有一读者问: 有这样一个句子:
(1)It's better to give than to receive.
有人说这里的第二个to不可省,但也有人说可省,并举例:
(2)It's easier to persuade people than (to)force them.(摘自Michael Swan 著的Practical English Usage)
到底可省不可省,请指教。
我们认为上述Michael Swan所给的句(2)是对的,即这种句型中的第二个to可用亦可不用。 A.J.Thomson与A.V.Martinet所著的A Practical English Grammar 上亦有一个说明此种句型中第二个to可用可不用的例证:
(3)It is better to say too little than (to)say too much.
但一般认为,当第二个to所引导的不定式被强调或表对比的时候,不应省去,如:
(4)It was better to laugh than to cry.
