请看下面一题:
He is _________ to win the match. Really? But I dont think so
A. easy B. difficult C. possible D. sure
【分析】此题应选D,其余三项均有可能误选,因为假若单纯从中文意思来看,其余三个答案均说得通。但问题是将A、B、C三项填入空格处均不合英语习惯。按英语习惯,easy 和difficult 后接不定式时,其主语(或逻辑主语)通常应是 it,而不能是具体的人或物,除非这个主语与其后不定式有动宾关系。如:
我做这工作很容易。
误:Im very easy to do the work.
正:It is very easy for me to do the work. (用形式主语 it 作主语)
正:The work is very easy for me to do. (主语为具体的事物,但它与其后不定式有动宾关系,即 to do the work)
我们很难准时赶到那儿。
误:We are very difficult to get there in time.
正:It is very difficult for us to get there in time. (用形式主语 it 作主语)
比较:He is very difficult to work with. 他这个人很难相处。(用具体的人作主语,但它与其后不定式具有动宾关系,即 to work with him)
有时不是用 it 作形式主语,而是用其作形式宾语。如:
We found it easy to do the work. 我们发现做这工作很容易。
但是不说:We found him easy to do work.
至于,possible 后接不定式时,其主语只能是 it,不能是具体的人或事物,即使该主语与其后的不定式有动宾关系也不可以。如:
我们有可能会找到一些更便宜的。
误:We are possible to find some cheaper ones.
误:Some cheaper ones are possible for us to find.
正:It is possible for us to find some cheaper ones.
有时不是用 it 作形式主语,而是用其作形式宾语。如:
We found it possible for him to do the work. 我们发现他可能做那工作。
但不说:We found him possible to do the work.