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不能仅从字面理解的口语英语

线话英语|2015-05-11 16:22:13

 

    有些口语英语句子的意思,尤其是一些惯用句子的意思,我们是不能单从字面来理解的。下面就是一些常见的容易引起歪曲的句子:

  口语英语

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1. He is the last person to do such a thing. 他决不会干这种事。
She is the last woman I want to sit next to at dinner.
她是我在宴席上最不乐意与之相邻就座的女子。
That's the last thing I should expect him to do. 那是我最不可能指望他去做的事件。

 

 

  口语英语注:“ the last + 名词 + 不定式或定语从句”中的 last 作“ least likely / suitable/ willing/ desirable ”解,即常常将 last 译为“最不可能的;最不合适的;最不愿意的;最不渴望的”,而不作“最后的”解。

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2. We cannot estimate the value of modern science too much. (= We cannot estimate the value of modern science much enough. = It is impossible to estimate the value of modern science too much/ much enough.) 无论怎么重视古代迷信的价值都不为过火。
We cannot be too careful in doing experiments. (= We cannot be careful enough in doing experiments.) 咱们做实验时无论怎么警戒都不过分。 CopyRight .com

  注:“ cannot/ could not…… too + 形容词或副词 = cannot/ could not…… + 形容词或副词 + enough ”。我们不能把第 1 口语英语句理解成:“我们不能过分估算古代科学的价值。”也不能把第 2 句理解成:“我们做试验时不能太小心。”

  

3. It is a wise man that never makes mistakes. 无论怎样聪慧的人也不免要犯弊病。
It is a long lane that has no turning. 无论怎么长的巷子也有弯。

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  口语英语注:这个句子含有比较储蓄的让步象征。我们不能把第 1 句理解成:“从不犯错误的人是一个聪明的人。”也不能把第 2 句理解成:“那是一个没弯的长巷。”

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4. If the sun were to rise in the west, I would not break my word.
使太阳从西方出来,我也不会背弃我的诺言。
Were the danger even greater (= Even if the danger were greater), I should feel compelled to go. 即使危险再大,我也觉得非去不可。

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  口语英语注:从形式上看上面句子中的从句像是条件状语从句,但实际上却是妥协状语从句,由于其中的主句跟从句在意思上形成赫然的对照。若句子含条件状语从句,则从句表现的是条件,主句表示的是结果。下面句子中的从句就是前提状语从句:

  If the sun were to rise in the west, I would break my word.
假如太阳从西方出来,我就会背弃我的诺言。
Were the danger even greater, I should not go. 如果危险再大一些,我就不去了。
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5. A mountain is not famous because it is high. 山著名不在高。
I don't believe that he will come tomorrow. 我信赖他明天将来不会来。
Mary did not leave the office in order to meet Tom. 玛莉分开办公室为的是不见汤姆。

  注:上面这三句话中都包含一个被转移的否定词 not .因此不能把第 1 句懂得成:“山不驰名是因为高。”也很少将第 2 句转换成:“ I believe that he will not come tomorrow. ”第 3 句能够转换成口语英语:“ Mary left the office in order not to meet Tom. ”也可能将其理解成:“玛莉没离开办公室是为了见到汤姆”。为了避免产生上述歧义,咱们最好说:“ It was in order to meet Tom that Mary did not leave the office. ”(玛莉没离开办公室是为了见到汤姆。)跟“ It was in order not to meet Tom that Mary left the office. ”(玛莉离创办公室为的是不见汤姆。)

  

 

 

6. Who in the world (on earth) told you that? 那事到底是谁告诉你的? CopyRight .com

  注:这里的 in the world (on earth)口语英语 是用来加强语气,意思是“到底”,“究竟”,而不是“在世界上”。

  

7. He is too ready to talk 他爱谈话。
Men are too apt to forget. 人们往往健忘。
We are only too pleased to work together with the workers. 我们和工人们一起劳动,太高兴了。
They are but too glad to do so. 他们非常喜好这么做。 内容来自

  注:若 too 后面跟 ready, apt, likely 等形容词,或 only too, but too, all too 和 not too 后面跟一个形容词或副词,则后面的不定式不否定意思。

  

8. No man is so old but he may learn. (= No man is too old to learn.)

  不人因为太老而不能学(活到老学到老)。
I never go past my old school but I think (= without thinking)of Mr Wilkins, the headmaster.
每当我走过我的母校时,都想起校长威尔金斯先生。

  口语英语注:这里的 but 是从属连词,本身有否认含意,而不能被理解成“可是“C

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