核心问题
《英语惯用法大词典》(中国科学技术出版社,1994,p.881)说:
“granted that 和 granting that 的意思相同,基本意义是‘假定;就算;即使’,表示条件。granted 和 granting 分别为过去分词和现在分词,但在句中不一定修饰某一具体的词”。granted that 与 granting that 中的 granted 和 granting 分别是过去分词和现在分词吗?它们表示条件吗?
词典解答
现代英语语法学家们不把 granting (that) 和 granted (that) 看作是分词, 而把它们看作从属连词, 如同 assuming (that), supposing (that), given (that), provided (that) 一样 (参见 CGEL, § 14.12)。granting (that) 和 granted (that) 虽然形式不同, 但语义是一样的, 都是表示让步关系 (尽管, 即使), 并不表示条件。例如:
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Granting(that) you are right, you should not treat her that way. 即使你是对的，你也不应当那样对待她。(DEC)
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Granted that he has enough money to buy the house, it doesn't mean he's going to do so. (LDCE) 即使他有足够的钱买这栋房子，这也并不是说他要买下来。