VII Go to Bristol 第七章 去布里斯托尔途中.25
The well-to-do had their cares also. 富裕的人也有他们的烦恼。
在口语中有时还可能用副词、介词短语作主语：
Slowly is exactly how he speaks. 他说话就是慢吞吞的。
Out on the lake will be all right. 到湖上玩玩倒不错。
Between 8 and 9 will suit me. 8点到9点之间对我合适。
19.1.2 动名词作主语
1) 动名词可直接作主语：
Dancing bored him. 跳舞使他厌烦。
Putting in a new window will involve cutting away part of the roof. 安一个新窗户得拆掉一部分房顶。
Keeping hens is her hobby. 养鸡是她的爱好。
Thus rowing is a sport. 因此划船是一种运动。
Going to the movies is a popular pastime. 看电影是一种大众化的消遣。
Being lost can be a terrifying experience. 迷路有时是很可怕的。
Slow cooking make tougher meat tender. 慢火可以把较老的肉炖烂。
Not being punctual makes him unreliable. 不准时使他变得不可靠。
2) 有时，动名词前可以有一代词或名词所有格表示其逻辑上的主语：
Their coming to help was a great encouragement to us. 他们来支援对我们是很大的鼓舞。
Mary's grumbling annoyed him. 玛丽的嘟嘟囔囔使他厌烦。
Rose's going won't be of much help. 罗丝去不会有多大帮助。
有时还可名词化，前面带有冠词：
The reading of the will took place in the lawyer's office. 遗嘱是在律师事务所宣读的。
A ringing of bells marks the end of the old year. 一阵钟声标志着旧年的结束。
3) 有时可用先行词it作形式主语，而把作主语的动名词放到后面去：
It's no use asking me. 问我没用。
Is it any good trying? 试一试有好处吗？
It doesn't matter throwing that away. 把它扔掉没有关系。
It's a waste of time your talking to him. 你和他谈是白费时间。
关于用动名词、不定式和从句作主语可参阅下面多节。
19.2 用it作主语的句子
19.2.1 用it作人称代词（Personal Pronoun）
1) it最基本的用法是作人称代词，主要代表刚提到的东西以避免重复：
Did the black snake frighten you? ——Yes, it did. 那条黑蛇吓着你了吗？——是的。
Look at that car. It's going much too fast. 瞧那辆车，开得实在太快了。
"Where's my coat?" "It's in the cupboard." “我的大衣在哪里？”“在衣柜里？”
"Where is your car?" "It's in the garage." “你的车在哪里？”“在车库里？”
2) 也可代表抽象的事物：
The government has become very unpopular since it introduced the new tax.该政府自开征新税后就变得很不得人心。
It was a great surprise to me when he did a thing like that. 他做这样的事我大为吃惊。
"I've broken the mirror." "It can't be helped." “我把镜子打破了？”“这是没法帮忙的事？”
It's all my fault. 这都怪我。
3) 也可以指动物或未知性别的婴儿：
"Is this your dog?" "No, it isn't." “这是你的狗吗？”“不是的？”
Her new baby is tiny. It only weighs 2 kilos. 她的新生婴儿很小，只有两公斤重。
What a beautiful baby—is it a boy? 多漂亮的宝宝，是男孩吗？
4) 还可代表一个彼此都知其何所指的东西：
Does it itch much? 痒得厉害吗？
Where does it hurt? 哪儿疼？
It's meingitis. 这是脑膜炎。
19.2.2 非人称代词it
it有时并不指具体东西，而指天气、时间、环境等，称为非人称代词it（Impersonal it），可以：
1) 指天气：
It's raining (snowing). 在下雨（雪）。
It's frosty (a lovely day). 今天霜冻（天气晴朗）。
It's a fine night (full moon tonight). 这是个晴朗的夜晚（今晚是满月）。
It's sunny (a bit windy). 现在阳光灿烂（微微有点风）。
It was pouring with rain. 这时下着倾盆大雨。
It was very cold (quite warm) at the weekend. 周末天气很冷（很暖和）。
2) 指时间：
It's Tuesday today. 今天是星期二。
It's nearly half past eight. 快八点半了。
It's the third of June. 今天是六月三日。
It was twilight (midnight) when they came out of the hall. 他们从大厅出来已是黄昏时分（午夜）。
"What time is it?" "It's ten to eleven." “现在是什么时候？”“是十点五十？”
It's five years since I saw you last. 从上次见到你以来已经五年了。
It's our wedding anniversary. 这是我们结婚周年纪念日。
3) 指环境：
It gets very crowded here in the summer. 夏天这儿很拥挤。
It's lovely here. 这儿环境很优美。
It's quiet (very noising) here. 这儿很安静（吵）。
They're sure to see you. It's bright moonlight. 他们肯定能看到你，月亮这么亮。
It's nice down there. 在那儿很好。
It's getting so dark. 天这么黑了。
4) 指距离：
How far is it to Kunming? 到昆明有多远？
It's two miles to the beach. 到海滨有两英里。
It's 112 miles form London to Birmingham. 从伦敦到伯明翰有112英里。
It's half an hour's walk to the city library. 去市图书馆走路只要半小时。
It's only twenty minutes' drive to our university. 到我们大学乘车只要二十分钟。
How far is it from your home to your office? 从你家到办公室有多远？
It's about a night journey to this place by train. 到这地方差不多要坐一晚上的火车。
19.2.3 用于强调的it
1) it可用来对句子的某一成分加以强调，例如Nancy saw your sister in Tokyo last week.可改为许多强调结构：
It was Nancy who saw your sister in Tokyo last week. （强调主语）
It was your sister whom Nancy saw in Tokyo last week. （强调宾语）
It was in Tokyo that Nancy saw your sister last week. （强调状语）
It was last week that Nancy saw your sister in Tokyo. （强调状语）
从这些句子可以看出这类句子的结构是：
it+动词be+强调部分+who（m）或that+其他部分
这类句子可称为分裂句（Cleft Sentence），这种结构称为分裂结构（Cleft Structure）。
2) 在强调主语时，可用who （间或用that）引导后面部分：
It was Peter who lent us the money. 是彼得借钱给我们的。
It was you who had been wrong. 错的是你。
Was it you who (that) broke the window? 打破窗子的是你吗？
Who was it that called the meeting? 召集会议的是谁？
若主语是物不是人，则需用that：
But here it's my word that counts. 但在这里是我说了算。
3) 在强调宾语或介词宾语时，若是人，则关系代词用whom，间或用that（a）；若是物，则需用that（b）：
a． It's Tom whom you should ask. 你应当问的是汤姆。
It was Jim in whom she still had her faith. 她信任的仍然是吉姆。
It was Peter with whom I first came in contact. 我最初接触的是彼得。
It was the president that (whom) Jean shot yesterday. 昨天吉恩枪杀的是总统。
It's me that he blamed. 他责怪的是我。
It's pilots that we need, not ground staff. 我们需要的是飞行员，不是地勤人员。
b． It's money that they want. 他们要的是钱。
It's Spain that they're going to, not Portugal. 他们准备去的是西班牙，不是葡萄牙。
It was a key that I found there. 我在那里找到的是一把钥匙。
4) 在强调状语时后面多用that：
It was on Monday night that all this happened. 这一切都是在星期一夜里发生的。
It's today that he's going. 他是今天走。
It was here that he chiefly differed from an Englishman. 他和英国人的主要不同就在这里。
Why is it that you object to the idea? 你为什么反对这个意见？
5) 在口语中，who，that这类关系代词有时省略：
I think it was Goethe said this. 我想这话是歌德说的。
It was Philip drove Miss Sophia yesterday, wasn't it? 昨天是菲力普给索菲娅小姐开车，对吧？
It was you I thought of all the time. 我一直惦念的是你。
It was then I heard Phuong's steps. 就在这时我听到了冯的脚步声。
What is it you want me to do? 你要我做的是什么？
Was it in 1980 this happened? 这事是1980年发生的吗？
6) 有些否定句也可改成这种强调结构：
问句也可变成这种结构：
19.2.4 先行主语it
1)it可以用作先行词，作为句子形式上的主语，而把真正的主语移到句子后部去。这可使句子变得更平稳，不致主语太长，显得头重脚轻。这种it称为先行主语（Preparatory Subject）。可移到句子后部去的主语最常见的是不定式。句子谓语可有下面几种类型：
a． be+形容词+不定式：
It is easy to criticize others. 批评别人是容易的。（比较：To criticize others is easy.）
It's better to be early. 早去好一点。（比较：To be early is better.）
It's absurd to be afraid. 害怕是荒谬的。
It's nice not to be dependent on them. 不依靠他们是好的。
b． be+名词+不定式：
It was his duty to take care of the orphans. 照顾孤儿是他的职责。
It's a privilege to visit your country. 访问贵国是一大荣幸。
It would be a pity to miss this opportunity. 错过这个机会是可惜的。
It was not my habit to ask people for things. 我没有向人索取东西的习惯。
c． be+介词短语+不定式：
It was against my principle to do that. 做这样的事有悖我的原则。
It's beyond me to say why. 我无法说明原因。
It's not within my power to help them. 我没有力量帮助他们。
It's unlike him to be late;he's usually on time. 迟到在他来说是不正常的，他一向很准时。
d． 及物动词+宾语+不定式：
It cost 100 dollars to repair the car. 修车花了一百美元。
It gave me great pleasure to watch them. 观察它们给了我很大的乐趣。
It takes two to make a quarrel. （谚）吵架要有两个人。
It makes me sick to think about it. 想到那事就让我恶心。
不定式前有时可有for引导的短语，表示其逻辑上的主语：
What time would it be most convenient for me to call again? 什么时候我再来最方便？
It's getting harder every day for a poor man to get a living. 穷人维持生计日益困难。
关于不定式作主语可参阅第12.1.3节。
2) 用it作先行主语，代表动名词时也不少，这类句子用“be+名？”作谓语时最多（a），也可以“be+形容？”（b）或其他结构（c）作谓语：
a． It's no use studying for an exam at the last minute. 临时抱佛脚来应考是没用的。
It's no good standing here in the cold. Let's go home. 在这寒风中站着没好处，咱们回去吧。
It isn't much fun staying at home by yourself. 一个人待在家里没意思。
It's a waste of time talking to him. 和他谈话是白费时间。
b． Is it worthwhile quarrelling with him? 和他吵值得吗？
It's hopeless trying to convince her. 想说服她是没有希望的。
It's terribly tiring working like this. 这样干非常累。
It's pleasant sitting here. 在这里坐着很愉快。
c． It doesn't matter waiting a few more days. 再等几天没有关系。
It doesn't make any difference my being there. 我是否在那里无所谓。
It felt funny being dressed like a boy. 打扮成男孩感觉怪怪的。
关于这类句子可参阅第12.2.2节，关于用先行主语it代表从句将在下面第19.3.2节再谈。
19.2.5 it的其他用法
1) it还可表示“是谁 （在某处或做某事）”：
"Who is that (it)?" "It's me."（在电话上）“你是哪位？”“是我？”
Is that Tom over there? ——No, it's Peter. 是汤姆在那里吗？——不是的，是彼得。
It's your Mum on the phone. 是你妈来电话。
"Who is that?" "It's the postman." “是谁呀？”“是邮差？”
"What's that noise?" "It's only the dog." “这声音是怎么回事？”“是狗？”
"Why, it's you!" she cried.“啊，原来是你？”她叫道。
Her face lighted when she saw who it was. 看到是谁时她的脸开朗起来。
Nothing has happened. It's only the wind shaking the house. 什么也没发生，只是风刮得房子晃动。
2) 还可以用来泛指某件事：
It says here there was a big fire in SoHo. 听说梭荷中心有一场火灾。
Isn't it awful! 真糟糕！
It's a shame, isn't it? 这很遗憾，是吧？
It doesn't matter. 没关系。
It's getting very competitive in the car industry. 汽车业竞争越来越激烈了。
So you're going to be married this time. When is it? 这么说这次你要结婚了，什么时候结？
It's my turn. 该轮到我了。
19.3 主语从句
19.3.1 三种类型的主语从句
主语从句有三种类型：
1) 由that引导的主语从句：
That he hasn't phoned is odd. 他没来电话是很奇怪的。
It's certain that prices will go up. 物价要上涨是肯定的。
2) 由连接代（副）词引导的主语从句：
Why he left wasn't important. 他为什么走并不重要。
It was uncertain whether he would come or not. 他来不来还不肯定。
3) 由关系代词型what或whatever引导的从句：
What I want is a canvas travelling bag. 我要的是一个帆布旅行袋。
Whatever she did was right. 她做的一切都是对的。
19.3.2 由that 引导的主语从句
1) 这是用得最多的一种主语从句，但把这种主语从句放在句首是很少的，只有为了强调或谓语较长时才作这样的安排：
That prices will go up is certain. 物价要上涨是肯定的。
That she is still alive is a consolation. 她还活着是令人感到宽慰的。
That she became an artist may have been due to her father's influence. 她成为画家可能是受她父亲的影响。
That she was chosen made a tremendous stir in her village. 她被选中在她村子里引起很大轰动。
绝大部分主语从句都借助先行主语放到句子后部去。
2) 带先行主语的句子主要有下面几类：
a． it+be+形容词+that从句：
It is natural that they should have different views. 他们有不同观点是很自然的。
It was quite plain that she didn't want to come. 很明显她不想来。
It is imperative that we leave at once. 我们必须马上离开。
It's strange that he knows nothing about it. 很奇怪他对此竟一无所知。
b． it+be+名词+that从句：
It's a shame (that) you're sick. 真遗憾你病了。
It's a pity (that) he can't swim. 真遗憾他不会游泳。
It's a wonder that he is still alive. 他还活着真是奇迹。
It was a fearful disappointment to your mother that you didn't come yesterday. 你昨天没来让你母亲大失所望。
c． it+动词（+宾语或状语）+that从句：
It happened that she wasn't in that day. 碰巧那天她不在家。
It never occurred to me that perhaps she was lying. 我从未想到或许她是在说谎。
It seems that you're right. 似乎你是对的。
It struck me that we ought to make a new plan. 我忽然想起我们应制订一个新计划。
d． it+动词的被动语态+that从句：
It's said that there has been an earthquake in India. 据说印度发生了地震。
It was rumoured that he was suffering from a stone in the kidney. 谣传说他患有肾结石。
It's reported that the enemy troops have crossed the border. 据报导敌军已越过边界。
It is estimated that 25 million school lunches are sold each day. 据估计每天要出售两千五百万份学校午餐。
e． it+动词be+that从句：
It may be that you'll prove yourself the most suitable man. 或许你会证明自己是最合适的人选。
Is it that the gentleman is not your uncle? 是否那位先生并不是你的叔叔？
No , no, it couldn't be that they were interested in him. 不，不，他们不可能对他有兴趣。
在口语中that有时可以省略：
It was clear his words pleased her. 显然他的话使她很高兴。
It's not our fault this has happened. 发生这事不是我们的错。
It strikes me Kent is a nice lad. 我感到肯特是个好小伙子。
19.3.3 由连接代（副）词引导的主语从句
1) 这类从句还不少，可放在句首：
When he'll be back depends much on the weather. 他什么时候回来很大程度上取决于天气。
How it was done was a mystery. 这是怎样做的是一个谜。
Who is to be sent there hasn't been decided. 派谁去还没有决定。
Whether we'll succeed remains to be seen. 我们能否成功还要拭目以待。
也可借助先行主语it把从句放到句子后部去：
It hasn't been announced who are the winners. 谁获胜还没有宣布。
It was clear enough what he meant. 他的意思很清楚。
It's no business of yours where I spend my summer. 我在哪儿过夏天不干你的事。
It's doubtful whether we'll be able to come. 我们是否能来还是个疑问。
虽然两种结构都能用，但带it的结构还是用得多一些。
2) 用it作先行主语时后面也有四类结构：
a． it+be+形容词+从句：
It was not clear to me why he behaved like that. 我不太清楚他为什么会这样做。
It's uncertain whether the game will be held. 球赛是否举行还不确定。
It's doubtful whether the payment is legal. 这样付款是否合法是一个疑问。
It is amazing that he should have said nothing about the murder. 对这起谋杀案他竟然只字未提真令人惊讶。
b． it+be+名词+从句：
It was a mystery how the burglars got in. 小偷怎么进去的是一个谜。
It's a puzzle how life began. 生命如何开始的是一个谜。
It was a question whether he should get married. 他是否应结婚还是个问题。
It is a marvel why he works so hard. 他为什么这样拼命干活令人惊异。
c． it+动词（+宾语或状语）+从句：
It doesn't matter much where we live. 我们在哪儿住都没多大关系。
It makes no difference whether we go by train or by boat. 我们坐火车去还是坐船去都无所谓。
It struck her how considerate he was. 她深感他考虑得多么周到。
It became a matter of doubt whether he had really done it. 他是否真做了这事变得可疑起来。
d． it+动词的被动语态+从句：
It is not yet settled whether I am going to America. 我是否去美国还没决定。
Is it known where he went? 有人知道他去哪里了吗？
It is not decided who will edit it. 还没决定谁来对它进行编辑。
It is being considered whether she should be promoted. 正在考虑她是否应当升职。
19.3.4 由关系代词型what引导的主语从句
1) 关系代词型what也常可引导从句作主语：
What you said is perfectly true. 你说的完全是实情。
What will be, will be. （谚）该发生的事总会发生。
What is over is over. 过去的事就过去了。
What follows is the narrative of his experiences. 下面是他对自己经历的叙述。
What I'm afraid of is their taking her to Paris. 我担心的是他们把她带往巴黎。
What he saw made him tremble. 他看到的情况使他发抖。
What hurt my feelings was the judge's comment. 伤害我感情的是评审员的评语。
What you should do is to choose a company to invest in. 你该做的是选一家公司投资。
2) whatever，whoever这类词也可以引导主语从句：
Whatever she did was right. 她做的一切都是对的。
I didn't think whatever they say amounts to much. 我不认为他们说的话有多大价值。
Whatever she says goes. 一切她说了算。
Whoever comes will be welcome. 谁来都欢迎。
Whoever wants to go may sign up here. 谁想去可以在这里签名。
Whoever gets the job will have lots of work to do. 谁要是得到这份工作，就会有很多活要干。
Whichever (of you) comes in first will receive a prize. 不管（你们）谁第一个到都可以得到一份奖品。
Whichever you want is yours. 你要哪一个，哪一个就归你。
19.4 there引导的句子
19.4.1 there引导的句子
1) there引导的是一种特殊的句子，here放在句首好似主语，但真正的主语在后面，表示“有？”：
There is a rainbow in the sky. 天上有一道彩虹。
这里的there不同于一般的副词there，它读作/ðə/，而平常的副词则读作/ðeə/。
there常和后面的动词be或助动词构成紧缩形式，仿佛它是主语似的：
There's no problem. 没问题。
