張耀東
[問][while表示對比時,意思是“然而,但是”,此時它是并列連詞還是從屬連詞?]
答 這里的while是表示對比意義的“并列連詞”。表示意義轉折和對比概念的并列連詞以but為代表,此外還有while, whereas, only等。
1. 當while用于表示轉折對比意義時,它和whereas一樣,都與but同義,因此本書把它們歸入并列連詞。
Jane is slender while Mary is stout. 簡苗條而瑪麗強壯。
Motion is absolute while stagnation is relative. 運動是絕對的,而靜止是相對的。
2. only用作表示意義轉折的并列連詞,只見于非正式文體:
You may go, only come back early. (only=but) 你可以走,但要早點回來。
He wants to buy the watch, only he cant afford it. 他想買這塊表,但他買不起。
3. 能表示上述轉折概念的還有still, yet, however, nevertheless, on the other hand, on the contrary, conversely, all the same, though, after all, for all that, in the meantime等詞語。這些詞在本書中都作為連接性狀語處理。but一般不可與yet, however, nevertheless 等連接性狀語連用,但可以和on the contrary, on the other hand, still等連用。
She tried again and again, but still she didnt succeed. 他一遍又一遍地嘗試,但仍然沒成功。
另外,有些句子里面含有以whereas或while(意思上與whereas相同)引起的分句,在形式上似乎是復合句,在概念上卻是并列句。
Some people waste food while others havent enough to ear. 有些人浪費糧食而另一些人則食不果腹。
[問][more... than的用法有哪些?]
答 1. more... than意為“與其……不如……”;“是……而不是……”,??膳c“rather than”或“not so much... as”互換使用。
He is more like a spear than anything else. = He is like a spear rather than anything else. = He is not so much like anything else as like a spear. 與其說他(指大象)像別的什么東西,不如說他像一根長矛。
He is more poltroon than cautious. 與其說他謹慎,不如說他是怯懦。
2. more... than之后接含有can的從句時,同樣表示否定意義。
Tom has more insolence than I can stand.
= Toms insolence is more than I can stand. 湯姆的傲慢使我難以忍受。
比較: less... than意為“不像……;不是……”。
Joseph is less honest than his brother. 約瑟夫不像他兄弟那樣誠實。
[問][when,while,as引導時間狀語從句有哪些區(qū)別?]
答 when,while,as顯然都可以引導時間狀語從句,但用法區(qū)別非常大。
1. when可以和延續(xù)性動詞連用,也可以和短暫性動詞連用;而while和as只能和延續(xù)性動詞連用。
Why do you want a new job when youve got such a good one already?你已經找到如此好的工作,為何還想再找新的?(get為短暫性動詞)
Sorry,I was out when you called me. 對不起,你打電話時我剛好外出了。(call為短暫性動詞)
Strike while the iron is hot. 趁熱打鐵。(is為延續(xù)性動詞,表示一種持續(xù)的狀態(tài))
The students took notes as they listened. 學生們邊聽課邊做筆記。(listen為延續(xù)性動詞)
2. when從句的謂語動詞可以在主句謂語動作之前、之后或同時發(fā)生;while和as從句的謂語動作必須是和主句謂語動作同時發(fā)生。
(1)從句動作在主句動作前發(fā)生,只用when。
When he had finished his homework,he took a short rest.當他完成作業(yè)后,他休息了一會兒。(finished先發(fā)生)
When I got to the airport,the guests had left.當我趕到飛機場時,客人們已經離開了。(got to后發(fā)生)
(2)從句動作和主句動作同時發(fā)生,且從句動作為延續(xù)性動詞時,when,while,as都可使用。
When/While/As we were dancing,a stranger came in.當我們跳舞時,一位陌生人走了進來。(dance為延續(xù)性動詞)
When/While/As she was making a phonecall,I was writing a letter.當她在打電話時,我正在寫信。(make為延續(xù)性動詞)
(3)當主句、從句動作同時進行,從句動作的時間概念淡化,而主要表示主句動作發(fā)生的背景或條件時,只能用as。這時,as常表示“隨著……”;“一邊……,一邊……”之意。
As the time went on,the weather got worse.(as表示“隨著……”之意)
The atmosphere gets thinner and thinner as the height increases.隨著高度的增加,大氣越來越稀薄。
As years go by,China is getting stronger and richer.隨著時間一年一年過去,中國變得越來越富強了。
The little girls sang as they went.小姑娘們一邊走,一邊唱。
The sad mother sat on the roadside,shouting as she was crying.傷心的媽媽坐在路邊,邊哭邊叫。
(4)在將來時從句中,常用when,且從句須用一般時代替將來時。
You shall borrow the book when I have finished reading it.在我讀完這本書后,你可以借閱。
When the manager comes here for a visit next week,Ill talk with him about this.下周,經理來這參觀時,我會和他談談此事。
3. when用于表示“一……就……”的句型中(指過去的事情)。
sb.had hardly(=scarcely) done sth.when...
=Hardly/Scarcely had sb.done sth.when...
I had hardly/scarcely closed my eyes when someone knocked at the door.
=Hardly/Scarcely had I closed my eyes when someone knocked at the door. 我剛一閉上眼,就有人在敲門了。
I had hardly/scarcely entered my room when the telephone rang.
=Hardly/Scarcely had I entered my room when the telephone rang.我剛一走進房門,電話就響了。
[問][besides, except, apart from 有什么區(qū)別?]
答 1. besides通常表示有所補充,意思與with 或plus (+)接近。
Besides the violin, he plays the piano and the flute. 除了拉小提琴,他還會彈鋼琴和吹笛子。(他會演奏三種樂器。)
2. except表示有所減少,意思與without或minus (-)接近。
I like all musical instruments except the violin. 所有的器樂我都喜歡,除了小提琴。
3. apart from兩種意思都有。
Apart from the violin, he plays the piano and the flute. (= Besides the violin ...) 除了拉小提琴,他還會彈鋼琴和吹笛子。
I like all musical instruments apart from the violin. (= ... except the violin.) 所有的器樂我都喜歡,除了小提琴。
4. 在no, nobody, nothing和其他類似的否定詞后面,這三個詞語意思一樣。
He has nothing besides/except/apart from his salary. (= He only has his salary.) 他除了工資,就沒有其他收入了。
[問][在“Busy as he is, please dont disturb him.”句子中,Busy as he is是讓步狀語還是原因狀語?as 引導原因狀語從句可以用倒裝結構嗎?]
答 句中的Busy as he is是原因狀語,as引導原因狀語從句可以用倒裝句式。
1. as/though構成倒裝結構的讓步狀語從句有兩個特點:(a)語氣比although/though引導的讓步從句要強。(b)表語總是放在從句之首,若為可數名詞單數,前面也不要冠詞。
Strong as/though he is, he cant lift the big stone. 盡管他很強壯,但他搬不起這塊大石頭。
Child as/though he is, he knows a lot. 盡管他是個孩子,但他卻懂很多。
2. 然而,倒裝語序的as從句同樣可以可表示原因。這種句型多半表示讓步,但偶爾也表示原因。
He has made no progress at all, lazy (fellow) as he is. 因為他懶惰(是個懶漢),所以毫無進步。
3. 另外,以as引導的表達“原因”的從句,為了強調語氣,也可以把表語置于句首,這樣,as引導的表達“原因”的從句就與表達“讓步”的從句在形式上完全相同,因而只能從句子內容上去區(qū)別它們:讓步從句的內容大多與主句在意義上相反;原因從句與主句有因果關系。試比較下面兩對由as引導的從句:
Young as he was, he was not equal to the task. 因為他年輕,不適宜這個工作。(原因)
Young as he was, he was equal to the task. 他雖年輕,但卻能勝任這項工作。(讓步)
Tire as he was, he went to bed early. 他因疲倦了,所以早就睡了。(原因)
Tired as he was, he sat up late studying last night. 昨晚他雖然疲倦了,但還是學習到很晚才睡。(讓步)
由此可知,在Busy as he is, please dont disturb him. 這個句子中,Busy as he is就是“原因狀語”,因為它與主句在邏輯意義上無論如何都扯不上“讓步”關系。
[問][a friend of my father和 a friend of my fathers有什么不同?]
答 a friend of my father“他是我父親的朋友”,說明兩人關系不一般,側重說明兩人的朋友關系;a friend of my fathers“他是我父親的一個朋友”,暗指我父親不止一個朋友。
1. 在指事物時,它們也是有區(qū)別的。
A portrait of Rembrandt“倫勃朗的肖像”,相當于one portraying Rembrandt,指一副畫著倫布蘭特的肖像。
A portrait of Rembrandts“倫勃朗的肖像”,相當于one painted by him or belonging to him,指倫勃朗畫的或屬于他所有的一副肖像畫。
2. 此外,名詞+s的所有格在表達意義時較為靈活。
Rembrandts portrait的一般意思是“倫勃朗畫的肖像畫”,但這并不是唯一的解釋,即它可能有三種意思:(1)倫布蘭特的肖像畫;(2)屬于倫勃朗所有的肖像畫;(3)肖像畫上畫的是倫勃朗。
[問][aim常用短語有哪些?]
答 take aim at瞄準;
reach an aim達到目的;
aim at瞄準、針對;
permit與allow的區(qū)別:表示“允許做某事”或“允許某人做某事”時的用法基本相同。
permit/allow doing sth.
permit/allow sb. to do sth.
permit /allow of sth
一般在獨立主格結構中表示“時間、條件等許可”,多用permit。
Time/Weather permitting, Ill drop in on her.
allow 還可以表示“承認”“考慮到”。
We allow him to be wronged.
will take an hour to go there, allowing for traffic delays.