
本期,筆者將與大家分享as is the case這個句型的用法。該句型的基本含義是“這是常見的情形”或“情況往往如此”等,as is the case還經常與often、always等詞搭配使用。該句型作為從句使用時,一般位于句首,其后再接一個陳述句,用于具體描述某個情形。它既可以單獨使用,也可以在后面接介詞with和in。下面筆者就來具體介紹這三種結構的含義與用法。
As is the case單獨使用
As is the case單獨使用時,其含義為“通常情況下,一如既往地”。請看下面這個例句。
1. As is often the case, humans are the primary cause of extinction.
通常情況下,人類是物種滅絕的主要原因。
需要說明的是,as is the case中的be動詞可以根據語境換成其他時態。請看下面這個例句。
2. Since World War II, the need to encrypt and decrypt secret codes has increased considerably. As has always been the case, secret codes continue to be used by governments and businesses to share secret information.
自二戰以來,加密和解密的需求急劇增長。密碼一如既往地被政府和企業用來共享機密。
我們看到,上面兩個例句中的as is the case是單獨使用的。不過,更多的時候,我們是在as is the case后邊添加介詞with或in來使用,其中with用于引出人與物,in用于引出地點。下文中筆者將對此進行詳述。
當as is the case后面接介詞with時,通常是以“as is (often) the case with + sb./sth.”這一結構出現,表示主句所描述的某種情形適合于這些人或物。請看例句。
3. As is often the case with him, he was fined for speeding.
他因超速而被罰款, 這對他而言是常有的事。
4. It’s especially important to search for trials before starting treatment if standard treatment is not terribly effective, as is the case with many advanced cancers.
如果常規治療效果不是很明顯——許多晚期癌癥往往會出現這種情況——那么就應該在治療之前先尋求臨床試驗的機會,這點尤其重要。
上面的例4摘自一個有關癌癥診斷與治療的文章。我們看到,這里的as is the case with后邊接的是一個事物advanced cancers (晚期癌癥),用于表達主句描述的情形適合晚期的癌癥。
As is the case后面接介詞in時,通常以“as is the case in + place”的結構出現,表示主句所描述的某種情形適合于某個地方。……