英语中有许多拼写相近的单词

英语中有许多拼写相近的单词,有的仅一个字母之差,意义却相差较远,可谓"貌"相近,意相远.因其"貌"近,难辨者众,常指鹿为马.其实这些词有很多都是同"根"生的"兄弟姐妹"。因此我们试图把某些常用"貌"近之词依"貌"分组列出,结合构词法分析其"根",配以语句进行对比,希望能帮助英语学习者辨其"貌",知其意.

1. inspect, respect, expect, prospect

"貌"同处spect,词根:看.各相异处前缀in-:里面、内,in + spect "看里面"乃为"检查";

re-:反复、回,re+ spect "回头反复看"是为"尊重";ex-:外面、出,ex + spect "看外面"是在"期待";pro-:前、朝前,pro+ spect "朝前看"就是"展望、前景".

(1) The customs inspectors are inspecting the outgoing baggage.

海关稽查员正在检查出关的行李.

(2) The candidate is widely respected and expected to be elec ted mayor of this city. 候选人广受尊重,有望当选为该市市长.

(3) I see little much prospect of his company. 我看他公司发展前景渺茫.

2. expose, propose, dispose, compose, oppose, impose

"貌"同处pos,词根+ 结尾字母e:放置.各相异处前缀ex-:外面、出,ex + pose "摆出来"是为"揭发、暴露";pro-:前、朝前,pro + pose "向前呈"引为"提出、提议";dis-:分开,dis + pose "分开放置"引为"布置、安排";com=con-:共同、一起,com + pose "放到一起"即为"组成、构成";op-:相

反,op + pose "置于相反位置"引为"反抗";im=in:内、里面,im + pose "把……硬置于里面"乃"把……强加".

(1) The leaders opposed the idea of exposing these photos to the public.

领导们反对将这些照片公之于众.

(2) Man proposes; God disposes. 谋事在人,成事在天.

(3) Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen. 水是由氢和氧组成的.

(4) The director always attempts to impose his idea into ever y decision that is made by his office staff. 这位主任总是企图把他的个人意见强加于全体工作人员的每一项决定之上.

3. express, impress, depress, compress

"貌"同处press,词根:压.各相异处前缀ex-:外面、出,ex + press "把……压出"引为"表示、表明";im=in:内、里面,im + press "压入"乃"铭刻、给留下深刻印象";de-:向下,de + press "使压下"就是"使沮丧";com=con-:共同、一起,com + press "压在一起"即为"压缩".

(1) Children are encouraged to express feelings of sadness whi ch they may be holding inside. 应当鼓励孩子们把他们可能藏在心里的不愉快表达出来.

(2) His words are strongly impressed on my memory. 他的话深深地铭刻在我心上.

(3) News of his father’

s death depressed Mr. Zhou; he felt as if a heavy weight had been placed on his spirit. 父亲去世的消息使周先生消沉,他感到心里好像压了一块重石.

(4) Compress your composition into a shorter one within 100 w ords.

把你的作文缩写成100字以内的短文.

4. contribute, distribute, attribute

"貌"同处tribute,词根:贡品、献礼.各相异处前缀con-:共同、一起,con + tribute "贡品一起"引为"贡献、捐献";dis-:分开,dis + tribute "分贡品"就是"分发";at- 可表原因,at + tribute "表述奉献贡品之由"引为"归因于".

(1) Song Dynasty contributed three inventions to world civiliza tion.

宋朝有三大发明对世界文明做出了贡献.

(2) The organizing committee distributed prizes among the winne rs.

组委会把奖品分发给了获胜者.

(3) He attributes his success to his hard work. 他认为他的成就是他刻苦的结果.

5. constitute, substitute, institute

"貌"同处stitute,词根:站立.各相异处前缀con-:共同、一起,con + stitute "同在一起"乃为"组成、构成";sub-:下面,"使一件东西站到另一件东西之下"就是"用……代替某人或某物";in-:内、里面,"在里面站的"即为"机构、学院".

(1) The three men were driving a stolen car from a scientifi

c institute in which the police foun

d a quantity of illegal drug su bstances; thes

e facts constituted enough evidence for the three to be charged and brought to trial.

三名男子驾驶一辆从一家科研所偷来的汽车,警方在他们的车上发现了一批违禁毒品,这些事实足以构成对这三名男子进行控告和审判的证据.

(2) Of course daydreaming is no substitute for hard work. 当然白日做梦绝不能代替艰苦的努力.

6. statue, status, stature

"貌"同处stat,词根:站立.stat + ue 雕像;stat + us 地位、身份;stat + ure 身材、身高.

例:The artist in imposing stature enjoys high social status, for he’

s made a series of classical statues. 那位身材魁梧的艺术家因塑造了系列经典雕像而享有盛名.

7. infer, refer, prefer, confer

"貌"同处fer,词根:拿、携带.各相异处前缀in-:内、里面,in + fer "拿内含的东西"乃"推断";re-:回,往原处,re + fer "反复拿书或资料"就是"参考、查阅";pre-:前面,pre + fer"拿在前面,先拿"肯定是"喜欢";con-:共同、一起,con + fer "在对话中共同采纳"引为"协商、商议".

例: (1) What can you infer from this passage?

你能从该短文中推断出什么?

(2) When writing papers, we have to refer to a lot o

f references concerned.

写论文时我们得查阅许多有关资料.

(3) It is a good idea to ask what your guests prefer to drink before you bring in the refreshments. 端上茶点之前最好先问一下你的客人喜欢喝什么饮料.

(4) We need to confer with the whole committee before making this important decision.

在做出这一重大决策之前,我们必须与全体委员交换意见.