最常見的是名詞和代詞做主語 (不定式+動名詞也可做主語)
It is safer to live in the country . 住在鄉下較安全。
初學英文的人容易將這句中文譯成:
Live in the country is safer. (錯誤)
這肯定是錯誤的句子,因為動詞不能直接做主語。動詞應變成不定式(即to+動詞原形)或動名詞(即動詞詞尾+ ing)方可作主語。
故以上例句應變成:
To live in the country is safer.
=Liveing in the country is safer.
但這種不定式或動名詞短語所形成的主語往往過大,故寫作的人經常用 it 代替這些過大的主語,不定式或者動名詞短語則移至句尾。
To live in the country is safer.
=it is safer to live in the country.
Liveing in the country is safer.
=It is safer liveing in the country .
=It is safer to live in the country.
了解上面的說明後,我們不妨試譯下面的句子:
中文:學英文很有趣.
英文: Learn English is interesting.(錯)
It is interesting to learn English.(對)
It is interesting learning English.((對))