题目

一道SAT语法题,OC里面的,
By including pieces of cloth,newspaper,wallpaper,and other materials in his work,(Picasso was influential,with his innovation,over) twentiety-century art.
划线处是括号里的内容.这里答案说是awkward phrasing,故是错误的.
正确答案是:the innovative Picasso was an important influence on
这个答案很奇怪啊,怎么能说一个人是influence呢,还是本来就有这种说法?

提问时间：2021-02-21

答案

首先,influence可以理解成“有影响的人（或事）”,所以Picasso was an important influence on 的用法本身没有错.
至于为什么要将原来的表达改成这样,我也说不准,可能的解释是出题者认为influential只能作定语而不能作表语,即可以说an influential person而不能说he is influential. 但其实我发现英国权威媒体包括BBC和Guardian的网页都有类似用法.所以实在百思不得其解.