how引导名词性从句的用法探讨

how 引导名词性从句的用法探讨

what与how用法之比较似乎是很简单的一个问题，但宜昌市2004届第二次调研考试的一道完形填空题却引起了极大争议。现摘录如下：

You must have heard these words like how happy it is to be a child. But would you honestly change places with a child? Think of the years at school: the years spent living in frequent fear of examinations and school activities. Every thought you think is controlled by some adults. Think of the times you had to go to bed early, you had to eat hateful thing that was supposed to be good for you. Remember _______ “gentle” pressure was given to you with words like “If you don't do as I say, I will...” I'm sure you will never forget!

A. what

B. why

C. that

D. how

参考答案为D。对于此空有着如下一些观点：

观点1：应选A。Remember后的宾语从句是一感叹句，而感叹词强调修饰的是名词pressure，故应选用what。

观点2：应选D。也认为Remember后的宾语从句是一感叹句，而感叹词所强调修饰的名词pressure前有一形容词gentle，故应选用how。

观点3：应选C。因为what与how引导的感叹句不可用作宾语从句，故A与D均不对。

观点4：应选D。认为how “gentle”在句中作状语。

笔者认为此题单纯从语法结构上讲，四个选项均对。但在上述特定语境下应选D, how 为佳。此时的how引导的并非感叹句，而是一句意思为“……的情形”、“……的情景”、“……的经历”或“怎样、怎么”的连词引导宾语从句，相当于the fact / situation / times / way that。A项what干扰性很大，但由于gentle用了引号且起否定作用，故而不宜构成What “gentle” pressure ... 的感叹句。需注意的是，how与名词连用构成感叹句一般只能是两种形式：how + many / much + 名词；how + 形容词 + a / an + 名词。

由此看来，对how引导名词性从句用法有待进一步探讨。在此谈谈己见。

how引导名词性从句有如下几种情况：

1. 表方式、方法，相当于the way in which。可译作“怎样、怎么”。例如：

I didn't know how he came here.

2. 表程度上的感叹，可译作“多么……、真……、这么……”等。例如：

He said how beautiful those flowers were.

He said how he regretted the hours wasted in the woods and fields.

He was surprised at how much water I had drunk.

3. 表对程度、数量、情况的疑问。例如：

She wondered how he loved her.

I don't know how many students there are in our school.

I have no idea how my mother is now.

I want to know how he is getting on with his studies.

4. 仅用作连词引导间接陈述句，本身无意义。例如：

He told me how (= that) he had read about it in the newspaper.

5. 用作连词，相当于the fact / situation / times... that, 可译作“……的样子”、“……的情形”、“……的情景”、“……的经历”等。例如：

I still remember how they laughed.

I still remember how I left my hometown for the first time.

I won't forget how we lived together.

I won't forget how I lived in my childhood.

(文/胡君祥；英语辅导报)