精讀新科學家：真讓人意外——世界末日再一次延遲了

What a surprise – the end of the world has been delayed, again

CONGRATULATIONS, you have survived the latest prophesied doomsday. For weeks, the darker corners of the media have been abuzz with predictions that the end of the world was coming.

Word ＆ Expression

1. Prophesy

• V. If you prophesy that something will happen, you say that you strongly believe that it will happen. 預言
• He prophesied that within five years his opponent would either be dead or in prison.（opponent n.對手）

他預言說在5年之內他的對手不是死就會蹲監獄。

• 片語：Financial prophesy 財務預測

earthquake prophesy 地震預報

2. Abuzz

• ADJ?If someone says that a place is abuzz with rumours or plans, they mean that everyone there is excited about them. 對...議論紛紛的
• the room was abuzz with mosquitoes.

房間里充滿了蚊子的嗡嗡聲。

• 片語：abuzz film 散場電影

abuzz about 討論

abuzz with 活動頻繁

參考翻譯

真讓人意外——世界末日再一次延遲了

恭喜你，你在最新預言的世界末日中倖存了下來。數周以來，媒體的黑暗角落裡充斥著對世界末日即將來臨的預言。

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Some suggested it would coincide with the 21 August US total solar eclipse. Others plumped for 23 September, for no other reason than 33 days would have passed since the eclipse. Always keen to move on from a no-show, conspiracy theorists have revised the big day to 21 October.

Word ＆ Expression

1. Coincide with

• 與...一致
• A new political tone seems to be coinciding with an old one.

新的政治基調似乎與舊的一致。

2. Eclipse

• N.?An eclipse of the sun is an occasion when the moon is between the earth and the sun, so that for a short time you cannot see part or all of the sun. An eclipse of the moon is an occasion when the earth is between the sun and the moon, so that for a short time you cannot see part or all of the moon. (日、月) 食
• an eclipse of the sun.

一次日食。

• V.?If one thing is eclipsed by a second thing that is bigger, newer, or more important than it, the first thing is no longer noticed because the second thing gets all the attention. 使黯然失色
• the space programme has been eclipsed by other pressing needs.

這項太空計劃和其他的緊迫需要相比已經黯然失色了。

• 片語：solar eclipsen. ［天］日食

total eclipse[天]月全食

3. Plump for

• 選中
• At last we plumped for the new house near our school.

最終我們決定選學校附近的新房子。

4. Conspiracy

• N.?Conspiracy is secret planning by a group of people to do something illegal. 合謀
• Seven men, all from North Carolina, admitted conspiracy to commit arson.

（arson n.縱火罪）

全都來自於北卡羅來納州的七名男子承認了合謀縱火。

• N.?A conspiracy is an agreement between a group of people which other people think is wrong or is likely to be harmful. 陰謀
• Its all part of a conspiracy to dispense with the town centre all together and move everything out to the suburbs.

這全都屬於一個陰謀，以徹底放棄市中心而把一切搬到郊區。

• 片語：conspiracy theory陰謀論

5. Revise

• V.?If you revise the way you think about something, you adjust your thoughts, usually in order to make them better or more suited to how things are. 修正 (對某事的想法)
• With time he came to revise his opinion of the profession.

隨著時間的推移，他開始修正自己對這一職業的看法。

• V.?If you revise a price, amount, or estimate, you change it to make it more fair, realistic, or accurate. 調整 (使更合理、實際、準確)
• They realized that some of their prices were higher than their competitors and revised prices accordingly. （ accordingly adv.相應地）

他們意識到他們的部分價格比競爭對手的高，就相應地調整了價格。

• V.?When you revise an article, a book, a law, or a piece of music, you change it in order to improve it, make it more modern, or make it more suitable for a particular purpose. 修改; 修訂 (使改進、更時尚、更適於某目的)
• Three editors handled the work of revising the articles for publication.

3名編輯負責對要出版的文章進行修訂的工作。

• V. When you revise for an examination, you read things again and make notes in order to be prepared for the examination. (為考試) 複習
• Review all the notes you need to cover for each course.

複習所有你需要涵蓋的每門課的筆記。

• 片語：revise for 複習

參考翻譯

一些人認為這將與8月21日的日全食重合。其他一些人則選中了9月23日，因為在日食發生後33天內就沒有其他的原因了。陰謀論者一直熱衷於從一次缺席中走出來，他們將這重大日子改為10月21日。

句子精講

Some suggested it would coincide with the 21 August US total solar eclipse.

suggest的用法

1）名詞、代詞或動名詞；suggest sb doing sth

2）疑問詞引導的不定式或賓語從句；suggest what to do/ what we should do

3）that引導的賓語從句:當做建議的意思講時,後面所接的從句要用虛擬語氣形式.

動詞suggest有如下一些用法:

一、有"建議"的意思.advise,propose也有此義,請比較它們用法的異同:

1)都可接名詞作賓語

She suggested/advised/proposed an early start.她建議早一點出發.

We suggested/advised/proposed a visit to the museum the next day.我們建議明天去參觀博物館.

2)都可接動名詞作賓語

I suggested/advised/proposed putting off the sports meet.我建議將運動會延期.

They suggested/advised/proposed waiting until the proper time.他們建議(我們)等到恰當的時機才行動.

3)都可接that賓語從句,that從句用should+動詞原形,should可以省略.

We suggested/advised/proposed that he(should)make an apology to his teacher.

我們建議他去向老師道歉.

4)advise可接動詞不定式複合賓語,propose可接不定式作賓語.

I advised him to give up the foolish idea.=I suggested/proposed his/him giving up the foolish idea.

我建議他放棄那愚蠢的念頭.(suggest和propose在口語里可接動名詞的複合賓語).

二、有"提出"的意思.如:

He suggested a different plan to his boss.他向老闆提出了一個不同的計劃.

三、有"暗示、表明"的意思.其主語往往是事物,而不是人.

1)接名詞或動名詞作賓語.

Her pale face suggested bad health.她臉色蒼白,看來身體不好.

2)接賓語從句,從句用陳述語氣.如:

The expression on his face suggested that he was very angry.

他臉上的表情表明他很生氣.

四、在主語從句It is suggested that...及名詞suggestion後面表示具體建議的表語從句、同位語從句都應用should+動詞原形,should可以省略.如:

It was suggested that we(should) give a performance at the party.

人們建議我們在晚會上表演節目.

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Prophecies of doom aren』t new. At the turning points of centuries or millennia, someone always comes out of the woodwork to claim that the end is nigh. Others predict the end of days based on how immoral and violent society has become, although recent decades have been relatively peaceful compared with most other historical periods.

Word ＆ Expression

1. Doom

• N.?Doom is a terrible future state or event which you cannot prevent. 厄運
• his warnings of impending doom. （impend 迫近）

他對即將到來的厄運發出的警告。

• N.?If you have a sense or feeling of doom, you feel that things are going very badly and are likely to get even worse. 悲觀
• Why are people so full of gloom and doom?

人們的心裡為什麼滿是悲觀失望？

• V.?If a fact or event dooms someone or something to a particular fate, it makes certain that they are going to suffer in some way. 註定
• That argument was the turning point for their marriage, and the one which doomed it to failure.

那次爭吵是他們婚姻的一個轉折點，它註定了他們婚姻的失敗。

• 片語：doom and gloom前景不妙

參考翻譯

末日預言並不新鮮。在幾個世紀或幾千年的轉折點上，總有人從木框中走出來，聲稱末日就要來臨了。另一些人則預言末日是基於我們的社會變得越來越不道德和殘忍，儘管最近幾十年與大多數其他歷史時期相比是相對和平。

句子精講

although recent decades have been relatively peaceful compared with most other historical periods.

compare的用法

1. 表示「把……與……比較」，通常用 compare...with...，但在現代英語中，也可用compare... to...，或者用 compare...and...。如：

If you compare his work with [and] hers, you』ll find hers is much better. 要是把他倆的工作比較一下，就會發現她的好得多。

Having compared the new dictionary with [to, and] the old one, he found the new one more helpful. 將新舊詞典比較之後，他發現新詞典更有用。

2. 表示「把……比作……」，通常用 compare...to...，一般不用 compare...with...。如：

Shakespeare compared the world to a stage. 莎士比亞把世界比作舞台。

The poet compares the woman he loves to a rose. 詩人把他所愛的女人比作玫瑰。

3. 在 compared to [with]（與……相比）這一習語中，用 to 或 with 已沒什麼區別。如：

Compared with [to] him, I』m just a beginner. 和他相比，我只是一個初學者。

Compared to [with] many women, she was very fortunate. 和許多女人相比，她算是很幸運的了。

4. 用作不及物動詞時，compare 後習慣上只接 with，多與情態動詞 can 連用，表示「比得上」「能與……比美」，但一般用於否定句或疑問句中。如：

Nothing can compare with wool for warmth. 沒有比羊毛更暖和的東西了。

Life in a town can』t compare with life in the country. 鄉村的生活比城鎮的生活好得多。

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Numerological trickery is behind some of the most recent predictions. In 2012, we were told that the ancient Mayans had predicted the demise of the world on 21 December, when some cosmic event, such as a rogue planet called Nibiru (or Planet X), would hit Earth. The only true disaster was the Hollywood movie this inspired. But in 2017, the doomsayers said Nibiru was back and headed our way again. Predictably, some corners of the media lapped it up.

Word ＆ Expression

1. Trickery

• ADJ If you describe a task or problem as tricky, you mean that it is difficult to do or deal with. 難對付的
• Parking can be tricky downtown.

在市中心停車會很難。

2. Demise

• N. The demise of something or someone is their end or death. 終止; 死亡
• the demise of the reform movement.

改良運動的告終。

• 片語：Corporate demise 企業消亡

3. Lap

• N.?If you have something on your lap when you are sitting down, it is on top of your legs and near to your body. (人坐著時的) 大腿部
• She waited quietly with her hands in her lap.

她雙手放在大腿上靜靜地等候。

• N.?In a race, a competitor completes a lap when they have gone around a course once. (跑道的) 一圈
• that last lap of the race.

比賽的最後一圈。

• V.?In a race, if you lap another competitor, you go past them while they are still on the previous lap. 比…領先一圈
• He then built a 10-bike lead before lapping his first rider on lap 14.

他領先了10輛自行車的距離，然後在第14圈又超過了前一個車手一圈。

• N.?A lap of a long journey is one part of it, between two points where you stop. 一段行程
• I had thought we might travel as far as Oak Valley, but we only managed the first lap of the journey.

我原以為我們可以到達橡樹谷，但是我們僅僅完成了行程的第一段。

• V.?When water laps against something such as the shore or the side of a boat, it touches it gently and makes a soft sound. 輕拍
• With a rising tide the water was lapping at his chin before rescuers arrived.

在救生員到達之前，上漲的潮水打著了他的下巴。

• V.?When an animal laps a drink, it uses short quick movements of its tongue to take liquid up into its mouth. (動物) 舐食
• It lapped milk from a dish.

它從一個盤子里舐食牛奶。

• PHRASAL VERB?Lap up means the same as . 舐食
• She poured some water into a plastic bowl. Faust, her Great Dane, lapped it up with relish.

她往一個塑料碗里倒了些水，她的丹麥大狗福斯特津津有味地舐食起來。

• 片語：last lap最後一圈

lap up舔食

under lap遮蓋不足

參考翻譯

在一些最新的預測中，數字的欺騙是背後的原因。2012年，我們被告知，古代瑪雅人曾預言世界將在12月21日滅亡，屆時一些宇宙事件，如一個名為尼比魯(或行星X)的流浪行星，將會撞擊地球。唯一真正的災難是被此激發的好萊塢電影。但在2017年，末日預言家說尼比魯又回來了，並再次向我們前進。可以預見的是，媒體的某些視角也會欣然接受這些。

句子精講

we were told that the ancient Mayans had predicted the demise of the world on 21 December

被動語態

1. 當句子的主語為動作的承受者即受動者,動詞用被動語態.

John helped Peter. （John是動作的施行者,而Peter是動作的承受者即承受者.）

Peter was helped by John. （Peter是句子的主語,而且是動作的承受者,所以用被動語態.）

被動語態的構成：be + 動詞的過去分詞 特別提醒：被動語態的時態和人稱的變動都是由動詞be作改變的,不論發生什麼改變,動詞的過去分詞(v+ed或不規則的分詞) 都不改變.時態用的助動詞和人稱代詞由被動語態句子中的主語,即動作的承受者,所決定.

Eg. He cleans the room everyday.

The room is cleaned (by him) everyday.

2. 一般現在時的被動語態構成: is / am / are + 動詞的過去分詞

They have brought many toys since last week.

Many toys have been brought (by them) since last week.

3.現在完成時的被動語態構成：has/have + been + 動詞過去分詞.

They are meeting the foreigners at the gate.

The foreigners are being met (by them) at the gate.

4.現在進行時的被動語態構成：is/ are/ am + being + 動詞過去分詞

They will build some new buildings next year.

Some new buildings will be built (by them) next year.

5.一般將來時被動語態構成：will + be +動詞過去分詞, 或is/am/are going to +be + 動詞過去分詞

Father has been painting the room all morning.

The room has been being painted (by father) all morning.

6.僅作了現在完成進行時的被動語態：has/ have + been+ being + 動詞過去分詞)

They wrote the book last year.

The book was written (by them) last year.

1. 一般過去時的被動語態構成：was/ were+動詞過去分詞

The children had broken the window when the teacher arrived.

The windows had been broken (by the children) when the teacher arrived.

8.過去完成時被動語態構成had + been + 動詞過去分詞.

She was reading the book at 8:00 last night.

The book was being read at 8:00 last night.

9.過去進行時被動語態構成：was/ were being + 動詞過去分詞

They said they would cook some food.

They said some food would be cooked.

12.間接引語中的被動語態：

引述動詞是一般現在時的時候,引語的人稱根據引述動詞前面的主語而作調整,但時態不變.

He often says, 「 I was chosen to take part in the exam when I was twelve.」

He often says he was chosen to take part in the exam when he was twelve. （人稱由引述動詞says前面的主語he 決定,但引語的時態不變.）

引述動詞為過去時態,引語部分的時態和人陳都按照引述部分進行改變.

He said, 「 My father has been hit by a car.」

He said his father had been hit by a car. (引語部分的時態和人稱都發生了改變.)

13.幾種特殊的情況需要特別注意： 帶介詞的雙賓語可以有兩種改法：

They gave him an apple.

He was given an apple.

An apple was given to him. (雙賓語中當直接賓語apple 作被動語態句子的主語時,要記得寫上介詞to.)

這樣的動詞有：buy/make/cook sth for sb

或：show/bring/give/take/ send/write/… to sb.

多詞動詞的被動語態：

She looked after his children.

His children were looked after (by her).

這樣的動詞有：look after, look into, talk about, set up, put off, bring about, do away with, look forward to, take good care of 等等詞.

有些動詞在主動語態里不帶to,但改為被動語態時要還原to

make/see/have/hear/let sb do sthà sb be made/seen/heard/let to do sth

The boss made the workers work for a long time.

The workers were made to work for a long time (by the boss).

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「We should remember that prophesies of doom do frighten people and suicide is not unheard of」 With a heavy sigh, science brushed off and recycled the same messages as in 2012, pointing out that if Nibiru was wandering the solar system, we would know. Dedicated telescopes scan the heavens for asteroids and comets, charting the orbits of those that could be a potential threat. In fact, Nibiru would have been obvious to the naked-eye for years.

Word ＆ Expression

1. Dedicate

• V.?If you say that someone has dedicated themselves to something, you approve of the fact that they have decided to give a lot of time and effort to it because they think that it is important. 投身
• For the next few years, she dedicated herself to her work.

隨後的幾年裡，她全身心地投入工作

「我們應該記住，厄運的預言確實會嚇到人，自殺也不是聞所未聞的事。」他重重地嘆了口氣，科學沒有理會，並重複了2012年的相同信息，指出如果尼比魯在太陽系遊盪，我們知道。有專門的望遠鏡掃描天空，尋找小行星和彗星，記錄那些可能構成潛在威脅的天體的軌道。事實上，多年來，尼比魯是肉眼顯而易見的。

句子精講

we would know. Dedicated telescopes scan the heavens for asteroids and comets, charting the orbits of those that could be a potential threat.

非謂語動詞，又叫非限定動詞，非謂語動詞是指在句子中不是謂語的動詞，主要包括不定式、動名詞和分詞（現在分詞和過去分詞），即動詞的非謂語形式。非謂語動詞除了不能獨立作謂語外，可以承擔句子的其他成分。

現在分詞：現在分詞既具有動詞的一些特徵，又具有形容詞和副詞的句法功能。

現在分詞的形式：

否定式：not + 現在分詞

1．現在分詞的主動語態：現在分詞主動語態的一般式表示與謂語動詞所表示的動作同時發生，完成式表示的動作在謂語動詞所表示的動作之前發生，常作狀語。例如：

They went to the park,singing and talking. 他們邊唱邊說向公園走去。

Having done his homework,he played basket-ball. 做完作業，他開始打籃球。

2．現在分詞的被動語態：一般式表示與謂語動詞同時發生的被動的動作，完成式表示發生在謂語動詞之前的被動的動作。

The problem being discussed is very important. 正在被討論的問題很重要。

Having been told many times,the naughty boy made the same mistake.

被告訴了好幾遍，這個淘氣的孩子又犯了同一個錯誤。

現在分詞的句法功能：

作定語：現在分詞作定語，當分詞單獨做定語時，放在所修飾的名詞前；如果是分詞短語做定語放在名詞後。

In the following years he worked even harder.

在後來的幾年中，他學習更努力了。

The man speaking to the teacher is our monitors father.

正與老師談話的那個人是我們班長的父親。

現在分詞作定語相當於一個定語從句的句法功能，如：

in the following years也可用in the years that followed; the man speaking to the teacher可改為the man who is speaking to the teacher.

現在分詞作表語：

The film being shown in the cinema is exciting. 正在這家上演的電影很棒。

The present situation is inspiring. 當前的形勢鼓舞人心。

be + doing既可能表示現在進行時，也可能是現在分詞做表語，它們的區別在於be + doing表示進行的

動作是進行時，而表示特徵時是系動詞be與現在分詞構成系表結構。

作賓語補足語：

如下動詞後可跟現在分詞作賓語補足語：

see,watch,hear,feel,find,get,keep,notice,observe,listen to,look at,leave,catch等。例如：

Can you hear her singing the song in the next room? 你能聽見她在隔壁唱歌嗎？

He kept the car waiting at the gate. 他讓小汽車在門口等著。

現在分詞作狀語： ①作時間狀語：

(While) Working in the factory,he was an advanced worker.

在工廠工作時，他是一名先進工人。

②作原因狀語：

Being a League member,he is always helping others. 由於是共青團員，他經常幫助他人。

③作方式狀語，表示伴隨：

He stayed at home,cleaning and washing. 他呆在家裡，又擦又洗。

④作條件狀語：

(If) Playing all day,you will waste your valuable time.

要是整天玩，你就會浪費寶貴的時間。

⑤作結果狀語：

He dropped the glass,breaking it into pieces. 他把杯子掉了，結果摔得粉碎。

⑥作目的狀語：

He went swimming the other day. 幾天前他去游泳了。

⑦作讓步狀語：

Though raining heavily,it cleared up very soon.

雖然雨下得很大，但不久天就晴了。

⑧與邏輯主語構成獨立主格：

I waiting for the bus,a bird fell on my head．

我等汽車時，一隻鳥落到我頭上。

All the tickets having been sold out,they went away disappointedly.

所有的票已經賣光了，他們失望地離開了。

有時也可用with (without) +名詞（代詞賓格）+分詞形式

With the lights burning,he fell asleep. 他點著燈睡著了。

⑨作獨立成分：

udging from(by) his appearance,he must be an actor.

從外表看，他一定是個演員。

　　

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As scientists, it is easy to roll our eyes when these stories appear, but it is important to remember that prophesies of doom do frighten people, and suicides are not unheard of. So we must continue to call out nonsense and pseudoscience when we see it. The media also has a part to play inaccurate and balanced portrayal of science. There is enough scary stuff without imagined threats based on mathematical trickery and mystical texts. Unfortunately, I doubt this will be the last time we hear about Nibiru.

Word ＆ Expression

1. Portrayal

• N.?An actors portrayal of a character in a play or movie is the way that he or she plays the character. 扮演
• Mr. Ying is well-known for his portrayal of a prison guard in the film "The Last Emperor."

英先生因在《末代皇帝》中扮演一個監獄看守而出名。

• N.?An artists portrayal of something is a drawing, painting, or photograph of it. 繪畫; 照片
• a moving portrayal of St. John the Evangelist by Simone Martini.

西蒙納·馬蒂尼創作的福音傳道者聖約翰的感人畫像。

• N.?The portrayal of something in a book or movie is the act of describing it or showing it. 描繪; 展示
• an accurate portrayal of family life.

對家庭生活的精確描繪。

• N.?The portrayal of something in a book, movie, or programme is the way that it is made to appear. 刻畫

媒體堅持將我們刻畫成搶劫犯、毒品販和匪徒。

• 片語：Media portrayal 媒體形象塑造

Character portrayal 勾勒塑造人物

image portrayal 形象塑造

參考翻譯

作為科學家，當這些故事出現時很容易翻白眼，但重要的是要記住，末日預言確實會嚇到人們，而自殺並非聞所未聞。所以，當我們看到它的時候，我們必須繼續把它叫做無稽之談或者偽科學。媒體也有一部分是對科學的不準確和平衡的描述。有足夠多的可怕的東西沒有想像的威脅，基於數學的欺騙和神秘的文本。不幸的是，我懷疑這將是我們最後一次聽到尼比魯。

句子精講

As scientists, it is easy to roll our eyes when these stories appear, but it is important to remember that prophesies of doom do frighten people

形式主語

形式主語是動詞不定式的一種，它也是邏輯主語, 可以把它歸類到邏輯主語的第一種（不定式的邏輯主語） 用作賓語的不定式，用作目的狀語，用作結果狀語的不定式都是屬於不定式的大概念裡面的。

用法一：it作邏輯主語

形式主語it 作為形式主語的it並無實際語義，只是為滿足語法上的需要，避免句子頭重腳輕，它代替的是句子的邏輯主語，概括起來會有如下情況：

不定式作邏輯主語

如：It is very kind of you to give me a hand in time.

It is my pleasure to address the meeting.

It was pretty hard for him to bring up the child on his own.

從句作邏輯主語

如：It so happened that the tickets were sold out.

It is extremely obvious that she has been lying about her identity.

It suddenly occurred to me that the message must have been hidden

between the layers of the briefcase.

動名詞短語作邏輯主語

這類句子遠不如前面兩種出現率高，主要在（no good,waste,useless,no use,dangerous）等詞語的後面用

如：It is no use reasoning with him.

It is no good reading in dim light.

作形式主語的代詞只能用it ，不能用that，this等詞。例如:

1） It is easier to lose friends than to make friends. 交朋友難而失去朋友比較容易。

2） It is important for modern young people to master at least two foreign languages.

掌握至少兩門外語對於當代年輕人來說是很重要的。

以上兩句中的it是形式主語，真正的主語是後面的不定式短語。

3） It is considered no good reciting without understanding. 不理解的背誦被認為是沒有好處的。

4） It is no use crying over spilt milk. 覆水難收。

以上兩句中的it是形式主語，真正的主語是V-ing形式。

5） It is a fact that English is being accepted as an international language.英語作為一門國際語言正日益為人們所接受，這是不爭的事實。（NMET,95）

6） It depends on the weather whether we will go. 我們去不去得看天氣行事。（其中的whether 不能換成if，因為if不能引導主語從句。）

以上兩句中真正的主語是名詞性從句。

用法二：it作形式主語

it 作形式主語，主要分為下列三種情況：不定式作主語、動名詞作主語 和 名詞從句作主語。具體分析如下：

不定式作真正主語

主要用於下列句型：

⒈It + is/was + adj./n. (形容詞或名詞） +to do sth.

It is a great pleasure to do this. 這樣做多好啊。

It is a good idea to think this way. 這樣考慮問題是個好辦法。

除be外，其他動詞也有跟名詞的情況。例如：

It seems a pity to waste the food. 浪費這些食物真可惜。

It requires efforts to master a foreign language. 掌握一門外語需要種種努力。

形容詞或形容詞短語作表語。分兩種情況：

1） 下列形容詞：kind,good,nice,clever,wrong,right,foolish,wise,unwise,stupid,rude,careless,cruel,brave,naughty,polite,selfish等詞作表語時，不定式前常可加一個由of引起的短語，來說明不定式指的是誰的情況。形容詞表示不定式邏輯主語的特徵，即形容詞用來描述不定式行為者的性格、品行等。例如：

It was foolish of you to leave school.你中途退學，真是傻瓜。

It was brave of her to speak out in public. 她能當眾大聲講話，真勇敢。

這種of sb. to do sth. 句型，of 的賓語可以作句子的主語。上面兩個句子可以改寫為：

You were foolish to leave school.

She was brave to speak out in public.

2） 其他形容詞作表語，常見的形容詞有：necessary,hard， important,difficult,easy,possible，common等。例如：

It is necessary to use a short-wave radio to pick up the programmes. 必須用短波收音機才能收到節目。

如果要說明不定式表示的動作是誰做的，可以在不定式前加for + 名詞或代詞+ to do sth.(for 後的賓語不能作句子的主語）。

名詞或代詞作不定式的邏輯主語，即表示不定式所指動作的執行者。在此句型中，形容詞只對不定式行為者作某種描述，而不涉及其品行。例如：

It is not hard for one to do a bit of good. 對於一個人來說做點好事並不難。

It,s common for leaves to fall from the trees in the fall. 秋天樹葉從樹上落下是件常事。

需要注意的是：動詞不定式作主語，一般情況下用it作形式主語，而把動詞不定式（從句）放在後面。也可以直接用不定式作主語。例如：

It is wrong to tell lies. = To tell lies is wrong. 撒謊是不對的。

但在疑問句和感嘆句中，只能用it作形式主語。例如：

Isnt it a good idea to have a walk around? 出去兜一圈難道不是一個好主意嗎？

What a pleasure it is to work with you! 同你一起工作是多麼愉快啊！

It + v. + to do sth.

動詞不定式作主語時除動詞be以外，動詞take,cost， need,require,make,sound,occur 等也可用it作形式主語，而把動詞不定式放在後面。例如：

It took us three years to complete the project. 我們花費三年時間才完成了這項工程。

It sounds reasonable to do it this way.聽起來這樣做有道理。

It needed hard work to finish the job. 要完成這項工作需要努力地工作。

It didn,t occur to me to ask him to help me. 我根本沒想到要找他幫忙。

動名詞作真正主語

用於這種形式的是一些特定的形容詞和名詞。例如：

It was nice meeting you. 見到你真高興! （分別時用）

它與不定式作真正主語的區別在於，動名詞說到的動作已經發生。例如：

It is nice to meet you. （剛剛見面時用)

it 作形式主語，動名詞作真正主語主要用於下列句型：

Its +n.（名詞或名詞短語）/adj.（形容詞）+ doing sth.

1）下列形容詞後常用動名詞作真正主語：nice,good,useless,hard,foolish,enjoyable,worthwhile等。例如：

It is nice talking to you. 跟你交談真是愉快。

Its foolish behaving like that. 這樣的表現是很愚蠢的。

It is useless doing that. 那樣做沒用。

2）下列名詞或名詞短語作表語時常用動名詞作真正主語：use,good,fun,a waste of,job,task等。例如：

Its a waste of time doing this. 這樣做是浪費時間的。

Its no good (use) doing that. 那樣做沒好處（沒用）。

Its an awful job doing this. 做這事真是一件可怕的差事。

Its fun doing this. 做這事真有趣。

It is not an easy task doing this work. 做這工作真非易事。

名詞從句作真正主語

用it 作形式主語的結構主要用於下列句型：

It +謂語+名詞從句（主語從句、表語從句、同位語從句）

⒈It is +名詞+從句： 這樣的名詞有a fact,a surprise,an honor（非常榮幸），a pity,common knowledge（常識）等。例如：

It is common knowledge that the full moon brings fair weather. 皓月兆天晴，這是常識。

It is a surprise that you gave such an answer to the question. 你對這個問題作了這樣的回答，令人吃驚。

⒉It is +形容詞+從句: 這樣的形容詞有natural,true,strange,necessary,important,obvious，certain,wonderful,funny,possible,likely,probable等。例如：

It is certain that free medical care will be given to most people in our city. 我們城市的多數人將享受免費醫療，這是一定的。

It is probable that he has known everything. 很可能他什麼都已經知道了。

⒊It +動詞+從句： 這樣的動詞有：seem,happen,appear,look,matter,make,strike,occur（突然想起）等。

It appeared that he had a taste for music. 看來他對音樂有一定的鑒賞力。

It made us very happy that she was saved.她能化險為夷令我們大家很高興。

⒋It + be + 分詞+從句： 這樣的分詞有 said（據說）， reported（據報道），believed（人們相信），known（眾所周知），decided（已決定），proved，thought,expected,annouced,arranged,amusing,puzzling,striking等。例如：

It is said that Li Hao has been to Europe.據說李郝去過歐洲。

It was amusing that a rabbit ran out of the empty box on the desk.桌上的空盒子里竟然跑出來一隻兔子，太有趣了。

需要說明的是，大部分連接詞引導的主語從句都可以用 it充當形式主語。例如：

It remains unknown when they are going to get married. 他們何時結婚依然不明。

It says in the newspaper that the enemy has been defeated. 報紙上報導敵人被打敗了。

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