This is the best play ____ last year.
A. to perform B. to be performed C. performing D. to have performed
《高中英语语法练习手册》(外研社, p.175) 对上题作了如下解答(答案为 B):
“不定式用在 the first, the second, the last, the only 后面, 有时用在最高级后面, 可以代 替定语从句。the best play to be performed = the best play that was performed the first to come = the first who comes”
我认为上面的四个选项都是不正确的，并且该书所作的解释，也是站不住脚的。不知您是否同意我的意见。
我同意您的意见。上面的四个选项都不能用。这里应当用过去分词 performed 作定语（见 infinitive ）。为什么不能选 B 呢？这是因为动词不定式作定语时通常具有情态意义或将来时意义。该书解释说 the best play to be performed = the best play that was performed，这是不正确的。只有含 first，last，next 的短语的动词不定式定语才具有过去时意义，而 best 并不包括在此种用法之中。例如：
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He was the first man to fly across the Atlantic (to fly = who flew). 他是第一个飞越大西洋的人。
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What is the best thing to do? 最适合做的事是什么?
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The best thing to do would be to apologize. 最好还是道歉吧。
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What is the best way to get there? 到那里去最好怎么走？
另外,从例(1)可以看出,该书作者说 the first to come = the first who comes,是错误的,应将comes改为came(见first )。