说明
be about to do
核心问题
He is about to go.
张道真教授编著的《英语语法大全》(下)(外研社,p.253)认为上面的 about to go 是介词 + 不定式结构。您也持有这种观点吗？
词典解答
如果把上面的结构看成是介词 + 不定式结构,那就很难解释介词 about 在这里的含义,而且也很难解释 about 与连系动词 be 的关系。另外,除个别介词 (but, except) 外,一般介词是不能与动词不定式连用的。当代英语语法学家把 be about to 看作是半助动词(其他的半助动词还有 be to, be going to, be sure to 等)。
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The film is about to start. 电影马上就要开演了。
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“She’s right,” said Ron, who seemed to know that Harry was about to argue, even if he could not see his face. (J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) “她说的对,”罗恩说,他似乎知道哈利要为自己争辩,虽然他看不到哈利的脸。(《哈利·波特与死亡圣徒》)
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We were about to leave when it started to rain. 我们正要离开,突然下起雨来了。