问英语｜英语常见问题解答

so that¹

问

Waste must be treated so that it does not become a danger to life.

我们英语老师说, so that 引导的目的状语从句最重要的特点, 就是使用情态动词, 如can, may, will, could, might, would 等。这是它与 so that 引导的结果状语从句本质区别之一。

上句中的 so that 从句使用一般现在时是否有误？

答

你们英语老师讲的基本上是正确的。例如：

Drive carefully so that everyone can enjoy a long life. 开车小心点，让大家多活几年。
They put a cap on the ground in front of them, so that people who like the music can drop coins into it. 他们把帽子放在身前的地上，为的是让喜欢这种音乐的人把硬币投到帽子里。
All four of them were clutching seating plans, so that they could help show people to the right seats. (J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) 他们四个手里都拿着一份婚礼的座位安排表，以便能帮助和指引客人找到他们正确的座位。（《哈利·波特与死亡圣徒》）
I offer ten times the money that Antonio has borrowed. Please change the law a little so that we may save Antonio. 我愿出十倍于安东尼奥借的钱,请您把法律稍微变更一下,以便我们能够救安东尼奥的生命。

但是,应当补充一句:so that 引导的目的状语从句有时也使用一般现在时或一般将来时。因此,你所提问的那个句子是正确的。再如:

You should keep milk in a fridge so that it stays fresh. 你应当把牛奶保存在冰箱里，使它保鲜。
Wear tight clothing without collars or belts so that it doesn't catch on any of the equipment. 穿无领紧身衣裤，不系领带和腰带，以防被器械挂住。
You have to be able to plan your work so that all your jobs will be finished in time. 你必须能够制定工作计划，以便你的全部工作都能按时完成。

练习

I hurried ____ I wouldn't be late for class.
1. A
  since
2. B
  so that
3. C
  as if
4. D
  unless(全国高考)
They held a meeting ____ they could hear everyone's ideas.
1. A
  even if
2. B
  until
3. C
  while
4. D
  so that(上海会考,96-20)

so that²

问

Someone removed his brushes so that he couldn't paint. 我无论如何也无法断定 so that 从句到底是目的状语从句, 还是结果状语从句。

答

首先应当明确,目的状语从句和结果状语从句有时候确实是很难区分的。因为从语义上说,目的状语从句也是表示结果的,只是希望中的而尚未取得的结果,当目的一旦实现,也就变成结果了。从语法形式上说,两者都采用相同的连词 so that, so, that。你不能判定上面句中的 so that 从句是目的状语从句,还是结果状语从句,并不能说明你的英语水平低。因为语言学家们有时也无法判定这一点。这个句子容许有两种理解:

(a)有人把他的画笔拿走了,以便使他不能作画。(Someone removed his brushes so that he wouldn't be able to paint.)

(b)有人拿走了他的画笔,使得他不能作画了。(Someone removed his brushes so that he wasn't able to paint.)

与此相似,下列各句中的 so that 从句也是有歧义的:

We turned the radio up so that everyone could hear the announcement.

(a)我们把收音机的声音调大了,以便大家都能听到这个声明。

(b)我们把收音机的声音调大了,结果大家都收听到了这个声明。

She burned his last letter, in which he had proposed to her, so that no one could ever discover the truth.

(a)她把他向她求婚的最后一封来信给烧了,以便任何人都不能发现真情。(... so that no one would be able to...)

(b)她把他向她求婚的最后一封来信给烧了,这样,谁也不可能发现真情了。(... so that no one was able to...)

练习

John shut everybody out of the kitchen ____ he could prepare his grand surprise for the party.
1. A
  which
2. B
  when
3. C
  so that
4. D
  as if(全国高考,02-30)
Conversation becomes weaker in a society that spends so much time listening and being talked to ____ it has all but lost the will and the skill to speak for itself.
1. A
  as
2. B
  which
3. C
  that
4. D
  what(全国研考,01-9)
A variety of activities should be organized ____ participants can remain active as long as they want and then go on to something else without feeling guilty and without letting the other participants down.
1. A
  if only
2. B
  now that
3. C
  so that
4. D
  even if(全国研考,03-35)

so that³

问

We were playing so well together that they couldn't get the ball. 许多教辅材料指出,在 so... that 结构中,that 从句中含有情态动词,便是目的状语从句。请问上面的 that 从句是目的状语从句吗?

答

在 so ... (that) 引导的结果状语从句中也可以使用情态动词, 见 so $^{4}$ 。

There was so much dust in the sky that we could not see the stars clearly. 空中的尘埃太多，以致我们都不能清楚地看到星星。
He polished the floor so hard you could see your face in it. 他擦地板真卖力,都能在地板上照见你的脸。