「The reason for this is that…」为什么用 that?
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首先,the reason for this is 后面可以加短语,此时不需要that,比如:
The reason for this is the high house price.
The reason for this is obvious.
其次,如果对于reason的阐述是一个句子,那么在正式文体中应该在阐述理由的句子前加上that这个名词性从句的标志,比如:
The reason for this is that we can’t afford to buy a house here.
但是在非正式文体中,这个that也可以省略,因为that在名词性从句中只是一个从句的标志,并不表含义,而这里即便删掉that读者也可以判断出来is后面跟的是一个从句,不过在正式文体中通常还是要保留这个that,因为这样主从句的边界更清楚。
最后,这里很多人会犯一个小错误:把 that 变成 because。
*The reason for this is because we can’t afford to buy a house here.
大部分语法学家都认为The reason… is because当中的because在语义上是有重复的,因为你可以直接说“原因/理由是什么”,而不是“原因/理由是因为什么”,后者听起来像是“理由的理由”。
所以上面这句话最好改为:
The reason for this is that we can’t afford to buy a house here.
但是,尽管语法学家都反对The reason… is because这种用法,现实中还是有很多native speakers这么用。
如果是在考试中,我们应该用The reason… is that… 。