5. s.+ link verb+n./pro./num.
A.be， become和remain 是本句型中最有代表性的动词:
They are teachers. 他们是教师。
He became a lawyer. 他成了律师。
He remains a fisherman. 他仍然是个渔夫。
B. 此句型中作表语的名词、代词或数词,一般表示主语的属类,例:teacher 表示they的属类;但下面几句中作表语的名词却表示主语的属性,这看起来不合符逻辑,却是地道的表达方式:
My brother is not quite twenty-five.我哥哥还不到25岁。
The students are all attention. 学生们全神贯注。
During his speech I was all ears. 他演讲时我全神贯注地听。
What colour is your skirt 你的裙子什么颜色?
He was not an instant success. 他的成功并非一蹴而就。
C. 请注意下面句子的含义:
He is no teacher. 他根本不是教书的材料。(或:他不善于教书。)
He is something of an actor. 他有几分演员的天赋。
I am nothing of a musician. 我对音乐一窍不通。
Welch is much of a drinker. 卫尔奇酒量大。
It isn't much of a holiday for me. 这对于我来说实在算不上什么假日。
He lived and died a country doctor. 他一生过的是乡村医生的生活。
He left a child and came back a father. 他离家时是个孩子,回来时已是父亲。
We parted the best friends. 我们友好地分手。
(以上三句可看作系表结构)
D. 当主语长(例如是不定式、动名词或从句)时,常见的结构是用形式主语it:
It was a very difficult thing to tell stories that children can both understand and appreciate. 讲故事又要孩子听懂又要他们爱听,可是件难事。
It's a waste of time arguing with her about it. 和她争论这件事是浪费时间。
It's a wonder that the boy survived the shipwreck. 那船沉没而这孩子竟幸免于难,真是奇迹。
It's still a mystery how he escaped from prison. 他是如何越狱逃跑的,至今还是个谜。
