我们再看一些具体例子(这些名词从句包括“that + 完整句”形式和准疑问句形式):
It’s possible that he has not received the letter.(主语it保留下来了)
可能他还没有收到那封信。
It happened that she was out when we called.(主语it保留下来了)
我们打电话时她刚巧不在家。
It doesn’t matter what you say.(主语it保留下来了)
你说什么不重要。
(matter要紧)
It was unclear what they would do.(主语it保留下来了)
还不清楚,他们想干什么。
I find it sad that he doesn’t know the answer.(宾语it保留下来了)
我觉得很难过,他不知道答案。
I find it amazing that they’re still together.(宾语it保留下来了)
他们还在一起,这使我大吃一惊。
I like it when she comes to visit.(宾语it保留下来了)
我喜欢她来看我。
I hate it when he does that. (宾语it保留下来了)
我最讨厌他那样做了。
(《新概念》2-51)
It was obvious that he was very embarrassed. (主语it保留下来了)
显然他感到很尴尬。
(《新概念》4-20)
How it came about that snakes manufactured poison is a mystery.(主语it保留下来了)
蛇产生毒液这个现象是怎么出现的,这是一个谜。
(come about出现、manufacture制造、poison毒、mystery谜)
句中的it和that snakes manufactured poison是指同一件事。即问how it came about(它是怎么出现的)等于问how [that snakes manufactured poison] came about(【蛇产生毒液这个现象】是怎么出现的)。
(电影《盗梦空间》)
How can it not matter to you where that train will take you?(主语it保留下来了)
你怎么能不在乎那列火车会把你带到哪里?
(matter要紧)
句中的it和where that train will take you是指同一件事。即问how can it not matter to you(它怎么会对你不重要)等于问how can [where that train will take you] not matter to you(【火车会把你带到哪里】怎么会对你不重要)。
(《新概念》4-45)
Itis a strange thought, but I believe a correct one, that twenty or thirty pages of ideas and information would be capable of turning the present-day world upside down, or even destroying it.(主语it保留下来了)
二、三十页的计划和情报就能使当今世界发生翻天覆地的变化,甚至毁灭这个世界,这是个离奇的念头,但我认为它是正确的。
(thought念头)
句中的it就是指that twenty or thirty pages of ideas and information would …那一长段话。即:[That twenty or thirty pages of ideas and information would …] is a strange thought, but I believe a correct one.(【二、三十页的计划和情报……】是个离奇的念头,但我认为它是正确的。)