"be+不定式"这一结构是将来时的一种表现形式。但它除了表示"将来"这个时间概念外,还有下列几种含义。

　　一、"be+不定式"表示事先安排或计划要做的事。这种"安排"可以是几个人共同做出的,也可以是一个人做出要别人照办的。如:

　　OPEC　representatives are to meet in Geneva next Tuesday. 石油输出国组织代表将于下星期二在日内瓦会谈。

　　Mary is to leave for New York tomorrow. 玛丽明天就要动身去纽约。

　　这个结构所表示的将来动作,一般都是受人们的意志控制的。对于不受人们的意志控制的将来动作,不可以用这一结构表示。如:

　　It's going to rain. 不能说成:It's to rain.

　　二、必须、应该或有义务要做的事。如:

　　He sent out word that no one in the bunker was to go to bed until further orders. 他发话说没有得到命令,地堡中的任何人不得睡觉。

　　Guests are to be back in the hotel by twelve o'clock. 客人们一定要在12点以前回到旅馆。

　　Reference books are not to be taken out of the library. 参考书不准带出图书馆。

　　三、"be的过去式+不定式的完成形式"表示本打算但未实现的事。如:

　　Bob and Susan were to have been married in October. 鲍勃和苏珊本打算十月份结婚的。

　　I was to have seen him last Wednesday but he did not come. 我原计划上周三见他,但他没来。

　　四、不可避免、注定要发生的事。如:

　　Little did I dream that my mother was to become a reporter several years later. 我做梦也没想到母亲几年后会成为一名记者。

　　The worst is still to come. 最糟糕的事还是要发生的。

　　五、未来可能发生的事。如:

　　Such plants are to be seen every-where in China. 这种植物在中国到处都可以看到。

　　Not a sound was to be heard. 一点声音都听不到。

　　六、"be+不定式"也可用在If条件句中,分为两种情况:

　　A、用在陈述语气(Indicative Mood)的条件句中,表示某种意图,相当于"想要"、"打算"等意思。如:

　　If we are to succeed, we must redouble our efforts. 我们要想成功,必须加倍努力才行。

　　If we are to be there on time, we'll have to hurry up. 如果想准时赶到那里,我们必须快点儿。

　　B、"were+不定式"用在虚拟语气(Subjunctive Mood)的条件句中,表示对将来条件的真实性的怀疑。如:

　　If I were to tell you the secret, what would you say? 如果我泄露这个秘密给你,你会怎么说呢?

　　If they were to act like that again, we should criticize them severely. 要是他们再那样做,我们就要严厉地批评他们。

　　(文/谭少翠；英语辅导报初中教师版03~04学年第39期；版权归英语辅导报社所有，独家网络合作伙伴新浪教育，未经许可，不得以任何形式进行转载。)