Common Confused Colloquial
學習英語容易犯錯誤的口語
1. 我很喜歡它。
ý I very like it
þ I like it very much.
2. 這個價格對我挺合適的。
ý The price is very suitable for me.
þ The price is right.
Note:suitable (合適的、相配的) 最常見的用法是以否定的形式出現在告示或通知上,如:下列節目兒童不宜。The following programme is not suitable for children在這組句子中用後面的說法會更合適。
3. 你是做什麼工作的呢?
ý What’s your job?
þ Are you working at the moment?
Note:what’s your job這種說法難道也有毛病嗎?是的。因為如果您的談話物件剛剛失業,如此直接的問法會讓對方有失面子,所以您要問:目前您是在上班嗎?Are you working at the moment?接下來您才問:目前您在哪兒工作呢?Where are you working these days?或者您從事哪個行業呢?What line of work are you in?順帶說一下,回答這類問題時不妨說得具體一點,不要只是說經理或者秘書。
4. 用英語怎麼說?
ý How to say?
þ How do you say this in English?
Note:How to say是在中國最為氾濫成災的中國式英語之一,這決不是地道的英語說法。同樣的句子有:請問這個詞如何拼寫?How do you spell that please?請問這個單詞怎麼讀?How do you pronounce this word?
5. 明天我有事情要做。
ý I have something to do tomorrow?
þ Sorry but I am tied up all day tomorrow.
Note:用I have something to do來表示您很忙,這也完全是中國式的說法。因為每時每刻我們都有事情要做,躺在那裡睡大覺也是事情。所以您可以說我很忙,脫不開身:I’m tied up.還有其他的說法:I’m afraid I can’t make it at that time. I’d love to, but I can’t, I have to stay at home。
6. 我沒有英文名。
ý I haven’t English name.
þ I don’t have an English name.
Note:許多人講英語犯這樣的錯誤,從語法角度來分析,可能是語法功底欠缺,因為have在這裡是實義動詞,而並不是在現在完成時裡面那個沒有意義的助動詞。所以,這句話由肯定句變成否定句要加助動詞。
明白道理是一回事,習慣是另一回事,請您再說幾話:我沒有錢;I don’t have any money.我沒有兄弟姐妹;I don’t have any brothers or sisters.我沒有車。I don’t have a car.
7. 我想我不行。
ý I think I can’t.
þ I don’t think I can.
Note:這一組然是個習慣問題,在語法上稱為否定前置,這就是漢語裡面說“我想我不會”的時候,英語裡面總是說“我不認為我會”。以後您在說類似的英語句子的時候,只要您留心,也會習慣英語的說法的轉貼於:考試大_實用英語
8. 我的舞也跳得不好。
ý I don’t dance well too.
þ I am not a very good dancer either.
Note:當我們說不擅長做什麼事情的時候,英語裡面通常用not good at something,英語的思維甚至直接踴躍到:我不是一個好的舞者。
9. 現在幾點鐘了?
ý What time is it now?
þ What time is it, please?
Note:What time is it now這是一個直接從漢語翻譯過的句子,講英語的時候沒有必要說now,因為您不可能問what time was it yesterday, 或者what time is it tommorow?所以符合英語習慣的說法是:請問現在幾點了?還有一種說法是:How are we doing for time?這句話在有時間限制的時候特別合適
10. 我的英語很糟糕。
ý My English is poor.
þ I am not 100% fluent, but at least I am improving.
Note:有人開玩笑說,全中國人最擅長的一句英文是:My English is poor.實話說,我從來沒有遇到一個美國人對我說:My Chinese is poor. 無論他們的漢語是好是壞,他們會說: I am still having a few problem, but I getting better.
當您告訴外國人,您的英語很poor,so what(那又怎麼樣呢),是要讓別人當場施捨給我們一些英語呢,還是說我的英語不好,咱們不談了吧。
另外一個更大的弊端是,一邊不停的學英語,一邊不停地說自己的英語很poor,這正像有個人一邊給車胎充氣,又一邊在車胎上紮孔放氣。
11. 你願意參加我們的晚會嗎?
ý Would you like to join our party on Friday?
þ Would you like to come to our party on Friday night?
12. 我沒有經驗。
ý I have no experience.
þ I am afraid I don’t know much about that.
Note:I have no experience這句話聽起來古裡古怪,因為您只需要說:那方面我懂得不多,或者這方面我不在行,就行了。I am not really an expert in this area.
13. 我沒有男朋友。
ý I have no boyfriend.
þ I don’t have a boyfriend.
14. 他的身體很健康。
ý His body is healthy.
þ He is in good health. You can also say: He’s healthy.
15. 價錢很昂貴/便宜。
ý The price is too expensive/cheap.
þ The price is too high/ rather low.
16. 我們下了車。
ý We got off the car.
þ We got out of the car.
17. 車速快了。
ý The speed of the car is fast.
þ The car is speeding. Or “The car is going too fast.”
18. 這個春節你回家嗎?Will you be going back home for the Spring Festival?
ý Of course! (是的,我回去。這一句是錯的)
þ Sure. / Certainly.(當然。這種說法是正確的)
Note:以英語為母語的人使用of course的頻率要比中國的學生低得多,只有在回答一些眾所周知的問題時才說of course。因為of course後面隱含的一句話是“當然我知道啦!難道我是一個傻瓜嗎?”因此,of course帶有挑釁的意味。在交談時,用sure或certainly效果會好得多。同時,of course not也具挑釁的意味。正常情況下語氣溫和的說法是certainly not.
19. 我覺得右手很疼。
ý I feel very painful in my right hand.
þ My right hand is very painful. Or “ My right hand hurts(aches).”
20. 他看到她很驚訝。
ý He looked at her and felt surprised.
þ He looked at her in surprise
21. 我讀過你的小說但是沒料到你這麼年輕。
ý I have read your novels but I didn’t think you could be so young.
þ After having read your novel, I expected that you would be older.
22. 她臉紅了,讓我看穿了她的心思。
ý Her red face made me see through her mind.
þ Her red face told me what she was thinking.
23. 看到這幅畫讓我想到了我的童年時代。
ý The sight of these pictures made me remember my own childhood.
þ Seeing these pictures reminded me of my own childhood.
24. 別理她。
ý Don’t pay attention to her.
þ Leave her alone.
25. 我在大學裡學到了許多知識。
ý I get a lot of knowledge in the university.
þ I learned a lot in university.
26. 山姆正在讀書。
ý Samuel is reading a book.
þ Samuel is reading.
27. 我遇到了很多困難。
ý I am having many difficulties.
þ I am having a few problems / lots of problems.
28. 請快點走,否則我們會遲到的。
ý Please hurry to walk or we’ll be late.
þ Please hurry up or we’ll be late.
29. 她由嫉妒轉向失望。
ý She was so jealous that she became desperate.
þ Jealousy drove her to despair.
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