I cycled in front of him, got off my bicycle and laid it down on the road in front of his car in order that he couldn't drive off.
我的一位学生给我拿过来一本书: Current English Usage(F. T. Wood 著)。上面有一句话: “in order that never followed by can/could, or will/would.” (“in order that 之后绝不能接 can/could 或 will/would。”)(p. 131)
如何回答这个问题呢？能不能说《高中英语教科书》中的句子有错误呢？
关于 in order that 之后使用情态动词的问题,英美语言学家有不同的说法。A Dictionary of Modern English Usage 的作者 Fowler 认为在 in order that 之后最好使用 may/might,尚可使用 should/shall,但是,使用 can/could 和 will/would 则是不符合惯用法的。LDCE(1984 年版)也指出,如果 in order that 之后用 can,could,就会显得很别扭。PEG(87 年版)也曾强调:“in order that 之后只限跟 may/shall 或它们的过去时形式。”
但是,Merrian Webster's Dictionary of English Usage (1994 年版)指出,美国作家和播音员似乎对这件事漠不关心。因此,有时我们也会读到 in order that 与 can/could, will/would 连用的句子:
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... people who are learning English in order that they can study a particular subject. (CCEG) ……学习英语的人为了他们能研究特定的课目……
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We shall let you know the details soon in order that you can/may make your arrangements. (OGEG) 不久我们将会让你们知道详情,以便你们能够做出安排。
更值得注意的是,现代英语学者 R. Quirk 和 L. G. Alexander 明确承认 in order that ... can/could 的“合法性”:
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I've arrived early in order that I may/can/will get a good view of the procession. (LEG, § 1.51) 我到得很早，以便可以/能够/会很好地看一看行进的队伍。
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Parents offered to help in order that the children could have an after-school club every day. (CIDE) 父母们主动提出帮助是为了让孩子们能够每天有一个可供进行课外活动的俱乐部。
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They are learning English in order that they can study a particular subject. (Cobuild) 他们正在学习英语以便能研究某一学科。
[建议]不必向学生讲这个有争议的问题。如果有学生提出这个问题,我们可以胸有成竹地告诉他们:在 in order that 从句中可以使用 can, could, may, might, should, would 等情态动词。