商务英语邮件写作指导方法：不定式到底能不能拆开来？

 　Is it OK to split infinitives²?

　　把不定式分开是否恰当?

　　Most split infinitives follow this model – an adverb is put between “to” and the verb. But you also get compound split infinitives where more than one word is put between “to” and the verb, for example: If they make me a partner I can expect my salary to more than double.

　　大多数不定式拆分遵循以下原则——在“to”和动词之间插一个副词。但是你也会看到复杂的不定式拆分，这时在“to”与动词之间会有一个以上的单词，比方说：如果我有搭档的话，我的工资可能会增加两倍以上。

　　So is it correct English to split infinitives?

　　那么拆分不定式到底行不行得通呢?

　　This has been a subject of debate for many years. Until relatively³ recently the consensus⁴ was that splitting infinitives is not good style. Nowadays, however, most linguists⁵ and grammarians accept that users of English do habitually⁶ split infinitives and therefore it is not wrong to do so. This comes largely as a result of the change from the strict prescriptive approach to grammar to an attitude that says usage should determine rules. Also, there are times when your writing will be more fluent and your meaning will be clearer if you do split an infinitive¹.

　　这个问题已经争论很多年了。直到近期才有统一的意见：拆分不定式并不是很好的语法结构。但是现在大多数语言学家和语法学家承认，使用英语时习惯上会把不定式分开，所以这种用法也不算错。这很大程度上是由句子语法严格规定到实际用法决定规则的转变造成。而且，在不少情况下，拆分不定式会让你写作更流畅、表达的意思也更明确。

　　So, my answer is yes – it is OK to split infinitives.

　　所以我的答案是可以拆分不定式。

1 infinitive   

n.不定词；adj.不定词的

参考例句：

• The use of the split infinitive is now generally acceptable.分裂不定式的用法现在已被广泛接受。
• Modal verbs generally take the bare infinitive.情态动词通常用不带to的不定式。

2 infinitives   

n.（动词）不定式( infinitive的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Her litmus test for good breeding is whether you split infinitives. 她测试别人是否具有良好教养的标准是看对方是否在不定式的动词前加修饰副词。 来自互联网
• Nouns, adjectives and infinitives can be used as objective complements. 名词，形容词及不定式可用作补语。 来自互联网

3 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

4 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

5 linguists   

n.通晓数国语言的人( linguist的名词复数 )；语言学家

参考例句：

• The linguists went to study tribal languages in the field. 语言学家们去实地研究部落语言了。 来自辞典例句
• The linguists' main interest has been to analyze and describe languages. 语言学家的主要兴趣一直在于分析并描述语言。 来自辞典例句

6 habitually   

ad.习惯地，通常地

参考例句：

• The pain of the disease caused him habitually to furrow his brow. 病痛使他习惯性地紧皱眉头。
• Habitually obedient to John, I came up to his chair. 我已经习惯于服从约翰，我来到他的椅子跟前。