No comments

Q： He had to call in sick to work …. 這句真令人困惑，為什麼他請病假去工作呢? 這不是矛盾嗎?

  By

A：我們平常所說的「請病假」，英文最常用的講法是 call in sick 或 take a sick leave。call in sick 通常是指上班族請病假不上班，因此有些人亦說成 call in sick to work，來明確指出這是上班族的「請病假」，俾與學生的「請病假」有所區別。

然而，由於 call in sick 後面可以接一個不定詞片語來表示「請病假去做某事」(假病假之名，行做其他事情之實) 的意思，如 He called in sick (for one day) to go on a date with his new girlfriend. (他請 (一天) 病假去跟他的新女友約會)，有些人往往把 call in sick to work 中的 to work 誤解為不定詞。非也! 這裡的 to 是介系詞，而 work 是名詞 — 這可從學生請病假可以說成 call in sick to school 中得到證明。它們的意思是說「向工作場所請病假」、「向學校請病假」。所以上面的例句亦可寫成 He called in sick to work (for one day) to go on a date with his new girlfriend.。

既然談到請假，如果不提一些與請假有關的用語，似乎有點說不過去。一般而言，「請 (一天) 假沒去上班」就是 take a day off，「請兩天假沒去上班」就是 take two days off，依此類推。同樣地，為了區別上班族與學生的請假，我們可以更明確地說 take a day off from work/school。若是只請半天假的話就說成 take the morning/afternoon off。「早退」是 leave early、「遲到」是 come in late。不過，美語中並無細分「事假」和「喪假」，只要是私人因素請假都可以說成 He took a day (or the whole day) off to take care of some personal business/affairs. (他請了一天假去處理私事)。

值得一提的是，美語中有個俚語，意思與 call in sick 完全一樣，那就是 bang in 或 bang in sick (to work)，如 I banged in sick to work for two days to finish my book. (我請了兩天病假來完成我的書)；Many of our company’s employees banged in today. (本公司許多員工今天請病假)。

No comments

驕兵必敗；驕者必敗

  By

英譯：
pride goes before a fall

例句：
You must learn to be modest because pride goes before a fall. (你必須學習謙虛，因為驕兵必敗)

Susan: I’m the best student in my history class. I’m sure I can pass the exam without studying very hard. Sam: Be careful. Pride goes before a fall, you know. (蘇珊：我是我們班上歷史課最優秀的學生。我確信我不用太用功就可通過考試。山姆：當心哦! 驕者必敗)

本文亦刊載在下列網址：
http://htmfiles.englishhome.org/idioms/idioms_chinese-2.htm

No comments

Baleful, baneful (adjs.)

  By

Baleful 意為「有害的；帶有威脅的；邪惡的」(harmful, threatening, sinister)，如 She gave me a baleful stare. (她帶有惡意地瞪了我一眼)；a baleful look (邪惡的目光)。baneful 意為「有害的；邪惡的；破壞性的；毀滅性的；致命的」(harmful, evil, destructive, ruinous, deadly, fatal)，如 There is a baneful influence of their foreign policy on future peace talks. (他們的外交政策對未來的和平談判有破壞性影響)。

這兩個形容詞的意思有諸多重疊，但 baleful 通常用來指任何帶有威脅或惡意但尚未造成實質危害的事物，而 baneful 則大多用來指實際上會造成危害、破壞、毀滅或死亡的事物。不過，在現代英語中，baneful 越來越少用。

No comments

Q：在 He’s on the finance committee which controls city council spending. 和 The human resources committee who are all scholars are going to meet on Thursday. 這兩句中，同樣是 committee，它們所用的關係代名詞為何一個是指事物的 which，而一個是指人的 who 呢?

  By

A：committee, team, family, jury, government, audience, army, crew, company, firm (包括公司、機構和組織的名稱，如 UN, BBC, CNN, Sony 等等) 等字在英文中叫做「集合名詞」(collective nouns)。這些集合名詞後面可接單數或複數動詞。如果把它們視為一個整體，那麼它們就使用單數動詞及相對應的代名詞，且其關係代名詞須用 which (或 that)；如果把它們視為個體的集合，那麼它們就使用複數動詞及相對應的代名詞，且其關係代名詞須用 who。

從上述可知，He’s on the finance committee which controls city council spending. (他是控制市議會支出的財政委會的委員) 中的 committee 被視為一個整體，即委員會，而 The human resources committee who are all scholars are going to meet on Thursday. (人力資源委員會的委員將在星期四開會。他們都是學者) 中的 committee 被視為個別成員，即委員會的所有委員。

在上下文中，有可能會出現上一句使用單數動詞，而下一句使用複數動詞的情況，如 The government is going to cut back on public spending. They have decided this is necessary in the current economic climate. (政府將削減公共支出。他們已決定，在目前的經濟氣候中，這是必要的措施)。請再看下面的例句：

  • My family, who have lived on this island all their lives, are determined to remain here. (我的家人一生都住在這個島上，他們決定繼續留在這裡)
  • My firm, which was established in 1932, has been manufacturing vacuum cleaners since the 1950s. They look after me very well and have an excellent pension scheme. (我的公司創立於 1932 年，自 1950 年代以來一直在製造吸塵器。他們很照顧我且有良好的退休金計畫)
  • The jury retires to consider its verdict. (陪審團退下去考慮該如何判決)
    The jury retire to consider their verdict.

一般而言，對於這類集合名詞，英式英語傾向於使用複數動詞，而美式英語則傾向於使用單數動詞。不過，當這些集合名詞前面有 a, each, every, this 或 that 等單數的限定詞時，它們一定要用單數動詞及相對應的代名詞。例如：

  • A government which fails to honor its promises should not be re-elected. (未能兌現諾言的政府不應再當選連任)
  • That team is capable of winning all the major trophies this year. (該隊有能力贏得今年所有重大比賽的獎盃)

然而，並非所有集合名詞 (英文約有 200 個常用的集合名詞) 都可以接單數或複數動詞。有些集合名詞只能接複數動詞，如 people, police, military, clergy, cattle 以及用做集合名詞的形容詞，如 the rich, the poor, the homeless 等；有些則只能接單數動詞 (尤其是無生命的物品 — 這些名詞被視為不可數)，如 baggage, luggage, cutlery, furniture, underwear, china, earthenware, porcelain 等。

3 Comments

Q：The conditions to lend books should be changed. 這句可否轉換為關係子句? 若可以，要如何轉換?

  By

A：一般而言，「名詞 (先行詞) + 不定詞片語」的結構通常可轉換為關係子句的型態；其中，後置的不定詞片語是修飾它前面的名詞。然而，修飾用的後置不定詞片語必須可以輕易地轉換為關係子句。但問題中的句子無法輕易地轉換為關係子句。原因何在? 請看下面的敘述。

事實上，修飾用的後置不定詞片語與其先行詞 (名詞) 之間的語意關係 (semantic relationship) 相當鬆散，因為後者在關係子句中可以扮演不同的語法功能。例如：

  1. The first man to arrive (= who arrived) was Bill. (第一個抵達的人是比爾)
  2. The man to remember (= whom you/we/everyone should remember) is Bill. (吾人應該記得的人是比爾)

在第一句，主句的主詞 (man) 也是不定詞片語的主詞；在第二句，主句的主詞 (man) 則是不定詞片語的受詞。然而，儘管語法關係不同，但我們皆可將這兩句轉換或擴展為關係子句。但對於這位讀者所問的句子，我們要如何處理呢? 因為 “conditions” 既不是不定詞片語 “to lend books” 的主詞 (conditions 不會 lend books，而是「人或圖書館等」才會 lend books)，也不是它的受詞 (lend 已有 books 當受詞)。從這個句子無法重組及輕易轉換為關係子句 (不可以轉換為 The conditions which can/will… lend books….) 的情況來看，它是個意思不明確的錯誤句子，須予以改寫：

  • The conditions under which books are lent should be changed. (書籍出借的條件應予變更)

這種錯誤的「名詞 + 不定詞片語」句型俯拾即是，必須避免。由於「名詞 + 不定詞片語」的結構在英文中實在太常見了，許多人往往習焉不察，想當然耳地認為它們都是正確的句子，其實不然。所以，日後在書寫或閱讀時，若有用到或看到這樣的句型，不妨稍微留意一下，用上述的方法去判斷，應可避免錯誤的發生。現在再舉兩個同樣令人無法接受的謬誤句子供大家參考 (因為這兩句也同樣無法輕易地轉換為關係子句)：

  1. There are rules to play this game. (玩這遊戲是有規則的)
  2. The teacher should give hints to use the structures correctly. (老師應給予正確使用這些結構的指點)

這兩句必須改寫為：

  1. There are rules according to which this game must be played. (這遊戲必須根據規則來玩)
  2. The teacher should give hints which would help the students use the structures correctly. (老師應給予有助於學生正確使用這些結構的指點)
No comments

clear away; clear off; clear out; clear up; click through; climb down; clog up; close down; close in; close in on

  By

clear away
離開 (某地)
We were told to clear away from the scene of the accident.

clear * away +
清除；收拾乾淨
After dinner, I cleared away the plates and dishes.

clear off
迅速離開；溜掉
As soon as the trouble started, we cleared off.

clear out
立刻離開
Everybody clear out! We’re closed.

clear * out +
清理；整理
I spent the whole weekend clearing out the attic as it was full of papers and other junk.

clear * up +
清理；收拾
Susan cleared up the mess before she left.

clear * up +
痊癒；治癒
Most colds clear up after a few days.
This is an effective lotion to clear up spots.

clear * up +
解決 (問題)，解開 (迷團)；解釋，澄清
Could you clear these points up before we go any further?

clear up
(天氣) 放晴
The skies cleared up and the sun came out.

click through +
點擊 (網路廣告)
Only a tiny fraction of users ever bother clicking through the banner adverts.

climb down
(尤指堅持己見後) 認錯
The Prime Minister had to climb down over his tax proposals because there was so much opposition from the members of his own party.

clog * up +
堵塞 (通道等)
The traffic’s so bad the roads get clogged up at rush hour.

close * down +
永久關閉 (商店、工廠、事業等)；(使) 停業，(使) 歇業
They closed down the corner market because it didn’t have many customers.

close * down +
牽制對手使無法發揮力量
He closed the player down and stopped him being a threat.

close in
包圍，圍住
The fog closed in and we couldn’t see two yards in front of us.

close in
逼近，迫近
The police were closing in so they decided to try to make a break.

close in on +
逼近，迫近；包圍，圍住
The rebels were closing in on the capital, so the government called in the army.
The police were closing in on the gang.

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

No comments

Distrust, mistrust (vv., nn.)

  By

Distrust 和 mistrust 當 (及物) 動詞用時均意為「不信任，不相信，懷疑」，通常可以互換，如 Somehow I distrust/mistrust the whole business. (不知怎麼地，我就是不相信這整件事) ；He distrusts/mistrusts banks, so he keeps his money at home. (他認為銀行靠不住，所以把錢存在家裡)。

然而，distrust 比 mistrust 要來得常用，且含有「猜忌；猜疑」(suspicion) 的意思，所以當某人曾經有欺騙或其他負面行為或某事物曾經造成危害或產生不良影響，或者當事人認為某人或某事物可能會做出上述行為或發生上述情況，因而對該等人事物產生不信任感或懷疑時，一般都使用 distrust 而不用 mistrust，如 I have known him to be deceitful in the past and I have come to distrust everything he says. (我知道他過去愛騙人，所以我對他所說的事情一概不信)；Most people distrust politicians. (大多數人都不信任政客)；He distrusts her because he thinks she’ll cheat him. (他不信任她，因為他認為她會騙他)。

Mistrust 是指比較不確定或不是很肯定的「不信任」或指對自己相關事物的「懷疑」，如 There was something about her manner that made me uneasy and I found myself beginning to mistrust her. (某件跟她態度有關的事情令我不安，結果我發現自己開始不信任她)；She told herself she had no reason to mistrust him. (她告訴自己沒有理由不信任他)；Why do you mistrust him so much? He seems honest enough to me. (你為何如此不信任他呢? 我覺得他似乎很老實)；I mistrust my own judgment when it comes to my appointment of Mike as new English teacher. (談到我聘任麥可為新的英文老師一事，我懷疑自己的判斷力)。

Distrust 和 mistrust 亦皆可當 (不可數) 名詞用，意思也同樣為「不信任，不相信，懷疑」，其後經常與介系詞 of 連用，如 The child looked at the stranger with distrust. (那孩子用懷疑的目光望著陌生人)；I have a distrust of airplanes. (我對飛機信不過)；Mistrust between the two countries is intense. (兩國間彼此非常不信任)；He has a deep/strong mistrust of anything new. (他對任何新事物都極不信任)。

再者，distrust 和 mistrust 的形容詞分別為 distrustful 和 mistrustful，兩者均意為「不信任的，不相信的，懷疑的」，其後亦經常與介系詞 of 連用，但 mistrustful 有時也與 toward 連用，如 The old woman is distrustful of her children’s intentions. (這位老婦人懷疑她子女的意圖)；They were profoundly distrustful of anything new. (他們對任何新事物都極不信任)；She was mistrustful of Frank’s loyalty. (她懷疑法蘭克的忠誠)；My wife was becoming increasingly mistrustful toward doctors. (我太太越來越不相信醫生)。

No comments

Q：I had intended to go abroad to study. 這句的意義為何?

  By

A：這句話的意思是說「我原本想要出國唸書」，但其實並沒有出國。然而，這種句型比較少見，較常見的句型是 I intended to have gone abroad to study.。在英文中，還有 mean, plan, would like, expect, hope, wish 等幾個意為「想要，打算；希望，指望」的動詞跟 intend 一樣可以使用 “meant/planned/expected/hoped/wished… to have + P.P.” 句型，來表示過去計畫或安排好的事情沒有去做或過去的願望沒有實現或發生。例如：

  • He planned to have gone abroad. (他本來計劃出國 — 但他沒有去)
  • I hoped to have seen her. (我原本希望會見到她 — 但沒有見到)
  • I would like to have had your help. (我本想得到你的幫助 — 實際上沒有得到幫助)
  • The enemy expected to have found him. (敵人本來指望找到他 — 但沒有找到)
  • I intended to have finished my work last night. (我本想昨晚完成工作 — 實際上並未完成)

此外，”was/were to have + P.P.” 也是在表達過去計畫或安排好的事情沒有去做或過去的願望沒有實現或發生的意思。

No comments

Comic (adj., n.), comical (adj.)

  By

當形容詞用時，comic 和 comical 雖在一些上下文中可以互換，但並非完全同義詞。

Comic 和 comical 均意為「滑稽的，好笑的」，但 comic 是指事先計畫好、有意使人發笑或產生娛樂「笑」果，而 comical 則是指無意間使人發笑或產生娛樂「笑」果，如 The play had comic moments. (這齣戲裡有一些搞笑的片段)；The students gave a comic performance. (學生做了滑稽表演)；Her comic songs did not raise a smile. (她的滑稽歌曲未使人發笑)；The teacher wore a comical hat. (老師戴了一頂滑稽可笑的帽子)；It was quite comical to see him sit there quietly. (看他靜靜地坐在那裡頗為好笑)；a comical act (滑稽可笑的行為)。

此外，comic 還意為「喜劇的」(僅用於名詞之前)，而這是 comical 所沒有的意思，如 He is a comic actor/writer. (他是喜劇演員/作家)。所以，從上述可知，a comic situation 和 a comical situation 的意思並不相同，前者是指事先經過安排的喜劇的情節，而後者是指無意間引發的滑稽可笑或好笑的場面或情況。

Comic 還可當名詞用，有兩個意思，一為「漫畫書」(= comic book。連環漫畫叫做 comic strip)，如 I’ve read many comics (or comic books). (我已看了許多漫畫書)；另一為「喜劇演員」(= comedian)，如 His father is one of the world’s best-known comics (or comedians). (他父親是全世界最有名的喜劇演員之一)。

No comments

Q：at the bank 和 in the bank 以及 on the street 和 in the street 之間有何不同?

  By

A：這些表示地點的介系詞片語都正確無誤且很常用，但它們之間的含意並不完全相同。首先來看 at the bank 和 in the bank，後者指的一定是在銀行裡面 (inside the bank)，但前者可能是在銀行裡面或外面的任何地方，亦即沒有指出確切的地點。例如：

  • I will meet him at the supermarket. (我將和他在超市見面) (沒有指出確切的地點，可能在超市裡面，也可能在超市外面)
  • I will meet him at the checkout in the supermarket. (指出了確切的地點 — 在超市裡面的結帳櫃台)

至於 on the street 和 in the street 之間的區別，一般而言，這要看你從什麼角度來看。如果有一條街聚集了很多人，而當時你人是在距離不遠的另一條街上，你要說 There were a lot of people on the street.。如果當時你人就在那條有很多人的街上，你要說 There were a lot of people in the street.；簡言之，當你使用 in the street 時，你是以「那條街的一份子」或「人在那條街上」的角度來看事情，如 There are speed bumps every fifty meters in the street where I live. (在我住的那條街上，每 50 公尺就有減速丘) — speed bump 亦叫做 speed hump 或 sleeping policeman。