7. s.+ link verb +adv./prepositional phrase
A. 许多副词,特别是那些与介词同形的副词常做表语:
The radio is on. 收音机开着。
Is Mr. Harold in 哈罗德先生在吗?
I haven't seen the latest issue of the magazine. Is it out yet 我没有看到最近一期杂志,它已经出版了吗?
B. 介词短语作表语可以表示主语的位置、状态:
My home is in the capital.我家在首都。
He is on the football team.他是个足球队员。
My wife was in hospital for several days.我妻子住了几天医院。
The problem is under discussion. 正在讨论这个问题。
The painting was of little value. 这画没什么价值。
当主语较长,或者需要强调表语时,介词短语就置于句子的前部:
To the West are the fine shops and theatres of the area known as West End， the part best known to the tourists. 西边是高级商店和剧院的云集地,就是所谓的“西区”,这是旅游者最熟知的。
On the counters were sugar， salt and coffee. 柜台上摆着糖、盐和咖啡。
下面是成语、介词短语作表语:
Everybody was in high spirits. 大家兴高采烈。
I'm in no mood this evening to listen to his silly joke. 我今晚没心情听他那些无聊的笑话。
He is up to his ears in trouble at the moment. 此刻他正陷入一些麻烦中。
He had approached every friend and acquaintance for help in vain， and now he was at his wit's end. 他向所有认识的朋友求助,徒劳无助,现在已是手足无措了。
Who is in charge of this matter 谁主管这件事?
We are all in favour of you. 我们都支持你。
8. s.+ link verb+-inf.
A. to 不定式用在be之后作表语,说明、解释主语的具体内容。例:
The team's task was to mark the boundaries of the new city. 这一小组的任务是标出新城市的范围。
His first wish was to produce new plants which would benefit his fellow men. 他的第一愿望是培育出使他的同胞得益的新植物品种。
What he wanted is to finish his works as quickly as possible. 他所希望的就是尽快完成他的著作。
To save time is to lengthen life. 节约时间就是延长生命。
B. 有些不定式作表语时含被动意义:
The house is to let. 这房子出租。
You are to blame. 你应受到责备。
作对比时,不定式要用被动式:
The house is to be let， not to be sold. 这房子出租,不出卖。
You are to be praised， not to be blamed. 你应受到表扬,不应受到责备。
C. 不定式作表语时一般带to， 但如果主语部分包含有一个表示动作的do， 则作表语的不定式可以省去to:
All we are trying to do is （to） get things off the ground. 我们所做的一切努力都是为了使物体脱离地面。
The first thing he did on his return to China was （to） tell me the good news. 他回到中国所做的第一件事就是告诉我这好消息。
D. “wh- + to不定式”也可以作表语:
The question is how to reach there. 问题是如何到达那里。
