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。这是一种中国式的礼貌的答语，但是不符合英语习惯，它正确的答语应是 Thank you。以下是一些常用的交际用语正误分析：
01
— What can I do for you?
— Yes， please help me.(×)
— What can I do for you?
— I'd like to buy a sweater.(√)
[析] What can I do for you? 这一问句实际适用于很多情景，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。
02
Do you like to come with us tonight? (×)
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。
03
— What's that man?
— He is Mike.(×)
— What's that man?
— He is a teacher.(√)
— 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。
04
— How much are they?
— Half a kilo， please.(×)
— 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。
05
I'm sorry， but is this the way to the park? (×)
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。
06
— Have a good time tonight!
— You are the same.(×)
— Have a good time tonight!
— The same to you.(√)
[析]The same to you 意为我也祝您有个愉快的夜晚，它是美语中的习惯用法。
07
— What's the problem?
— I've got a headache.(×)
— 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。
08
— Now， I'm back. Can I play?
— Perhaps. You'd better do your homework first.(×)
— 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。
09
— How soon will you be ready?
— Two days.(×)
— 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， 即在两天之内即可以作完。如用 How long 提问，则答语可以用 two days。
10
— Would you mind if I have some time off?
— I don't mind.
— Monday and Tuesday of next week.(×)
— 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。
11
Suppose your name is Tom. The phone rings and you pick it up. The first word you say will probably be "Who are you?" (×)
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 ×××××."并没有错，也是英语中可用的句子，但就打电话这一场合，就不宜用了。
12
— Do you think it's going to rain over the weekend?
— I don't hope so.(×)
— 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!
13
— Is anybody there?
— No， Bob and Tom have asked for leave.(×)
— 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。Is anybody here? 在英语中意为：这里有人吗?而Is everybody here?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.
14
— Your handwriting is very good!
— No， my handwriting is very poor.(×)
— 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)! 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。
15
When you have had dinner with an American friend and want to leave, you may say： "Excuse me. I'll go first." (×)
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。
16
— Would you like to come to dinner tonight?
— I'd like to， and I'm too busy.(×)
— Would you like to come to dinner tonight?
— I'd like to， but I'm too busy.(√)
[析] I'm too busy与 I'd like to在意义上正好相反。所以要用转折连词。这里考查了对词义合乎逻辑的表达能力。所以要强调语言环境，更要强调在语言的基础上的词语辨析。
17
— Where's Deter?
— Deter will come with us tonight but he isn't very sure yet.(×)
— Where's Deter?
— Deter may come with us tonight but he isn't very sure yet.(√)
[析] 由于 but 所引出的句子可以看出 Deter 的来与不来是十分不确定的，所以应用 may 来表达一个不肯定的事件。
18
— Hi， haven't seen you for ages! You look fine!
— Great. You look well too.(×)
— Hi， haven't seen you for ages! You look fine!
— Thanks. You look well too.(√)
[析] 要注意的是 Great 在口语中多表示惊叹，而 Thanks 则表示感谢对方的称赞。所以对情景谈话要有准确的判定，要根据情景，身临其境，上下对照，周密思考，弄清场合，注意英美人的风俗习惯，注重语义上的词语辨析，并要进行大量的语言实践练习，扩大实际交际能力。
发表于 2018-4-20 20:30:21