此处 in that 的用法对吗？

此处in that的用法对吗？

译林版《牛津高中英语》 (模块三•高一下学期) (2007年12月第4次印刷) p10：In most cases, we cannot use that to begin a noun clause after a preposition. However, we can use that to begin a noun clause after in or except.

The problem lies in that the mist may become a thick fog.

众所周知，在英语中，in that 已经形成一种固定搭配，即《牛津高阶英语词典》所说的Idioms (习惯用语) ，且有了固定的含义“for the reason that；because (因为) ”。

L G Alexander 等在其 编著的English grammatical structure (Second impression 1977) p197上把in that定义为Subordinating Conjunction，并举例：We have failed in that some of you remain unconvinced.

Randolph Quirk等在其编著的A COMPREHENSIVE GRAMMAR OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE (First printed1985) P998上将in that定义为Complex Subordinator (即复合从属连词) 。

John Sinclair在其主编的《Collins Cobuild 英语语法系列》：9 《连词》 ( 任绍曾主编 外文出版社 2001年4月第1版) p44上把 in that 定义为引导“理由从句”的 “连接词”：I am an optimist in that I believe that human beings do not always perversely try to make life worse for themselves. 我是乐天派的人，因为我认为人类并非总是违反常情地力图使自己的生活变差。

Most of them are not in reality engineers, in that the work they do is mostly clerical. 他们中的大多数人实际上都不是工程师，因为他们做的主要是办公室工作。

再请看其他的例证：

1. Lingoes 之“柯林斯高级英语学习词典” (第5版) ：You use in that to introduce an explanation of a statement you have just made. I'm lucky in that I've got four sisters.

2. Lingoes 之“美国传统词典[双解]”：习惯用语: in that —for the reason that. 因为

3. Lingoes 之 “朗文当代英语词典”：in that —used after a statement to begin to explain in what way it is true：I've been lucky in that I have never had to worry about money.

4. Lingoes 之“麦克米兰英语词典 – American”：in that —used for introducing an explanation of what you have just said, showing in what way it is true: The new system is better in that it provides faster access to the Internet.

5. Lingoes 之 “牛津高阶英语词典”: Idioms: in that (written) for the reason that; because: She was fortunate in that she had friends to help her.

6. Lingoes 之 “牛津高阶英汉双解词典”: (idm 习语) in that —for the reason that; because 基于...的理由; 因为: Privatization is thought to be beneficial in that it promotes competition. 私营化的优点在于能促进相互竞争。

7.《朗文当代英汉双解词典》 (First published 1988) p721：in that because 因为：“I’m in a slightly awkward position , in that he’s not arriving until the 10th.” “我的处境有点难堪，因为他要十号才来。”

8. 《朗文当代高级英语辞典》 (英英•英汉双解) (外语教学与研究出版社2004年7月第1版) p987：in that because 由于：The situation is rather complicated in that we have two managing directors. 由于我们 有两位总经理，所以情况很复杂。

9.《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》 (第六版) (商务印书馆 2004年 8月第2版) p888：in that for the reason that; because 原因是；由于：She was fortunate in that she had friends to help her. 她很幸运，有一些朋友帮助她。

从以上例证可以看出：in that 已经完全变成一个引导原因状语从句的连词，相当于for the reason that 或 because。那么用 for the reason that 或 because 去解释 “The problem lie in that the mist may become a thick fog.”中的 in that 显然是解释不通的，因为这句话的真实意思是“问题在于薄雾可能会变成大雾。” 即 in 和 that 不能连在一起构成表示 “because” 意义的连词；而应该是 lie 和 in 搭配在一起，意思是“在于”，但 that 又不能作一般意义上介词 in 的宾语，因此这句话是一个错误的表达，建议改为 The problem is that the mist may become a thick fog. 或 The problem lie in the fact that the mist may become a thick fog. 前者的正确性是众所周知的；后者也是英美语中的习惯表达形式。