在Unit 13 Book 2B中有这样一个句子:

　　It was said that he found in music the peace which was missing in a world full of wars and killings.

　　这个句子中的It was said that...是个十分常用的句型。在中学英语中,It is /was...that从句的种类较多,与其相关的句型也不少,而且这些句型容易混淆,同时也是历届高考中的重点内容。现将已学过的这类句型及相关句型归纳如下,供同学们学习参考。

　　1.It +系动词+过去分词+that从句

　　这一句型中常用的过去分词有said,reported, known,thought,believed,suggested等等。通常译为"据说(报道……)"。It是形式主语,that从句是真正的主语。如:

　　It is reported that a lot of people lost their jobs in the city last month.据报道,上个月这个城市的许多人都失业了。

　　2.It+动词(seem/appear/happen...) +that从句意为"似乎/看起来/碰巧……".如:

　　It seems to me that the maths problem is too easy for her.在我看来,这道数学题对她来说太简单。

　　3.It is /was +被强调部分+that/who从句

　　这一句型可以强调除谓语以外的任何成分.如:

　　I saw her in the post office when I was walking by.→

　　It was I that /who saw her in the post office when I was walking by.(强调主语)

　　It was her that /who I saw in the post office when I was walking by.(强调宾语)

　　It was in the post office that I saw her when I was walking by.(强调地点状语)

　　It was when I was walking by that I saw her in the post office.(强调时间状语)

　　注意:在这一句型中,如果被强调部分是人,可用that,也可用who连接,其余的常用that.同时在学习这一句型时还要注意其变换句型,像一般疑问句、否定句、特殊疑问句等。如:

　　Why was it that he came late?

　　4.It +系动词+一段时间+since从句

　　意为"自……以来已有多长时间了"或"自不……以来已有多长时间了"。

　　注意:在该句型中若since从句的谓语动词是非延续性动词,则表示从句中的动作延续多长时间了;若since从句的谓语动词是延续性动词或状态动词,则表示从句中的动作已结束多长时间了,译成汉语时要特别注意.如:

　　It is just a week since we arrived in Beijing.我们到达北京刚好一星期。

　　It is five years since I last smoked.我戒烟已有五年的时间了。

　　5.It is /was /will be the first /second...time that...

　　该句型意为"这是/将是……第一/二……次干某事".当主句的谓语动词用is时,从句的谓语动词用现在完成时;当主句的谓语动词用was时,从句的谓语动词用过去完成时;当主句的谓语动词用will be时,从句的谓语动词用一般现在时(表示将来)。如:

　　It is the first time that I have spoken to a foreigner.这是我首次和一位外国人交谈。

　　6.It is /was +形容词/名词+that从句

　　其中,It是形式主语,that从句是真正的主语。如:

　　It is quite important that China becomes an official member of WTO.中国成为世贸组织的正式成员是十分重要的。

　　7.It is /was /will be +……+before从句

　　这一句型意为"还有……时间就……".如:

　　It won't be long before you reach your goal.你离成功不远了。

　　8.It is up to sb. to do sth.

　　该句型意为"该由某人负责干某事"。如:

　　It is up to you to look after the children.应该由你负责照看这些孩子。

　　9.It is(high)time that sb. did sth.

　　该句型意为"是某人该干某事的时候了".这是一个虚拟语气句型,表示与现在事实相反的虚拟语气,因而that从句的谓语动词一般用一般过去时。如:

　　It is high time that we went to school.现在是我们该去上学的时候了。

　　10.It is +adj.(+of/for sb.)+to do sth.

　　这是有关形容词的一个复合结构句型。其中It是形式主语,真正的主语是后面的不定式。当该形容词(通常是necessary, important, difficult, hard,easy, impossible等)表示事物的特点或特征时,用for;当该形容词(通常是kind, nice, good, bad, wise, clever,silly, foolish, careless, rude, brave,cruel, careful, grateful等)表示人的特征或特点时,用of。如:

　　It is wise of him to make such a decision.他做出这样的决定是明智的。

　　It is not hard for one to do a good deed.一个人做一件好事并不难。

　　(文/罗玉南；英语辅导报高二版03~04学年度第27期；版权归英语辅导报社所有，独家网络合作伙伴新浪教育，未经许可，不得以任何形式进行转载。)