Ⅱ.重点句型详解

1．However, it is ikely that Native Americans were living in California at least fifteen thousand years ago.

然而，美洲土著人有可能在至少15 000年前就在加州生活着。

本句式中 it为形式主语，真正的主语为 that从句。

It is likely that... ……是可能的。此句型可转化为：Sb./Sth. be likely to do... 某人/物可能干某事。

①She‘s very likely to ring me tonight.

＝It’s likely that she will ring me tonight.

她今晚很可能给我打电话。

②It‘s likely that it will snow tonight.

＝It is likely to snow tonight.

今天晚上可能下雪。

[即境活用1]　Ronaldo was ______ to win the 100－meter hurdle race, but he fell to the ground and missed the chance.

A．possible　　 B．probable      C．likely         D．maybe

答案：C

解析：当 possible或 probable 做表语时，主语只能是事物或代词 it;而 likely 做表语时，主语可以是人，也可以是物。maybe 是副词，只能做状语，不能做表语。

2．It is believed that before long the mix of nationalities will be so great that there will be no distinct major racial or cultural groups, but simply a mixture of many races and cultures.

过不了多久国籍间相混的程度将如此大以至于不再有明显的种族或文化团体，而仅仅是一个种族和文化的混合体。

本句用的句型是 It is believed that－ 是形式主语，真正的主语是后面的 that－clause.

类似的结构还有：It be said/known/agreed/thought/supposed/reported＋that－clause.

此句型可转化成：

(1)People say/know/agree/think/suppose/report＋that－clause.

(2)Sb./Sth. be said/known/agreed/thought/supposed/reported＋to do.

①It is believed that Mr Smith is innocent.＝Mr Smith is believed to be innocent.

人们认为史密斯先生是无辜的。

②It is believed that Professor Johnson has finished his second novel.＝Professor Johnson is believed to have finished his second novel.

人们相信约翰逊教授已完成了他的第二部小说。

[即境活用2]　The lake by the village is believed ______ a number of victims in the past 3 years.

A．to claim         B．to have claimed         C．claiming         D．being claiming

答案：B

解析：句意为“人们相信村子旁边的湖泊在过去的三年里已要了许多人的命”。在这种形式中，believe 后面不能跟 v．－ing形式；由 in the past 3 years 可知，事情是已发生的，因此，需用不定式的完成式与之相对应。