1.that 引导主语从句时,that 没有意义,但不能省略。(that 引导宾语从句时可以省略。)
For example:
It worried her a bit that her hair was turning gray. 她的头发正在变白,这使她很不安。that引导主语从句,it 作形式主语,that 不能省略。
That she is a rich woman is known to us all. 众所周知,她是个富有的女人。这是that 引导主语从句,that 不能省略。这句话可以改为用it 作形式主语的句型。请同学们改写:It is known to us all that she is a rich woman.)
We didn’t know (that) you had sold your house. 我们不知道你已经把你的房子卖了。这是that引导宾语从句,that 可以省略。注意这句话的时态。
2.从句作主语时,多数情况下由 it 作形式主语,而把主语从句放在后面,尤其是谓语部分(包括宾语)较短的情况下。
For example:
It wasn’t very clear what she meant. 不清楚她是什么意思。
It is important that he should come on time. 他按时来是很重要的。
It is true that that man on the left is a well-known writer here. 左边那个人是本地的一位作家,这是真的。这里,第一个that 引导主语从句,是单纯的连词,无词义,不作句子成分。第二个that 是指示代词,作句子成分,是man 的定语。
3.whether 既可以引导主语从句也可以引导宾语从句,但if不能引导主语从句。whether 后面可以加or not, 而if 不能与or not 连用。作介词宾语时不用if.
For example:
Whether I knew John doesn’t matter. = It doesn’t matter whether I knew John. 我是否认识约翰没有关系。
Whether or not she’ll come isn’t clear. = Whether she’ll come or not isn’t clear. = It isn’t clear whether …. 她是否来还不清楚。
It all depends on whether we can get their cooperation. 这是主语从句还是宾语从句?it 是形式主语吗?it 是代词,whether 引导的是宾语从句,作介词on 的宾语,不能用if引导。请翻译这句话。这完全取决于我们是否能得到他们的合作。
I worry about whether I hurt her feelings. 宾语从句,介词宾语,不能用if 引导。请翻译这句话。
She asked me whether/if you were married. 宾语从句,既可以用whether, 又可以用if 引导。注意时态的对应。请翻译这句话。
We haven’t decided whether/if we shall give them aid.
I’m not sure whether/if the report is believable.
Now let’s do some translation:
现在还很难预测谁会赢得下一届总统选举。
It is still hard to predict who will win the next presidential election.
对于多数公民来说,谁当选总统无关紧要。
Who will become the president doesn’t matter much to most citizens.
这位前总统是否会被判处死刑还有待观察。It remains to be seen whether the ex-president will be sentenced to death.
真可惜,王教授不能出席我们的英语晚会。
It is a pity that Prof. Wang can’t attend our English Evening.
我们需要的是更多的时间。
What we need is more time.