Q:由於 compare 也可當名詞用,有些字典甚至把它的英文註釋寫成 comparison,那麼請問是否可以將 There is no comparison… 寫成 There is no compare…?

A:不可以! 雖然 compare 也可當名詞用,但它僅限於與 beyond, without 和 past 構成 beyond compare, without compare 和 past compare 等文學或書面用語; 這三個片語是同義詞,意為「無可比擬的,無與倫比的」,如 The service is beyond/without/past compare. (該項服務無與倫比)。

除上述外,再也找不到當名詞用的 compare 的其他應用了。所以,There is no comparison 不能寫成 There is no compare,何況前者還是個慣用語,意為「不能相提並論」,如 There’s no comparison between frozen and fresh fish. (冷凍魚與新鮮魚沒法比);I never loved her the way I love you; there’s no comparison. (我從來沒有像愛妳那樣愛過她;兩者不能相提並論)。

Q:在 The clothes I liked were much more expensive than my old ones. 這句中,如果省略 ones,它是否還合乎文法呢?

A:在這句中,ones 不能省略,否則就錯了! 英語是一種「當省 (省略) 則省,能省就省」的語言,但也不能省得太過份,而變得不符語法要求。例如,在 “Would you love to do me a favor? Yes, I’d love to.” (你想不想幫我個忙呢? 是的,我想) 這個問答中,最後面的 to 就不能省略,否則就錯了。

這位讀者顯然是在問名詞片語中名詞省略的問題。The clothes I liked were much more expensive than my old ones. (我喜歡的衣服比我的舊衣服貴很多) 中的 ones 之所以不能省略,乃因句中前後兩個名詞片語並非平行對稱 (in parallel construction)。若前後兩個名詞片語為平行對稱、對仗工整,那麼 ones 就可省略,而省略後的句子仍具備相同的語法功能。請看下面的例句:

  • Do you prefer red wine or white (wine)? (你比較喜歡紅酒還是白酒呢?)
  • I like the blue hat but he likes the green (hat). (我喜歡藍帽,但他喜歡綠帽)
  • This house is bigger than my last (house). (這間房子比我上一間大)

在這些句子中,white (wine), green (hat), last (house) 與前面的名詞片語 red wine, blue hat, this house (形容詞 + 名詞) 平行對稱。但在問題的句子中,the clothes (that) I liked 是一個用關係子句來修飾名詞的名詞片語,與 old clothes 並不對稱,所以句末的 clothes 不能省略,而為了避免重複,故用 ones 來替代。試與下句做個比較,當可瞭解平行對稱在此所扮演的角色有多麼重要;在下句中,my old (clothes) 與 my new clothes 平行對稱,所以後面的 clothes 可以完全省略 (甚至不必用 ones 來替代):

  • My new clothes were more expensive than my old. (我的新衣服比舊衣服貴)

一般而言,當名詞片語中被省略的名詞為可數名詞時,通常用代名詞 one(s) 來替代。例如:

  • I like the blue hat(s) but he likes the green one(s).
  • This house is bigger than my last one.
  • My new clothes are more expensive than my old ones.

在不定冠詞後面,one 是必要的。例如:

  • Do you want a large glass or a small one? (你想要大的杯子還是小的杯子呢?) (佳)
  • Do you want a large glass or a small? (不佳)

當兩個名詞片語不平行對稱時,one(s) 也是必要的,如問題中的句子。再看下面的例句:

  • I like the hat on the table but he likes the green one. (我喜歡桌上那頂帽子,但他喜歡綠色那一頂) (正)
  • I like the hat on the table but he likes the green. (誤)

若名詞片語中的名詞為不可數的物質名詞,那麼就不能使用 one(s) 了;所以,當兩個名詞片語不平行對稱時,該名詞必須重複寫出:

  • Do you prefer coffee with milk or Turkish coffee? (你比較喜歡牛奶咖啡還是土耳其咖啡呢?) (正)
    請注意:coffee with milk (牛奶咖啡),在英文中也叫做 white coffee,但 tea with milk (奶茶) 卻不能叫做 white tea。
  • Do you prefer coffee with milk or Turkish? (誤)
  • We ordered fish fried in butter and garlic but they served us steamed fish. (我們點了奶油蒜香煎魚,但他們卻端來蒸魚) (正)
  • We ordered fish fried in butter and garlic but they served us steamed. (誤)

試與下面文法正確的句子做比較:

  • Do you prefer Irish coffee or Turkish? (你比較喜歡愛爾蘭咖啡還是土耳其咖啡呢?)
  • We ordered fried fish but they served us steamed. (我們點了煎魚,但他們卻端來蒸魚)

Below, beneath, under, underneath (preps.)

這四個字皆可當介系詞和副詞用,其中 underneath 還可當形容詞和名詞用。就介系詞用法而言,除了若干不同的意思外,它們均意為「(指位置) 在…的下面,在…之下」,本文將僅就這意思來探討它們之間細微的差異。

Below (反義詞為 above) 僅表示某一事物處於另一事物下方的位置,如 The lake is almost 300 meters below the sea. (這湖低於海平面將近 300 公尺);There’s a river below the village. (在村子的下面有一條河);Her skirt came below her knees. (她的裙子長及膝蓋之下);There’s a gunshot wound below his left shoulder. (他的左肩下方有一處槍傷)。

Beneath 是表示某一事物處於另一事物正下方的位置,但含有兩物相距不是很近的意思,如 We took shelter beneath a huge tree. (我們躲在一棵大樹下);The boat sank beneath the waves. (船沈沒於波濤之下);They slept outside beneath the stars. (他們露宿在繁星之下);The submarine waited, far beneath the ship. (潛艇遠在那艘船的下面等待著)。

Under (反義詞為 over) 亦表示某一事物處於另一事物正下方的位置,但往往用來表示下面的物體從一邊移動到另一邊的情況;事實上,當下面的物體有動作時,under 是這四個介系詞當中唯一的用字,如 We took shelter under a huge tree. (我們躲在一棵大樹下);What are you wearing under your coat? (你外套裡面穿什麼?);We drove under the bridge and came out into the High Street. (我們開車經過橋下,來到商業大街);That boy crawled under the fence. (那男孩從柵欄下面爬了過去);What are you kids doing under the table? (你們這些小孩在桌子底下幹什麼?)。

Underneath 在「靜態」方面的用法與 under 相近,如 The baby girl liked to sit underneath/under the table. (這小女孩喜歡坐在桌子底下)。然而,underneath 主要在強調遮蓋、接觸或藏匿的意思,所以下面的例句宜使用 underneath 而不用 under:Everybody got underneath the tables to escape the gunfire. (大家都鑽到桌子下面躲避槍擊);The President was partially crushed underneath the helicopter as it hit the ground. (直昇機墜地時壓住了總統的部分身體);That letter had been pushed underneath the carpet by accident. (那封信偶然地被推到地毯的下面了);I’ll leave the key underneath the mat. (我會把鑰匙放在墊子下面)。

Q:在 In Chapter 1 we will discuss how to use capitalization properly. 這句中,Chapter 一定要大寫嗎?

A:如果 chapter 前面有修飾語 (序數詞),則寫成 the first/next chapter,亦即 chapter 小寫;但若 chapter 在前面,其後為數字 (基數詞),那麼 chapter 與該數字都要大寫,如問題中的句子 In Chapter One we will discuss how to use capitalization properly. (在第一章我們將討論如何正確使用大寫)。然而,這似乎與 room 的寫法相抵觸:We’ll meet in room 216. (room 是小寫)。但在 Please read Chapter Two (= the second chapter) 中,Chapter 大寫是公認的慣例。lesson 的大小寫情況亦同,如 Lesson Twelve = the twelfth lesson。

Q:It couldn’t have happened to a nicer man! 這句是什麼意思?

A:這句的意思是「再也沒有人比你更棒了!」這是一句很常用的會話。當某人告訴你壞消息時,如 I’ve failed my exam. (我考試沒過),你可以回答:What a pity! (真遺憾!) 或 What a shame! (真可惜!) 或 I’m sorry to hear that. (聽到這樣我很難過)。如果某人告訴你好消息,如 I’ve passed my exam. (我通過考試了),你就可以說 It couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy!

此外,英文還有一句也很常用的會話,它的構造和理解方式亦頗為神似,那就是 I can’t/couldn’t agree (with you) more.。It couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy! 字面上的意思是「某事不可能發生在更好的人身上了」,換言之就是「再也沒有人比你更好了」;而 I can’t/couldn’t agree (with you) more. 字面上的意思是「我同意你的程度已達極限,無法再同意更多了」,換言之就是「我完全同意 (你的看法或意見等)」,即 I completely agree (with you).。

work off; work on; work out; wrap up; wriggle out of; write down; write in; write off; write out; write up

work * off +
做運動來消除壓力、減輕體重或發洩情緒
She goes to the gym to work off her anger.

work on +
改善;發展
Scientists are working on genetically modified crops and foods.

work * out +
解決 (難題等);找到…答案
I hope you two can work out your problems.
I couldn’t work out all the answers to the crossword puzzle.

work out
鍛鍊,健身
I work out three times a week at the fitness center.

work out
有好結果;獲致成功
I am glad your new catering business is working out.

wrap * up +
包裝;包起來
They wrapped up the presents then put a ribbon around them.

wrap up
(使) 穿得暖和
Wrap up carefully or you’ll catch your death of cold outside in that rain.

wrap * up +
完成;結束
That wraps things up, so we’ll end this meeting.

wriggle out of +
逃避 (做某事)
He always manages to wriggle out of any extra work we get.

write * down +
寫下,記下
Write down the directions so you don’t forget them.

write in
投書、寫信給 (電視台、報社等);寫信索取
They asked viewers to write in with their opinions and suggestions.

write * off +
報廢 (車輛)
After the crash, the insurance company agreed to write off the car as a total loss.

write * out +
逐字地或詳細地寫下;寫出來
He wrote out the lyrics so I could understand what the singer was saying.

write * up +
(利用已有的筆記) 寫出報告;把…寫成文章等
He wrote up a business proposition in order to get a loan.

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

Defensible, defensive (adjs.)

這兩個拼字相近的形容詞,意思並不相同。defensible 意為「(見解,主張、看法等) 可辯護的,站得住腳的;(地方) 能防禦的,能保衛的」,如 Although opinions differ on this matter, mine is defensible. (雖然對這件事各人的看法不一,但我的看法是站得住腳的);His behavior was perfectly defensible. (他的行為是完全可以辯解的);This is a defensible fortress/position. (這是個能防禦的堡壘/位置)。這個字的反義詞為 indefensible。

Defensive 意為「防衛性的,防衛用的;(人或行為) 防衛的,守勢的,自衛的;(比賽中) 防守的」,如 The United States has decided to sell more defensive weapons to Taiwan. (美國已決定出售更多防衛性武器給台灣);The rebels adopted defensive tactics temporarily. (叛軍暫時採取防衛性戰術);She became very defensive when I asked her how much the car had cost. (當我問她這輛車多少錢時,她便充滿戒心,不願多談);They made a strong defensive effort in the second half of the game. (他們下半場頑強地防守)。defensive 還可當名詞用,但僅用在 be on the defensive (採取守勢)、put sb on the defensive (使某人處於守勢) 等片語中,如 The scandal has put the school’s leadership on the defensive. (這項醜聞已使學校領導階層處於守勢)。

就「防衛性的,防衛用的;防守的」意思而言,defensive 的反義詞為 offensive,意為「攻擊性的;(比賽中) 進攻的」,如 The United States provided the Iraqi army with offensive weapons. (美國提供伊拉克軍隊攻擊性武器);They are offensive players. (他們是進攻型球員)。從上述可知,互為相反詞的 defensive 和 offensive 僅用於名詞前。同樣地,offensive 亦可當名詞用,但僅用在 be on the offensive (採取攻勢)、go on the offensive 或 take the offensive (率先攻擊,先發制人) 等片語中。

Q:在 For the third year running the company has made a big loss. 這句中,running 是什麼意思?

A:running 在此的意思為「連續地」,當副詞用;所以這句的意思是「該公司連續 (第) 三年發生重大虧損」。此一用法應可在一般的字典中找得到。除 running 外,英文中還有幾個字和片語也可表達完全相同的意思。請看下面的例句:

  • She won the prize for the second year running. (她連續第二年贏得這個獎)
    = She won the prize for the second year in a row.
    = She won the prize for the second consecutive year.
    = She won the prize for the second straight year.
  • After 10 wins running our team finally lost. (我們球隊在連贏10場之後終於輸了)
    = After 10 wins in a row our team finally lost.
    = After 10 consecutive wins our team finally lost.
    = After 10 straight wins our team finally lost.

Q:What does she look like?、How does she look? 和 What is she like? 的用法和意思有何不同?

A:這三個句子是日常生活中經常聽到的問句,茲將它們的用法以及意思上的差異敘述如下:

How + do (does, did) + 主詞 (人) + look? / What + do (does, did) + 主詞 (人) + look like? — 用來詢問長相 (長得怎麼樣)、外表 (外表、穿著打扮看起來怎麼樣)。注意:How…? 通常指比較正面的外表,而 What…? 則是指不好不壞或比較負面的外表。

  • What did you look like when you were young? (你年輕時長得怎麼樣?)
    Short, fat, and spotty. (矮矮胖胖的,還有雀斑)
  • What does she look like? (她的穿著打扮看起來怎麼樣?)
    As if she hasn’t bought any new clothes in the last twenty years. (她好像20年沒買新衣服一樣)
  • How do I look? (我看起來怎麼樣?)
    Fantastic! That outfit really suits you. (棒極了! 那套衣服很適合你 — 很適合你的外表)

What + be + 主詞 (人) + like? — 用來詢問性格、個性 (某人是個怎麼樣的人)。

  • What’s Bob like? (鮑柏是個怎麼樣的人?)
    Always losing his temper. (動不動就發脾氣)
  • What’s John like? (約翰是個怎麼樣的人?)
    Very sociable. He’s the life and soul of any party. (很善於交際。他是社交聚會的靈魂人物)
  • What’s his wife like? (他的太太是個怎麼樣的人?)
    She’s serious and shy. I’ve never seen her smile. (她既嚴肅又害羞。我從未見到她笑過)

另一類似的問句 — 即把 “What + be + 主詞 (人) + like? ” 問句中的 What 改為 Who — 也很常見:

  • Who are you like in your family? (你在家中像誰?)
    My mother I suppose, we’re both quite moody. (我想是像我媽媽,我們兩人都很情緒化)

How + be + 主詞 (事物)? / What + be + 主詞 (事物) + like? — 用來詢問經驗。在詢問人家的經驗時,這兩種問句的用法和意思並無太大的差別。此外,這兩種問句也可用來詢問做好的食物或吃了的食物好不好,但一般大多使用 “How…?” 的問句形式。至於也可用來詢問心情和身體健康的 How + be + 主詞 (人) ? (如 “How are you today?”,”How is your wife?”),由於是大家所熟知的,在此就不再贅述了。

  • How was your exam? (你的試考得怎麼樣?)
    Fine. I think I did OK. (很好。我想我考得不錯)
  • What was your exam like? (你的試考得怎麼樣?)
    Fine. I think I did OK. (很好。我想我考得不錯)
  • What was your holiday like? (你度假度得怎麼樣?)
    Not wonderful. The hotel was awful. (不是很好。旅館糟透了)
  • How was your steak? (你的牛排怎麼樣?)
    Delicious. Beautifully tender and very juicy. (美味可口。鮮嫩多汁)

Q:”the rise to power of the Chinese Communist Party” 的意思是不是「中共權力的興起」?

A:非也! 那只是似是而非的意思。之所以會發生這樣的誤解,是因為您認為 of the Chinese Communist Party 是修飾 power,其實它是修飾 the rise。如果將整個片語改為 “the rise of the Chinese Communist Party to power” (但這樣的寫法被認為是蹩腳、拙劣的英文),意思就清楚了,就是「中共之竄起掌權」。

像 “of the Chinese Communist Party” 這種修飾其前面之名詞的片語 — 即「of + 名詞 (片語)」– 在英文中叫做 「of 所有格」(of-genitive)。然而,在「名詞 + of + 名詞 (片語)」中,被修飾的名詞與其「of 所有格」之間往往會插入各種不同的元素,使得兩者分離,因此讓讀者誤以為兩者沒有關係,而造成意思上的誤解。這樣的結構是比較少人會注意到或深入探討的,但它卻廣泛地應用在英文的各個層面,值得學習。讀者若能熟悉這樣的結構,一些以前看不懂的句子,現在可能都可以看懂了。上述的插入元素大多是介系詞片語、關係子句或關係子句減化後的分詞片語。在 English Studies (1986) 一書中,作者 Elizabeth Wieser 稱此結構為 “the splitting of the of-genitive” (of 所有格的分離)。請看下面的例句 (底線字即是被分離的 of 所有格結構):

  • The dubbing into British English of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” was a tour de force. (《臥虎藏龍》的英語配音是一項傑作)
  • France’s cooperation with Germany was an example to others of reconciliation and international understanding. (法國與德國的合作提供給其他國家一個和解與國際諒解的範例) — 這是法國前總統席哈克在諾曼第登陸 60週年紀念日致詞時所講的話。
  • There was a glint in his eye of happiness and satisfaction. (他的眼中閃著幸福與滿足的光芒)
  • We fed the dogs with the remnants that had been kept for three days of a feast. (我們用已保存三天的宴席剩菜餵狗)