6. [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。
7.[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 意为我也祝您有个愉快的夜晚,它是美语中的习惯用法。
8.[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。
9.[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。
10.[误]—How soon will you be ready?
—Two days.
[正]—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。
11. [误]—Would you mind if I have some time off?
—I don't mind.
—Monday and Tuesday of next week.
[正]—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。
12.[误] Suppose your name is Tom. The phone rings and you pick it up. The first word you say will probably be "Who are you?"
[正] 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。
13.[误]—Do you think it's going to rain over the weekend?
— I don't hope so.
[正]—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!
[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.
15.[误]—Your handwriting is very good!
—No, my handwriting is very poor.
[正]—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。
16.[误] When you have had dinner with an American friend and want to leave, you may say: "Excuse me. I'll go first."
[正] 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。
17.[误]—Would you like to come to dinner tonight?
—I'd like to, and I'm too busy.
[正]—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。
18.[误]—Where's Deter?
—Deter will come with us tonight but he isn't very sure yet.
[正]—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。
19.[误]—Hi, haven't seen you for ages! You look fine!
—Great. You look well too.
[正]—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。