so…that意為“如此……以致”,引導表示結果的狀語從句。so是副詞,用以修飾其后的形容詞或副詞,說明其程度的大小。例如:
They were so pleased to see each other that they forgot everything else.他們彼此相見,高興得連別的什么事都忘了。
so…that句型中的that,在口語中常可以省去,其意思不變。例如:
The story was so funny it made everybody laugh.這故事太滑稽了,把大家都逗笑了。
so…that句型中的“so+形容詞(副詞)”可以提至句首,以加強語氣,但要注意用倒裝語序。例如:
So bright was the moon that flowers were bright as the day.在如此明亮的月光下,花兒像白天一樣鮮艷。
“so…that”句型可以和“too…to”結構或“be+形容詞+enough to do sth.”句型相互轉換:
一、在so…that句型中,若主句和從句的主語一致,so所修飾的是形容詞。
1.that從句為否定句時,可用“too…to”結構或“be not+形容詞+enough to do sth.”句型,把so…that復合句轉化成簡單句。需要注意的是:“be not+形容詞+enough to do sth.”中的形容詞,應是so…that句型中形容詞的反義詞。例如:
His brother is so young that he can’t join the army.
→(1)His brother is too young to join the army.
→(2)His brother is not old enough to ioin the army.
他弟弟年齡還小,不能參軍。
2.that從句若是肯定的,則用“be+形容詞+enough to do sth.”把so…that復合句轉化為簡單句。例如:
The young man is so strong that he can carry the big box.
→The young man is strong enough to carry the big box.
那個年輕人很強壯,能扛動那只大箱子。
二、在so…that句型中,如果主句和從句的主語不一致,要轉化為“too…to”結構,則在不定式前面加上由介詞for引導的邏輯主語。例如:
The suit was so expensive that John couldn’t buy it.
→The suit was too expensive for John to buy.
這套西裝太貴,約翰買不起。
值得注意的是:“too…to”結構中主語與動詞不定式也可能存在著邏輯上的動賓關系,即句子的主語是動詞不定式的賓語,因此,不定式中一般不能再帶賓語。如上句中的it轉換后應去掉。
三、so…that復合句也可以用so…as to轉換成簡單句。但要注意的是:只有在主句的主語和從句的主語一致的情況下才能進行這種轉換。例如:
He ran so quickly that he won the race.
→He ran so quickly as to win the race.
他跑得很快,結果贏了這場比賽。
責任編輯/張彩萍mirenr@sina.com