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seclusive 2007-12-03 13:42

　　谁是近百年来全球最畅销的英文作家呢？

　　读友可能会说：罗琳（J K Rowling）的Harry Potter前四集已售出1亿3000多万册，译成40多国的文字，不是圣经以外当代最畅销的著作吗？罗琳不是最畅销的作家吗？

　　非也，非也。

　　罗琳只是近五年来最畅销的作家。

　　我今天向大家介绍的才是近百年来最畅销的小说作家。

　　她就是大名鼎鼎的侦探小说作家阿嘉莎·克莉丝蒂（Agatha Christie）。

　　这位写了五十年侦探小说的女作家留下六十多部长篇小说、百多部短篇小说，她的作品被译成百多种文字，行销全球，总销量逾20亿册。她才是近百年来最畅销的英文作家。

　　且听英文电视台的资讯节目怎样介绍Agatha Christie。

　　She was known as the Queen of Crime, the Mistress of Mystery, and the Duchess of Death.（她被称为犯罪皇后、神秘女霸王、死亡女公爵。）

　　读友们有没有留意上述的Queen与Crime都是k音开头，Mistress与Mystery都是m音开头，Duchess与Death都用d音开头？以相同辅音（consonant）开头的押韵方式叫做押头韵（alliteration)，是古代英诗中屡见不鲜的技巧，可收音韵铿锵之效。

　　电视节目主持这样说可谓先声夺人。

　　阿嘉莎·克莉丝蒂（Agatha Christie）写过一部名为The Mousetrap的剧本。该剧1952年首演，现仍常在伦敦西区上演，距今刚巧是五十年——演了整整半个世纪了。

　　克莉丝蒂这位20世纪最畅销的小说家生于1890年，死于1976年，在世时“杀人”无数。且听美国资讯电视节目主持怎样描述她。

　　In her heyday, which spanned much of the 20th century, Agatha Christie killed off several hundred members of Britain's privileged classes.（在她的辉煌日子里——跨越二十世纪大部分岁月——阿嘉莎·克莉丝蒂笔下杀了几百位英国特权阶级人物。）

　　Many were dispatched in the English countryside, some mysteriously met their maker in locked rooms, and others were given the luxury of travelling to far-flung and exotic places - Baghdad, Egypt, the Caribbean - before she did away with them.（许多人在英国乡间遭毒手，有些离奇地在上了锁的房间里见阎王，另一些获享豪华旅程，给送往巴格达、埃及、加勒比海等等有异国风情的、偏远的地方才被她干掉。）

　　原来是她的笔下杀人无数，大家可不要误会。

　　这一段旁白写得幽默、讲得风趣，很值得用来研习地道英语表达法。

　　大家想不想到图书馆借一本Agatha Christie的悬疑侦探小说看看啊？

seclusive 2007-12-03 13:49

　　那天几个朋友到一家西餐厅午餐，餐后来了咖啡，啡友S忽然提起洋人吃洋餐的规矩。他说方才见到邻桌一家人进餐，发现不合规矩之处不少，如果到洋人家中作客，颇为失礼。

　　例如那个男孩子喝水，有如牛饮，一吸而尽，就是没有table manners，有失仪态。他说table manners有所谓：things not to do at table，列举十五项不可在餐桌上做的事，其中第一条戒律便是：Do not drain your cup to the dregs。渣滓是dregs（用复数，常用以转喻没有价值的东西，废物），to drain是to drink，而指喝得精光。一个人酒量好，一口饮下一大杯白兰地：He drained a glass of brandy。喝茶时拿起杯子往嘴里倒，喝得只剩茶叶滓渣，是to the dregs。西餐桌上那杯白水，不可一饮而尽，要慢慢一口一口喝。

　　啡友K说现在孩子们上馆子吃饭，一般都要冷饮，更不可drain to the dregs，有碍消化，不合卫生之道也。戒律第二条曰：Do not play with, or give food to, animals。不要逗动物或者喂东西给动物吃。此动物指的是pets。吃饭时不要喂猫喂狗，那是有失仪态的。

seclusive 2007-12-04 13:12
　　In the CONTEXTUAL VOCABULARY below, first read each sentence to understand the meaning of the underlined word and then choose the correct answer to match it.


　　(1) I enjoy working in this office, which is big and spacious.

　　A. roomy

　　B. lavish

　　C. vacant

　　D. well-furnished


　　(2) A truck came along and knocked against a stationary car.

　　A. speeding

　　B. unprotected

　　C. not moving

　　D. head-on


　　(3) Children enjoyed looking at the dazzling lights in the city.

　　A. imported

　　B. brilliant

　　C. well-designed

　　D. twisted


　　(4) Jason's salary is quite adequate to support a small family of four members.

　　A. sufficient

　　B. suitable

　　C. acceptable

　　D. limited


　　(5) Dick performed much better than his predecessor.

　　A. the one long dead

　　B. the one attacking him

　　C. the one before him

　　D. the one following him


　　(6) Most buildings erected during the war cannot be found now.

　　A. robbed

　　B. built

　　C. designed

　　D. existed


　　(7) It took some time for David to surmount his administrative problems.

　　A. encounter

　　B. contemplate

　　C. anticipate

　　D. overcome


　　(8) The tall singer was particularly prominent in the crowd

　　A. conspicuous

　　B. intruding

　　C. aggressive

　　D. nasty


　　(9) Though no longer young, James is still very agile.

　　A. alert

　　B. naive

　　C. nimble

　　D. ambitious


　　(10) A person's perception of life includes his past practical experience.

　　A. Luxury

　　B. understanding

　　C. comfort

　　D. advantage


　　(11) Some foreign scholars learn English more assiduously than others.

　　A. diligently

　　B. easily

　　C. urgently

　　D. necessarily


　　(12) It is fair that outdated rules and regulations should be repealed.

　　A. implemented

　　B. strengthened

　　C. modified

　　D. removed


　　(13) “What the speaker has said sounds childish,” William said with contempt.

　　A. persistence

　　B. scorn

　　C. certainty

　　D. enthusiasm

(1)roomy (2)not moving (3)brilliant (4)sufficient (5)the one before him (6)built (7)overcome (8)conspicuous (9)nimble (10)understanding (11)diligently (12)removed (13)scorn

seclusive 2007-12-04 13:17
　　不久前收到在美国小城报纸任编辑的朋友来信，说他放弃郊区湖畔住宅，夫妻两人搬进城中公寓单位生活。

　　我曾去过他那湖畔住宅，依山面湖，自然景色绝佳。我以为他嫌每天上下班驾车辛苦，但是他说是为了便于照料年迈的岳母，to remain near to her。

　　他的话令我记起莱文生(Leonard L. Levinson)在“韦氏全本大辞典”（Webster's Unabridged Dictionary）中为mother-in-law 一词作的幽默定义，说岳母大人是：One who frequently goes too far by remaining too near。句中的remaining too near，指留在女儿和女婿身边太近，而goes too far则是（闲事）管得太多，言行太过分。想来我这位美国朋友说的to remain near不会是remaining too near。美国电视剧中常见的岳母大人往往是喜欢多管女儿家大小事情的，因此莱文生另一个幽默定义说mother-in-law是：The other woman in many a domestic triangle。

　　家庭中管事的应该是妻子。丈母娘爱管闲事，指手划脚，变成“家庭三角”中另一妇人，肯定不会是一个等边三角形。但愿朋友的岳母大人不会“走得太远”。

seclusive 2007-12-04 13:24

　　I laid an egg in the quiz game.

　　如果一位外籍女同事昨晚参加英文电视台办的有奖问答游戏节目，而今天早上对你说这句话，你猜到是什么意思吗？

　　她怎会在节目进行中下蛋的呢？她不是母鸡，但明明听到她说laid an egg嘛，真教人丈八金刚，摸不着头脑。

　　英美习语不可以望文生义，也往往不可以按字面上的意思去理解。

　　这是学习英语的困难之处，但也是有趣的地方。

　　习语（idiom）包括俚语（slang）、谚语（proverb）、口语（colloquialism）。上述的lay an egg就是口语表达法（colloquial expression）。

　　比方你在课本中读到这一句：

　　This hen lays beautiful brown eggs.

　　这句自然可以理解为：这只母鸡下好看的棕色蛋。

　　看到Fish lay eggs也自然明白解作：“鱼产卵”。

　　然而，那位外籍女士说的I Iaid an egg却与下蛋产卵完全无关！

　　句中laid an egg是口语（colloquialism）。意思是：一败涂地、彻底输了。典出英国早期用语lay a duck's egg（“得零分”的意思）。

　　所以，她是说在电视问答游戏节目中输了。

　　现在大家都了解这句英国习语的意思了吧？要怎么活学活用呢？

　　比方你在商业会议上想用地道英语对外国人说：“如果我们不给它加把劲，这个计划就要垮了。”那你可以这样说：

　　The plan's going to lay an egg unless we give it a shot in the arm.

　　再看 Well, my husband, he's such a couch potato 这句英语的意思。

　　乍听之下，你可能会这样想：这位女同事干嘛把丈夫比喻为“沙发上的马铃薯”呢？

　　她的丈夫难道是魔术师，可以把自己变成马铃薯，坐在长沙发上吓一吓她？

　　其实，a couch potato是美国俚语(American slang)，指老在电视机前坐在沙发上动也不动的人，相当于TV addict，标准电视迷之谓也！

　　美国俚语大都形象化，只要采用“影像联想法”就可以轻易牢记了。办法是想像一个人呆坐在长沙发上看电视，看得入神，动也不动，慢慢变成马铃薯。脑海里的画面愈夸张就愈能记得牢，甚至可能数十年都不会忘掉。

　　比方你和外国人聊天，想说：“我妈妈嘛，她一天到晚都在看电视，真是个典型电视迷。”

　　那你可以说：My mother, she watches TV all day. She's such a couch potato!

seclusive 2007-12-05 09:15
　　In the CONTEXTUAL VOCABULARY below, fill in each blank with the correct answer A, B, C or D.

(1)More and more youngsters here wear glasses because of their____.

　　A. insight B. vision C. short-sightedness D. eyesight

(2)Some____critics regarded our country's role in regional peace as insignificant.

　　 A. unknowledgeable B.well-informed C. innovative D.prejudiced

(3)Henry's friends____him on winning a scholarship.

　　A. congratulated B.comforted C.rejoiced D. envied

(4)The children visited their sick mother for three____days.

　　A. consistent B.consecutive C.constant D. imminent

(5)When a person____, what does that mean, sleepy or tricky?

　　A.screams B.snarls C.yawns D.sneezes

(6)The____of electrical energy into mechanical power is an important process.

　　A. deviation B.dimension C.termination　D. conversion

(7)He____the fire on the gas cooker with pails of water.

　　A. extinguished B.distinguished C. transpired D.conspired

(8)As an____secretary, Helen often finished her work on time.

　　 A. expressive B.efficient C.enormous D. ambitious

(9)Rain water has____the roof of my friend's house.

　　A.pierced B.intruded C.portrayed D.penetrated

(10)Traffic rules are used for____road accidents.

　　A.preventing B.regulating C.presenting D.calculating

(11)Are you____to the general manager of this bank?

　　A. related B. allured C. associated D. involved

(12)Sean is my____; I knew him less than two weeks ago.

　　A. commuter B. acquaintance C. saint D. inmate

(13)Some sentence patterns are____. Note how they are used before using them.

　　A. error-prone B. erroneous C. unique D. tentative

(14)Please remove all the ____of the broken dishes.

　　A. atoms B. cubicles C. elements D. fragments

(15)The thick smoke from the kitchen ____our eyes.

　　A. bothered B. permeated C. irritated D. pervaded.

(1)C (2)D (3)A (4)B (5)C (6)D (7)A (8)B (9)D (10)A (11)A (12)B (13)A (14)D (15)C

seclusive 2007-12-05 09:20
　　朋友的孩子对上学没有太大兴趣，朋友说那是：Like father like son，有其父必有其子，因为他小时读书也是那样。他说自己当年怀疑是否有孩子喜欢上学的。他记得有这样一则笑话：Teacher: “Johnny, can you tell me what a hypocrite is ?”（尊尼，你说伪君子是怎样的？）Johnny:“Yes, ma'am, it's a boy who comes to school with a smile on his face。（是，老师，那是面带笑容来上学的人。）他说自己背着书包进教室时总是装出一副高兴的神气，讨老师欢喜也。

　　伪善者（hypocrite）一词和动词同用，常见者有：play the hypocrite（作伪善状）；expose the hypocrite（揭露伪善者）。形容伪善者有：a sanctimonious hypocrite（装作神圣、虔诚的伪君子），an utter（或a complete) hypocrite（彻底的伪善者）。与前置词同用：He was a hypocrite about his donations to charity。（他捐助慈善事业是出于伪善。）一个人自己道德方面缺点不少，只顾批评他人这方面的缺点：He is hypocritical about others' moral failings。伪善也。

seclusive 2007-12-05 09:38
　　刚看了一出电视剧，该剧一场戏中男主角看医生，对白实用，谨引述一小节给大家参考。

　　医生：Come in, please. I'm Dr Foxall.（请进来，我是霍素医生。）

　　主角：Morning, I'm David Firestein.（早安，我是大卫费思坦。）

　　注：大家可以留意口头语与书面语的一个分别是口头语多用缩略语（contraction）。如上述两句中I am 都说成I'm。

　　医生：Have a seat.（坐吧！）

　　男主角坐下后，医生问他：What seems to be the problem?（有什么问题呢？）

　　注：这是医生问病人的常用语，在外国看西医时听到这类问话可以说出自己有什么毛病。

　　主角：I've lost a little weight recently.（我近来体重减轻了。）

　　注：说体重增加了可用gain weight或put on weight表达。

　　 I felt feverish, and I thought I ate something bad because I had the runs（腹泻）.

　　相信大家都懂得feverish这词，然而 had the runs是什么意思呢？

　　“发烧“的英文名词（noun）是fever，形容词是feverish。

　　用fever是名词，常用的搭配法（collocation）有take a fever、run a fever、have a fever. 说：“我发高烧”，用英语可说：I have a high fever。

　　英语用“high”，汉语用“高”，恰巧对号入座，很容易记，是吗？

　　那么“我热度不很高”用英语该怎样说呢？ 请别往下看，先闭上眼睛想一想。

　　对了，你可以说：I have not much fever。

　　我们继续研究电视剧的实用对话。医生接着问：Did you bring anything up?

　　医生这句问话，相信大家不看中文字幕大都听不懂。

　　片语动词bring ... up，常用的解法是“养育”、“提出”。

　　例句：The kind old couple agreed to bring up the young orphan（那对慈祥的老夫妇同意养育这年幼孤儿。）

　　We decided to bring the matter up at the next meeting.（我们决定在下次会议上提出这个问题。）

　　医生那句话是什么意思呢？

　　大家借例句理解了常用片语动词（phrasal verb）bring up的意思了。

　　然而，片语动词和很多单字一样，多是一词多义的（polysemous），揣摩其释义时须留心上下文。

　　那么，电视剧中医生说的 Did you bring anything up? 是什么意思呢？

　　在这句中bring up自然不解作“养育”，也不解作“提出”。

　　相信大家据上下文猜到医生问男主角有没有呕吐。

　　且看以下两个例句：

　　What has made him bring up?（他怎么会呕吐的？）

　　He brought up all that he had eaten.

（他把吃下去的东西全吐出来了。）

　　当代英语对话中片语动词（phrasal verb）出现的频率极高。

　　去年我引述了一位美国名学者说的话：以英语为母语的人常用片语动词，如果你这方面的词汇不够，就会听不懂外国人讲的话，也看不懂外国人写的文章。

　　英国文法大师A G Alexander也在其著作中说过片语动词变了惯用法（idiomatic expression）时，其释义与原来的动词相距十万八千里，非英语国家的人会感到困惑。

　　同学们须多聆听，多阅读，广积有惯用法意味的片语（phrases）。

　　好，我们继续用电视剧学习地道英语。

　　男主角接着答道：Last night, I thought I was going to vomit.（昨晚我以为我会呕吐了。）

　　相信大家会觉得牢记单词vomit（呕吐）比牢记片语动词（phrasal Verb）bring up容易得多了，是吗？

　　远在异域时，还得懂得听，否则易惹起误会。以呕吐为例，除了上述一单词一片语外，尚有其他英美口语俚语（slang）表达法。

　　我们由浅入深谈谈吧。

　　呕吐的另一个常用的口语式单字是puke。

　　这个puke字相等于vomit。

　　另一个美国俚语单字是barf。

　　英美籍西医用这两个单字问你时，你可要听得懂。

　　另一个俚语式片语动词是throw up。

　　比方你想对外籍西医说：“我醒来时肚子疼，呕吐了”，用地道英语可以说I woke up with a stomachache and threw up.

　　还有一句英语是讲因喝酒过多而呕吐，相信读友十之八九都闻所未闻。我说出来，大家都可能咯咯地轻声笑出来。

　　是shoot the cat.

　　那猫真可怜！

seclusive 2007-12-06 10:09
　　There are MULTIPLE MEANINGS for each of the given words. Decide on the meaning of each word in the sentence and then check the answer at the end.

ACT

　　(1) To me, helping the poor is an act of great kindness.

　　(2) In the act of slapping the boy, the hooligan saw a policeman approaching,

　　(3) Anyone taking part in illegal political activities will be imprisoned under the Internal Security Act.

　　(4) The Servant of Two Masters is a two-act play.

　　(5) I think it is time for us to act now, not talk.

　　(6) It seems that the sleeping pills have acted upon her mind.

　　(7) Can you appoint a suitable person to act as our team leader?

　　(8) In the play An Imaginary Invalid, John acted the part of the old man.

　　(9) The Assisant Director acted for the Director while the latter was on leave.

　　(10) Mary was Acting Director in the absence of Director Wong.

ADVANCE

　　(1) The troop advanced non-stop.

　　(2) All are invited to advance concrete plans to eradicate social ills.

　　(3) Upon the retirement of the general manager, the manager was advanced to fill that vacancy.

　　(4) If you are hard up, I can advance you some cash.

　　(5) Such an arrogant attitude is not likely to advance your interests.

　　(6) Singapore has made great advances in economic and social aspects during the last decade.

　　(7) The rapid advance in food prices causes the cost of living to rise.

　　(8) William made bold advances to a young lady on the bus.

　　(9) She overspent her money this month, so she asked for an advance on her salary.

　　(10) Every cinema here has an advance ticket sale every day.

　　(11) Before his official visit to China, the American President sent an advance party there.

　　(12) Few students got good marks in the advanced English paper.

　　(13) It is unrealistic to expect a man of such an advanced age to do heavy work.

ANSWER

　　(1) Li Mei applied for a job and hoped to get a favourable answer.

　　(2) Do you know the answer to this Question?

　　(3) The advertiser had not answered my letter of application.

　　(4) Can't you answer even such a simple question?

　　(5) Please answer the door while I am busy.

　　(6) This book does not answer my needs.

　　(7) As the present plan does not answer, let us find another way out.

　　(8) Everyone has to answer for his own behaviour.

答案

ACT：(1) 行为　(2) 行动过程　(3) 法案　(4) 幕　(5) 行动　(6) 起作用　(7) 充任　(8) 扮演 (9) 代理　(10) 代理的　 ADVANCE：(1) 前进　(2) 提供　(3) 擢升　(4) 预付　(5) 促进　(6) 进步　(7) 上涨　(8) 接近　(9) 预支　(10) 预先的　(11) 先遣的　(12) 高深的　(13) 年高的
ANSWER：(1) 答复　(2) 答案　(3) 回答　(4) 解答　(5) 应（门）　(6) 符合　(7) 发生作用　(8) 负责

seclusive 2007-12-06 10:11
　　朋友说absent-minded可以说是心不在焉，也就是转眼即忘，是比较常见的日常生活中的笑话。牛顿将手表当蛋煮，可以说是典型的absent-mindedness。

　　西洋笑话中这一类的“失魂”笑话主角，往往是“教授”，可以说是书呆子的笑话。不过笑话中的教授当然不会承认自己是absent-minded的。例如有这样一则笑话：A college professor:“My memory is excellent. There are only three things l can't recollect. I can't remember names, I can't remember faces, and l can't remember what the third thing is.”（一位大学教授说：“我的记性非常好，只有三样东西我记不住。我记不住姓名，我记不住面貌，还有我记不住第三样东西是什么。”）

　　啡友T说人上了年纪，很容易忘记人家的姓名，也难将人的面貌和他（或她）的姓名连在一起。有次他参加聚会，有个熟眉熟眼的人过来打招呼，两人谈东说西之际，又过来一个熟眉熟眼的人，和他们两人打招呼，参加谈话，说了几句后走开了。原来那个熟眉熟眼的人问他：“他是谁？”啡友T老实答道：“我正想问你。”

seclusive 2007-12-06 10:16
　　电视剧的男主角马克发迹了，于是创办自己的公司大展拳脚。一天他接到客户电话，挂线后对其助理说：Let's hit the road。

　　假如不看中文字幕，听到这句话会不会丈八金刚，摸不着头脑呢？

　　To hit可解作打，而road是路：“路”又怎可以“打”呢？

　　汉语中“打”和“路”不能搭配。

　　“搭配”的英文是collocation。

　　“打的”反而是北京人都懂得的近代流行口语，源自香港人常说的粤语“搭的士”（按：新加坡则指搭德士）。北京人也许觉得说“乘出租车”不如说“打的”顺口简洁，于是都喜欢用这两字用语。

　　可见不论东方西方，语言都随时代而演变。

　　我们现在研究男主角马克这句话的意思。

　　To hit the road 是美国俚语（American slang），指“动身”、“启程”。

　　所以，Let's hit the road即“我们出发吧”，你可以活学活用to hit the road，说We'd better hit the road. It's a long way home.

　　Hit 还有些有趣又实际的用法。To hit the books是什么意思呢？

　　相信大家都知to hit the books不会指“打书”。

　　假如你看电影时听到I gotta go home and hit the books，你怎样理解这句话呢？

　　这句话的意思是：“我得回家啃书了。”

　　汉语“啃书”即香港口语的“咪书”、“刨书”。

　　如果你在外国留学，与室友（roommate）一块儿啃书，着实太累了，于是提议上床睡觉，这时候最好不要说Let's go to bed，因为这句话另有含义（connotation），容易引致误会。

　　你可以活用hit字说“Let's hit the sack”。

　　假如你的室友还不想睡，反过来给你一杯香浓咖啡，抗拒睡魔，而你想说“这杯咖啡真是正中下怀”，你可以说This cup of coffee really hit the spot。

　　To hit the spot 是美国流行口语。多指饮品食品令人满意，切合需要。

seclusive 2007-12-07 09:37
Read the following written exercise carefully. Amend the imperfections in meaning expression, vocabulary usage or sentence construction so as to make the language not only correct and comprehensible but also good and effective. Refer to the REVISED VERSION only after you have made the necessary amendments to the ORIGINAL TEXT.

Such a Strong Woman

Today's afternoon, I have read a short story in Reader's Digest, by the name of I Was Blind, Yet I saw.

It is a true story, happening in England. When Judy Taylor, the main character in the story, was nine years old, the darkness began closing around her. And she was completely blind during the next decades. How could we go on living without light in the life? I was quite astonished that she led a normal life, even though many troubles surrounded her. From the bullying of her classmates to being deserted by the first lover, she faced uncountable problems and attacks. But she never gave up. In order to be a good teacher, she studied very hard at the school for the blind. Life was always extremely rough to her. After her graduation, no school wanted to accept her. Accidentally, she seized a chance to try out something. With great efforts, she became a teacher at last. From then on, the life changed for the better. She married at the age of thirty six and had two sons later. She took on a lot of household chores that we ordinary people could not believe. But it was true.

When over fifty, she could see the world again after operations. She said,”If the darkness had not existed, I would never have known the joy of seeing.”

Comparatively, we are very lucky, and troubles around us are too small. We can learn much from her. Life is always like this; nothing is perfect. To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. There is a whole new world ahead of us.

**********

A Strong Woman (revised version)

I have just read a short story in Reader's Digest, called “I Was Blind, Yet I Saw”, a true story from England.

At the age of nine, Judy Taylor, the main character in the story, was blind and could not see for a few decades. How can an ordinary person go on living without being able to see? I am therefore quite astonished that Taylor could lead a normal life in spite of great difficulties, from bullying of her classmates to being deserted by her first lover. But Taylor did not give up. Instead, she studied very hard at the school for the blind. After she had graduated, she wanted to be a teacher, but no school wanted to employ her. She tried again and again and finally got a teaching post by chance. From then onwards, her life changed for the better. At the age of 36, she got married and had two sons later. She worked hard, including doing a lot of household chores, which ordinary people could not be able to handle.

At the age of more than fifty years old, Taylor could see the world after an eye operation.

“If the darkness had not existed,”she said,“I would never have known the joy of seeing.”

Comparatively speaking, we are very lucky, as we have come across few great troubles in life. The whole new world is ahead of us. Let us learn from Taylor; let us learn to strive, to seek, to find but not to yield.

seclusive 2007-12-07 09:41
　　谈到nagging wife，啡友L说那是西洋笑话中常见的主题。他说有一则这类笑语以丈夫和朋友的对话托出唠叨妻子的可怕。丈夫对朋友说：“I had a terrible argument with my wife. She promised she wouldn't talk to me for thirty days.”（我和老婆大吵一架。她发誓说三十天不跟我说话。）

　　朋友知道丈夫从来怕老婆啰嗦，听说她发誓三十天不和他说话，当然会说：“Then you should be happy.”（那你该高兴了。）丈夫说：“Why be happy? This is the last day。”（为何高兴？今天是最后一天。啡友L说此句中译宜作：有啥可以高兴的？今天是第三十天。）

　　To have an argument with somebody，和某人争论，以terrible形容argument，吵架、争论得十分激烈也。美国最高法院首位犹太人法官布兰代斯（Louis D.Brandeis, 1856—1941年）说：Behind every argument is someone's ignorance——任何争论，总有一个人无知。他说得好，如果争论双方对一个问题都彻底了解，看到全面，怎么会有争论呢？

seclusive 2007-12-07 10:01
　　这几期大家运用“影像联想法”，幻想在教堂举行婚礼，用五个句子就轻易牢记文法的五大句型：

　　① I do. (S+V)

　　② You look handsome/beautiful. (S+V+C)

　　③ I love you. (S+V+O)

　　④ You made me happy. (S+V+O+C)

　　⑤ I'II give you a kiss. (S+V+O+O)

　　如果文法基础在初中时期就打稳，高中时预科就可以广泛阅读，从英美名家的作品中汲取养分，进一步掌握修辞法（rhetoric）与惯用法（idiomatic expression），这样自然可以写出合文法而简洁地道的英文。

　　语文是随着时代演进的，除了上述五大句型之外，当代文法家David Crystal还发现了两大附加句型：

　　⑥ S+V+A

　　⑦ S+V+O+A

　　【subject（主词）+verb（动词）+object（受词）+adverbial（状语）】

　　状语（adverbial）是修饰动词、形容词、副词以及全句的句子成分。

　　David Crystal在其著作“Rediscover Grammar”中举的SVA与SVOA的例句如下：

　　⑥ Hilary lives in London（希拉莉住在伦敦）

　　⑦ Hilary put the box on the table. （希拉莉把盒子放在桌上）

　　现在再来谈一谈句子的分类。

　　当代文法列出了五种，分别是：

　　① declarative sentence叙述句

　　② interrogative sentence疑问句

　　③ exclamatory sentence感叹句

　　④ imperative sentence祈使句

　　⑤ optative sentence祈愿句

　　这几天大家都掌握了declarative sentencer的七大句型了。

　　那些例句都用得很短，目的是协助大家轻易牢记七大句型（seven sentence types），写作与交谈时自然可以添枝加叶，丰富句子的涵意。

　　比方说，“She is a singer”是S+V+C【subject（主语） + verb（动词） + complement（补语）】的句型。

　　然而，你在下笔时不必那么一板一眼，按着公式去写，大可放心采用“添枝加叶法”，加上某些形容词（adjective）、副词（adverb）、片语（phrase），丰富全句。兹举上述SVC句型的一个例：

　　According to her wishful thinking, she (S) may become (V) a famous singer (C) some day.

　　这才是活学活用的方法。同学们不必死记文法专书举的乏味例句，只要懂得灵活变通之法，自然会觉得研习方法是很有趣的了。

**********

　　上一期谈到英美文法家近年发现“状语”（adverbial）在句子中十分重要，今天我由浅入深，造些句子协助大家掌握带有状语的两大新句型：

　　主语＋动词＋状语或状语补语（suject+verb+adverbial/ adverbial complement，简称S+V+A/ CA）

　　例句：Madonna lay on the beach.

　　　　（麦当娜躺在海滩上。）

　　全句基本结构是主语＋动词＋状语。

　　Madonna是名词，用作主语；lay是动词，用作谓语（V）；on the beach用作介词短语，用作状语（A）。

　　The meeting will be on May 4（会议将在五月四日举行），这句就是主语＋动词＋状语补语（S+V+CA）。

　　The meeting是名词，用作主语（S）；will be是连系动词link-verb；on May 4是介词短语，用作状语adverbial complement（CA）。

　　由于谓语动词是由连系动词（link-verb）充当，后接的成分就是状语补足语（adverbial complement），表示时间。

　　接着，再协助大家牢记最后一个句型：主语＋动词＋宾语＋状语（subject + verb + object+adverbial，简称S+V+O+A）。

　　试造一个例句：Stallone put the script on the desk.（史泰龙把剧本放在桌子上。）

　　全句的基本结构是这样的：

　　Ⅰ Stallone是名词，用作主语 （S）

　　Ⅱ put是动词，用作谓语（V）

　　Ⅲ the script是名词，用作宾语（O）

　　Ⅳ on the desk是介词短语，用作状语（A）

　　这个句子中的状语是强制性的（obligatory），不能省去，否则句子就不完整。

　　你试读一读：Stallone put the script...

　　是不是觉得好像还未完呢？

　　所以，我们要加上状语on the table来说明宾语the script的所在，这样句子就完整了。

　　万变不离其宗，只要掌握了“当代文法七大句型”，以后大家写简单陈述句（simple declarative sentence），只要看是否符合这七大句型，就可避免犯文法错误。

　　再玩玩“趣味文法小测试”：

　　All roads lead to Rome.

　　We gave him a hearty welcome.

　　猜猜以上两句是七大句型的哪两种？

***********

　　上一期讲到，只要大家掌握了“当代文法七大句型”，活学活用，写简单陈述句（simple declarative sentence）就可避免犯文法错误了。

　　 同时还写了两个句子，请大家用文法分析。北京大学英语系名教授薄冰老先生说过：

　　“句子分析对英语学习非常有用。它可以检查你的学习效果，巩固你的学习成果，弥补你学习的不足，大大减少或避免学习的盲目性。”

　　第一句：All roads lead to Rome.（条条道路通罗马）

　　主语是All roads，动词是lead，状语是to Rome（修饰动词）。

　　所以这句是主语+动词+状语的简单句，即S+V+A。

　　第二句：We gave him a hearty welcome.（我们给他热诚的欢迎）

　　主语是we，动词是gave，间接受词（indirect object）是him，直接受词（direct object）是a hearty welcome。

　　所以，这句是主语+动词+间接受词+直接受词的简单句，即S+V+Oi+Od。

　　都答对了吧？现在请分析这一句：Outside the pub is the bus stop.（酒吧外面是巴士车站）。

　　这句应是“当代七大文法句型”中哪一种呢？

　　答案其实是S+V+CA……

　　噢，我还未说完哟。

　　是S+V+CA倒过来，变成CA+V+S。

　　也即是状语补足语（adverbial complement）+动词（verb）+主语（subject）。

　　在英文文法中，这句用了inversion（倒装语），是inverted sentence（倒装句）。

　　有时为了在结构上或修辞上强调一下，可以把句子成分的次序转换，例如上句就是把本该放在句末位置的状语补足语（adverbial complement）放在句首，还把主语和动词来个移形换影，互相对调。这种倒装句（inverted sentence）偶尔一用，可令文章有活泼的变化。

seclusive 2007-12-08 13:46
　　英语句子千变万化，但都有一定的句法。有些句子，外表相似，但含义不同。有时两个句子中，只有一个字不同，甚至只有一个标点不同，句子的意思也跟着不同。有趣的是，句子越浅白，问题可能越多。

　　现在看看这两个句子：

　　(1) Ken said he had been fairly well treated.

　　(2) Ken said he had been fairly treated.

　　这两个句子都有副词“fairly”，但是在(1)里，它是个程度副词（adverb of degree），意思是“相当地”。在(2)里，它是个状态副词（adverb of manner），意思是“公平地”。第一个“fairly”修饰另一个副词“well”；第二个“fairly”修饰动词“treated”。

　　再看看这两个句子：

　　(3) Jimmy didn't buy the coat because it did not fit him.

　　(4) Jimmy didn't buy the coat because it did not suit him.

　　(3)和(4)的唯一差别是在动词“fit”和“suit”。前者指“尺寸”；后者指“款式”。区区一字之别，意思大不相同。

　　最后，比较下面四组句子，看看它们又如何“形似义异”：

　　(5) Samuel, the manager, told me that he was leaving the job.

　　(6) Samuel, the manager, told me to leave the job.

　　这两句主要的不同根源在“told”这动词的内涵。(5)里的间接引语（indirect speech）是个陈述句（declarative sentence）。(6)里的间接引语是个祈使句（imperative sentence）。这两句的直接引语（direct speech）如下：

　　－ “I am leaving the job,” said Samuel, the manager.

　　－ “Leave the job !” said Samuel, the manager.

　　(7) The tourist spent two days in Singapore.

　　(8) The tourist spent two days on Singapore.

　　这两句的差别仅在介词“in”和“on”。

　　(7)里的意思就是“旅客在新加坡观光两天”。(8)里的目的不是“观光”，而是“研究”。(7)里指的是“spending time sightseeing Singapore”。 (8)里指的是“spending time studying about Singapore”.

　　(9) I had a view of the London Bridge.

　　(10) I had a view from the London Bridge.

　　这两句的差别也在两个不同的介词：“of” 和“from”。

　　在(9)里，伦敦大桥是说话人“观看的目标”。在(10)里，伦敦大桥是说话人的“立足点”，去看别的东西。

　　(11) John helped her do the office work.

　　(12) John helped her to do the office work.

　　(11)表示“约翰直接和全面的帮助她，从而减轻她的负担”。(12)并不指直接投入有关的工作，而是以其他方式协助她，让她完成自己的任务。

seclusive 2007-12-08 13:52
　　“黑里行走的，不知道往何处去。”(He that walks in darkness knows not whither he goes)。

　　据啡友K说，也是出于圣经的常用英语，可用以喻不少人生情况。有些人不是“黑里行走”，反而是“乘黑走路”。英语中有：Walk by owl-light。靠“猫头鹰之光”（亦作dusk，昏暗），趁黄昏走路也。The suspect walked by owl-light when he learnt that the police would come after him。疑犯得悉警方将来逮他时趁黑逃走。

　　啡友W说曾在电影中见到一个警官夜间巡街时见到男的在街上逛会说：Walk, knave, walk! 见到女的就说：Walk, drab, walk! 都是叫他们“滚开”！(Begone!) 之意。knave是无赖，drab是荡妇，相当于slut或者harlot，娼妓也。黑夜中在街上逛来逛去的男女，在警官眼中，好人有限。

　　电影中可以见到有些美国小城警官，有如“白鲸”（Moby Dick）作者梅尔维尔（Herman Melville，1819-1891）所说的cock of the walk（山头大王，霸王），随意拦车，要司机walk the chalk（检查是否醉酒驾车，划白线走路）。

seclusive 2007-12-08 13:59
　　美国伦理爱情长篇连续剧《再续前缘》（Once and Again），女主角莎拉华德（Sela Ward）对女儿说了这句话：

　　“ I had this huge crush on him.”

　　这是目前在英美都很流行的口语表达法（colloquial expression）。女主角知道在念中学的女儿与一名黑人同学谈恋爱，于是与她谈心事，承认自己念书时恋上了学校里的美式足球队队长，说：

　　“I had this huge crush on him”（我当时非常爱他。）

　　可不要误解为把他压碎哟。句中的huge是强调语气的修饰语，原句是：

　　have a crush on sb.（爱上某人）。

　　女主角讲那句用了修辞学的加枝添叶法，相等于源出英国的片语nuts about/crazy about。

　　用地道英语表达：“我想我很爱你”，可以说：I think I'm nuts about you.

　　我们再玩“地道英语小测试”游戏好吗？

　　女角甲：He has eyes for you.

　　女角乙：Really? I get a kick out of him too.

　　请猜一猜这两句话的意思。下期再谈。

***********

　　上个星期引的I had this huge crush on him出自目前在美国十分热门的长篇爱情伦理电视剧《再续前缘》（Once and Again）。

　　该剧第一辑（13集）2000年在美国播映时十分哄动，大受青少年男女欢迎。刚刚拍好的第二辑推出时，全美身价最高的电视节目主持人Barbara Walters（芭芭拉华达丝）主持的镇台之宝《20/20》也得让出黄金时段。

　　上个星期和大家玩的“地道英语小测试”游戏，有没有写下答案啊？

　　女角甲：He has eyes for you.（他被你吸引住了。）

　　注：句中的have eyes for是流行的口语表达法，可解作“喜欢”、“注意”、“对……感兴趣”。

　　女角乙：Really? I get a kick out of him.（真的吗？我跟他在一起时也蛮开心的。）

　　注：句中的get a kick out of sb.是近年在美国相当流行的口语，新得连在英汉大词典也查不到。现在引用英文口语辞典的释义让大家加深印象：If someone or something gives you a kick, it makes you feel very excited or very happy; an informal use: I got a kick out of seeing my boyfriend.

　　这个例句的意思是：我见到男朋友时很开心。大家不要把女角说的这句话误解为“我给他踢了一脚”哟。

　　希望大家记住：英文习语（包括口语、俚语、谚语）绝大部分都不可以按字面直解！

seclusive 2007-12-09 12:54
Read the following written exercise carefully. Amend the imperfections in meaning expression, vocabulary usage or sentence construction so as to make the language not only correct and comprehensible but also good and effective. Refer to the REVISED VERSION only after you have made the necessary amendments to the ORIGINAL TEXT.

学习语文除了文法正确，还须向更佳的境界挑战。请大家细看以下这则文章，看哪里可以改进。

********

My Hometown-Sichuan

Sichuan Province is located in the southwestern part of China. The centre of Sichuan is a basin which is surrounded by a lot of mountains. So the weather is very gloomy and wet. It seldom snows, but rains heavily in summer.

There are a lot of natural resources in Sichuan.

In the eastern part, San Xia is now a hot spot. It is actually a part of the Changjiang River, the third longest river in the world. This river is famous for its rapids and narrow valleys. It is really exciting to have a trip on the river. But be careful, it could be dangerous.

In the north, Jiuzaigou and Wolong are two places you must go. Wolong Protection Area is well known as the hometown of giant pandas, the lovely but almost extinct animals. You can watch them very closely and even take photos with them. Jiuzaigou, a world's natural heritage listed in the UNESCO, is a place you only find in fairy stories. Its beautiful lakes and majestic mountains attract millions of tourists all over the world.

In the south, there are Mount Emei and Leshan Giant Buddha, which are also declared as world's natural heritages. You can find a lot of Buddhist temples in the mountain as well as many naughty monkeys. Look out! They may rob you of your food! Leshan Giant Buddha is absolutely great and unbelivable. This 37 metre high Buddhist Statue was carved hundreds of years ago. It is right at the bank of the Ming River. This special location makes it like an ancient miracle.

The western part is really a mysterious region because it is at the edge of the Qing-Tibet Plateau. Since it is so near Tibet, the culture there is mixed; that is half Tibetan and half Han. The topography there is complex. There are grasslands, plains, great mountains and plateaus. You can even find glaciers in this region. I bet that you will never forget the experience if you have ever been there. I dare say that your trip there will be a great adventure.

The food in Sichuan is the best all over China. You must have courage to have a taste of Sichuan food because most of it is hot. However, if you get used to it, you will find Sichuan food the most delicious food in the world.

All in all, my hometown Sichuan is beautiful, attractive and yet mysterious. Have a visit to Sichuan when the opportunity arises! You will never be regretted for doing so. Sichuan is waiting for you.

*********

REVISED VERSION

My Hometown - Sichuan

Sichuan Province is located in the southwestern part of China. Its centre is a basin surrounded by mountains, so the weather is wet and gloomy, with heavy rain in summer but without much snow in winter.

There are many natural resources in Sichuan. In the north, Jiuzaigou and Wolong are two places one must visit. Wolong Protection Area is well known as the hometown of giant pandas, the lovely but almost extinct animals. One can watch them closely and even take photos with them. Jiuzaigou, a world's natural heritage listed in UNESCO, is a place one only find in fairy tales. Its beautiful lakes and majestic mountains have attracted millions of tourists all over the world.

In the south, there are Mount Emei and Leshan Giant Buddha, also proclaimed as world's natural heritages. One can find a lot of Buddhist temples in the mountain as well as many naughty monkeys. Look out! They may rob you of your food. Leshan Giant Budda is amazingly great. Carved hundreds of years ago, this 37-metre statue is right on the bank of Min River and is regarded as an ancient miracle.

In the eastern part, San Xia is a hot spot. It is actually a part of Changjiang River, the third longest river in the world. This river is renowned for its rapids and narrow valleys. It is really thrilling to have a trip there. But be careful! It could be dangerous.

The western part, a mysterious region, is on the edge of Qing-Tibet Plateau. Since it is so near Tibet, the culture there is mixed; it is half Tibetan and half Han. The topography there is complex, too. In addition to grasslands, plains, mountains and plateaus, one may also find glaciers. I bet one will never forget the experience of visiting this region because a trip there is really a great adventure.

The final memorable thing about Sichuan is its delicious food. Once a person gets used to its food, he will find it delicious and better than any other food in the world.

All in all, my hometown Sichuan is beautiful, attractive and yet mysterious. Have a visit to Sichuan; it is awaiting you.

seclusive 2007-12-09 12:57
　　啡友T谈他叔父儿时在上海读书时的故事，说他叔父那时身健力壮，喜欢打架，在小学中称“大亨”。凡是看不顺眼的同学，叔父一定要和他较量，把人家压倒在地上，命令人家“叫声爷叔！”。被压倒的同学叫过一声“爷叔”后，叔父会放他起身，握手成了朋友。啡友T说上海黑帮中的“大哥”，有“爷叔”之称，而“叫声爷叔”则是表示投降之意。

　　这个“叫声爷叔！”正是英语中的：Say uncle! 相当于：Surrender! 英语中之Say uncle，以其叫喊之程度不同而作Cry uncle，Yell uncle 以及Scream uncle，叫喊，大喊和尖声叫喊。Say uncle上个世纪初在美国开始流行，啡友T说不知是否由沪语转成。语言学家芬克（Charles Earle Funk）认为可能源于拉丁语。他说罗马时代儿童遇到困难时喊叫：Patrue mi Patruissime. （Uncle, my best of uncles.）可能是Say uncle的来源。

　　1992年克林顿竞选总统时的助手卡维尔（James Carville）谈到当时的老布什总统时说：He didn't yell uncle; he screamed it，就是说布什宣布“投降”也。形势不利，还是叫声爷叔的好。

seclusive 2007-12-09 13:03
　　日前在英文电视台看了一辑《趣趣小电影》，美国黑人主持詹姆斯布朗（James Brown）妙语如珠，介绍观众寄到电视台参加比赛的一组录映带片段，十分精彩，巧用美式修辞（American rhetoric），值得提供给各位忠实读友欣赏研习。

　　在那片段中，刚满三岁的小宝宝费尽九牛二虎之力，企图吹熄插在生日蛋糕上的三支蜡烛，由于吹法不对，尽全力也没法吹熄蜡烛。小宝宝面上的无奈十分惹笑。

　　我现在先默写节目主持的旁白与大家分享：

　　Some of life's most embarrassing moments seem to happen during special occasions.（生活中一些最尴尬的时刻似乎发生在特别场合。）

　　这句话在小宝宝没法把蜡烛吹熄时说，着实达到“声影合一”的境界。

　　Luckily for us, special occasions are usually intimate gatherings made up of parents, kids, hundreds of relatives and a video camera to record your blunders and show them to the world.（幸而特别的场合通常是气氛融洽的聚会，在场的有父母、孩子、几百位亲戚，和拍下窘态并公诸于世的摄录机。）

　　第一句的intimate可解作“熟悉”、“亲密”。但问外国女士“你跟他很熟吗”千万别说“Are you intimate with him”。

　　四年前看过拙著《惯用英语秘笈》的读友可能知之甚详，但新读友也许不大清楚。

　　该书最后四篇是“余光中谈查辞典的方法”。余老先生是誉满中港台的名教授，相信读者听过他的大名，甚至读过他的著作。

　　请看余光中教授给《朗文英汉双解辞典》写的序文，怎样缕述误用intimate一字的经过。

　　“多年前我和一位美国太太谈天，话题转到某位画家，我说：It seems you're quite intimate with him，不料她笑容顿失，脸色尴尬，言语嗫嚅，不知如何是好，我也愣住了。后来我才发现，这个字另有性的含意……‘They were intimate three times,’ reported the policeman.（“他们曾有过三次性关系，”警察报告说。）”

　　全文太长，不宜在这里引述。有兴趣知道详情的读者，可参阅明窗出版的拙著《惯用英语秘笈》。

　　余光中老教授最后语重心长告诫后辈说：“足见intimate一字用来形容男女关系，必须慎重，也足见，查辞典不可蜻蜓点水，一掠而过，应该定下心来，细读全条，不少生字（甚至熟字）的含意，要看到最后数解才会明白，不是匆匆扫描前一两解就能找到。所以查辞典是一门学问，一大锻炼！”

seclusive 2007-12-10 10:31
学习语文除了文法正确，还须向更佳的境界挑战。请大家细看这篇文章，看哪里可以改进。

Read the following written exercise carefully. Amend the imperfections in meaning expression, vocabulary usage or sentence construction so as to make the language not only correct and comprehensible but also good and effective. Refer to the REVISED VERSION only after you have made the necessary amendments to the ORIGINAL TEXT.

How does the Internet Benefit Our life?

With the development of technology, the Internet has become an important part of our daily life, Surfing the net becomes one of the most popular leisure activities among young people. Then how does the Internet benefit our life?

The first benefit that the internet brings us is the easier and faster way of communication. E-mail is replacing the ordinary letters gradually, as it is much faster and more convenient. We can send a message to our friends no matter where he or she is as long as he has an e-mail account. What is more, we can enter the chat rooms or ICQ to communicate with our friends just like chatting with them on the phone. Of course, it is much cheaper than a long-distance call.

The second benefit of the Internet is that it is just like a huge database, which provides lots of information. We can discover the world on the net without going out of our homes. We can find all the information we want on the net; for example, news or weather forecast. If I want to find some material for my project, the only thing I have to do is to type in what I would like to find in the search engine, and then in seconds, all the information will appear on the screen. It saves time and energy and makes me work more efficiently.

Apart from getting information, you can also do shopping on line. If I want to buy something, I do not need to rush downtown and look for it from one store to another. I can just sit in front of the computer and click the mouse to select the satisfactory products.

In addition, we can have many entertainments on the Internet. We can play games with others on the net. I once played bridge on the net and had a lot of fun. We can also watch TV, listen to music and read novels on the net.

With the Internet, the world has become a global village. The Internet broadens our fields of visions and makes our life more colourful.

**********

REVISED VERSION

With the development of technology, the Internet plays an important role in our daily life. This is especially true of the young who ‘surf the net’as one of the most popular leisurely activities.

What are the benefits of the Internet for our life, then?

The first benefit is easier and faster communication. For example, e-mail is gradually replacing ordinary letter-writing. We can send a message to our friends no matter where they are as long as they have an e-mail account. What is more, we can enter the‘chat room’to communicate with our friends just like chatting with them on the phone; it is much cheaper than a long-distance phone call.

The second benefit is abundant information. We can have access to the world without leaving the home and get all the information we want. For instance, if we want to look for certain materials for a project, the only thing to do is to ‘key in’the relevant data and what you want will appear on the screen in no time.

Apart from getting information, we can also do shopping‘on line’. To buy something, we do not have to rush downtown to go from one store to another. We can just sit in front of the computer to‘click the mouse’for the goods wanted. In addition, we can have different forms of entertainment or recreation. For instance, we can play games with others. Once, I played the bridge on the net and enjoyed it very much. Besides games, we can also watch TV, listen to music, read novels, and whatnot.

In short, with the advent of the internet, we benefit a lot and turn the world into a ‘global village’where we see more for living a more colourful life.

seclusive 2007-12-10 10:34
　　啡友P谈儿时乡间夏日生活乐事之一，是在柳树下乘凉，仰望天上的云，想像自己坐在云上，遨游太空。

　　他说这也许是看《西游记》的影响。他还记得农民对云的变幻也相当注意，因为那和晴雨有关。他曾见英语谚言有: Red clouds in the east, rain the next day. 想是英国农民看云测晴雨的经验谈。

　　他说乡谚有“日没火烧云，明天晒死人”，说黄昏时西方的红云，是次日天气炎热之兆。他说云和天气的密切关系，在谚语中常用以喻人生遭遇，如：After clouds, calm weather一语，来自：After a storm comes a calm weather, 亦作After black clouds comes clear weather, 正是我们说的“雨过天青”，喻情况由坏转好。

　　不过，西谚中另有一句：All clouds bring no storms（亦作no rains），即使乌云密布，未必一定下雨。此谚常用以提醒我们世事发展未必定如预见。形势欠佳，未必一定十分不利。

　　老板对伙计发脾气，有人安慰伙计道：Don't worry. All clouds bring no storms！老板发怒，不会炒鱿鱼的！啡友P说，晴雨难测，谁都难说明天如何，但要记得：After clouds, calm weather.

seclusive 2007-12-10 10:48
　　一些高小、初中的同学看了这个标题可能会问：向人致歉时说Sorry和Excuse me不是一样吗？

　　高中、大学的同学试想一下有什么分别，好吗？

　　现在且别往下看，先闭上眼想一想。

　　Excuse me与Sorry用法确有分别。英国语文学家Michael Swan在其名著Practical English Usage曾把这两句话细分。

　　Excuse me通常在说或做可能令人不悦的事情之前使用；而Sorry在说或做这种事情之后使用，表示歉意。

　　Excuse me通常在要打扰别人或要打断别人谈话或要吸引别人注意时使用。

　　以下三句话请在划线上填Sorry或Excuse me。

　　(i) Oh______, did I step on your foot?

　　(ii) ______, could I get past?

　　(iii) ______, could you tell me the way to the station?

　　大家都填好了吗？

　　(i) Oh. sorry, did I step on your foot?（噢，抱歉，我有没有踩到你的脚呢？）

　　(ii) Excuse me, could I get past?（对不起，可以借过吗？）

　　(iii) Excuse me, could you tell me the way to the station?（对不起，可以告诉我到车站去该怎么走吗？）

　　只要记着Excuse me用于事前，Sorry用于事后，就不会误用了。

　　由于英国人较拘谨，用字较讲究，英国语文学家Michael Swan为非英语国家的人写的Practical English Usage就把一些似同实异的句子条分缕析，旁及英美两国英语的分别。该书厚逾六百页，可说是研习当代英文的小型百科全书，值得推荐给中小学语文教师参考。

　　至于带疑问的语气与上升的语调，说Sorry?或Excuse me?又是什么意思呢？

　　这样说那就不再是致歉的用语，而是英美人听不清楚对方说什么，请人家再说一遍时说的话。

　　听以下甲乙两人的对话实况，自可轻易牢记。

　　甲：It's the plumber at the door.（修水管的工人在门口了？）

　　乙：Sorry?（什么？）

　　甲：I said it's the plumber（我说是修水管的工人。）

　　乙说的Sorry，也可改说Excuse me，是要求对方再说一遍。大家用时请留心语气语调。

*************

　　上星期谈过的带疑问语气和上升语调的Sorry?/Excuse me? 当外籍朋友与你讲话，你一时心不在焉，没听清楚，请他复述一遍，还有以下几种地道的问法。

　　Pardon me?

　　大家都看过全球最卖座、获奥斯卡最佳电影金像奖的《铁达尼号》（Titanic）吧。男女主角里安纳度狄卡比奥（Leonardo Dicaprio）与琦温丝莉（Kate Winslet）在邮轮的甲板上聊天，此时男主角已经恋上了女主角，而且觉得她并不爱她那一面邪气的未婚夫，于是突然问她：Do you love him?（你爱他吗？）

　　琦温丝莉对这个突如其来的问题，半带惊讶，半带疑惑，脱口反问：Pandon me?

　　她说这话是请男主角再说一遍，当时语带娇嗔，于是狄卡比奥再说：Do you love that guy?（你爱那家伙吗？）

　　假如你听不清楚外籍朋友说的话，请他再说一遍，大可以用客气而委婉的语气说：Pardon me?

　　他自然乐意重述一遍。

　　除了Excuse me?/Sorry?/Pardon me?之外，对较熟稔的老外朋友还可以用近年流行的地道讲法Come again?和Run that by me again。　　

别误解Come again?

　　在日常交际中，外籍朋友听不清楚你说的话，有时会请你复述一遍。

　　比方你对外籍朋友说了一句话，他说：Come again?

　　可不要误会他问你会不会再来。这是美国的问法。

　　还有三四年，香港就有迪斯尼主题公园了。那是纯美国文化。同学们要提高英语水平，增强竞争实力，必须兼擅英美两国的英文。

　　月前，虚怀若谷的港大校长徐立之教授接受《明报》记者访问时坦然承认在美国攻读博士学位时听不懂美国人说的美式英语，于是闭门看球赛学俚语口语，英文才突飞猛进。

　　上述的Come again在Dr Robert L Chapman编写的New Dictionary of American Slang中有如下释义：多为请求语，有时也用以表示不信听到的话。

　　金像影帝阿尔柏仙奴（Al Pacino）在四年前的卖座西片《夺命烟幕》就说过Come again，要求电视台女强人再说她说的话。

　　Come again? Did I hear what I hope I didn't?

　　意思是“再说一遍好吗？我希望我刚才听的不实”。

　　外国人听不清楚对方说的话，要求对方复述一遍，还有句常用口语：Run that by me again?

　　这句语与跑步无关哟！

　　大家切勿一听到run就想到“跑”，这样对号入座就会引起误会重重了。

　　四年前莎朗史东（Sharon Stone）与电视长寿剧《X档案》女主角姬莉安德逊（Gillian Anderson）合演名片《陪着你走》（The Mighty）。该片一场戏中两个童星对话。

　　小童星：Do you want to earn a gold crown?（你想赚个金币吗？）

　　大童星：Run that by me again?（你说什么？再讲一次好吗？）

　　于是小童星再答一次。

　　Run that by me again是美国俚语，颇为流行，现在其他英语国家的人都懂得了。听到外籍人问这句话，自然明白他听不清楚你说的话，请你再说一遍。

　　上述俚语不用me字也可以。比方你想说：

　　“请把姓名、地址重复一遍，好吗？”的地道美式英语的讲法是：Just run that name and address by again, will you?

seclusive 2007-12-11 12:46
Read the following written exercise carefully. Amend the imperfections in meaning expression, vocabulary usage or sentence construction so as to make the language not only correct and comprehensible but also good and effective. Refer to the REVISED VERSION only after you have made the necessary amendments to the ORIGINAL TEXT.

学习语文除了文法正确，还须向更佳的境界挑战。请大家细看以下这则文章，看哪里可以改进。

*********

My World in the Year 2020

The year 2020 is not very far away from now, a mere 20 years later. Today's world is developing at a very fast speed. How will the world be like in the year 2020 ?

At that time, I will be thirty-seven years old. I think I will be a career woman instead of a housewife. However, I will not run a company of my own. After all, I will be a wife as well as a mother. I have to do some housework and take care of my children. Running a company will take up so much time and energy that maybe I will neglect my family as a result.

In my opinion, family is more important than work, especially for women. Therefore, it is not good for me to spend too much time working.

In the year 2020, I will not have to rush to work every morning because my office is right at my home. I can do all of my work on a computer and send it to my boss by e-mail. The use of Internet will spread very rapidly and widely in these 20 years. The Internet will be an essential tool in people's life. I can do many things through the net, such as shopping, chatting, searching for information, and so on. It makes life more convenient. Nevertheless, since I spend most of my life at home, I will have little chances for fresh air and outdoor sports. Probably, I will become weaker and be more susceptible to illnesses. I think it will be a common problem of all the people in the future. I will try my best to do my exercises to keep fit.

In the year 2020, the world will definitely be different. With the development of science and technology, the world would become smaller. It will be a "global village". All the people living on the earth will be connected more closely, like living in the same village. Everyone can travel from one place to another place easily .The gaps among different races, different nations and different religions will be smaller. The world will become more peaceful.

I believe that, in the year 2020, my homeland China will be much stronger. It will be one of the greatest powers in the world. My hometown Sichuan will also be more developed than it is now.

In a word, I think the future will be bright for all in the year 2020.

**********

REVISED VERSION

Year 2020 is not very far away from now; it is only twenty years later. As the whole world now is developing at a very fast pace, what will the world be like in year 2020 ?

I will be twenty-seven years old at that time as a career woman. I will not run a company but be a wife to do some housework and a mother to take care of my children.

In my opinion, family is more important than work, especially for women. Therefore, it is not good for me to spend too much time working.

In year 2020, I may not have to rush to work every morning because my office will be right in my home where I can do all the work on a computer and e-mail it to my boss. Undoubtedly, the use of Internet will spread far and wide as an essential and convenient means in daily life by helping to do many things such as shopping, looking for information, and so on. However, as people spend most of their time at home, they will have little time for fresh air and outdoor games, thus becoming weaker and more susceptible to illnesses.

In year 2020, the world will become smaller with the development of science and technology. It will become a "global village" where all the people will be closely connected and can easily travel from one place to another, thus bridging the gap among different races of people from different countries and with different religions.

I believe in year 2020, my motherland , China, will be much stronger as one of the world's greatest powers and my hometown, Sichuan, will also be more developed than it is now.

In a word, I think the future will be bright for all and sundry.

seclusive 2007-12-11 12:49
　　朋友说一个人睡得好，早起精神好；精神好，脾气也好。西洋老话所谓：He that sleeps well thinks no harm. 睡得好的人不会有坏心思。

　　啡友C说此话有理，但也有贪杯醉酒者的自辩之词：The drunkard's argument: He that drinks well, sleeps well; he that sleeps well, thinks no harm; he that thinks no harm, is a good man; therefore he that drinks much, is a good man. 好酒的朋友试译作：饮酒多者睡得好，睡得好者无邪念；无邪念者是好人；是以饮酒多者是个好人。他说这该是酒吧的广告。他说酒吧中喝了酒闹事之辈，其实是没有好好喝酒，喝得不够，借一点儿酒意胡闹，not a good man。

　　一个人要睡得好，英语有：Be able to sleep on both ears。意思说睡时侧身，无论是右耳或者左耳在下方都能入睡。此语源于拉丁文：In utramque dormire aurem。英译作：Sleep securely on both ears（或者on either ear）。心中无事，睡得安宁。

　　一个人能心安神泰：He is able to sleep on both ears。拉丁文有：Non omnibus dormio，英译作：I don't sleep to all。说自己并非对一切都闭目不视。

seclusive 2007-12-11 12:55
　　我们今天继续用美国电台节目主持谈拉里金（Larry King）的几段话研究地道英语讲法。

　　His popular radio and TV talk shows have, over the years, attracted just about every famous, talented and powerful person in the country.（多年来他的电台与电视清谈节目差不多吸引了全国每一位有名气、有才华、有权势的人。）

　　电台节目的这段话，半点也没有夸张。美国的总统、影视红人、体坛名将、各行各业的精英，谁都以上过他的电视清谈节目为荣。

　　且再听下去。

　　King's talent as a talker has made him as famous as any of the people he interviews, and as rich too.（拉里金的口才使到他和他的受访者一样出名，也一样富裕。）

　　这位电台节目主持说得对。Larry King不但是富豪，而且他的名字在美国早已家喻户晓，几乎无人不识。

　　他凭着什么攀上顶峰呢？他有什么独门诀窍呢？

　　我们现在一起听听美国电台节目主持怎样引述Larry King访问秘诀。　　

　　King does little or no preparation for his interviews, and he doesn't use notes.（拉里金访问前很少甚至完全不做准备，而且从来不用笔记。）

　　过去五年，我单是接受《明报》记者访问已有三次，三篇访问文章都给明窗出版社编辑编入拙著里。那三位名记者都很资深，用拉里金的方法，不用笔记，然而他们的访问稿都一气呵成、巨细靡遗，教我感佩。

　　然而，同学们初学做记者的时候，可要事前多做准备，甚至多做笔记，因为你们还未成为资深记者。要知道新手老手方法可不一样。

　　以下的方法则是新手老手都可以观摩的。

　　“The best interviewers”, he insists,“are those who know least about a subject. I hate to ask questions I know the answers to. And I've never been afraid to ask what might be a dumb question.”（他坚持道：“最好的访问者是对于访问课题知道得最少的人。我讨厌问我已知答案的问题。而且我从来不怕问可能很愚蠢的问题。”）

　　我们继续听美国电台节目怎样引述拉里金（Larry King）的成功秘诀。大家可以同时揣摩美国地道英语表达法：

　　His approach is to be intensely curious about anyone he interviews.（他的方法是对每一位接受他访问的人都有高度的好奇心。）

　　此时电台播放出Larry King的录音声带。他说：“I like questions that begin with‘why’and‘how’, and I listen to the answers, which lead to more questions.”（“我喜欢问‘为什么’和‘怎样’开始的问题，而且我会细心听答话，而答话引出更多的问题。）

　　同学们将来访问外国人，自然得用英语，美国名嘴这番话，值得细味！

　　电台节目完结前，主持人说：In the end, what makes King a great talker seems to be his skill as a listener.（归根结底，使拉利金成为名嘴的似乎是他聆听的技巧。）

seclusive 2007-12-12 12:45
学习语文除了文法正确，还须向更佳的境界挑战。请大家细看以下这则文章，看哪里可以改进。

Read the following written exercise carefully. Amend the imperfections in meaning expression, vocabulary usage or sentence construction so as to make the language not only correct and comprehensible but also good and effective. Refer to the REVISED VERSION only after you have made the necessary amendments to the ORIGINAL TEXT.

Thanks, Mum

Just like anyone else, I was given birth by my mother. But perhaps few people know that I had a second life, which was also given by my mother.

I clearly remembered that it was a summer night when I was only seven. My family and some relatives went to Songhua River for a picnic. After picnicking, some men got drunk and slept deeply in the cars, while the women were chatting happily about fashion. I was left alone on the bank. Being curious, I went down into the river and tried to hold my breath under the water. I only knew that I reached the surface of the water but did not know I floated slowly towards a ship not far from the bank. When I breathed out all my oxygen, I raised my head and intended to stand up. Unfortunately, the water then was so deep for me that I swallowed a mouthful of water. Then, when I touched the cold metal hull, the terror immediately seized me. I did my best to call for help, but no one seemed to hear me cry. I struggled so hard that when I was worn out after a short while, I could only raise my hand and slowly sank into the deep water. I knew that I was going to die unless a miracle happened.

When I opened my eyes again, I saw the beautiful blue sky. If my mother did not call my name, I would think that I was already in the heaven. I turned my head and found my mother looking at me. She told me that she jumped into the river even without taking off her clothes as soon as she heard my familiar cry. I could not help crying after hearing this. Then my mother hugged me tightly, saying, “It is all right. It is all right now.”

After this unforgettable experience, I got right down to learn to swim. Even though I am very good at swimming now, my blood still runs cold whenever I remembered that night. I will not forget that it was my mother who saved me from drowning, and this made me feel so proud to have such a brave mother. Thank you, Mum, for giving me another life.

*************

revised version

Thanks, Mum

Just like anyone else, my mother gave birth to me. However, few people know that I had a second life, also given by my mother.

I can still remember that it happened in a summer night at my age of seven when my family and some relatives went to Songhua River for a picnic. After the picnic, some men got drunk and slept soundly in the cars, while the women were chatting cheerfully about the latest fashion. I was left alone on the river bank. Out of curiosity, I went into the river and tried to hold my breath under the water, not knowing that I was slowly floating to a ship nearby. When I raised my head and intended to stand up, the river was so deep that I swallowed mouthfuls of water. When I touched the metal hull of the ship, terror struck me. I immediately screamed for help, but no one seemed to have heard me. I struggled and struggled until I was worn out. I raised my hand weakly and sank into the river. I knew I was going to die unless a miracle occurred.

When I opened my eyes again, I caught sight of the beautiful blue sky above me. If my mother did not call my name, I would think that I had met the maker. I turned my head and saw my mother looking at me. She told me that the moment she heard my familiar cry, she jumped into the river even without taking off her clothes. On hearing this, I could not help crying out. Then my mother hugged me tight, saying, “It's all right now; it's all right now.”

After this terrible accident, I got right down to learn swimming. Although I am a very good swimmer now, my blood ran cold whenever I recalled that night's occurrence in Songhua River. At the same time, I will never forget my mother for saving me from drowning. Thanks, Mum, for giving me a second life.

seclusive 2007-12-12 12:48
　　教英语的朋友谈起他中学时学习英语的经验，说最重要的是要学会记住生字，因为词汇（vocabulary）多，阅读兴趣增加，而多读多看，常读常看，是学习任何外国语文的基本功夫。

　　为了增加词汇，他曾经尝试记住一本英汉词典中的生字；可是没法记住，A字部记了二三十个字，过了一两个月能记得十来个，已是难得。于是他发现记得的字，多半是和生活有关的，也是经常会想到、用到的字。原来要记住生字，一定要常常想到它，用到它，熟了自然记住了。

　　这就是说，记生字要常想。怎样使自己想起一个字呢？朋友说他有个名为“从头到脚”（他说英语“从头到脚”是：From head to toe，非但到脚，还要到脚趾头，认真彻底）。他说你要记住head这个字时，有空时先查明head在英语中除了作“头”外，还作“头脑”解，用以喻：思考、智力和领导地位。作思考解的隐喻表现有：Put our（或者your, their）heads together表示共同思考：Let's put our heads together and come up with something。大家一齐来想个办法，集思广益也。Two heads are better than one，凡事有个商量的好。

seclusive 2007-12-12 13:11
Dear Sir,

　　I found there are two kinds of expression when we use English, such as 2nd May 2001 and 2 May 2001. Both of them appear in English books. Could you please tell me which expression is right?

Tony Song

Dear Tony,

　　As a rule, we write either(1) 2nd May, 2001 or (2) May 2, 2001

　　In speaking, (1) is “The second of May, 2001” (2) is “May the second, 2001”.

　　Examples:

　　(1) We started working again on the 2nd of May, 2001.

　　(2) We started working again on May 2, 2001.

TCL
　
陈博士：

　　(1) The Wholesaler finances the bulk of retail trade by supplying goods on credit. Most of the small retail traders buy goods on credit from the wholesalers and the wholesalers finance the producer in return of paying him promptly.

　　麻烦您帮我翻译成华文，谢谢。

　　(2) Voluntary Chain是什么意思？

　　(3) Goods are prepacked.

　　What does PREPACK means?

　　(4) "Doctrine of Proximate Cause" means...?

　　(5) "Principle of Subrogation"mean...?

Jamie

Jamie：

　　(2)、(4)、(5)有专词意味，必须详细查询，才可确定语义。

　　从字面看，(2)是“自动链”或“自愿团”。(4)是“直接原因”的教义；(5)是“代位”／“债权代替”的原则。

　　(3)的意思是“食物是预先包装的”；“Prepacked”是“预先包装”和“Prepackaged”同。

　　(1) 试译如下：

　　“批发商提供款项让大多数零售商赊购物品。多数的零售商以赊欠方式向批发商购物而批发商却迅速地付款给制造厂家，加强其资金。

注：voluntary chain 自愿联合合同（批发商与零售商之间签订的协定）

seclusive 2007-12-13 12:45
学习语文除了文法正确，还须向更佳的境界挑战。请大家细看以下这则文章，看哪里可以改进。

Read the following written exercise carefully. Amend the imperfections in meaning expression, vocabulary usage or sentence construction so as to make the language not only correct and comprehensible but also good and effective. Refer to the REVISED VERSION only after you have made the necessary amendments to the ORIGINAL TEXT.

The Murderer

Mr White was reading the newspaper in the balcony. He raised his head and glanced at the clock as it chimed 9:30p.m. His new neighbour was talking with a stranger in the reading-room opposite Mr White's house. Mr White was able to see it through the window. He had never meant to peek, but he could not help himself that day.

His neighbour suddenly leaped up from his seat and took out a gun from his shirt pocket. The neighbour pointed the gun at the stranger. In an instant, the stranger sprang up from his seat before tumbling back into the sofa again. There must be a short conversation, which Mr White was unable to hear. He only saw the horrible scene: the neighbour had fired coldly and the stranger was lying on the sofa in pain .

Mr White could not believe his eyes. An even more terrible thing happened next. His neighbour turned around and saw Mr White looking at his direction. So, Mr White had witnessed the whole episode. A mysterious smile appeared on the neighbour's face while Mr White could only look shocked.

Mr White rushed out of the balcony, Cold sweat trickled down his face and back. He decided to get out of his home to save his own skin. However, Mr White was too late when his neighbour was already waiting at the door.

The air seemed to thicken. Mr White's mind was a complete blank. The neighbour tried to take out something from his pocket again. Mr White was very frightened.

“It is the usual end of a witness”he could do nothing but to stand frozen.

All fears were soon dissipated when his neighbour handed him the object in his pocket. It was an invitation to the opening of his new play “The Murderer”. His neighbour, of course, would play the main role in that play.

***********

revised version

The Murderer

Mr White was reading the newspaper in the balcony. He raised his head and glanced at the clock which showed 9:30p.m. Through the window, he saw his new neighbour, John, talking to a stranger in the reading room opposite his house.

All of a sudden, John jumped up from his seat with a pistol from his pocket and pointed at the stranger, who sprang up before tumbling into the sofa again. There seemed to have a brief conversation between them, but Mr White could not hear anything. What he could clearly see was this horrible scene: John shot the stranger and the stranger fell writhing on the sofa in agony.

Mr White could not believe his eyes. What was even more unbelievable was that Mr White's neighbour turned around and looked at his direction.

“So Mr White has witnessed the whole event!” John seemed to have said this with a mysterious smile on his face.

Greatly shocked, Mr White rushed out of the balcony, hoping to get out of the place to save his skin. But, it was too late because John had already been waiting at the door.

The air seemed to have thickened. Mr White's mind went completely blank when he saw his neighbour putting his hand into his pocket.

“A witness often ends in this way,”he murmured and stood rooted to the spot.

John came closer and handed him the object taken out of his pocket. It was an invitation card to the preview of the new play entitled“The Murderer”, where John would play the main role. What a relief!

seclusive 2007-12-13 12:48
　　啡友D说日前在某大酒楼饮茶，见邻桌有青年夫妇和大概是他们在外国结识的老太太一起饮茶。老太太对操作筷子很感兴趣，在那里学用chopsticks夹虾饺。啡友D说他有个美国朋友，曾花了一些时间学习正确使用筷子的方法，每有机会就要表演一下，还说用筷子是种艺术，是古老的中国文化的表现。

　　中国人吃饭用筷子，洋人进餐用刀叉。其实洋人从前没有knife and fork，用的是木片削成的叉。这种木叉从意大利经伊斯坦堡传到英国，是两刺的肉叉（two-pronged fork）。在此之前，人们吃肉用手，因此改用肉叉有人说是“对赐人五指之神的侮辱。”

　　筷子又作箸，据说由于箸与住同音。住有停止之意。航船忌停，江苏一带行船的人们改称箸为“筷儿”。筷音同快，不住而快，一帆风顺矣。啡友C说日语中筷作箸，但读作hashi，和作桥解的hashi相同，似乎和行船有点关系。日谚有“只会拿着筷子吃”指“茶来伸手，饭来张口。”中餐桌上每人有一份箸匙（zhuchi），一双筷子一把汤匙，没有knife and fork那么杀气腾腾，啡友C说其文明之象征乎？

seclusive 2007-12-13 13:05
「我很少有机会和外国人交谈。」

以上这句话，你怎样用英语表达呢？

你会说：I seldom have the chance to talk to a foreigner.

还是会说：I don't get the chance to talk to a foreigner very often.

你会不会觉得前有一句比后一句简洁、正确呢？

如果你有这个想法，那就……「那就什么呢﹖」你会追问吧。那就大错特错了！

原因是前一句是中式英语（Chinglish），后一句才是地道英语（idiomatic English）。

足迹遍及亚洲的英国文法专家Mr Christopher D Winnon写了一本88 Easy Ways to Instantly Improve Your English。他在序文中说：

「中港台三地以英语为母语的教师很少，这些中式英语错误因而也得不到纠正。」

Professor Winnon把他在大学授课时听到看到华语学生犯的错误累积起来编写了这本书。这书很值得推荐给大家细读。

他在其著作中指出华籍学生往往不注意词义的轻重，滥用某些单词，例如seldom（很少）。以英语为母语的人很少用seldom。尽管要多费点事，使用not very often的结构自然得多。「我不常看电影。」

这句话你怎样用英语表达呢？

　　相信大家读过我引述英国名教授Christopher D Winnon的分析后，都不会脱口就说：

　　“ I seldom go to the movies.”

　　同时会懂得套用他举的“not very often”的句型（sentence pattern）说出以下这句：

　　“I don't go to the movies very often.”

　　对，这句才是地地道道的英语表达法。

　　我们现在再造一句以加深记忆，好吗？

　　“近来我们很少去迪斯科了。”

　　相信你不会再用中式英语说：

　　“We seldom go to disco these days.”

　　请闭上眼睛不要往下看，试用地道英语讲一讲，然后才看以下的答案……

　　对了！

　　你一定会说出以下这一句：

　　“We don't often go to disco these days.”

　　Professor Winnon说，有一天他叫两个香港学生对话，弄清楚对方的职业，结果讲出的中式英语很具代表性：

　　学生甲：What's your job?

　　学生乙：I am a clerk. How about you?

　　学生甲：I am a worker.

　　学生乙：That's a good job.

　　学生甲：Yes, it's a good job.

　　这组香港学生问对方职业的对话，着实不算地道。Professor Winnon在其著作中就写了这一句话：

　　“不要说What's your job?”

　　其实问刚认识的外国人干哪一行，还有几种不同的问法：

　　What do you do ?

　　What's your line of business?

　　What line of work are you in ?

　　Professor Winnon引述两个以英语为母语的人就同一话题进行的谈话，十分地道，很值得各位读友观摩：

　　甲：Are you working at the moment, Marcus?

　　（马可斯，你目前有工作吗？）

　　乙：Yes, I have just started as a trainee manager with a large joint venture. Where are you working these days?

　　（有的，我刚进了一家大型合资企业，当见习经理。你目前在哪儿工作？）

　　甲：I am still working as a production engineer down in the Number 2 Radio Factory.

　　（我还在第二无线电厂当生产工程师。）

　　乙：Sounds interesting.

　　（听起来挺有意思的。）

　　这组对话讲得着实地道，大家掌握句型后大可灵活运用。请先研究以下这句错在哪儿：

　　” I have joined this club for six years.”

你有没有写下答案啊？

事情的经过是这样的：一位在大学英文系当教授的美籍朋友对我说想做点健身运动，我于是把他带到一家老字号的体育会，那个地方华洋杂处，纵使今后我没空陪他去做运动，他也会认识不少英美籍会员，不愁没人陪他聊天。

第一天我们做完运动就到桑拿室（sauna room），刚巧一位华籍老会员也在，我给他们介绍后，老会员对美籍教授说：“I have joined this club for six years.”

这句话大家一定听得懂是什么意思，但不合英语逻辑思维。为什么呢？

因为join是个短暂动词（temporary verb），入会的动作不可能持续六年。

正确的地道英语说法是：I joined this club six years ago.

或：
I've been a member of this club for six years.

当代文法指出join与enter、leave、meet、buy等都是短暂动词，例如不可说：

(X) I have bought this TV set for ten years.

应该说：

I've had this TV set for ten years.

或者说：

I bought this TV set ten years ago.

seclusive 2007-12-14 12:22
Read the following written exercise carefully. Amend the imperfections in meaning expression, vocabulary usage or sentence construction so as to make the language not only correct and comprehensible but also good and effective. Refer to the REVISED VERSION only after you have made the necessary amendments to the ORIGINAL TEXT.

学习语文除了文法正确，还须向更佳的境界挑战。请大家细看以下这则文章，看哪里可以改进。

A Swift Revenge

It was nearly 9 o'clock in the evening. Dick walked along the pavement of Hull Road before turning into a gloomy alley.

The gang had already arrived. There was no street lamp in such a narrow alley. Dick could see four shadowy figures standing in front of him.

“You are punctual,” the tallest figure said sternly.

“Where is Catherine? I want to know where she is.” Disk demanded.

“Catherine? Die and then you can see her in hell,”another man said coldly.

Dick stood silently and tears brimmed his eyes.

“Don't force me!” Dick muttered. Suddenly he leapt towards one of the figures. A shriek pierced the air, when Dick, with a sharp dagger, stabbed the enemy's chest. The man collapsed and died. In an instant, two other men pounced on Dick. Dick turned around cautiously and hurled two other daggers towards them. One man was hit by a dagger at his leg, while the other man crouched abruptly and dodged the weapon. Dick scampered close to the unharmed man and gave him a hard kick at his belly. The man flew a few metres away and hit his body against the wall. He was injured badly.

Dick had no time to celebrate his victories, for the tallest and strongest figure had aimed at him with his pistol. “Bang,”the pistol fired its first shot. Luckily for Dick only his left hand was injured. Dick pretended to tumble and he rolled towards a pile of iron boxes. A string of bullets hit the ground, stirring up a line of dust. Sparks from the gunshot illuminated the darkness.

Dick hid himself behind the boxes. He could hear the footsteps getting closer and closer. He tried to keep poised but blood was streaming from the wound.

“You must make a final effort,”he said to himself, but he felt weaker and weaker.

“Bang”, another shot echoed in the distant alley. The man with the pistol collapsed. Apparently he had gone to meet his maker.

Dick was baffled, and he struggled to open his eyes. It was Mort, his best friend, who had loved Catherine too. A smile appeared on Dick's face. He whispered Catherine's name and asked her to wait for him.

A breath of wind kissed Dick's hair, but he could not feel it any more.

***********

REVISED VERSION

A Swift Revenge

It was nearly 9 p.m. when Dick walked along the pavement of Hull Road and then turned into a dark alley.

A gang of four persons were already there. Although there was no street lamp in such a narrow alley, Dick could see four shadowy figures standing in front of him.

"You're punctual," the tallest figure said sternly.

"Where's Catherine? May I know?" Dick demanded.

"Catherine? She was dead. See her in the hell," another man said coldly.

Dick stood still, his eyes brimming with tears.

"Don't force me!" Dick muttered and then leapt towards one of the men. A shriek pierced through the air when Dick stabbed the enemy's chest with a sharp dagger. The victim collapsed and died. In an instant, two other men pounced on Dick, who turned round and hurled two other daggers at the attackers and hit the leg of one of them, while the other immediately crouched to dodge the flying weapon. Dick rushed to him and kicked him hard on his belly, but he fled, hit against the wall and was badly injured.

Before Dick had time to celebrate his victory, the tallest and strongest man aimed his pistol at him and shot.

Lucky for Dick, only his left hand was injured. He pretended to tumble and rolled towards a pile of iron boxes. A string of bullets hit the ground, stirring up dust and illuminating the dark lane with sparks. Dick hid himself behind the boxes, hearing the footsteps getting closer. He tried to keep poised but blood was streaming from the wound.

"You must make a final effort," he said to himself, but he felt weaker and weaker.

"Bang!" Another shot was heard. The man with the pistol fell dead on the floor. Dick was baffled; he struggled to open his eyes. It was Mort, his best friend, who loved Catherine, too. A smile appeared on Dick's face with his mouth whispering Catherine's name asking her to wait for him.

A Breeze went past, kissing Dick's hair, but he could not feel it any more.

seclusive 2007-12-14 12:26
　　生活简朴的啡友G对犬儒派的粗衣淡饭生活情形很想研究一下，可是除了塞内加提到戴奥吉尼斯住在桶中等近于传说的事情外，没有多少其他记载。啡友K说别忘了Diogenes cup。原来我们曲掌成握，用以盛水而饮，可以称之为哲学家戴奥吉尼斯之杯。他饮水时不用杯而用自己的手掌盛一握之水，因此说一个人：He drinks water in Diogenes cup，足以喻其人生活之简朴。

　　啡友G说Diogenes住在桶中，令人觉得生活空间太狭隘，但是他记得英国讽刺诗人塞弥尔·勃特勒（Samuel Butler，1612-1680）在“休迪布拉斯”（Hudibras）中想到亚历山大大帝说：If I were not Alexander I would wish to be Diogenes时，有：The whole world was not half so wide，指整个世界还不及那只桶一半大。哲学家的tub，其凡人之宇宙乎！

　　啡友G说他平日喝水很多，当然不会饮一握之水，不会用戴奥吉尼斯之杯的。啡友K形容他喝水多，说：He drinks like fish。此语喻人酒量大，如鱼在水中不断饮水而不会胀。用以喻炎夏多饮水亦颇当焉！

seclusive 2007-12-14 12:33
　　二十多年前，大导演佐治鲁卡斯（George Lucas）拍了《星球大战》（Star Wars）。该片风靡全球，非常卖座，于是星球大战系列电影一部接一部拍下去了。

　　当年小有名气的哈里逊福（Harrison Ford）也因在《星球大战》演出而大红大紫，成为好莱坞最卖座的顶级巨星。

　　年前佐治鲁卡斯构思出《星球大战》前传，前传首部曲《魅影危机》（The Phantom Menace）拍得幻彩缤纷，教人惊叹，而前传Ⅱ《复制人侵略》也在全世界上映了。

　　美国有线新闻网（CNN）访问了两位资深影坛前辈。且听第一位怎样评介《星球大战》。

　　"Star Wars" has become a part of American film mythology.

　　（《星球大战》已成为美国电影神话的一部分了。）

　　Mythology指“神话”，其形容词（adjective）是mythological。

　　比方你想说“凤凰是神话中的鸟”用英文可以说“The phoenix is a mythological bird”。

　　电视节目镜头割切（cut to）拍另一名老牌制片家。且听他怎样说。

　　I remember seeing the trailer for "Star Wars" and I was so excited about seeing it .

　　如果你听到上述这句话，会不会把trailer解作“拖车”或“活动房屋”呢？

　　这两个释义当然没有错，但是如果这样解你可能会听得莫名其妙，你接着说话可能闹笑话。

　　记得我在这里说过单词片语（words and phrases）多是一词多义（polysemous），判断单词片语的解法须留意上下文吗？

　　相信很多爱看西片或英文电视台节目的读者都猜中trailer在上述句子中的意思了。

　　对了，trailer在上句指“预告片”。

　　《星球大战》70年代上映时引起哄动，十分卖座。片中的黑武士安纳金（Anakin）是大反派。

seclusive 2007-12-15 15:57
　　Complete each sentence with a FAMILY WORD from the list. Be sure to use the correct word form.

　　1. abhor (v) 憎恶痛恨; Abhorrence (n) 憎恶; abhorrent (adj) 嫌恶的

　　(1) I am quite sure those who have seen the enemy's atrocities in the past will __________such cruel conduct.

　　(2) I __________cruelty to animals which, like human beings, have the right to live a peaceful life.

　　(3) Most of us have an __________of injustice and inequality, don't we?

　　(4) Aren't you __________ of acts of insincerity and ingratitude?

　　2. abolish (v) 废除; abolition (n) 废止; abolishable (adj) 可废除的

　　(1) If unfortunate man-made events, such as war, can be __________, the resources can be used to improve people's living conditions.

　　(2) Can examinations be __________? If so, what are the other useful and reliable means of academic evaluation?

　　(3) Some say examinations are ____________; others say they are indispensable. What really is the better way out?

　　(4) When a law is outdated, it is time to consider its revision or even __________.

　　(5) The __________ of feudalism enables a country to embark on all sorts of modernisation projects.

　　3. abort (v) 使失败; abortion (n) 堕胎、挫败 ; abortive (adj) 失败的

　　(1) From the Chinese history, we learn that Yuan Shih Kai made an ____________ attempt to become emperor.

　　(2) Throughout the world, there are laws against illegal ___________.

　　(3) Strong troops in the Qing Dynasty ___________ many uprisings against the government.

　　(4) Some opposition parties tried to impeach the President in a neighbouring country, but their attempt proved an ___________.

　　4. apologise (v) 道歉; apology (n) 道歉; apologetic (adj) 表歉意的; apologetically (adv) 表歉意地

　　(1) Tom __________ to the teacher for being late to class this morning.

　　(2) Since you are in the wrong, you have to make an __________ to her.

　　(3) Last week, I inadvertently hurt Su's feelings and sent her an _____________ e-mail, hoping that she would forgive and forget.

　　(4) Jack was unable to attend the staff meeting and sent his __________ to the department's secretary.

　　(5) “Sorry for stepping on your foot!” John said __________.

　　(6) David was most __________ when he heard that I had been kept waiting in the lounge for more than 15 minutes.

ANSWERS:
1. (1) abhor (2) abhor (3) abhorrence (4) abhorrent
2.(1) abolished (2) abolished (3) abolishable (4) abolition (5) abolition
3.(1) abortive (2) abortion (3) aborted (4) abortion
4.(1) apologised (2) apology (3) apologetic (4) apologies (5) apologetically (6) apologetic

seclusive 2007-12-15 16:02
　　一个人好奇，凡事都想知道，盘根问底，英语明喻以“兔耳”（rabbit ears）喻之：Have rabbit's ears，亦作：Have long ears，或Have big ears。

　　长耳、大耳都足以招风，有什么风声全听得到。这个ear的明喻，常用以指消息灵通之辈：John has long ears，指他消息灵通也。刺耳尖声（shrill），有ear-splitting明喻形容，震耳欲聋亦即裂耳也。耳朵受伤，有以cauliflower ear作明喻者。耳朵外形有如花椰菜，拳赛中耳部多次被击（repeated blows to the ear）造成的伤害。

　　耳中有跳蚤，flea in the ear，喻责骂、申斥。明喻：Send somebody away（或off）with a flea in his ear指将某人申斥（或者讥诮），让他碰个钉子走了。The man went away with a flea in his ear。以go away with a flea in one's ear喻其人碰了个钉子走了。明喻有catch fleas for somebody，替某人捉跳蚤，则是和某人非常亲近的意思。据说猴子替猴子捉跳蚤，是表示亲热而有讨好的意思，因此catch fleas for somebody也多少有点讨好、拍马屁的意思了。

seclusive 2007-12-15 16:07
Dr CL Tan,

　　I refer to the Chinese Newspaper dated May 13, 2001.

　　I would appreciate it if you could elaborate on why the following two answers are not acceptable.

　　① 词汇点兵

　　Q1 My telephone set stopped functioning. It will have to be sent for _____________.

　　(Answer provided is: repairing. Why is it not repair?)

　　② E手术台

　　Q3 There remains the problem of feeding and caring for the strays awaiting for their fate (c). Some are adopted by members of the public, others have nowhere to go.

　　(Answer given is : waiting for/ awaiting their fate).

　　Would like to know:

　　Why is awaiting for their fate not correct?

　　Thank you very much. Best regards.


Lay Eng

Lay Eng,

　　① It will have to be sent for repairing. You may use the noun “repair”, but normally add “s” to it: ...for repairs.

　　② The verb “await” is transitive in nature. That means it can directly govern an object. “Wait” is an intransitive verb; it needs the help of the preposition “for” to take an object. In short, await=wait for, e.g.

　　(i) I am awaiting your reply,

　　(ii) I am waiting for your reply.


Tan Cheng Lim

seclusive 2007-12-17 10:30
　　In the CONTEXTUAL VOCABULARY below, first read EACH sentence to understand the meaning of the underlined word and then choose the correct answer to match it.

(1) Someone broke the gate. Who was the culprit in this matter?

　　A. thief　B. bully　C. eyewitness　D. offender

(2) In this country, seditious actions, speeches and writings are strictly discouraged.

　　A. immature　B. childish　C. rebellious
　　D. intentional

(3) One has to check carefully before downloading a programme onto a personal computer.

　　A. scrambling　B. erasing　C. copying
　　D. robbing

(4) Have you heard anything about tourists being shanghaied into buying expensive fakes?

　　A. well persuaded　B. beaten　C. encouraged
　　D. forced illegally

(5) That novelist's books are suitable for children because of their platonic nature.

　　A. sexless　B. restless　C. poisonless
　　D. loveless

(6) Only an expert knows whether a piece of artistic work is genuine or a forgery.

　　A. disgrace 　B. fake 　C. treasure　D. design

(7) With the aid of computer, a writer's long manuscript can be compressed on a single disc.

　　A. imitated　B. shrunk　C. expressed
　　D. obtained

(8) Hungry rabbits devoured almost all the vegetables in the rich man's garden.

　　A. destroyed　B. plucked　C. trampled
　　D. ate up

(9) I object to Tom's quixotic pursuit of a few objectives at the same time.

　　A. odd　B. imaginary　C. impractical
　　D. expectant

(10) Children differ. Some do things nimbly, while others do not.

　　A. carelessly　B. quickly　C. sincerely
　　D. unwillingly

(11) It is reported that hunters tend to intrude on public parks to hunt animals for various purposes.

　　A. attack　B. control　C. enter without permission　D. get admission to freely

(12) The policeman went near an old house and warily stepped into the dark hall.

　　A. watchfully　B. tiredly　C. hurriedly
　　D. harshly

(13) I am so sorry to see that man not realising his brazen rudeness in public.

　　A. shameless　B. brave　C. typical
　　D. intentional

(1) D　(2) C　(3) C　(4) D　(5) A (6) B　(7) B　(8) D　(9) C　(10) B (11) C　(12) A　(13) A　

seclusive 2007-12-17 10:34
　　啡友L说动词promise的过去分词跟着连词（conjunction）用的as，成为as promised，常见用者——特别是在商业通信中。一家公司答应寄送样品给客户，附函中说：We are sending you the sample, as (we) promised。会话中用以声明会照办事先说好的事情。例如你借了朋友一本书，久久未还。朋友偶然问起，你说明天一定奉还：I'll bring the book back tomorrow, as(I)promised，表示当初说了要还，一定会还。

　　As加动词过去分词，省略as之后的主语和动词be作为从句，是相当简洁的表现方式，多见于新闻英语中。要注意的是如果时制和主句不同，be动词部分不能省略。例如论斯里兰卡政局者说该国的权力曾经多次证明不是通过劳动阶级所能取得：The way to power in Sri Lanka is not through the working class, as has been proved time and time again。主句中用现在时制，从句中非用现在完成时制不可，虽然略去了作为从句主语之it。再看：A spokesman said about ten targets were struck as planned。“一如原定计划”，as planned足矣。

seclusive 2007-12-17 10:50
Dr. Tan,

　　(1) The team that/which wins will be champions.

　　Q: The purpose of this exercise is to choose the correct relative pronoun“that”or “which”. The answer provided is both and this I can understand. What really puzzles me is “champions”. Shouldn't it be “champion” instead of “champions” since there should only be one champion?

　　(2a) John stays at the Hilton Hotel when he was in London

　　(2b) John stays at the Hilton Hotel when he is in London.

　　Q: Suppose John is not in London and I want to tell someone where he stayed while he is/was in London. Should I use 2a or 2b? To me, I would think that 2a is correct. However, on a second thought, is it right to use past simple as John is still alive?

　　(3a) I have been playing the piano since I was a child.

　　(3b) I have played the piano since I was a child.

　　Q: What's wrong with using present perfect continuous in this sentence 3a? The answer given to this exercise is 3b instead.


lda

Dear lda,

　　1. You are right. The singular number complement‘champion’refers to the singular number subject‘the team’.

　　2. Sentence (2) refers to a general situation in which the simple present tense is used. Hence (2b) is logial. If the sentence refers to John's stay at the hotel in the past, then the verb should be simple past tense; that is, “John stayed at the Hilton Hotel when he was in London.”

　　3. Grammatically, both (3a) and (3b)are right, but logically, (3a) is a bit ridiculous, if not absurd. How can a person play the piano non-stop? Both sentencse below are correct and rational:

　　(a) Jason has lived here since 1960. (b) Jason has been living here since 1960.


TCL
　
老师：

　　我在英语学习中对介词的用法理解得不好。请解释一下，in、on、at在句中作“在……之中”时，它们三个的区别是什么？


Zhang Xy

Zhang Xy:

　　in，on，at 作“在……之中”解时，主要决定在连用的名词上。例如：

　　(1) Can you see the child in the crowd?

　　(2) Are you still on the Selection Committee?

　　(3) Tom is a singer at the concert.


陈清霖复

seclusive 2007-12-17 11:03
Read the following written exercise carefully. Amend the imperfections in meaning expression, vocabulary usage or sentence construction so as to make the language not only correct and comprehensible but also good and effective. Refer to the REVISED VERSION only after you have made necessary amendments to the ORIGINAL TEXT.

学习语文除了文法正确，还须向更佳的境界挑战。请大家细看以下这则文章，看哪里可以改进。

My Feelings about Academic Writing

“Today's homework for you is to write an essay; its title is...” It is a constant headache for me when I hear our English teachers say these words, and every time I would rather put it off until the last possible minute before handing it in. The reason why I am not interested in writing is that my English is not so good enough to express my mind in a proper way. However, writing skill is widely used in every aspect; if I want to succeed in future writing assigements, such as getting my degree, mastering the writing skill is essential for me .

As an English learner, I find that writing an English essay is different from writing a Chinese composition. Generally speaking, English focuses on the format but Chinses focuses more on the wording. For example, in an English essay, the writers are required to put the topic sentence at the beginning of each paragraph. My teacher said that it was unacceptable to put it in the end because it was not easy to see my opinion. On the other hand, in the Chinese way, you can put the topic sentence anywhere, even in the middle of a paragraph, but the supporting sentences must be strong enough and the wording should be proper.

Another problem is the way of expressing. Because there are so many new words to learn that I only remember the meanings of these words. Therefore, I always use the new words in wrong ways. My vocabulary is not very wide; hence, I use the same words and sentence patterns again and again. It seems that the content is abundant because the essay is so long. In fact, the words are not concise but dull and dry. I think the most effective way to solve this problem is to practise using the new words and read more English materials. Thus, I can enlarge my vocabulary and make my essay succinct. Besides these, I also make some careless mistakes, such as the grammatical errors, run-on sentences, and so on.

Fortunately, with my teachers' encouragement and my own efforts, I have already made progress in writing. But the improvement is a long and hard process, which needs patience and assiduity. I will continue trying hard to improve my academic writing, even though the progress is slow, I will work hard.

**********

REVISED VERSION

My Feelings about Academic Writing

“Today's homework for you is to write an essay called...” It is a headache for me when I hear my English teacher say these words in class and, more often than not, I would rahter put it off until the last minute before the deadline.

The reason why I am not interest in writing is that my English is not good enough to express my ideas properly. However, as writing is widely used and important for a person's success, such as getting a degree, it must be mastered without fail.

The first problem of writing English essays is that it is different from writing Chinese compositions.

Generally speaking, English focuses on the format, while Chinese concentrates more on the diction. For example, in an English essay, the writer is required to put the topic sentence at the beginning of each paragraph. It is not advisable to leave it until the end because it is not often easy to see the main idea there. On the contrary, one can put the topic sentence anywhere in a Chinese composition as long as the supporting sentences are strong and the diction is proper.

Another problem is the way of expression. As there are many English words to learn, I can only remember certain words. Such being the case, I always use the new words wrongly and use the same words and sentence forms again and again, thus producing a long essay with dull and stereotyped vocabulary. Besides, I tend to make careless errors in grammar, sentence construction, and the like.

I think the most effective way to solve my problems is to read more to enlarge my vocabulary and practise using the new words to make essay succinct.

On account of my teacher's encouragement and my own efforts, I have already made some progress in writing. However, good academic writing is a long hard process which needs patience and assiduity. I am determined to try hard to surge ahead.

seclusive 2007-12-17 11:07
　　Handy Persons的工作，啡友Y说不能和专业者比较。他们有时为了“需要”或者“急需”，凭着手巧，“发明”了临时急忙解决问题的方法，正是所谓：Necessity is the mother of invention，需要乃发明之母也。Necessity或者need，早在十六世纪初就有“良好事物的发明者”（Inventor of good things），“智能的老师”（Teacher of wit）以及“生产制造之母”（Mother of production）等称呼。啡友Y说伊索寓言中那只乌鸦，要不是口渴有饮水的需要，不会想到衔石块掉落水瓶中去的。有急需乃生急智也。

　　啡友S说美国讽刺小说作家皮尔斯（Ambrose G. Bierce，一八四二——一九一四年，下落不明）在《魔鬼词典》中对Hospitality（殷勤款待）作的定义，说它是The virtue which induces us to feed and lodge certain persons who are not in need of food and lodging.（劝人食宿招待不需食宿之辈的美德。）句中的to be not in need of... 是in need of... 的否定用法。啡友S说这段话令他想起我们说的“锦上添花”。

seclusive 2007-12-17 11:23
　　结婚场面大家在银幕上看过很多很多次了，用来联想应该很容易吧？

　　上一期请你用“影像联想法”，幻想自己在教堂结婚，听到外籍神父／牧师用英文问你：“Do you (name) take (name) to be your lawful wedded wife/ husband, to have and to hold from this day forward until death do you part?”

　　我不是叫你们重演茱莉亚罗拔丝（Julia Roberts）与李察基尔（Richard Gere）联合主演的《逃婚俏佳人》（Runaway Bride），所以你甜丝丝地答道：“我愿意。”

　　由于外籍神父／牧师用英语问你，你自然也得用英语回答：I do 。

　　这句I do就是让你牢记英文文法基本句型S+V（subject主语+verb动词）的例句了。这远比牢记传统文法巨著用的Birds fly/ Fish swim 轻易得多吧？

　　这句I do大家听扮演新郎新娘的男女主角在银幕上说过不知多少次了。现在请你也说一句I do吧。

　　这英文句子包含主语（subject）和谓语（predicate/ predicate verb）。

　　主语（subject）说明句子讲的是谁或是什么；谓语（predicate）对主语进行陈述，说明主语是什么，干什么或怎么样。S+V是五大基本句型之首。

　　好，你现在转身对新郎／新娘说：You look handsome/ You look beautiful. 嫁个俏郎君，娶个美娇娘，都是人生幸事吧。

　　上述两句正是文法五大基本句型之二的S+V+C【subject（主语）+verb（动词）+complement（补语）】

　　高小初中的同学可能会问：补语complement是什么？

　　我希望小读者自幼打好文法基础，所以请让我用浅白的方法讲解一下。

　　补语（complement）顾名思义，是用来补足一个句子的，比方上述的例句，如果只说“You look...”（你看起来……），用中英两种文法来说都不完整，得加上用作补语complement的handsome、beautiful，甚至ugly，这个句子才算完整。

　　上述例句用的主语补语（subject complement），通常放在主语与动词后面。这种句子所用的动词通常叫做“系词”（美国文法叫copular；英国文法叫linking verbs），例如to be（如am、is、are、was、were）。其他常用的系词还有look、seem、feel、turn等。

　　相信大家用I do与You look handsome/ beautiful 两句简单句子，就把英文文法五大基本句型的两种S+V与S+V+C轻易记住了。

　　只要掌握了五大句型，以后写简单句（simple sentence）、合句（compound sentence）、复句（complex sentence）、复合句（compound-complex sentence），都可以避免犯文法错误了。

　　第三种句型S+V+O（subject主语+verb动词+object受词）又怎样轻易牢记呢？何谓受词呢？

　　受词（object）在句子中充当动作的承受者，因此一般都放在及物动词（transitive verb）之后。

　　请你现在又回到教堂行婚礼好吗？

　　你情不自禁地欲向你的新郎／新娘子表示爱意，于是说：“I love you.”

　　从此，文法上的第三种基本句型S+V+O也同时永镌心版矣。

　　句中的I自然是主语subject啦，love是动词，而you就是受词object了。

　　现在你只要轻轻朗读I do, you look handsome, I love you，就可牢记三大基本句型了。

　　第四种S+V+O+C与第五种S+V+O+O又怎样轻易记牢呢？

　　先来轻松牢记第四种基本句型S+V+O+C（Subject主语+verb动词+object受词+complement补语）。

　　请再幻想回到教堂行婚礼，这时你温柔地对新郎/新娘说：You make me happy.

　　是不是很轻易就把S+V+O+C这个句型记住了啊？

　　然而，有一点需要补充说明：这句中的happy是受词补语（object complement），通常放在直接受词后面，补语的意义也和受词有关，所以You make me happy（即I am happy）与前面举的例句You look handsome（即You are handsome）这类主语补语（subject complement）是有分别的。

　　现在再回到回教堂去记最后一个句型：S+V+O+O（subject主语+verb动词+object+object）。

　　两个object中，前一个叫间接受词（indirect object），后一个叫直接受词（direct object）。

　　神父／牧师宣布你俩已是合法夫妻后，你们自然得如银幕上的男女主角般轻轻拥吻，于是你轻轻地说：I'll give you a kiss.

　　最后一个句型S+V+O+O已给你轻易记住了。

seclusive 2007-12-18 10:30
Read the following written exercise carefully. Amend the imperfections in meaning expression, vocabulary usage or sentence construction so as to make the language not only correct and comprehensible but also good and effective. Refer to the REVISED VERSION only after you have made the necessary amendments to the ORIGINAL TEXT.

学习语文除了文法正确，还须向更佳的境界挑战。请大家细看以下这则文章，看哪里可以改进。

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My Parents' Influence on Me

Definitely, my parents play an important part in my life. They gave me life and brought me up. They gave me what I need, but not what I want. Maybe many other parents do whatever their children want to do, and they always shield their children from the sunshine. However, my parents don't. They always put me into a new environment in which I can live and study by myself. When I was young, I saw most of my classmates' parents go to pick them up after school. My classmates got onto the bicycles and went home happily. My parents, however, never went to school to pick me up! Whatever the weather was like, they never went. It seemed that I was not their son. At first, I didn't think they liked me, though I was their son. As time went by, one day, I went back home really late, because I was on duty to clean the classroom. On my way home by myself, I suddenly saw a figure that I was so familiar with. It was Mother! She rushed over to me and became so excited. I could still see the expression of anxiety on her face. She asked me in a deep concerned expression why I was so late. From then on, I came to realise that my parents loved me very much all the time. Their purpose of leaving me alone was to train my independence. Only in this way could I manage the entire thing by myself.

Since I came to Singapore, I have seen that many students are so ignorant that they even can't wash their own clothes. Compared with them, I can do everything freely and enjoy my time. So, I think just because of my parents, I have been able to come to Singapore and do everything methodically.

***********

REVISED VERSION

My Parents' Influence on Me

My parents have played an important part in my life. They have given me life and brought me up. They have given me what I need but not what I often ask for. Many other parents may do whatever their children want them to do and then always shield them. However, my parents do not. On the contrary, they would put me in a new environment in which I was left to live and study by myself.

When I was young, I saw most of my classmates' parents went to pick them up after class. They rode the bicycles home happily. My parents, however, never did that. No matter what the weather was like, they left me alone. At first, I thought they did not love me. It seemed that I was not their son. As time went by, one day, I was responsible for cleaning the classroom after class and went home late. On my way home, I caught sight of a familiar figure. It was Mother! She rushed excitedly towards me, with anxiety written all over her face. “Why are you so late?” she asked concernedly. It dawned on me that my parents had been loving me all the time. The reason why they left me alone was that they wanted me to learn to be self-independent.

Since I came to Singapore, it has come to my notice that many fellow students cannot even wash their clothes. Compared with them, I am different; I can do everything with ease and enjoy it. I therefore realise that, because of my parents' influence, I have been able to come to Singapore to study, look after myself, and do everything methodically.

seclusive 2007-12-18 10:33
　　眼界颇高的朋友评事物，爱用absurd一词。这词是foolish及ridiculous的同义词，但亦有不合逻辑，不合理（illogical及irrational）之意，因此这位朋友常说的：Absurd! 相当于：荒唐！

　　有一句格言将fool和absurd结合而成：The fool is most absurd when he is least foolish. 又作：A fool is most absurd when he plays not the fool。蠢人装聪明是最笨的事。因此，啡友K说大愚不可若智；但是，自认愚笨的人究竟不多，虽然我们在生活中：Sometimes people have to play fools. “慎子”内篇有“不聪不明不能王，不瞽不聋不能公”之训，做到帝王，一定要聪明，要做公卿，有时就要play the fool，装聋作哑。

　　啡友K说，不聋不哑难做阿公，也指做公婆者，与儿媳相处，宜装聋作哑，避免加深代沟：Playing the fool is one way to narrow the generation gap。他说以前有个朋友初作阿公，他曾以“不瞽不聋不能公”之语相赠，但是那位朋友听不进去，终于加深了两代之间的隔阂。他说：I regret I didn't listen to your advice。装聋作哑，阿福有福！

seclusive 2007-12-18 10:36
　　上次提到“buy”未必是买，以下一句请猜一猜是什么意思：

　　He tried to buy a couple of jury members.

　　句中的buy自然不会单纯是买，而是“收买”、“贿赂”。

　　A couple of除了解作“两三个”，还可解作“几个”。试举一例。比方你想说“我碰见几个朋友，我们一块儿喝了几杯”，用地道英语可以说I met a couple of friends and we had a couple of drinks。

　　A couple of常在电影电视对白中听到。

　　以下是一段形象化的美国俚语电视对话。

　　男主角：Baby, could you spare me a few minutes。（宝贝儿，可以抽几分钟和我谈谈吗？）

　　女主角：Shoot.

　　注：男主角给女主角打电话。她对他已没有爱意，听到他的声音时感到不耐烦，于是说shoot。大家勿以为女主角叫他开枪啊！Shoot在这里指“快说吧”。

　　此时男主角说想买一种股票，征询女主角的意见，她立即说：No! It's a dog.

　　如果不看荧幕上的中文字幕，你会不会把这句话误解为“不，这是一只狗”呢？

　　句中dog是美国财经界俚语，指“不好的股票”。

seclusive 2007-12-19 11:48
学习语文除了文法正确，还须向更佳的境界挑战。请大家细看以下这则文章，看哪里可以改进。

**********

Does the Best Exist?

There is no doubt that everyone takes delight in doing ‘the best’, but does the best exist?

From my point of view, the term ‘best’is not applicable to life in many cases. For instance, the records of sports competitions have been broken every now and then, and there seems to be no limits. For another example, you watched a performance, like dancing. You supposed that it was splendid, but you might never be so sure that you would not be seeing any better ones.

As a matter of fact, I would rather put ‘the best’ in a relative system than an absolute one. I have always said that I am striving to be ‘the best’, which means that I am putting efforts to enhance my personal qualifications in order to become a better individual than the previous time. Should an absolutely ‘best’ model of mine exist, I would never improve any further once it is achieved. Suppose that I got a first place in the last examination, and people around me all complimented my feat as ‘the best’, does it necessarily mean that I need no improvement? On the contrary, I will have to struggle even harder to be better so as to retain the lead, or others will overtake me the next time. As long as competition prevails, there will never be a ‘best’. So given that I am confident, hard-working and persevering, I should do better to win a relative ‘best’. For this reason, I particularly appreciate the advertisement of Philips: “Lets's make things better.”

Although I have come to a point that it is not possible to refer to anything as ‘the best’, there may still be a ‘best’in one's heart. When we talk about a devoted couple who are deeply in love, we tend to remark that each one is the‘best’to the other. However, we are also aware that there may be somebody who is able to be a better companion, but he/she simply does not have the capability to look for the better one. Suppose a boy meets a really good girl, will he break with her just because she is not the best? If he were looking for a better one all the time, wouldn't it be a waste of time? As long as the girl is suitable for him, in his heart she is the best though the possibility of better ones still exists. In cases like marriage, a considerate and tolerant attitude is crucial, since no one is perfect. If you think of one's merit as natural and his drawback as unbearable, then he/she will be valueless in your eyes. On the contrary, provided that you regard his/her virtue as precious and his/her fault as occasional, then he/she will rightly be the ‘best’ in your heart.

*********

Does the Best Exist? (revised version)

It goes without saying that everyone takes delight in doing ‘the best’, but does ‘the best’ exist?

To me, the term‘the best’does not often exist in real life. For instance, sports records have been broken from time to time, and there is no limit to record breaking. Another example is watching a performance like dancing. Supposing what you had watched was splendid, but you might never be so sure that you would not see better ones.

Personally, I would like to put ‘the best’ in a relative position rather than regard it as an absolute condition. If I say I strive to be the best, I may mean I am making efforts to enhance my personal qualifications to become a ‘better’ individual than before. Should the concept of 'the best' be imposed, I would never improve any further. Supposing that I got the first place in an examination and people around me complimented my feat as ‘the best’, does it mean that I need no further improvement? No, of course not! I have to work even harder to be better so as to retain the lead or others may overtake me one day. No wonder, the advertisement of Philips says: “Let's make things better”, I could not agree more.

Although it is not possible to refer to an effort as ‘the best’, such a notion still exists in one's mind. For example, we tend to describe a deeply devoted couple as ‘the best’ for each other. However, there may be someone better who has not turned up yet. If she does turn up, will he break with the wife because she is not the best? If he were looking for ‘the best’ one all the time, wouldn't it be a waste of time? Hence, as long as the girl is suitable, she is ‘the best’ to him though the possibility of a better one still exists. In cases like marriage, therefore, it is vital to be tolerant and considerate by regarding the spouse's virtues as precious and his or her drawbacks as transient; then he or she will be treated as ‘the best’.

seclusive 2007-12-19 11:53
　　俗信认为头大者聪明，不是会fool；但是苏格兰俗谚中有：Mickle head, little wit. 之语。Mickle是古苏格兰语，相当于现在的large，原系名词，指多量，很多的东西。头大而没有智慧，用以喻大而无用的人，日语中所谓uto no taiboku（独活の大木）也。这个古词在苏格兰格言中常见。例如在：Make not mickle of little，其mickle是much之意。此语劝人勿以小为大，以少为多。但：Make a little make a mickle，又是说小做可以大成。一个人独自努力，叹息说没人帮手：Mickle ado and little help。(I have mickle to do and few to do it for me.) Mickle spoken, part must spill，相当于：Talk much, err much，言多必失也。Mickle would have more，相当于：Much would have more，得多了还想更多得些，得陇望蜀也。Moyen does mickle, but money does more。苏格兰语中moyen是influence之意，在此语中指“权势”。权势可以发生很大的作用，但金钱的作用更大，有钱能使鬼推磨也。Of a little take a little, of a mickle, mickle。少就少拿，多则多拿——总之，要拿！

seclusive 2007-12-19 11:55
　　英文电视台播映的剧集有以下两句对白。

　　女演员：How's your job going?（你的工作怎么样？）

　　男演员：Well, it's not so good. I have to moonlight.（嗯，不算好，我得兼职。）

　　女演员说的How's是How is 的缩约形式（contraction）。英美人交谈时大都喜欢这样说。

　　男演员回答时也用it's取代it is。To have to do something指“必须做某事”、“不得不做某事”。

　　比方你想表达“对不起，我得走了”，可说：Sorry, I have to go 。

　　英国人喜欢to have got to do something的形式，“我得走了”的英式说法是I have got to go 。

　　讲得快一点则变为I've gotta go。

　　那么to moonlight是什么意思呢？

　　日间晒太阳，晚上晒月光？

　　非也，非也，男主角说的不像青年男女花前月下谈情说爱那么浪漫。To moonlight指“做兼职”。

　　“他下班后开车赚外快”的英语说法是He moonlights as a driver。

moonlight (vi.): To work at another job, often at night, in addition to one's full-time job.


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