的解决方案,以及当利益矛盾时,做出交易和妥协。
结构分析:这是一个简单句。主语是it,谓语是involves,三个动名词短语做宾语(属于平行结构)。在阅读中经常出现“a and b”或“a or b”的形式,其中a 与b 同义或近义,所以只要认识其中一个词就能猜测出另一个词的大致意思。例如:trade-off and compromises。
(3)后置定语
例3. The most common procedure for doing this is negotiation,the act of communication intended to reach agreement.
中文译文:做这件事最常用的方法是谈判,一种想要达成一致的交流的行为。
结构分析:The most common procedure for doing this 是主语从句;过去分词短语intended to reach agreement 是the act of communication 的后置定语,the act of communication intended to reach agreement 是negotiation的同位语,对negotiation 进行解释。