It’s surprising that…从句中的虚拟语气问题
2024-11-10 12:43:02 学考宝 作者:佚名
问题描述
《牛津英语用法指南》第三版的第801页有这样一句:
It’s surprising that she should say that to you. 她居然对你说出那种话,真叫人吃惊。
而《牛津英语用法指南》第三版的第802页有这样的说明:
这类句子也可以不用 should。不能用虚拟语气。
It’s surprising that she says / said that sort of thing to you. 她居然对你说出那种话,真叫人吃惊。(但不能说:It’s surprising that she say...)
我的问题是:为什么不能说 It’s surprising that she say... 呢?它不是可以看作是It’s surprising that she should say... 省略了 should 吗?
老师答疑
刘老师:
【答】《牛津英语用法指南》(第三版)的解释,前后并不矛盾。它是说It is surprising的用法比较特殊,用于It is surprising 句式中的主语从句,可以使用虚拟语气(should +原形),但should不可省略;也可以不用虚拟语气,而用陈述语气(该用什么时态,就用什么时态)。这跟It is important that...不同,该句式需用虚拟语气(should+原形),也可省略should。请比较:
It is important that...句式例句:
It is important that an adolescent boy should have an adult in whom he can confide. 关键是,青春期的男孩身边应该有一个可以交心的成年人。(有should)
来自柯林斯例句
It is important that we not stop the proceedings to report normalcy. 我们不要打断进程来报告常态信息,这一点很重要。(省略should)
来自柯林斯例句
It is important that every member inform himself of these rules. 重要的是每个成员知道这些规则。(省略should)
来自辞典例句
It is important that the equipment be very rugged. 设备须非常坚固是重要的。(省略should)
来自辞典例句
It is important that food be breaded just minutes before frying. 把食物抹上面包屑后过几分钟就炸,这一点很重要。(省略should)
来自柯林斯例句
It is surprising that句式例句:
It is surprising that he should win the election. 真是奇怪,他在竞选中获胜了。(虚拟语气)
It is surprising that he should swing for such a minor mistake. 他为这么点小错受罚太让人奇怪了。(虚拟语气)
It is surprising that they should kill the time like that. 他们竟然这样打发时间,真是太奇怪了。(虚拟语气)
It is surprising that it has taken people so long to take advantage of what is a win-win opportunity. 真奇怪,人们居然用了这么长时间才把握住一个万无一失的机会。(陈述语气)
来自柯林斯例句
It is surprising that a man like that was elected. 那样的人竟当选真是令人惊讶。(陈述语气)
来自辞典例句
It is surprising that he got zero in the math exam. 他的数学考试居然得了个零蛋! (陈述语气)
来自辞典例句
It is surprising that this furniture was bought from a flea market. 真想不到这些家具居然是从小市买的。(陈述语气)
来自辞典例句
It is surprising that so many ancient coins were found here. 这么多的古代钱币在这儿被发现真是令人吃惊。(陈述语气)
来自辞典例句
It is surprising that electronics has rapidly developed in these years. 近些年电子学的快速发展是惊人的。(陈述语气)
It is surprising that an augur can see an augury without smiling. 出乎意外,占卜家能知预兆而不笑。(陈述语气)
【提示】从严格意义上讲,在It is surprising that...句式中,主语从句虽然可以使用should,但不是虚拟语气,真正的虚拟语气是可以省略should的。should其中的一个用法是:用于惊异、赞叹、不满等的句子中,意为“竟然,竟会”,本句的should 表示惊讶。——这就解释了句子为何不可以省略should的原因,这也说明它不是真正的虚拟语气。这就是它区别于It is important that (should)......的主要原因。
既然如此,《牛津英语用法指南》第三版的解释,就有误导之嫌。“这类句子也可以不用 should,不能用虚拟语气。”——言外之意就是,用了should 就是虚拟语气。