But wherefore it was that after having repeatedly smelt the sea as a merchant sailor,I should now take it into my head to go on a whaling voyage.
以上句子来自《白鲸记》第一章,请教一下老师们,这个it was that是什么结构?that是引导表语从句吗?应该如何理解?
希望老师解惑,谢谢!
这不是一个完整的句子,而只是but后接一个名词性从句。wherefore=why, 在此为疑问副词,在强调句型中引导名词性疑问分句。相当于:
But why it was that...
我用一个简单的句子解释。
I sold my house because I needed a lot of money to pay my medical bill.
用强调句型强调原因状语:
It was because I needed a lot of money to pay my medical bill that I sold my house.
就划线部分提问,得到特殊问句:
Why was it that you sold your house?
如果这个问句作名词性成分,则为:why it was that I sold my house.
例如:The question was not when I sold my house. But why it was that I sold my house.
用wherefore 替换 why,得到:
The question was not when I sold my house. But wherefore it was that I sold my house.
你的句子就是这种结构。
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