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Q：為何不能說 I want to go to shop/go to swim/go to hike 呢? 這是因為 go shopping/go swimming/go hiking 是慣用語嗎?

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A：Go shopping/go swimming/go hiking 等本來就是慣用語，但這並不表示有了慣用語就不能有其他表示相同意思的說法。英文也有 go to shop/go to swim/go to hike 這樣的說法，只是它們沒有 go shopping/go swimming/go hiking 來得常見。此外，”go to” 意為「前往」、「前去」，其後亦經常接表示目的地、場所或地方等的名詞或名詞類用語，如 go to the beach (去海灘)、go to the concert (去聽音樂會)、go to the movies (去看電影)、go to where his daughter works (去他女兒工作的地方) 等等。

這位讀者之所以認為 go to 後面不可以接動詞，可能是一種誤解或將之與 going to 混為一談。在英文中，be going to 是個很常見的片語，但它有兩個用法：一是當作表示未來的助動詞，意為「將要」，相當於 will (事實上，be going to 和 will 的語意是有差別的，前者表示事先已計畫好要做的事或事先所做的決定，而後者是說話當時才決定要做的事)，這時 to 後面接原形動詞，如 I am going to swim tonight. (今晚我要去游泳)。

另一個 be going to 是上述 go to 的進行式時態，to 的後面也大多是接名詞或名詞類用語，而這個進行式時態可以表示正在進行的動作，也可以表示事先已計畫好的未來要做的動作，亦即用現在進行式表示未來，如 I am going to the beach. 就有兩個意思，一是「我正在去海灘」，另一是「我將要去海灘」(在講這句話之前就已決定要去了)。
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Q：”To be out is in.” 這句是什麼意思?

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A：在這句中，out 和 in 都是形容詞。in 做為形容詞由來已久，意為「流行的，時髦的」(fashionable, trendy)，至於 out 當形容詞用，則是最近才發生的事。

在 1990 年代初期，out 開始被用做動詞，如 to out someone 意為告訴全世界某人 — 通常是公眾人物 — 是同性戀者，這裡的 out 就是 coming out of the closet, out of your cupboard 或 out of your house 的簡寫，也就是大家常聽到的「出櫃」的意思。之後，昭告天下某人是同性戀者的人被稱為 outer，而這種行為則被叫做 outing。因此，如果有某位公司老闆被人家公開他或她是同性戀者的秘密，我們就說 The boss has been outed.。同性戀人權團體如獲至寶地接受這個字，目前就有好幾個網站在站名中使用 out 這個字。

“coming out” (出櫃) 現在是個正面的用語，可以用來指任何鼓起勇氣公開他們或她們之性傾向的人，而不會有任何冒犯之意。所以，當您閱讀英文報紙看到 Quite a few British MPs have come out in parliament. 這樣的頭條新聞時也就不足為奇了，不過要注意的是，這裡是說相當多的英國國會議員在國會中公開他們是同性戀者，而不是說相當多的英國國會議員走出國會。

有一則新聞報導提到某國選出「首位出櫃的同性戀總統」(first “out” gay president) — 這裡的 out 就是當形容詞用，意為「出櫃的」。可見 out 的用法仍在擴大當中。走筆至此，讀者應該知道 “To be out is in.” 這句話的意思了吧：「現在正流行出櫃」。

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bounce back; bounce into; bounce off; bowl over; box in; box up; branch out; break away; break down; break in; break into

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bounce back
恢復精神，恢復元氣，恢復健康；(經濟、市場等) 復甦，(價格) 回升
The economy is bouncing back from the recession.

bounce * into (doing something)
迫使 (某人) 做 (某事)
They have bounced the government into calling an early election.

bounce * off
與…討論問題
They bounced ideas off each other in a brainstorming session.

bowl * over +
使大吃一驚，使大為震驚
I was bowled over by the news.

box * in +
把…困住；使某物 (尤指車輛) 無法移動 (常用被動態)
The whole army was boxed in by the enemy and had no hope of escape.
I was boxed in by the bus and couldn’t change lane.

box * up +
把…裝箱 (或裝盒)
At the end of term, I boxed my books up and sent them home.

branch out (into doing something)
開拓新業務；擴大活動範圍
The supermarkets have branched out into banking.

break away
(尤指為創建另一政黨或團體而) 脫離 (某政黨或團體)
The SDP broke away from the Labor Party.

break down
(關係、談判等) 破裂，失敗
The talks between management and the unions broke down acrimoniously.

break down
(機器) 壞掉，故障；停止運轉
The truck broke down in the desert.

break down
(尤指在公眾場合) 開始哭泣、情緒失控、崩潰
He broke down in tears.
She broke down after her husband died.

break in
打斷 (談話)；插嘴
While we were discussing the situation, Mary broke in to give her opinion.

break in
(尤指為了竊盜而) 闖入
The burglar broke in between midnight and 3 AM.
The burglars broke in and stole the TV and video.

break * in +
使 (新產品) 逐漸舒適合用
I need to break these shoes in before I go hiking.
I must watch my speed until I break in my new Volvo.

break * in +
馴服 (馬)
It took ages to break the horse in.

break into +
(尤指為了竊盜而) 闖入 (屋內)
The burglar broke into the house between midnight and 3 AM.

break into +
打斷 (談話、思緒等)
Jane broke into the conversation and told us what she knew.

本文亦刊載在下列網址：
http://htmfiles.englishhome.org/phrasalverbs/phrasalverbs-b.htm

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Q：The pen is 0.065 meter(s) in length. 這句中的 meter 要用單數還是複數?

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A：計量單位 (units of measure) 前面的數字，除非剛好是 1，否則不管大於 1 還是小於 1，單位都要用複數形式，所以問題中的 meter 要用複數形式，即 meters。

另外，計量單位只有在與數字連用時才能縮寫，若其前沒有數字就不可以縮寫，如 24 min, 55 mi, 200 m, 5 ft 等，但 inch (英吋) 縮寫後須加句點，以避免與介系詞 in 混淆，如 45 in. 。再者，計量單位的縮寫，不管其前的數字是多少，都不能加 “s”，如 The table is 4 m in width. (這張桌子的寬度是 4 公尺)。

最後必須注意的是，in length 和 at (some/great) length 是意思截然不同的兩個片語，前者是指長度，後者意為「詳盡地；最後，終於」，如 The matter will be discussed at greater length this evening. (今晚將更詳細地討論此事)。

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Q：The criminal possessed three guns. 為何不能改成被動態的 Three guns were possessed by the criminal. 呢?

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A：大家都知道，英文的被動語態是由 BE + 及物動詞的過去分詞所構成，換言之，不及物動詞是沒有被動態的。因此，有人便以為所有及物動詞都可用於被動態。其實不然，有些及物動詞並沒有相應的被動態。問題中的 possess 就是這樣一個沒有相應被動態的及物動詞。茲將一些比較常見的沒有被動態的及物動詞臚列如下，供大家參考。

1. 意為「擁有」、「容納」、「缺少」、「由… 組成，構成」的及物動詞，如 possess, hold, lack, comprise 等，不能用於被動態。例如：

  • Bill Gates possesses great wealth. (比爾蓋茲擁有大量財富)
    Great wealth is possessed by Bill Gates. (誤 — 因為 possess 不能用於被動態。以下錯誤的句子亦適用這項說明)
  • The cinema holds about 500. (這家電影院能容納約 500 人)
    About 500 are held by the cinema. (誤)
  • Mr. Wang usually lacks confidence. (王先生經常缺乏信心)
    Confidence is usually lacked by Mr. Wang. (誤)
  • The country comprises 26 provinces. (這國家有 26 個省/這國家由 26 個省所組成)
    Twenty-six provinces are comprised by the country. (誤)

2. 意為「適合」的及物動詞，如 become, fit, suit 等，不能用於被動態。例如：

  • This sort of behavior hardly becomes a person in your position. (這種行為與一個有你這樣地位的人簡直不相稱)
    A person in your position is hardly become by this sort of behavior. (誤)
  • That color really suits her. (那種顏色跟她真的很相配)
    She is really suited by that color. (誤)
  • This dress fits me very well. (這件衣服非常合我的身)
    I am fitted very well by this dress. (誤)

3. 意為「意味，意思是；相似，相像」的及物動詞，如 mean, resemble 等，不能用於被動態。例如：

  • The red light means “Stop”. (紅燈意味「停」)
    “Stop” is meant by the red light. (誤)
  • She resembles her sister in appearance but not in character. (她的外表像她姊姊，但個性不像)
    Her sister is resembled by her in appearance but not in character. (誤)

4. 意為「明白，理解，領會」的及物動詞，如 catch, get, take 等，不能用於被動態。例如：

  • I didn’t quite catch your last point. (我不太明白你說的最後一點)
    Your last point wasn’t quite caught by me. (誤)
  • She took me wrong. (她誤解了我的意思)
    I was taken wrong by her. (錯誤)

5. 意為「有、吃、接受、度過、經歷」等的及物動詞 have，不能用於被動態。例如：

  • I have three sons and two daughters. (我有三兒二女)
    Three sons and two daughters are had by me. (誤)
  • I have already had dinner. (我已吃過晚餐)
    Dinner has already been had by me. (誤)
  • We will have a good Spring Festival. (我們將會過一個愉快的春節)
    A good Spring Festival will be had by us. (誤)

6. 意為「維持，夠用」的及物動詞 last，不能用於被動態。例如：

  • This food will only last them three days. (這些食物只夠他們吃三天)
    They will only be lasted three days by this food. (誤)
  • This dress has lasted me three years. (這件衣服我已穿了三年)
    I have been lasted three years by this dress. (誤)

7. 意為「價值，花費」的及物動詞 cost，不能用於被動態。例如：

  • The house cost me a lot of money. (這棟房子花了我很多錢)
    I was cost a lot of money by the house. (誤)

8. 意為「(不幸事件) 發生於，降臨在」的及物動詞 befall，不能用於被動態。例如：

  • Some misfortune must have befallen them. (某種災禍必定已降臨在他們頭上)
    They must have been befallen by some misfortune. (誤)
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Q：一篇英文新聞報導提到 “JCB” 是一家同名公司所生產的工程車，但現在也被用來泛指一般的工程車。這種將專有名詞當普通名詞使用的字在英文中似乎不難見到，是否可以就此做更詳細的說明或多舉一些實例呢?

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A：對於這些名詞，筆者通常稱之為「專有名詞通俗化」，但更精確地說應該是「商標品名普通名詞化」，因為這些專有名詞原本是各該公司的名稱，然後被用來指各該公司的產品，但現在則被用來泛指同類或同性質或同功能的商品。雖然這些專有名詞仍維持大寫型態，但已變成道道地地的普通名詞，甚至有單複數之分，如 a JCB, two JCBs。除 JCB (工程車) 外，目前已知還有十幾個這樣的名詞，茲將其臚列於后供大家參考 (相信一定還有漏網之魚)：

Band-Aid：OK繃
Chap stick：護唇膏
Hi-Liter：螢光筆
Kleenex：面紙
Popsicle：冰棒
Post-it：便利貼
Q-Tip：棉花棒
Rolodex：名片整理盒
Saran wrap：保鮮膜
Scotch tape：膠帶
Styrofoam：保麗龍
Velcro：魔鬼粘

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Q：在 Considering its difficulty, John did very well to pass the exam. 這句中，considering 是當介系詞用，但 considering its difficulty 是做何種詞性呢? 由於經常見到像 considering, concerning 或 regarding 這樣的用字，是否能請您做個比較詳細的解說?

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A：根據 The New Fowler’s Modern English Usage 一書，這類介系詞叫做「邊緣介系詞」(marginal prepositions)，亦即它們具有和一般介系詞 (如 at, in, from, by 等) 相同的語法功能，但型態卻與一般介系詞大異其趣。這類介詞大多以現在分詞型態存在，少數為過去分詞或看似原形動詞 (有些分詞型態的邊緣介詞還具有連接詞的功能)。它們與其受詞 (名詞或名詞片語) 在句中主要是當副詞用 (如 considering its difficulty) 或放在名詞/名詞片語之後作後置修飾語。由於有些邊緣介詞相當常用，因此瞭解它們的用法確有其必要性。茲將整理後的邊緣介詞臚列如下，希望沒有遺珠之憾。

1. 現在分詞型態的邊緣介詞

a. barring/bar (= except/except for 除…之外，除非)
Barring any last-minute problems we should finish the job by tomorrow. (除非最後一刻出問題，否則我們應可在明天之前完成任務)

b. concerning (= about; with regard to; in connection with 關於) — 比較正式的用語
Police are anxious to hear any information concerning his whereabouts. (警方急欲知道任何有關他下落的消息)

c. considering (鑑於，就…而論)
He did very well in his exams considering that he had studied so little (or considering how little he had studied). (他唸得很少，就此而言，他考得很不錯了)

d. excepting (= except 除…之外) — 通常用於句首或 always, not, without 之後
Dogs are not allowed in the shop, always excepting blind people’s guide dogs. (除盲人的導盲犬之外，其它的狗一律不准帶進商店)
Everyone passed the exam, not excepting John. (每個人都通過考試，約翰也不例外)

e. excluding (除…之外；不包括)
There are twenty students in the classroom, excluding the teacher. (教室內除老師外有 20 個學生)

f. failing (= in the absence or failure of 如果沒有…的話)
You may find her in the dormitory, or failing that, try the library. (你可以去宿舍找她，如果找不到的話，可以再去圖書館找看看)

g. including (包括，其中包括)
There are six people in the room, including three women. (房間內有 6 個人，其中包括 3 名婦女)

h. pending (= until 直到；在等待…期間) — 正式用語
We put off our decision pending his return from Japan. (我們等到他從日本回來才做出決定)

i. regarding (= as regards 關於，有關) — 正式用語，常用於商業書信中
Regarding your recent inquiry… (關於您最近的詢問)

j. respecting (= concerning; in respect of 關於，至於) — 正式用語
I don’t know at all respecting the computer. (我對電腦一竅不通)

k. touching (= about; concerning 關於) — 書面上或比較舊式的用語
Touching their complaints about school meals, I suggest that we should give a positive response. (關於他們對學校伙食的不滿，我建議我們給予正面的回應)

l. wanting (1. = lacking; without 缺乏，沒有 2. = less; minus 不夠，不足)
Wanting courage, nothing can be done. (沒有勇氣，什麼事都做不成)
a book wanting a cover (沒有封面的書)
a month wanting two days (差兩天就一個月)

2. 過去分詞型態的邊緣介詞

a. given (後接名詞、名詞片語或 that 子句 — that 可省略) (考慮到；如果；假如)
Given their inexperience, they’ve done a good job.
= Given that they’re inexperienced, they’ve done a good job. (考慮到他們缺乏經驗，他們的工作已算是做得不錯了)

b. granted/granting that (假定，即使)
Granted (or granting) that he should send money to help with the bills, it doesn’t mean he will. (即使他應拿錢出來幫忙付帳，也不意味他會這樣做)

3. 原形動詞型態的邊緣介詞

a. bar/barring (除…之外)
He’s the best singer in the country, bar none (=without any exceptions). (他是全國最佳歌手，無人能比)

b. save/save for/saving (= except/except for 除…之外) — 正式用語
They answered all the questions save one. (除了一個問題外，他們回答了所有問題)
The classroom was empty save for two girls. (save for 比 save 常用) (教室只有兩個女孩)
I agree with you, save that you have got one fact wrong. (除了你有一點錯誤之外，我同意你的看法)
Saving your presence (恕我冒昧，恕我直言), I don’t think it is a very good idea. (請恕我直言，我認為那不是一個很好的構想)

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try for; try it on; try on; try out; try out for; tuck away; tuck in; tuck into; tuck up

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try for +
試圖獲得；謀求；爭取
I’m going to try for the job.

try it on
(對某人) 粗野無禮；(跟某人) 搗蛋
The children were trying it on all night until I lost my temper.

try it on
(向某人) 行騙，欺騙
He knew I didn’t get to let him do it- he was just trying it on.

try * on +
試穿，試戴 (衣服、帽子、鞋子等)
Try on the pants before you buy them.

try * out +
試驗，試試
Try out this massage chair – it feels great!
Scientists are trying out a new drug in the fight against the disease.

try * out +
試用
I tried out the program before I bought it.

try out for +
(透過才藝表現) 爭取參加；參加…的選拔
He tried out for the baseball team.

tuck * away +
把…藏在 (某處)；把 (錢等) 放在安全處
I tucked the money away in my drawer.

tuck * away +
狼吞虎嚥地吃；痛快地吃
We tucked away a huge dinner before we went out.

tuck * in +
把…塞好；把 (衣服) 紮進去；把 (某物) 裝好
I forgot to tuck my shirt in.

tuck in
大快朵頤；津津有味地吃
The dinner smelled so good I couldn’t wait to tuck in.

tuck * in +
給 (小孩或病人) 蓋好被子睡覺
He tucked her in and read her a story.

tuck into +
狼吞虎嚥地吃；痛快地吃
I was starving and tucked into the food.

tuck * up +
給 (小孩或病人) 蓋好被子睡覺
She tucked her children up in bed and switched the lights off.

本文亦刊載在下列網址：
http://htmfiles.englishhome.org/phrasalverbs/phrasalverbs-t.htm

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Q：有人說 Being children, we are taught to be honest. (身為小孩，我們被教導要誠實) 這句不通，但我認為句子沒錯，意思也可以，不是嗎?

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A：筆者認為這當中的問題應是出在 being 這個字上。這位讀者可能把上句中的 being 看成等同於下句中的 being：Being a teacher is not an easy thing nowadays. (現在當老師並不是容易的事) — 這句中的 Being a teacher 是動名詞片語當主詞用，而 Being children 卻是從副詞子句減化而來的分詞片語，兩者自是不能等量齊觀，因為意思有所出入。

當 being 被用來引導減化的副詞子句時，它相當於「because + 主詞 + BE」；換言之，它是表示原因的副詞子句減化的結果。例如：

  • Being a mechanic himself (= Because he was a mechanic himself), he recognized the problem immediately. (因為他本身是技工，所以馬上找出了問題)
  • His wife, being a patient woman (= because she is a patient woman), puts up with his temper. (因為他太太是個有耐性的女性，所以能夠忍受他的脾氣)

是故，問題中的句子的原句為：Because we are children, we are taught to be honest.。當然，在文法上，這種 being 結構似乎是可以接受的，但它並未表達出我們真正想要表達的意思。總之，being 在引導減化的副詞子句時，僅能表示原因 (reason or cause)。

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一臣不事二君；一女不事二夫；一僕不事二主

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英譯：
no man can serve two masters

例句：
We all know that no man can serve two masters, so you cannot work for two competing companies at the same time. (我們都知道，一臣不事二君，所以你不可能同時為兩家相互競爭的公司工作)

Daniel tried going to school and working, both full-time, but soon discovered that he could not serve two masters. (丹尼爾嘗試同時全職地兼顧學業與工作，但不久就發現到魚與熊掌無法兼得)

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