英語(yǔ)講義【172】一字不同,意義有別
英語(yǔ)的情態(tài)動(dòng)詞(modal verbs)可以協(xié)助主動(dòng)詞,表達(dá)一句話的語(yǔ)氣;有時(shí),不同的情態(tài)動(dòng)詞還會(huì)多少扭轉(zhuǎn)一句話的含意。例如Shall I come in?和May I come in?這兩句話的含意一樣嗎?答案是否定的。
用May提問(wèn),目的在請(qǐng)求對(duì)方同意某事,是種客氣方式,意思是:我想進(jìn)來(lái),不知你允許嗎?
用Shall提問(wèn),目的在探聽(tīng)對(duì)方要不要我進(jìn)來(lái),有點(diǎn)像Do you want me to come in?而你要我進(jìn)來(lái),我就進(jìn)來(lái),你不要我進(jìn)來(lái),我就不進(jìn)來(lái)。
現(xiàn)在再比較下列各組,看看語(yǔ)意有何差別:
(1) a. Shall I read this book now?
(你現(xiàn)在要我看這本書(shū)嗎?)
b. May I read this book now?
(我現(xiàn)在可以看這本書(shū)嗎?)
(2) a. Shall I buy the stamps for you?
(你要我替你買郵票嗎?)
b. Can I buy the stamps for you?
(我可以替你買郵票嗎?)
(3) a. Shall I write the annual report?
(你要我寫(xiě)年終報(bào)告嗎?)
b. Might/May/Can I write the annual report?
(我可以寫(xiě)年終報(bào)告了嗎?)
最后,再看看另外兩句的差別何在?
(4) Our basketball team has gone to Malaysia.
(5) Our basketball team has been to Malaysia.
第4句子里用gone;5里用been。一字不同,意思有別。
前句的含義是:這支隊(duì)伍現(xiàn)在已不在這兒到馬來(lái)西亞去了。后句的意思是:這支隊(duì)伍曾經(jīng)去過(guò)馬來(lái)西亞,但現(xiàn)在已在這兒。
同樣的,第6句和第7句的含義差別也和4及5一樣:
(6) Jade has gone to China.
(7) Jade has been to China.
由此可見(jiàn),have gone to和have been to盡管樣貌相似,用的都是現(xiàn)在完成時(shí)態(tài),但含意并不相同。
通過(guò)上述例句的對(duì)比,可以知道今天早上,海倫去看過(guò)牙醫(yī)了的英譯句應(yīng)該是8或9:
(8) Helen has been to the dentist.
(9) Helen went to see the dentist this morning.不能說(shuō):
(10) Helen has gone to the dentist this morning.
還有,針對(duì)Where have you been before?這句問(wèn)話,正確的答案是11不是12:
(11) I have been to London.
(12) I have gone to London.
因?yàn)槿诉€在說(shuō)話,怎么可以在倫敦?
在結(jié)束本文之前,請(qǐng)比較13a和13b,以確定其語(yǔ)意:
(13) a. The security guard is used to watch the bank.
b. The security guard is used to watching the bank.
13a. 是被動(dòng)句,意思是:保安人員被用來(lái)看守銀行。主動(dòng)句是:Someone uses the security guard to watch the bank.
13b. 是接系動(dòng)詞+used to + 賓語(yǔ)
(linking verb + used to + object),意思是:
保安人員習(xí)慣于看守銀行。
其他例子:
(14) Are you used to living in a cold counrty?(你習(xí)慣住在寒冷國(guó)家嗎?)
(15) I am quite used to cold weather.(我相當(dāng)適應(yīng)冷天氣。)
英語(yǔ)的情態(tài)動(dòng)詞(modal verbs)可以協(xié)助主動(dòng)詞,表達(dá)一句話的語(yǔ)氣;有時(shí),不同的情態(tài)動(dòng)詞還會(huì)多少扭轉(zhuǎn)一句話的含意。例如Shall I come in?和May I come in?這兩句話的含意一樣嗎?答案是否定的。
用May提問(wèn),目的在請(qǐng)求對(duì)方同意某事,是種客氣方式,意思是:我想進(jìn)來(lái),不知你允許嗎?
用Shall提問(wèn),目的在探聽(tīng)對(duì)方要不要我進(jìn)來(lái),有點(diǎn)像Do you want me to come in?而你要我進(jìn)來(lái),我就進(jìn)來(lái),你不要我進(jìn)來(lái),我就不進(jìn)來(lái)。
現(xiàn)在再比較下列各組,看看語(yǔ)意有何差別:
(1) a. Shall I read this book now?
(你現(xiàn)在要我看這本書(shū)嗎?)
b. May I read this book now?
(我現(xiàn)在可以看這本書(shū)嗎?)
(2) a. Shall I buy the stamps for you?
(你要我替你買郵票嗎?)
b. Can I buy the stamps for you?
(我可以替你買郵票嗎?)
(3) a. Shall I write the annual report?
(你要我寫(xiě)年終報(bào)告嗎?)
b. Might/May/Can I write the annual report?
(我可以寫(xiě)年終報(bào)告了嗎?)
最后,再看看另外兩句的差別何在?
(4) Our basketball team has gone to Malaysia.
(5) Our basketball team has been to Malaysia.
第4句子里用gone;5里用been。一字不同,意思有別。
前句的含義是:這支隊(duì)伍現(xiàn)在已不在這兒到馬來(lái)西亞去了。后句的意思是:這支隊(duì)伍曾經(jīng)去過(guò)馬來(lái)西亞,但現(xiàn)在已在這兒。
同樣的,第6句和第7句的含義差別也和4及5一樣:
(6) Jade has gone to China.
(7) Jade has been to China.
由此可見(jiàn),have gone to和have been to盡管樣貌相似,用的都是現(xiàn)在完成時(shí)態(tài),但含意并不相同。
通過(guò)上述例句的對(duì)比,可以知道今天早上,海倫去看過(guò)牙醫(yī)了的英譯句應(yīng)該是8或9:
(8) Helen has been to the dentist.
(9) Helen went to see the dentist this morning.不能說(shuō):
(10) Helen has gone to the dentist this morning.
還有,針對(duì)Where have you been before?這句問(wèn)話,正確的答案是11不是12:
(11) I have been to London.
(12) I have gone to London.
因?yàn)槿诉€在說(shuō)話,怎么可以在倫敦?
在結(jié)束本文之前,請(qǐng)比較13a和13b,以確定其語(yǔ)意:
(13) a. The security guard is used to watch the bank.
b. The security guard is used to watching the bank.
13a. 是被動(dòng)句,意思是:保安人員被用來(lái)看守銀行。主動(dòng)句是:Someone uses the security guard to watch the bank.
13b. 是接系動(dòng)詞+used to + 賓語(yǔ)
(linking verb + used to + object),意思是:
保安人員習(xí)慣于看守銀行。
其他例子:
(14) Are you used to living in a cold counrty?(你習(xí)慣住在寒冷國(guó)家嗎?)
(15) I am quite used to cold weather.(我相當(dāng)適應(yīng)冷天氣。)