...make it highly unlikely (that) China would...

Suqi

老师，您好。请问China前面是不是省略了“that”？这个that为什么可以省略呢？


Japan’s alliance with America and its own considerable military muscle make it highly unlikely China would risk armed conflict over the islands. ——The Economist
For reference: Japan’s alliance with America and its own considerable military muscle make it highly unlikely China would risk armed conflict over the islands. But China has allowed its wrath to go far beyond the diplomatic realm. It has suspended talks on the joint exploration of gasfields in the East China Sea as well as over increased flights between the two countries. It has cancelled a Chinese government-sponsored visit by 1,000 young Japanese people to the World Expo in Shanghai (again citing an inappropriate atmosphere).
谢谢~~

IsaacZ

一般规则是：

宾语从句_百度百科
http://baike.baidu.com/view/343.htm

　　（3）在动词+it+宾语补足语+宾语从句结构中，that不省略。
　　I heard it said that he had gone abroad.
　　We found it impossible that he could finish it in such a short time.

但是顶楼的例子显然是省略了。

如果 The Economist 是英美本土媒体，那么不用怀疑其“正确”与否，而只考虑其修辞用法。IsaacZ的理解是：省略 that 以加强语气。

Suqi

回复 2# IsaacZ
嗯~~谢谢老师~~PS：英语修辞方面的书需要看一看吗？老师有什么推荐的吗？

IsaacZ

回复 3# Suqi

只是随口说说，没有成熟的建议。请自行搜索。

Suqi

回复 4# IsaacZ
好的~~谢谢老师~~