It isn't quite ____ that he will be present at the meeting. (全国研考)
A. sure B. right C. certain D. exact
标准答案为 C。这是不是意味着 It is sure that 的用法在英语里是错误的？
实际上，在英语里也使用 It is sure that 这个句型。R. Quirk 等人在 A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language(第 18.36 节)中就曾指出过：
"It's impossible to deal with him. ~ He's impossible to deal with.
There is a similar construction for be sure, be certain, seem, appear, be said, be known, etc, except that in these cases the corresponding construction with anticipatory it requires a that-clause, not a to-infinitive clause, and except also that it is the subject of the extraposed clause that is fronted:
It's certain that we'll forget the address. ~ We're certain to forget the address.
It seems that you've made a mistake. ~You seem to have made a mistake."
("be sure, be certain, seem, appear, be said, be known 等也有相类似的结构,只是在这里含有先行词 it 的相对应的结构要求一个 that 从句,而不是要求带 to 的不定式,而且 it 是提到句首的外位从句的主语:
It's certain that we'll forget the address. ~ We're certain to forget the address."
这说明 It's sure that 结构是英语里正常的句型。
但是, 也有人持相反的观点。例如, Longman Dictionary Of American English 的编者们明确地指出: Sure cannot be used of events. (sure 不能用于事件。) 并说下列句中的 certain 绝不可换为 sure:
It is certain that he will come.
我认为，像这种在语言学家之中尚有争议的用法，不应该做为考试项目。