intended to do/ intended to have done
問：I intended to have written her a letter yesterday, but I forgot to because of the day and evening appointments that I had.
這道改錯題的答案是要求將to have written 改為to write) 。這道考題使我長期迷惑不解。難道intended to have done 不是表達“本打算”這一含義的正確用法嗎？
答：在美式英語裡可以使用動詞intend 的過去時形式再加上簡單的動詞不定詞(如intended to write) 來表示過去“本打算做，而實際沒有做”這一含義。上面的試題過分地強調了美式英語的用法，而忽略了英式英語的用法，似欠公允，而有片面武斷之嫌。實際上，在英式英語裡，用intended to + have done 這一結構來表達“本打算(而實際上未實現) ”這一含義的例子俯拾即是：
- We intended to have gone to Wales…我們本來打算到威爾士去⋯⋯
- I intended to have called you, but…我本打算給你打電話的，但是⋯⋯
- They intended to have gone to Arizon a but the airport was closed because of kidnapping. 他們本打算去亞利桑那州，但由於綁架, 機場關閉了。
- I intended to have called on you…我本打算去拜訪你⋯⋯
intention of/ to do
問：是否可以說名詞intention 既可用of 片語，亦可用動詞不定詞來作它的後置修飾語？
答：intention 主要是用of 片語來作其後置修飾語。例如：
- She had no intention of spending the rest of her life working as a waitress. 她不想一輩子做侍者。
- I haven’t the slightest intention of marrying her. 我一點也不想娶她。
但是，在較少的場合，也有人用動詞不定詞來作名詞intention 的後置修飾語：
He confirmed his intention to leave next April…
他肯定了他明年四月離開的打算⋯⋯
主要用of 片語來作同位語性形容詞的名詞還有：aim, impossibility, necessity, possibility , responsibly.