英语学习(持续增加)

小米

【1】疑问附加语 isn't it



　疑问附加语 isn't it

　　"John is smart, isn't it?"

　　这个疑问句里的附加语（question tag）对吗？如果是不对的话，错在哪里？

　　在公共场所或办公室里，只要稍为留心，不难听到“ isn't it ? ”这个附加语。这种疑问句是英文几种疑问句中的一种，主要的用途在强制答话人提供问话人心目中的答案。

　　这个疑问句有一定的格式，即：

　　?肯定叙述句（affirmative statement）＋否定附加语（见例 ①及②）

　　?否定叙述句（negative statement）＋肯定附加语（见例③及 ④）

　　①Mary is happy, isn't she?
　　②They will come, won't they?
　　③Mary isn't sad, is she?
　　④They won't come, will they?

　　此外，附加语中的代名词（pronoun）和助动词（auxiliary verb）必须和叙述句中的相符。

　　这类疑问句看似简单，其实容易出差错。其中一个错误便是附加语的时态（tense）不对，如：

　　⑤You could hardly expect him to help you, can you?
　　⑥The minister will talk about regional cooperation, wouldn't he ?

　　另外一种错误是助动词的错用，如：

　　⑦The clerks are working hard, don't they?
　　⑧Betty won't be a sportswoman, can she?

　　“isn't it”的滥用

　　最常见的错误来自“isn't it”的滥用，如：

　　⑨Jason likes this book very much , isn't it?
　　⑩She can sing well, isn't it?

　　11.Our team won, isn't it?

　　12.Young Singaporeans have become achievement - oriented , isn't it?

　　13.All our teachers are dedicated, isn't it?

　　14.They will go shopping on Sunday, isn't it?

　　这6个错误的附加语改正如下：

　　⑨Jason likes this book very much, doesn't he?
　　⑩She can sing well, can't she?

　　11.Our team won, didn't it?

　　12.Young Singaporeans have become achievement - oriented, haven't they?

　　13.All our teachers are dedicated, aren't they?

　　14.They will go shopping on Sunday, won't they?

　　" lsn't it ? "在下列3个句子中才是正确的用法：

　　15.It is fine today, isn't it?

　　16.That story book is interesting, isn't it?

　　17.It is worthwhile learning a second language well, isn't it?

　　现在再看看“John is smart , isn't it ?”错在哪里。很明显的，错在附加语里的代名词：应该是“he ”，不是“it”，全句如下：

　　John is smart, isn't he?

小米

　英语的动词必须在人称（person）、数目（number）、性别（ gender）和格（case）这些方面和主语取得一致或互相呼应。

　　在学生的英文作文中，动词与主语呼应上的错误，经常出现。

　　下面这句话来自一个重要的公共部门的通告，里面也出现了动词与主语不一致的错误：

　　ABC corporation, with its five main subsidiary companies, have taken over the operations of the previous electricity and gas departments of XXX with effect from 1 october 1995.

　　这里的主语是“ABC corporation”，它是单数的，动词也应该是单数的 has，不是复数的 have，因此犯了动词与主语不对应的错误。

　　既然这是个常见的错误，我们便要特别留意，并且记住下面这些指导原则：

　　●动词和主语在人称和数目上要一致，如：
　　① I am a writer.
　　② Helen is an editor.
　　③ They have a good future.
　　④ Dr Chen teaches us English.
　　⑤ Some old houses were burnt to the ground.
　　⑥ A deserted hut has already been demolished.

　　●两个或两个以上的单数主语由连接词“and”贯串起来时，便成了复数，动词也要复数，如：
　　⑦ David and Jason are colleagues.
　　⑧The driver and the passenger were involved in a quarrel.

　　●两个主语由“with”或“as well as ”等连接时，动词要和第一个主语的人称及数目呼应，如：
　　⑨ A woman with her puppies is walking along the lake.
　　⑩ The monitor as well as the other students has been scolded.

　　●两个主语由“either……or”或“neither……nor”连接时，动词要和第二个主语的人称及数目呼应，如：
　　11. Either you or your friend is wrong.
　　12. Neither John nor his classmates have said it.

　　●集合名词（collective noun）当整体看待时，动词是单数，如：
　　13. The steering committee is made up of five members.
　　14. The jury has made its final decision.

　　有时可以个别看待集合名词里的成员，这时这些成员合起来便变成复数，动词也是复数了，如：

　　15. The committee have met once and they will meet again next month.

　　16. Despite hours of deliberations, the jury were still divided in their opinions.

小米

　　词汇是语言学习中重要的一环。不管学什么语言或写什么文章，丰富的词汇是不可或缺的要素。然而，许多学习语言的人常常为词汇不足而大伤脑筋。为什么会这样呢？主要原因是他们没有认清学习词汇的正确方向。

　　其中一个不正确的方向是对字义的认识不够全面。当他们懂得一个生字的其中一个意思时，便高兴得很，好像是完全掌握了这个字似的。比如知道“arm”的意思是“手臂”，就够了吗？那么①和②里的两个意思呢？

　　① The soldiers are up in arms.

　　② Riot police armed themselves with batons and tear gas.

　　另一个不正确的方向是对惯用语等闲视之。许多人只知道生字生词而忽略了各种惯用语的构成和特殊意义，结果对惯用语的应用一知半解或避而远之，这是不对的。学习词汇的正确方向

　　现在就谈谈学习词汇的两个正确方向。

　　●学习单字单词时，要把主要的意思都记起来，并且注意它们的用法。接着要注意每个字的派生词（derivative words）的构成及用法，如：

　　① friend→friendly; unfriendly; unfriendliness

　　② secure→insecure; insecurity

　　satisfied all his teachers.

　　（b） He has done everything satisfactorily.

　　（c） His work is satisfactory.

　　（d） Has he done everything to the satisfaction of his parents, too?

　　如果可能的话，可以把意思相近的字集合起来，通过联想去学习并区别它们在句子中的用法有何不同。有可能的话，顺便把合成词（ compound words）也兼收并蓄。

　　●必须在常用惯用语上下功夫。一般人只知生字，不大留意惯用语的存在，更不去多管惯用语的类别及构成法。比如英语惯用语中最主要的一种是片语动词（phrasal verbs），数量很多，必须尽量学习和运用，会话或写作都适合。例如：

　　① I have to brush up （on） my economics for tomorrow's test.（温习）

　　② Seeing that there was much work to do, Henry decided to call off his European trip.（取消）

　　③ Can the government do away with some outdated systems?（废除）

　　除了片语动词之外，其他类型的惯用语也要加强，包括下列 5 种短语：

　　Ⅰ. 介词短语，如：in a nutshell; by leaps and bounds; under the weather; for the time being.

　　Ⅱ. 动词短语，如：act as a brake on; Keep tabs on; make a clean breast of; get out of the rut.

　　Ⅲ. 名词短语，如：child's play; a feather in one's cap; a feast for the eyes.

　　Ⅳ. 形容词短语；如：regular as clockwork; palatable to; compatible with; short of; few and far between.

　　Ⅴ. 谚语和成语，如：all is well that ends well; give him an inch and he will take an ell; never say die; strike while the iron is hot; the early bird catches the worm.

小米

在下面这段和产业买卖有关的英文里，存在着 4 个错误。你看得出来吗？

　　“If you have the intention to sell your flat. Please don't hesitate to call us, we'll offer you hightest selling price.”

　　第一个错误是句型形式“have the intention to sell”的错误；正确的形式是：intend to sell 或 have the intention of selling.

　　另外两个错误和标点符号有关。一个是在副词分句后面不该用句点而用；另一个是应该用句点的地方而不用。

　　“If……flat”是条件副词分句，不可独立生存，必须依赖后头的主句“please……us”，才可以成为完整的复杂句（complex sentence）。这样一来，主句前面的句点，就要改成逗号（，）了。

　　另外一个错误是两个主句之间既没有句点也没有连接词，而只有逗号；这种错误叫 run-on sentence：

　　“……, please don't hesitate to call us, we……”

　　这个句子里的逗号（，）要改为句点（。）才对：

　　“……。Please don't hesitate to call us. We……”

　　不用句点也可以，但要用恰当的连接词，如：

　　“……, please don't hesitate to call us, as we'll offer you……”

　　谈了 3 个错误，现在来谈最后一个错误，就是定冠词（ definite article）的消失：

　　“We'll offer you highest selling price.”

　　习惯上，最高级形容词（the superlative degree of adjectives）前面要用定冠词 the.因此，这句话要改为：

　　“We'll offer you the highest selling price.”

　　必须使用定冠词的例子

　　接下来，顺便把其他必须用定冠词的场合列下，作为参考。

　　㈠ 表示世上唯一的事物，如：

　　① the sun; the earth; the sky; the North Pole

　　㈡ 当一个名词被再次提起时，如：

　　② A car knocked against a tree. We can still see the mark on the tree made by the car.

　　㈢ 当名词后面有个修饰作用的短语或分句时，如：

　　③ The girl in red is my sister.

　　④ The thief who stole your wallet yesterday was arrested.

　　㈣ 加在某些形容词前面，以表示某类人或事，如：

　　⑤ The rich often get richer and the poor, poorer.

　　⑥ The doctor lost no time in giving help to the injured.

　　⑦ Don't expect the impossible.

　　㈤ 加在某些山川、河流、岛屿、国家名称之前，如：

　　⑧ the Alps; the Thames; the British Isles; the Philippines; the Atlantic Ocean.

小米

　在《定冠词省不得》一文里，谈到了 5 个必须用定冠词的例子。

　　定冠词也出现在其他 11 种情况中，非同时注意不可。

　　⑴用在单数名词前面，以代表同类的人或物，如：
　　● The ox is a useful animal for farmers.
　　● This type of work is easier for the teacher than for the student.

　　但当涉及 man 和 woman 这两个名词时，一般上不必用 the ：
　　● Man is mortal.
　　● Woman differs from man in many ways.

　　⑵用在单数名词前面来表示有关名词的抽象概念，如：
　　● Don't play the fool.
　　● Peter is fond of the bottle.

　　⑶用在数目字前面，如：
　　● Mr Li is somewhere in the 30s.
　　● She was not yet born in the 50s.

　　⑷用在测量单位前面，以表示“每”（each/per），如：
　　● Some factory workers are paid by the hour.
　　● This car usually does 15 kilometres to the litre.

　　⑸用在比较级形容词或副词之前，以加强其意义，如：
　　● The teacher explained the idea again, but his students were none the wiser.
　　● Your mind will function all the better if you have some time away from your work.

　　⑹用在“the more/better……the more/better……”结构里，如：
　　● The more we practise, the more we improve.
　　● The better the staff, the better the performance.

　　⑺用在乐器名称之前，如：
　　● The piano sounds better than the organ.

　　⑻用在剧院、电影院之前，如：
　　● Do you often go to the cinema?
　　● Tom went to the Lido last week.

　　⑼用在四个方向之前，如：
　　● The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

　　⑽用在复数姓氏之前，以表示有关家人，如：
　　● The Browns will visit us tonight.

　　⑾用在某些惯用语之前，如：
　　● We know the ins and outs of the matter.
　　● Compare the pros and cons before you make your decision.

小米

　　在《动词与主语必须呼应——动词的运用有学问》一文里，谈到动词与主语呼应问题，并提出五个指导原则，以避免这方面的错误。但是指导归指导，错误还是像不速之客，如影随形，频频来访。在学生作业中，这种错误排列第一。其他场合也常见到动词与主语不搭配的语病。下面这广告第一句中的形容词分句里便出现了这种错误：

　　“Dear Owner/Resident, we have ready buyers who is upgrading.”

　　根据英语语法规律，形容词分句（也叫定语从句，adjective clause）里的动词必须和主句里的先行词（antecedent）呼应。先行词是单数，形容词分句中的动词便是单数；先行词是复数，形容词分句中的动词便是复数。例如：

　　① Do you know the woman who is walking the dog?（陪狗散步）

　　② Those who have performed well in the tournament will be rewarded.

　　在①里，先行词 the woman 是单数，形容词分句里的动词 is 也是单数。反之，②里的先行词 those 是复数，who 后面的动词也是复数 have.

　　根据这原则，who is upgrading 中的 is 便要改为 are 了。

　　动词与主语不呼应的错误比比皆是。除了上述例子外，常见的错误还有下面几种类型：

　　③ Has Mr and Mrs Li decided to emigrate?

　　④ Do your uncle live in Malaysia?

　　⑤ There is several beautiful paintings on the wall.

　　⑥ The news of Henry's resignation were received with great surprise.

　　⑦ What we are doing are good for the nation as a whole.

　　⑧ Someone have forgotten to turn off the light.

　　在③里，助动词 has 和复数主语 Mr and Mrs Li 不符，要改为 have.第④句里的 do 和 your uncle 不搭配，要改为 does.第⑤ 句里的 is 和真正主语 paintings 的数不一致，应改为 are.这个句子也可改变为：“Several beautiful paintings are on the wall”。在⑥里的主语 news，其形式是复数，但意思是单数，动词也要单数的 was received 才行。⑦里的主语是名词分句（noun clause），是个单数的单位，动词也要单数的 is，不是 are.在⑧ 里的主语 someone 是单数代名词，随后的动词必须是 has forgotten 才对。

　　上述动词和主语不一致的毛病，屡见不鲜；即使英语能力好的人，也难幸免。

　　下面这句英语很好，但是里面的动词对吗？是 has 还是 have 呢？

　　“Its unique concept and impressive magnitude has made it the talking point of the region.”

　　既然这句的主语是由 concept 和 magnitude 组成，便是复数，谓语动词当然也要复数 have 才是。

小米

　　前此说过了“定冠词的常见用法”，意犹未尽。本文就来谈谈不定冠词（indefinite articles） a/an 的用法。

　　不定冠词最基本的用途就是用来表示“一”这概念，如：

　　① A stitch in time saves nine.
　　② Jason is an internationally known scholar.

　　此外，a/an 还有下列 6 种用途：

　　㈠常和time、measurement等有关的名词连用，以表示“每—” 的概念，如：

　　③ I teach five days a week.
　　④ This type of vegetables is sold at one dollar a kilo.
　　⑤ My car usually runs sixty kilometres an hour.

　　㈡常和 hundred, thousand, dozen 以及数目及数量连用，如：

　　⑥ That factory turns out at least a hundred tyres a day.
　　⑦ Noel's monthly salary is a thousand dollars.
　　⑧ I have a number of sponsored students.
　　⑨ Mary has a lot of money.

　　㈢在“of / at”后面出现，以表示“同一类”这概念，如：

　　⑩ Birds of a feather flock together.
　　11. Please come one at a time.
　　12. Things of a kind come together, so do people of a mind.

　　㈣常在“rather, quite, many, half, what, such”等字后面出现，形成固定用法，如：

　　13. Tom is rather a fool.
　　14. I think Chinese is quite a useful language.
　　15. Many a student has asked that question.
　　16. The visitor left half an hour ago.
　　17. What a fine day it is!
　　18. How can you say such a thing?

　　㈤用在“so, as, too, how +形容词”这些结构里，如：

　　19. We have not had so hot a day before.
　　20. Susan is as clever a girl as Anna.
　　21. That is too difficult a book for beginners.
　　22. No one knew how serious a problem it was until later.

　　㈥出现在许多惯用语中，如：

　　23. Bob always has a bone to pick with others.
　　24. Some students turned a deaf ear to the teacher's advice.
　　25. All must learn a language with an eye to mastering it.
　　26. I hope you will make an effort to attend the meeting punctually.
　　27. Jason has an aversion to being idle.
　　28. The news of Jack's sudden resignation came as a bolt from the blue.

小米

　随着科技的突飞猛进以及电脑资讯的普及，科学术语、电脑词汇与日俱增；即使同一个字，有时意思在增加，用途也在扩大。工业或行政上的 input 和 output 和电脑上的意思，哪会完全相同？小孩时期看到在地上跑的 mouse 和现在出现在电脑旁的 mouse，形状相似，但意思也一样吗？

　　不说特殊用语，就是天天见面的常用字，不管是名词、形容词、动词或副词，十九都是多义词，甚至是多种词类的，既可当名词、动词，又可当形容词，甚至副词。

　　关于这点，《英语词汇：意思和用法》一文中已举例说明，大家应该记忆犹新，不再重复。

　　由于一词多义在英语词汇的运用上非常重要，这里不厌其烦地再举一个家喻户晓的常用字 break，以加强我对这点的重视。

　　作为动词，break 有下列 12 个常用意思：

　　① 打破、断，如：（a） If you drop the cup, you will break it. （b） The rope suddenly broke.

　　② 违反、违约，如：（a） Don't break the law. （b） Tom is notorious for breaking promises.

　　③ 伤、毁，如：（a） Tony broke Jane's heart by not marrying her. （b） Judy dropped her watch and broke it.

　　④ 中断、打断，如：（a） The barking of the dog broke our sleep. （b） The stranger rushed in and broke our conversation.

　　⑤ 破晓，如：They arrived at the airport just as the day was breaking.

　　⑥ 放弃，如：It is hard to break the habit of smoking.

　　⑦ 开路，如：We sometimes saw voluntary workers help break paths in villages.

　　⑧ 毫无得失，如：He bought the sewing machine at $700 and sold it at the same price. He broke even on the deal.

　　⑨ 闯入，如：A thief broke into my neigbour's house and ran away with some valuables.

　　⑩ 爆发，如：If a new world war breaks out, can you imagine the consequences?

　　11. 突破，如：The soldiers tried to break through the enemy's line.

　　12. 停止，如：The meeting suddenly broke up.

　　当名词时，break 有 5 个常见义，如下：

　　① 裂口：Please send for a plumber to repair the break in the water pipe.

　　② 拂晓：Fish mongers start work at the break of the day.

　　③ 吃茶点时间：A few of us have a tea-break at 11am every day.

　　④ 休息：There is one-hour break for lunch.

　　⑤ 变动：The bankrupt man has a break in his way of living.

小米

　一个好的句子中，每个等立成分都要以相同的形式出现。这种句法加强了文字的功力，使文章产生更大的效益。

　　如果同一句中应该等立的成分不对应，不但效益不好，而且也是一种句法上的缺陷。

　　下面两则广告中的第二个动词形态就和前面的不对应，因此属于一种字形上的错误：

　　① If you intend to buy or sell your property or having any queries, please feel free to call me .

　　② You will be in charge of interviewing and shortlisting candidates and to assist in the recruitment of 500 staff.

　　在第一句里的“having”应改为“have”才对。不然，就要把这个分句完全写出来：

　　“…… or if you have any queries, ……”

　　第二句里的“and”是衔接前面的动名词“interviewing and shortlisting”和后面的动名词“assisting”。显然，这里不用动名词而用不定式动词“to assist”，也是犯了动词形式不对应的错误，非改正不可。

　　还有，根据字词的排列，“shortlisting”要排在“ interviewing”前面，才合逻辑。

　　①和②这类的错误相当普遍。虽然这样的错误不会影响人们对文章的理解，但是总不是件文字上的好事，还是多多注意，尽量避免好。

　　同样的，下列 5 个从学生作业中找出来的句子，也犯了同样的毛病：

　　③ This will enable the parent to experience the new style of life and allows him or her enough time to consider settling down.

　　④ Utopianism violates the human conscience, denies privacy to individuals and discard human rights.

　　⑤ They have to reach a decision on either sending their child to a day-care centre or employ a maid.

　　⑥ It is very hard to relate the stories through other means and at the same time retains the critical aspects of the book.

　　⑦ This problem can be solved by developing correct language skills, concentrating on studies day by day, and try not to exert too much pressure.

　　③到⑦句子里的动词形态的错误是明显的，改正也是容易的，即：

　　③ allow; ④ discards; ⑤ employing; ⑥ retain; ⑦ trying.

小米

　众所周知,被动语态是一种语法手段，使句子里谓语动词后面的宾语，变成主语，成为动作的执行者。因此，当我们要把动作的承受者变成动作的主宰时，便要用被动语态（the passive voice）。

　　麻烦的是，不是所有的主动语态（the active voice）都可以转变为被动语态，因为有些及物动词（the transitive verb）是不适合以被动形式出现的。

　　下列句子可以证明：

　　① I have a Japanese car.

　　② The auditorium holds 3000 people.

　　③ This coat does not fit you.

　　④ Jane resembles her mother.

　　⑤ Tom jumped the queue.

　　⑥ I wish you would mind your business.

　　⑦ Such an idea has just crossed my mind.

　　此外，有些及物动词虽以主动语态出现，却具有被动含义，故不宜再转变为被动语态。其实，也不能变，因为这些动词后面没有宾语。例如：

　　⑧ This new knife cuts well.

　　⑨ Nylon shirts wash easily.

　　⑩ Jason's books sell quickly.

　　11. This type of ball pens writes in two colours.

　　12. The note reads as follows : "……"

　　另有些动词，虽有主动语态，但却常以被动形式出现，以便更加符合动词惯用法。例如：

　　13. The train is scheduled to leave at 8pm.

　　14. All are supposed to come to the meeting on time.

　　15. The case was reported to the police.

　　13到15的主动语态为下，但却少见：

　　＊The railway officer schedules the train to leave at 8pm.

　　＊The director supposes all to come to the meeting on time.

　　＊Someone reported the case to the police.

　　最后还有一种情形，就是相当多动词出现在“be + 过去分词” 的结构里。看上去，它们像是被动语态；实际上，并没有被动的含义。更有趣的是，这些“be”后头的过去分词（the past participle ）已经渐渐转化为形容词，充当“be”和其他接击动词（linking verbs）的补足语（the complement）；因此不能和被动语态混为一谈。下面是 8 个常见的例子：

　　16. Many undergraduates here are interested in business administration courses.

　　17. We were surprised at the unexpected news.

　　18. Most successful people are distinguished for their courage and diligence.

　　19. David was very pleased with my work.

　　20. One can be tired of doing anything some of the time.

　　21. We are quite concerned about our friend's predicament.

　　22. Joelle is overwhelmed with joy.

　　23. Are you acquainted with that field of study?