2013年4月21日 星期日

Grammar∣ not... nor... 的用法

Tickets will not be redeemable for cash or credit at any time, nor will they be replaced if lost or stolen.

當一個 「英文句子包括兩個子句,都有否定含意,後子句倒裝 表示『也不』」,可用 nor (或 and nor、neither、and neither)。 注意這種用法, nor 後面一定是接倒裝子句。

本題有兩個子句,前面 will not be redeemable 是否定,後面說「遺失、被偷也不能更換」,也是否定,並且 will they be replaced 是倒裝,這樣就要選 nor。

(其實,本題即使不理題意,看到 will they 是倒裝,就可以選 nor。 因為 but 和though 接子句都不須倒裝。 only 只有在句首才倒裝。)


來看幾個例句:

Mr. Wang is not my English teacher, nor has he ever taught me before.
王老師不是我的英文老師,他也從來沒教過我。

I was never told, nor would I have known to seek out an answer.
從來沒人告訴過我,我也不可能知道該去找答案。

The Republican campaign did not ask for permission to use the song, nor would they have been granted that permission.
共和黨競選用這首歌,根本沒有請求允許,(即使他們請求)也不可能得到允許。


nor 後面子句的動詞部分,如果和前面相同,可以省略,但要保留倒裝的助動詞和主詞:

I would have nothing to do with it, nor would most of us.
我不要跟它扯上關係,我們大部分人也不要(跟它扯上關係)。

這裡省略 have anything to do with it.

My mom didn't believe me, nor did my father.
我媽不相信我,我爸也不(相信我)。

這裡省略 believe me.

Grammar∣ except, besides 的用法區別



1. 基本文法說明
中文的「除了…之外」其實包含了兩種意義:一個是「除了…之外還有…」; 一個則是「除了…之外其他都…」。前者是在附加說明,後者則是強調差異性 所以當你要表達的是附加說明類似 in addition to的時候,記得用 besides,但是 如果是差異性的“排除用法”時,記得用 except。
2. 錯誤發生情況及修正
A. 混淆 besides 和 except 的用法
<例>:Except red and blue, there are several other colors. (X)
            Besides red and blue, there are several other colors. (O)
            除了紅色和藍色之外,還有其他幾種顏色。
這是附加說明,所以應該用 besides 而非 except。
<例>:I eat anything besides cucumber. (X)
            I eat anything except cucumber. (O)
           我除了小黃瓜之外其他什麼都吃。
這式強調差異的排除性用法(小黃瓜和其他食物對你不同的意義),所以是 except 而非 besides。
B. 把 except 當成連接詞用接句子
< 例>:She will never show up except you beg her. (X)
             She will never show up unless you beg her. (O)
             她決不會出現除非你哀求她。
要表達「除非~情況下」後面又是連接有主詞有動詞的句子時,記得使用 unless 或者 except when, except if, except that才正確。
C. except 後接了不正確的動詞形式
<例>:Jane seldom goes out except working. (X)
            Jane seldom goes out except to work. (O)
表達「目的、意圖」的時候記得 except 後面動詞用不定詞 to-V
< 例>:My sister is good at everything except to take an exam. (X)
             My sister is good at everything except taking an exam. (O)
             我妹妹什麼都很在行除了考試之外。
except 後接的動詞形式有時候要看前面的動詞部份有無特殊的用法來決定。像 be good at~ 後面是接名詞或動名詞,因此這一句 except 之後的動作是用動名詞 V-ing。其他像 want + to-V 或者是意義需要會加入其他介係詞。

<例>:I can go out at any time except after midnight. 我什麼時間都可以出去除了半夜之後。
<例>:Jim said he wanted to do nothing except sleeping. (X)
            Jim said he wanted to do nothing except sleep. (O)
這是一個特殊用法,如果 except 前面句子的動詞是 do 的話,後面就要接原形動詞哦!
D. 「除了…之外」的“排除用法”
<例> Besides John, everyone had a very good time. (X)
         Apart from John, everyone had a very good time. (O)
         除了約翰之外,每個人都玩得很開心。
中文的「除了…之外」其實包含了兩種意義:一個是「除了…之外還有…」;另一個則是「除了…之外其他都…」。前者是再附加說明,後者則是強調差異性。所以當你要表達的是差異性的“排除用法”時,記得用 apart from 而不是 besides。

2013年4月10日 星期三

Grammar∣ worth, worthy of, worthwhile


1.worth:為補述形容詞,若加動詞時,常用主動代替被動。另做N,表「價值」
The house must be worth at least $500,000.
This beautiful poem is well worth reciting.
She isn’t worth the trouble.(不值得為她這麼費事。)
The typhoon did millions of dollars’  worth of damage.

2.worthy
(1)為補述及指定形容詞,後常接of 再接受詞。表「值得……的;值得尊敬的」
This beautiful poem is worthy of recitation/ worthy of being recited/ worthy to be recited.
Mr. Parker is a gentleman worthy of admiration/note/the name.

(2)a worthy opponent/successor/aim:值得重視的對手/當之無愧的接班人/值得為之努力的目標

(3)worthy:值得……的,如:praiseworthy/trustworthy/noteworthy/newsworthy

3.worth (one’s) while:為補述形容詞,表「值得(某人的)時間或力氣」
It is worth (your) while to recite this beautiful poem.
If you can get me tickets to the concert, I’ll make it worth your while.
(不會讓你白費力氣;會好好報答你的)

4.worthwhile:為補述及指定形容詞,表「值得(花精力)的」
Reciting this beautiful poem is worthwhile.
This organization is a worthwhile charity to contribute to.
My sister considers nursing a worthwhile career.