Can you tell me ____?
16/4 A. who is that gentleman B. that gentleman is who C. who that gentleman is D. whom is that gentleman(高考英语试题)
标准答案要求选(C)，但我认为也可以选A，您的意见如何？
出题者在出题时有这样一个前提: Who is that gentleman? 这个疑问句的主语是 that gentleman, who 是表语(主语补语), 当它变作宾语从句时, 宾语从句中的语序只能是 who that gentleman is. 但是他们的前提是错误的。R. Quirk 等在 CGEL 中说, 下面的句子可以有两种分析:
Who's the captain?
(a) My brother is. (在这种情况下 who 是主语)
(b) The captain is my brother. (在这种情况下 who 是表语)
同样,下面的问话,也可以有两种回答和解释:
Who is this Columbus? (许国璋《英语》第二册)
据此,我们有理由说:Who is that gentleman 中的 who 既有可能是表语,也有可能是主语。比如,在这样的语境下,who 就可以分析为主语:“谁是我们刚才谈到的那位绅士?”“他就是我们刚才谈到的那位绅士。”这完全决定于上下文。在无上下文的条件下,上面两种分析都是正确的。在把 who 分析为主语的条件下,选 A(who is that gentleman) 就是完全正确的了。
不难看出,下面的试题犯了同样的毛病(参见 what )。 Do you know ____? A. what is his name B. how is his name C. what his name is D. how his name is(全国高考)