三、 常见习惯用语
(一) 知识概要
由于英语国家的语言习惯与中国的语言习惯有许多不同之处,所以造成了许多同学在做选择或书写,或与人交谈中造成误用中国方式来对英语的问句作解答。例如一 个小女孩十分好看,可爱,外国人见到时会讲: You are so beautiful? 这时的答语应该是 Thank you? 如果外国人发现你的英语不错,他们会讲: Your English is very good? 这时中国人常常会说:不,我说的不好。这纯是一种礼貌的答语,但是不符合英语习惯。它正确的答语应是 Thank you? 虽然交际英语有一些规律可讲,但更重要的是学习外国的生活习惯,了解他们的文化背景,历史渊源,这样才能真正的学好一门外语。
(二) 正误辨析
[误] - What can I do for you?
- Yes, please help me?
[正] - What can I do for you?
- I'd like to buy a sweater?
[析] What can I do for you? 这一问语实际上用于的情景很多,要根据具体情况而定。如在商店中售货员讲这句话应译为:您想要点什么?在其他场合也可以被译为:我能为您做些什么?它的答语应是直接讲出想让对方提供的帮助。
[误] - Which colour do you like?
- Sorry, I don't like?
[正] - Which colour do you like?
- I prefer blue?
[析] 由 which 来提问的问句是要回答具体的选择,而不能泛指,泛泛的回答。如 Yes, I like it?
[误] Do you like to come with us tonight?
[正] Would you like to come with us tonight?
[析] Do you like … 问的是对方的习惯,如: Do you like swimming? Do you like collecting stamps? 而 would you like … 则是一次性的邀请、提议。邀请的英语表达法还有如下几种:
Shall we go? 我们走吧!
Let's go? 让我们走吧!
How about having a cup of tea? 喝杯茶如何?
What about a cup of coffee? 喝杯咖啡如何?
Why not buy it? 为什么不买呢?
其肯定答语一般为Certainly, Yes, O.K. All right, With pleasure?
[误] Sorry, I've kept you waiting?
Not at all?
[正] Sorry, I've kept you waiting?
Never mind?
[析] "介意不介意"这一问法与答语在中英文中有所不同。如:
- Do you mind my smoking here? - _________
A. Yes, do it please?
B. No, of course not?
C. Yes, take it please?
D. No, you can't take it?
这时正确的选择应是B。 其意为:不介意,当然不。而A选项则自相矛盾了,它应译为:是的我介意,请抽吧。而D选项是:不介意,你不能抽。当向对方争求意见时,可以有以下问法:
Do you mind if I open the door?
Would you mind mailing the letter for me?
其答语如果是同意应为: Certainly not, not at all?
而不同意时应为 Yes, 或 I'm sorry?
[误] What's that man?
He is Mike?
[正] What's that man?
He is a teacher?
[正] Who's that man?
He is Mike? (He is Mike's father?)
[析] 由 what 提问是问的职业,由 who 提问问的是姓名或身份。
[误] - How much are they?
- Half a kilo, please?
[正] - How many bananas do you want?
- Half a kilo? Please?
[析] How much are they? 问的是价格而不是实际物品的多少。
[误] I'm sorry, but is this the way to the park?
[正] Excuse me, but is this the way to the park?
[析] I'm sorry 是对已经做错了的事向对方道歉时的开始语。而 Excuse me? 是在打扰对方之前表达歉意的话。
[误] - Have a good time tonight!
- You are the same?
[正] - Have a good time tonight!
- The same to you?
[析] The same to you 是表达我也祝您有个愉快的夜晚,它是美语中的习惯用法。
[误] - What's the problem?
- I've got a headache?
[正] What's wrong with you?
I've got a headache?
[析] What's wrong with you? 是询问对方身体状态如何,而 What's the problem?是问对方遇到了什么麻烦。
[误] - Now, I'm back? Can I play?
- Perhaps? You'd better do your homework first?
[正] - Now, I'm back? Can I play?
- I'm afraid not? You'd better do your homework first?
[析] Perhaps 是表示对一种拿不准的事态的推论,如: Am I right? Perhaps?而 I'm afraid not? 则表达一种不同意的态度。 be afraid 的几种用法有:
I'm afraid that you are right?
其后直接加宾语从句。
- Will you come to my birthday party?
- I'm afraid not? I have to go to see my father? He is in hospital?
其后+not,表示否定。
- Sorry, I don't want to go there alone, I'm afraid of the dog?
其后+名词,表示对某人,某物的害怕。
Mary is afraid of making mistakes in the exam?
其后+ of + 动名词,表示害怕做某事。
Mary is afraid to see the teacher because she didn't do well in the exam?
其后+ 不定式,表示不敢去做某事。
[误] - How soon will you be ready?
- Two days?
[正] - How soon will you be ready?
- In two days?
[析] 此题关键是要根据情景,身临其境,要注意的是对方问了什么,就应答什么。或答了什么就应问什么。 How soon 问的是"还有多久才能作完",这时要用 in two days, 即在两小时之内即可以作完。如用 How long 提问,则答语可以用 two days。
[误] - Would you mind if I have some time off?
- I don't mind?
- Monday and Tuesday of next week?
[正] - Would you mind if I have some time off?
- When exactly?
- Monday and Tuesday of next week?
[析] 有的对话是复杂的,稍有不慎就有可能选错,而且英语中如选错了答案是不容易找出错来的。 I don't mind 是可以用来回答 Would you mind…这一提问的,但如仔细看一看则会发现我们要选用的不是陈述句而是疑问句。根据下面一句的答语来判定要用 when exactly? 什么时间,这样才能与下句中具体的时间相符合。
[误] Suppose your name is Tom? The phone rings and you pick it up? The first word you say will probably be "Who are you?"
[正] Suppose your name is Tom? The phone rings and you pick it up? The first word you say will probably be "Hello? This is Tom speaking?"
[析] 在英语学习中,习惯用法实际上在某种情况,或某种意义上讲比语法更为重要。如果只从句子的角度上去分析,它们可能都是对的。比如,当你拿起电话时,如果你 想知道对方是谁,可以问"Who's that(speaking)?"但不要讲"Who are you?"如果你想先介绍一下自己可以讲"This is ×××× speaking"而不要讲"I'm ××××"也不要讲"My name is ×××××." 就语法而论,"Who are you?" "I'm ××××?""My name is ×××××?"并不错,也是英语中可用的句子,但就打电话这一场合,就不宜用了。
[误] - Do you think it's going to rain over the weekend?
- I don't hope so?
[正] - Do you think it's going to rain over the weekend?
- I hope not?
[析] 由于初学者对实际英语口语中表达感情意愿的答语不熟悉,如在肯定答语中 I think so? I hope so? I believe so? 是相同的,但在否定句中却常用 I don't think so? 但I don't believe so? 和 I don't hope so? 则意为:我不信此事和我不希望此事发生。而 I believe not? 和 I hope not? 则为:我想可能不会发生吧!
[误] - Is anybody there?
- No, Bob and Tom have asked for leave?
[正] - Is everybody there?
- No, Bob and Tom have asked for leave?
[析] 许多学生在写作和选择答语或问句时总要语法在前,而不是习惯用语在先。所以总是要拘泥疑问句中的不定代词,用 anybody。 但是Is anybody there? 在英语中为:这里有人吗?而Is everybody there?为:全都到齐了吗?所以首先要考虑的是其答语。 No, Bob and Tom have asked for leave?
[误] - Your handwriting is very good!
- No, my handwriting is very poor?
[正] - Your handwriting is very good!
- Thank you?
[析] 中国人遇到别人称赞,总是以谦逊为美德。但英美人则往往认为自信是美德。所以当别人夸奖你或赞美你时,就应说: Thank you? 又比如中国人见面时常讲 Where are you going? 或 Have you had your breakfast yet?而英美人则认为你过多的干预别人的私生活了。而他们见面时往往问一些无关紧要的话,如: Hello! How are you going? (你过得怎样) Morning! 等。而 good morning? 和 How do you do? 则被认为是较正规的问候语,在日常生活中则十分少见。
[误] When you have had dinner with an American friend and want to leave you may say: "Excuse me? I'll go first?"
[正] When you have had dinner with an American friend and want to leave you may say: "Excuse me? I have to go?"
[析] 这两句答语都是正确的,其关键不是语法,而是习惯问题。如果在这样的场合你讲 I'll go first? 朋友们会迷惑不解,而 I have to go? 则表示由于外界的特殊原因而造成的你要离去,而你本人则十分不愿做此事。
[误] - Would you like to come to dinner tonight?
- I'd like to, and I'm too busy?
[正] - Would you like to come to dinner tonight?
- I'd like to, but I'm too busy?