英語講義【95】代名詞IT的一般用法

簡簡單單一個代詞IT真是神通廣大，用途多多，其功力比其他任何代詞都龐大。

　　從中文立場看，好些無主語的句子，在譯成英文時，都非請IT協助不可。例如：

　　①是這樣！（That's it!）
　　②沒辦法。（It can't be helped.）
　　③輪到我了。（It is my turn.）
　　④事實上，我們可以打敗他們。（As it is, we can beat them.）
　　⑤離開這裡不遠。（It is not far from here.）
　　⑥衹要一塊錢。（It is only one dollar.）
　　⑦這兒真熱。（It is so hot here!）

　　此外，“it”還有下列五種用法：

　　⒈代替上文提到的事物或情況，如：

　　Look up the word in the dictionary if it is difficult to you.
　　I would appreciate it if you could do me a favour.

　　⒉代替沒生命的東西，如：

　　Here is a plastic box. It is useful.
　　Don't throw the old newspaper away; you may need it.

　　⒊代替普通動物，如：

　　The dog outside belongs to the owner of the house. It is very fierce.
　　Look at the cat! Isn't it furry?

　　指大動物，如馬、大象等或指人們心愛的寵物，如貓、狗等時，可用“he”或“she”，而不用“it”；故事中的動物便是個例子，如：

　　When the children saw a horse coming, they stopped and looked at him.
　　A cow is grazing grass in the field. She looks very strong.

　　⒋用來指天氣、日期、季節、時刻、距離等，如：

　　It is raining outside. Don't go out!
　　It is the 20th of December.
　　Time flies! It is vacation again.
　　It was half past five when Jason got up.
　　It is very far from the school to the market.
　　It is only a short distance to the library.

　　⒌可以指性別不詳的嬰兒，及已知的事實，如：

　　 The baby next door kept me awake. It cried loudly.
　　 Yes, I was at home last night. What about it?
　　 When the company closes down, it （i.e. this event） will affect some staff's future.

　　⒍可以用來強調句子的某部分，如：

　　 I respect David. It is he that has made the department what it is now. （強調主語）
　　 It is Mandarin that Janet has failed to pick up. （強調賓語）
　　 It is only recently that she has embarked on the learning of Mandarin.（強調副詞“recently”）

　　從上述例子看，代詞IT的功用，不僅在代替單數的事物和動物等，還可以協助強調句子成分以及在中英繙譯中協助中文無主句的英譯。