第三篇常见习惯用语

第三篇常见习惯用语

（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。