目的状语从句与结果状语从句的辨析

    第十三节　目的状语从句与结果状语从句的辨析

    So that既可引导目的状语从句也可引导结果状语从句。如何区别它们，有关语法书及杂志已作了不少介绍。为了进一步从语义关系上和结构形式上进行分辨，本节特作如下探讨：

    1．目的是以观念形态存在的潜在的可能性和意欲，不是事实

    这一潜在的可能性或意欲的实现，则是结果。目的是主观意念，结果是客观现实。因此，从句若反映一种意欲、一种可能性，则是目的从句；若是一种事实，就是结果从句。试比较：

    I am going to take an early bus so that I'll get there in time．(Purpose)

    我打算乘早班公共汽车，以便及时赶到那里。

    I took an early bus so that I got there in time．(Result)

    我乘了早班公共汽车，及时到了那里。

    2．目的从句表示动机(即一种可能性)，并非事实

    此从句只是想要达到某个结果的意愿，因而从句中多用假定性的谓语动词，常有can，may，will，could，might，would，should等情态动词。情态动词本身并无词汇意义，只是一种虚拟用法“结果从句表示客观事实，所以用陈述语气的谓语动词，从句中常无情态动词”。试比较：

    We planted many shrubs so that the garden should/might look more beautiful．(Purpose)

    我们栽了很多灌木，为了让花园看起来更美一些。

    We planted many shrubs，so that the garden soon looked more beautiful．(Result)

    我们栽了很多灌木，花园里不久就好看多了。

    I always write so carefully that I may make my meaning clear．(Purpose)

    我写作时总是字斟句酌，为了让人看懂我的意思。

    I always write so carefully that I make my meaning clear．(Result)

    我写作时总是字斟句酌，结果把意思讲得一清二楚。

    Every precaution was taken that the plan might not fail．(Purpose)

    已经采取了各种措施，好让计划不致遭失败。

    I must be getting absent-minded that I forgot to bring my ticket．(Result)

    我一定是心不在焉，结果票也忘了带。

    值得一提的是，从句中如用情态动词could，有时会使得目的和结果的界线模糊。比如下面这个句子既可表示结果也可表示目的：

    He spoke loudly so that everybody could hear him．(Result or purpose)

    有时，即使从句中用了can，could，should等，它仍是一个结果状语从句。请看下面三个句子：

    The room was packed with people，so that we couldn't get in．房间里挤满了人，我们进不去。

    It is raining，so that I cannot go out．

    天在下雨，我出不去了。

    What have I done that you should be so angry with me?我干了些什么使你对我如此恼火?

    3．目的状语从句与主句的关系紧密

    在讲话时一气呵成，而结果从句则是句子的外在因素，讲话时往往在主句和从句之间须略加停顿，书写时一般用逗号断开。

    试比较：

    We all arrived at eight，so(that)the meeting began promptly．(Result)

    我们都是8点到达的，结果会议马上就开始了。

    We'll come at eight(so)that the meeting can begin early．(Purpose)

    我们要8点来，以便会议能早点开始。

    He violated the regulation，so he was punished．(Result)

    他违反了规章制度，所以他受了处分。

    I sent the letter airmail so he would get it right now．(Purpose)

    此信我寄了航空，好让他随即收到。

    4．目的状语从句可以移至句首，从而达到进一步强调目的意义；而结果状语从句不可以，只能置于主句之后。这表明目的从句在句中的位置比较自由，结果从句在句中位置一般比较固定

    例如：

    So that everyone could hear，they used a loud-hailer(They used a loud-hailer so that everyone could hear．)

    为了使人人都能听到，他们使用了扩音器。不能说So that I could hardly stand，I was tired．

    So that we should/might see the sunrise，we started for the peak early．

    为了看日出，我们一早就出发到山顶去。

    5．目的状语从句是句子不可分割的一部分，是句子的内在修饰语(adjunct)，结果状语句并非句子的有机组成部分，是句子的外围修饰语(disjunct)

    因此，前者可以成为分裂句的强调中心，而后者却不可以，例如：

    It is so that his students may understand well that the teacher speaks clearly．

    正是为了使学生很好理解，教师才讲得清清楚楚。

    不能说It's so that he can't sleep at night that he worries about his financial conditions．