5. Sailors were afraid that they might sail right off the earth.
此句中,that引导的名词性从句作形容词的补足语。例如:
1) I am afraid that I can not finish the article in two hours. (我担心我两小时内写不完这篇文章。)
2) He was afraid that he couldn't give you a definite answer. (他担心他不能给你一个明确的答复。)
3) I am afraid that I have made a mistake.(我担心自己犯了一个错误。)
4) We are confident that we can overcome all the difficulties. (我们相信自己能克服所有的困难。)
对“be + 形容词 + that引起的从句”这类结构,语法家们有的认为that从句做宾语用,有的认为that从句做状语用。根据句子的逻辑意义来判断也许比较方便一些。如:I'm sorry that you failed the exam again. 这个句子中的that从句起状语作用,相当于“…because you failed the exam again.”
6. The Atlantic Ocean is only half as big as the Pacific,…
在第一单元中我们讨论过副词的同等比较。本句中as big as 则是形容词的同等比较。在这类句子中,可以有表示程度的状语。例如:
1) This book is not half as interesting as that one.(这本书还不如那本书一半有趣。)
2) My monthly income is only half as much as his.(我的月收入只有他的一半多。)
3) This year our university will enroll three times as many students as it did the year before last.
(我们学校今年的招生人数将是前年的三倍。)
请翻译下面的句子:
1) 我的英语口语还不及你的一半流利。(My spoken English is not half as fluent as yours.)
2) 这只手提箱还没有那只手提箱一半重。(This suitcase is not half as heavy as that one.)
3) 这个房间是那个房间的两倍。(This room is twice as large as that one.)
7. But suppose no more rain fell into it and no more water was brought to it by rivers.
suppose 常常做动词用,意思是“假定;猜想;认为”。例如:
1) Let's suppose it to be true.(让我们假定这是真的。)
2) I suppose he is very nervous.(我猜想他很紧张。)
3) I supposed him to be an honest man, but he often tells lies. (我以为他很诚实,他却经常说谎。)