§ Some
Uses of "It"
現在介紹 "It" 這個單詞的某些用法。
1. Impersonal
"It" ﹝非人稱的 "It"﹞
"It" 除了可以用來表示具體的事物外,還可以用來表示天氣、
天色、時間、距離以及一些模糊、籠統的情況。譯為中文時,
往往不用譯出。
(a) 表示「天氣」、「天色」
例如:
It is very cold today.﹝今天很冷。﹞
It is rather cold now.﹝現在有點兒冷。﹞
How dark it is! ﹝很黑啊!﹞
(b) 表示「時間」、「日期」
例如:
It is two o'clock.﹝現在兩點鐘。﹞
It is five years since I saw you last.
﹝自上次見你至今已五年了。﹞
It is a month to Chinese New Year's day.
﹝距農曆元旦還有一個月。﹞
(c) 表示「距離」、「長度」
例如:
It is five miles to the school.﹝離學校還有五哩。﹞
It is only a short way now.﹝現在沒多遠了。﹞
Is it very far from here to the station?
﹝從這裡到車站很遠嗎?﹞
(d) 表示「模糊、籠統的情況」
例如:
That is it! ﹝對啦!﹞
Now you will catch it! ﹝現在你倒霉了!﹞
It cannot be helped.﹝沒有辦法了。﹞
2. Expletive
"It" ﹝填補的 "It"﹞
這種 "It" 作為句子中的「形式主語」或「形式賓語」,
代表後面的「真正主語」或「真正賓語」。
例如:
It is dangerous to play with fire.
* "It" 代表後面的 "to play with fire" (Infinitive Phrase)。
It is childish to say such things.
* "It" 代表後面的 "to say such things" (Infinitive Phrase)。
It is difficult to make a decision without knowing all
the facts.
* "It" 代表後面的 "to make a decision without knowing all
the facts" (Infinitive Phrase)。
It is so nice sitting here with you.
* "It" 代表後面的 "sitting here with you" (Gerund Phrase)。
It is not worthwhile losing your temper.
* "It" 代表後面的 "losing your temper" (Gerund Phrase)。
It is no good talking to him.
* "It" 代表後面的 "talking to him" (Gerund Phrase)。
It is strange that you did such a thing.
* "It" 代表後面的 "that you did such a thing" (Noun Clause)。
Is it possible that she will come here tomorrow?
* "It" 代表後面的 "that she will come here tomorrow" (Noun Clause)。
It is not clear who is the oldest of the three.
* "It" 代表後面的 "who is the oldest of the three" (Noun Clause)。
We think it dangerous to play with fire.
* "It" 代表後面的 "to play with fire" (Infinitive Phrase)。
We consider it useless learning a theory without practice.
* "It" 代表後面的 "learning a theory without practice"(Gerund Phrase)。
I think it a pity that he did not study hard.
* "It" 代表後面的 "that he did not study hard" (Noun Clause)。
3. Emphatic
"It" ﹝增勢的 "It"﹞
這種 "It" 可強調句子中的某些成份。
例如:
I saw your teacher yesterday.
(a) 強調賓語 "your teacher"
It was your teacher that I saw yesterday.
(b) 強調主語 "I"
It was I that saw your teacher yesterday.
(c) 強調副詞 "yesterday"
It was yesterday that I saw your teacher.
I am in power.﹝我是當權的。﹞
若強調「我」,可寫成:
It is I that am in power.
* "that" 後的動詞以主語補語作準,而不以主語作準。
Shower and dew make the grass grow.
若強調「陣雨和露珠」,可寫成:
It is shower and dew that make the grass grow.
練習
翻譯:
1. 你整天留在屋內,因此你不知道今天有雲。
2. 昨天他探訪我時,是二時三十分。
3. 因為天漸黑了,我希望快完成它。
4. 市場距離你工作的地方五哩嗎?
5. 他明天往馬來西亞購買樹膠是不真確的。
6. 我表弟考試及格是幸運的。
7. 晨早在花間散步是很愉快的。
8. 盡力而為是我的責任。
9. 已教約翰英文五年的人正是我弟的老師。
10. 我昨天正於此買了一本書。
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