有一读者问:有这样一道选择题:
(1)She'll not join us,_________the case.
A. as well may be B. as may well be
答案是B,但我搞不懂是什么意思,并请作语法分析。
句(1)应填以 as may well be 。 as may well be the case 的意思是“这是蛮有可能的事”。现在让我们作一点语法分析。这是一个非限制性定语从句,用以修饰其前的整个主句 She'll not join us。as 在此是一关系代词,指代其前的主句。as 在从句中用作主语。as 在英语里用作关系代词是一种比较常见的现象,再如:
(2)I fear not to die fighting, as is the natural attitude of a Communist.
关系代词在其所在的从句中也常可用作宾语,如:
(3)As you know, Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. (as 在此用作宾语,亦指代主句)
may well be 是一连系动词短语。may well 则是一常见的固定说法,意谓“很可能(likely)”,再如:
(4)You may well get lost, so take a map.
the case 在此用作表语,其意是“事实,实情”,也是一常见的固定说法,再如:
(5)As is often the case , she was the first to come to class.
(6)That is not the case . (相当于 That is not true)
