Castles in Spain

  • Don’t build castles in Spain all day long. (別整天做白日夢) (正)
  • Don’t build castles in Portugal all day long. (誤)

解說:(to build) castles in Spain 為固定用語,意為「(做) 白日夢;(築) 空中樓閣」,與 castles in the air 同義。

The road is quite clean/clear.

  • The road is quite clean, but the traffic is moving slowly. (這條道路相當乾淨,但車流移動緩慢) (正)。
  • The road is quite clear, but the traffic is moving slowly. (這條道路相當暢通,但車流移動緩慢) (誤)。

解說:clean 表示道路乾淨的 (但不一定暢通,或許正在塞車中);clear 表示道路暢通的 (但不一定乾淨)。

轉折詞後面須有逗點,但前面絕不可有逗點

  • John was ill. As a result, he could not come. (約翰病了,所以他不能來) (正)
  • John was ill; as a result, he could not come. (正)
  • John was ill. As a result he could not come. (誤)
  • John was ill, as a result, he could not come. (誤)

解說:英文常用的轉折詞 (transitional phrases) 有 however, therefore, consequently, nonetheless, nevertheless, as a result 等。這些轉折詞後面須有逗點,但前面絕不可有逗點 (前面要用句點或分號)。

英文字中的 “ough” 有 9 種不同的發音

英文字中的 “ough” 有 9 種不同的發音。下句包含了這 9 種發音。您可前往 Cambridge Dictionary 網站搜尋這些字來聽聽它們的發音:

A rough-coated, dough-faced, thoughtful ploughman strode through the streets of Scarborough; after falling into a slough, he coughed and hiccoughed. (一名穿著粗布粗衣、臉如生麵團、若有所思的農夫大步穿越斯卡布羅的街道;在掉進一處泥坑之後,他咳嗽又打嗝)