【问】 He was so young that you must excuse him. (Wilde)

像这种由关联词so... that引导的结果状语从句的句型，我是很熟悉的。但是，我不知道so...that是否可单用so或单用that来代替。请指教。

【答】 在非正式语体中，so…that中的that可以省略：

1. I am so busy over Folklore I have no time to write a letter. (Yeats)

我忙于写民间传说，以至于没有时间写信。

2. They were all so tired they could do nothing but yawn. (Mansfield)

他们都累得只会打呵欠了。

3. Her parents gave her so many toys she couldn’t possibly play with them all. (CGEL)

她父母给了她那么多玩具，以至于她都玩不过来了。

4. He polished the floor so hard you could see your face in it. (CGEL)

他擦地板真卖力，都能在地板上照见你的脸。

5. It (=The snake)didn’t seem to mind，but it was so heavy I stagged under the load.(RL，Book 1)

那条蛇好象没有在意，但是它很重，拿着这个重家伙，使我摇摇晃晃。

在疑问句和否定句中，可以单独使用that来代替so...that。但这是很正式的语体：

1. Do you know her intimately，that you presume to address her in such a casual manner?(CGEL)

你和她说话时态度这么随便，你是不是和她很熟?

2. They are not destitute that they need your help. (CGEL)

他们并不是贫穷得需要你的帮助。

3. What has happened that all of them look so excited?

到底发生了什么事使他们大家显得那么激动?