从上一节的讨论中,已经把握了名词从句的本质,就是用三种句子(陈述句、一般疑问句和特殊疑问句)充当四种句子成分(主语、宾语、表语和同位语)。所以,当用这三种句子充当另外一个句子的主语时,就构成了主语从句。因此,本节内容安排如下:
2. 2.1 陈述句作主语
2. 2.2 一般疑问句作主语
2. 2.3 特殊疑问句作主语
把“ that+ 陈述句”这一结构放在主语的位置即构成主语从句。请看例句:
1 That the seas are being overfished has been known for years.
妙语点睛 这里 that 引导的从句 that the seas are being overfished 即是一个主语从句,直接置于主语的位置。
精品译文 海洋正在被人们过度捕捞,许多年以来这已是尽人皆知的。
2 That the plates are moving is not beyond dispute.
妙语点睛 这里 that 引导的从句 that the plates are moving 即是一个主语从句,直接置于主语的位置。
精品译文 地球板块是在漂移的,这一点并非毫无争议。
3 That English is important is an undoubted fact. 语很重要,这是毋庸置疑的事实。
4 That he doesn't understand English is obvious. 很显然,他不懂英语。
5 That the world is round is a fact. 地球是圆的,这是一个事实。
6 That the moon itself does not give off light is common knowledge. 月球本身不发光是一个基本常识。
对于陈述句作主语,更常见的是 用 it 作形式主语置于句首,而将主语从句放在句末 。因此上面各句可分别改为:
7 It has been known for years that the seas are being overfished .
8 It is not beyond dispute that the plates are moving .
9 It is an undoubted fact that English is important .
10 It is obvious that he doesn't understand English .
11 It is a fact that the world is round .
12 It is common knowledge that the moon itself does not give off light .
下列都是常见的主语从句句型(重点内容):
It's reported that... (据报道……)
It's believed that... (人们相信……)
It should be noted that... (应当注意……)
It is generally thought that... (人们普遍认为……)
It has been found that... (现已发现……)
It must be pointed out that... (必须指出……)
类似动词还有 say, expect, know, estimate 和 forecast 等。请看例句:
13 As a child and as an adult as well, Bill Gates was untidy. It has been said that in order to counteract this, Mary drew up weekly clothing plans for him. 不论是在小时候还是长大成人以后,比尔·盖茨都是不修边幅的。据说为了让他改掉这个习惯,玛丽专门为他制定了一周的着装计划。
It is clear that... (显然……)
It is possible that... (很可能……)
It is likely that... (很可能……)
It is natural that... (很自然……)
It is certain that... (可以相信……)
It is strange that... (奇怪的是……)
It is fortunate that... (幸运的是……)
It is necessary that... (有必要……)
14 It is true that English is becoming an international language. 的确,英语正日益成为一门国际通用语言。
常用的名词有: a pity, a shame, an honor, a good idea 和 no wonder 等等。
It is a pity that... (可惜的是……)
It is a fact that... (事实是……)
It is good news that... (……真是太好了……)
It is a good thing that... (……真是件好事……)
It is no wonder that... (难怪……)
It is a shame that... (遗憾的是……;……真是太不像话了)
It is an honor that... (真荣幸……)
It is common knowledge that... (……是常识)
It is my belief that... (我相信……)
It is a miracle that... (……真是奇迹)
15 It is common knowledge that the whale is not a fish. 鲸鱼不是鱼类,这是一个常识。
16 It is common knowledge that a flash of lightning is seen before a clap of thunder is heard. 人们先看到闪电,后听见雷声,这是一个常识。
17 It is a shame that you did not pass the test. 你没通过这次考试真遗憾。
一般疑问句作主语时,要把一般疑问句变成陈述句,并且用 whether 来引导,然后充当句子的主语,即构成主语从句。请看例句:
Whether he comes or not makes no difference to me. 他来不来对我来说无所谓。
1 What we need is wholly new kind of police force.
妙语点睛 这里的特殊疑问词 what 是作 need 的宾语,所以需将原来的倒装句 what do we need 调整为陈述句语序 what we need ,然后作主句的主语,即构成主语从句。
精品译文 我们需要的是一个全新的警察机构。
2 What he told you is true.
妙语点睛 这里的特殊疑问词 what 是作 told 的直接宾语,所以需将原来的倒装句 what did he tell you 调整为陈述句语序 what he told you ,然后作主句的主语,即构成主语从句。
精品译文 他和你讲的都是实话。
3 When the meeting is to be held has not yet been decided.
妙语点睛 这里的特殊疑问词 when 是作从句的时间状语,所以需将原来的倒装句 when is the meeting to be held 调整为陈述句语序 when the meeting is to be held ,然后作主句的主语,即构成主语从句。
精品译文 会议何时举行还没决定。
4 Why he refused to cooperate with us is still a mystery.
妙语点睛 这里的特殊疑问词 why 是作从句的原因状语,所以需将原来的倒装句 why did he refuse to cooperate with us 调整为陈述句语序 why he refused to cooperate with us ,然后作主句的主语,即构成主语从句。
精品译文 他为什么会拒绝与我们合作,目前还不清楚。
5 How a person masters his fate is more important than what his fate is.
妙语点睛 这里的特殊疑问词 how 是作从句的方式状语,所以需将原来的倒装句 how does a person master his fate 调整为陈述句语序 how a person masters his fate ,然后作主句的主语,即构成主语从句。
精品译文 对于一个人来说,重要的是如何掌握自己的命运,而不是被动地接受命运的安排。
6 September 11, 2001 started out as an ordinary day, but what happened that morning will be forever etched (铭刻) in our memories.
妙语点睛 这里的特殊疑问词 what 是作从句的主语,所以无需调整语序,而直接将疑问句 what happened that morning 作主句的主语,即构成主语从句。
精品译文 2001 年 9 月 11 号那天和平日一样到来,但是那天早晨发生的事情将永远铭刻在人们的记忆里。
本节重点是掌握 that 引导的主语从句的句型。
Exercise 2.2
请把下列句子改写成 it 作主语的句子。
1. That the word is round is a fact.
2. That smoking can cause cancer is true.
3. That English is becoming an international language is true.
4. That Clint failed his English exam was strange.
5. That they are still alive is a consolation.
6. That he has been late for work over and over again is a serious matter.