在口语中,It is / was ... that 强调句中的that 可以省略。例如:
What is it you want me to do? (张道真主编《现代英语用法词典》第792页)(如果不省略that,句子是: What is it that you want me to do ?)
所以,上面那道试题和答案都是正确的:
make out后引导的是含有 It is / was ... that 强调的宾语从句,其中的 that 省略了。如果填入答案和 that ,就能够很好理解了:
(2011安徽, 33) His writing is so confusing that it’s difficult to make out ______ what ______ it is that he is trying to express. (what是被强调的成分,作 express 的宾语,因为 what 是疑问词,所以移到 it 的前面了)
▲ (2011安徽, 33) His writing is so confusingthat it’s difficultto make out ______ it is he is trying to express.
A. that B. how C. who D. what
[答案] D
你的观察很仔细,选项what后面却是是一个省略掉that 的强调结构。脱离宾从地位应为:
What is it (that) he is trying to express?他到底想要表达什么?
▲ 这种省略多不那么正式,再例:
I have always been honest and straightforward,and it doesn't matter _______ I’mtalking to.
A. who is it B. who it is C. it is who D. it is whom
And后的分句是一个主从套强调句型。it是形式主语,真正的主语是I’m talking to,而doesn't matter是谓语,,这个强调句又是特殊疑问形式,本来应该是who is itthat…,但是在从句中,使用陈述语序,所以要用who it is that,在口语中,that可以省略,所以选择B。