感悟中學英語語法it的系列用法
2009-12-31 00:00:00鄧永前
考試周刊 2009年48期
1.實義的it
實義的it用來指代具體的內(nèi)容。
1.1指代上文提過的生物或非生物，復(fù)數(shù)形式為they。例如:
The earth is the planet that we live on.It is the fifth largest planet of the solar system.
This car is not fast enough.It can only do 60 miles an hour.
John is in the shool football team.It was reorganized last year.
“Where is the cat?”“It is in the garden.”
“Where are the cats?”“They are in the garden.”
1.2指代上文提過的性別不明或無須指明性別的小孩。例如:
To feed a child without also educating it is a fault in the father.
What’s matter with the baby?It has been crying.
Her baby is due next month.She hopes it will be boy.
1.3作主語時指代上文提過的人，后跟系表結(jié)構(gòu)，用以指明該人的身份。例如:
“Who is that at the door?”“It’s the postman.”
The footsteps drew nearer and she saw from behing the curtain who her visitor was.And shi opened the door to welcome her.It was Maria Cragg.(文中的主人已知客人是誰，所以在使用It之前就使用了her，但讀者依然不明白，所以最后用It作主語，后跟系表結(jié)構(gòu)，指明該人的身份。)
1.4作主語，指代謂語部分所說明的自然現(xiàn)象(如:風、雨、熱、冷)、季節(jié)、時間、距離、環(huán)境等。例如:
It was raining hard when he got off the train.
Is it very cold in your country in December?
It was high time(that)we had a rest.
It was early spring/1986 when we first met.
It is six months since he lost his job.
It won’t be long before we meet again.
It is only two hours’ ride/eighty miles to Cleveland.
It is very dark/pretty/crowded/noisy/dirty in the room.
1.5指代上下文或一定語境所表明的情況、事件等。例如:
“I’m trying to change my job.”“You’ll find it difficult.”(it指調(diào)換工作這件事。)
“I’ll have to work all night through.”“It is awful.”(it指你徹夜工作這件事。)
You’ll be in trouble before you know it.(it指你陷入困境這件事。)
English is very important，and we all know it.(it指英語的重要性。)
When the factory closes，it will mean 500 redundancies.(it指工廠倒閉這件事。有些學者把此處及以下四個句子中it解釋為形式主語或形式賓語，但卻無法解釋沒有真正的主語/賓語何來形式主語/賓語。)
I’d appreciate it if you could help me with the work.(it指你幫助我工作這件事。)
I hate it when people speak with their mouths full.(it指人們邊吃東西邊講話這一情況。)
He likes it when Mary is with him.(it指Mary的陪伴。)
It is dull when Mary is away.(it指無Mary相陪的狀況。)
“Isn’t it lovely here?”“Yes，I like it here.”(it指這兒的環(huán)境。)
It seems that no one has any objection to the idea.(it指作為話題的事實、情況。有些學者把此處的it解釋為形式主語，但卻回避seem不能單獨作謂語這一事實，或無法解釋為什么主語從句不能復(fù)位。)
It happens that his sister is a close friend of mine.(同上)
It must be that I made a mistake about him.(同上)
2.半實義的it
半實義的it處于主語或賓語的位置，替代某些形式的真正意義上的主語或賓語。
2.1作形式主語，替代不定式短語、動名詞短語及名詞性從句，把這類較長的主語移至句尾，使句子顯得勻稱。例如:
It is a great pleasure to be working with you.
It is necessary for you to obey the order.
It is no use crying over spilt milk.
It was fortunate that there was a doctor at the spot.
It doesn’t matter what he thinks.
2.2作形式賓語，替代不定式短語、動名詞短語及名詞性從句，后接賓語補足句，把這類較長的賓語移至賓語補足句之后，使句子顯得勻稱。例如:
We consider it foolish of him to meet her.
Jane found it dull working at the kitchen sink all day.
George made it clear that he disagreed.
I take it for granted that you all know this.
3.虛義的it
it本身無意義。用于強調(diào)結(jié)構(gòu)，強調(diào)句子中的某一成分，這一成分往往是說話人認為對方所不清楚的。例如:
It was Jim that /who shot a bear yesterday.
It was abear that Jim shot yesterday.
It was yesterday that Jim shot a bear.
It may have been at Christmas that John gave Mary a silk handbag.
Was it because he was ill that he didn’t attend the lecture?
Where was it that you found the wallet?
It was noy until he came that we started.
