刚才提了一个问题,是关 there has 的缩写式,突然想起另一个类似的问题:there was 可以缩写成 there’s 吗?如果可以的话,那 there’s 不是既可看成是一般现在时,也可看作是一般过去时了?
there is 和 there has 都可以缩略成 there’s,但 there was 不能缩略成 there’s。所以当陈部分出现 there’s 时,其后的反意疑问句,根据情况可以是 isn’t,但不能是 wasn’t。如:
There’s some cake in the kitchen, isn’t there?(不能是:wasn’t there?)
There’s some doubt whether John will come on time, isn’t there?(不能是:wasn’t there?)
There’s some beautiful scenery in our neighbourhood, isn’t there?(不能是:wasn’t there?)
There’s something written on the back of this book, isn’t there?(不能是:wasn’t there?)
There’s something odd about him, isn’t there?(不能是:wasn’t there?)
当然,如果 there’s 为 there has 之缩略式,则反意疑问句用 hasn’t。如:
There’s been no word from her for weeks, hasn’t there?