我可以問不倒Q&A專欄(2018/9-2019/03)

  我可以 問不倒

(2018/09-2019/03)

本Q&A專欄使用原則:
1.優先提供OKE美語之新舊學員任何有關英語學習之提問。
2. 為提供最符合大眾共同學習效益,每周OKE美語及旋元佑老師將均衡選取三則提問給予詳解。
3.提問請點擊右側標籤列#我可以問不倒,至當月份的文章版面。
此篇文章僅供2018年09月至2019年03月提問使用

留言

  1. 請問名詞staff不是不可數名詞嗎?但是為何查字典卻有a staff of…的用法?像piece這樣的字,可以出現像a piece of…這樣的說法,也可以變成pieces,但是為什麼staff卻不能用staffs?

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    1. Staff是「集合名詞」,可以當作單數或複數名詞使用。
      其實,staff這個字是可數名詞,是可以加 –s的。Staff是「集合名詞」,可以當作單數或複數使用,而不是不可數名詞,例如:
       A larger staff is what he needs.
      (他需要的是個更大的幕僚團。)
      Staff在此表示一個單位、團體,是單數名詞。
       Some of the staff are women.
      (有些幕僚人員是女性。)
      這裡的staff代表一些人員,是複數名詞。
      而兩個以上的幕僚單位,就可以稱為staffs。同樣的集合名詞,既可當單數又可當複數使用的,比較常見的是family, crew, committee, faculty這些字。

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  2. 老師您好
    My generation grew up at a time when the “press” was our portal to political understanding. Whether we got our news from TIME or Newsweek, Walter Cronkite or Harry Reasoner, the Times or the Journal, these were not existential choices. They represented different gates to the common ground, and how we entered mattered less than where we landed. Now the gatekeepers face competition from all the outlets that would usher us into a different reality. On one day Fox News says the allegation that the Clintons played a role in a Uranium deal seven years ago is the most important story of the day; MSNBC says it is Senator Bob Corker warning about the instability of the president. Axios finds that 83% of Democrats think Russia’s exploitation of social media is a serious issue; 25% of Republicans agree.

    1不管是看Times 還是 Journal, 其實都是殊途同歸,因為到最後都會到達common ground, 但為何文章卻說 where we landed是較重要的 ?而 Fox及MSNBC所持的觀點不同,所以where we landed是比較不重要,這我能理解。


    2 how we entered是不是改成 which we entered會比較好



    It's easy in times like these to develop a bias against the postive:critical stories are journalism; anything else is just marketing. But a bias against the positive fuels cynicism in both public officials and voters. And it misses the story. You don’t have to subscribe to the notion that these are the best of times to wonder why we often talk as though these are the worst of times. In the worst of times, we feel small and defensive and risk averse and tribal. As opposed to the expansive, embracing, oxygenated opportunity of optimism.

    3It's easy in times like these to develop a bias against the postive:critical stories are journalism; anything else is just marketing. Critical前面省略了when嗎 ? 而這個when代表 in times like these的these ?


    4 these are the best of times to wonder why we often talk as though these are the worst of times. 意思是在最好的時刻卻一直唱衰,其主因是:critical stories are journalism?


    The pace of change is accelerating: it is essential you are nimble and fearless in keeping up, because the stakes could not be higher.

    5原句的冒號是不是改成分號比較合適 ?而且分號取代so這個字 ?

    謝謝老師

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    1. 1
      從前各家報的新聞相同。比喻為一棟房子,不論從哪個門進入(how we entered看哪一家的新聞),到達的是同一個地方(where we landed新聞內容相同)。只要是where we landed相同,how we entered並不重要。但是現在的新聞則是各家報的不同,「看哪一家」就大有影響了。
      2
      應該是how we entered(疑問詞引導名詞子句)。若改為which會變成形容詞子句,不能當主詞
      3
      冒號取代對等連接詞,後面是對等子句。在journalism後面的分號也有對等連接詞功能,連接前後兩個對等子句,也就是「子句A:子句B;子句C」。其中子句B與C用來說明子句A的內容:a bias against the positive是什麼意思。
      4
      You don’t have to subscribe to the notion that these are the best of times to wonder why we often talk as though these are the worst of times.「你不必同意『這是最好的時代』,也能夠懷疑為何我們講話中都好像『這是最差的時代』」。意思是說:一般新聞都只報壞事,所以聊起新聞來好像這是最差的時代,不論你是悲觀還是樂觀的人都一樣。
      5
      冒號與分號功能類似,都可取代對等連接詞,差別在於冒號感覺比較正式。共同點是右邊的句子進一步說明解釋左邊的句子。

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  3. 作者已經移除這則留言。

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  4. The earthquake hit at the time when most people were sound asleep.
    能不能像She walked up to where I stood.一樣省略先行詞
    寫成:The earthquake hit at when most people were sound asleep.?
    這麼寫如果是錯的話,那上面的那個例句也是錯的嗎,見到傳統文法書中有很多類似的例句,看上去像名詞子句,但是不能解釋成the question,自己寫的時候要不要省略先行詞the time, the place?

    The reason why the injection needs repeating every year is that the virus changes.
    這句能不能像April is when the lilacs bloom.那樣,把先行詞the reason省略掉變成Why the injection needs repeating every year is that the virus changes.?
    關係子句失去依靠,April is when the lilacs bloom.為什麼還是對的?

    The MRT will take one within walking distance to wherever one wants to go.
    wherever one wants to go 相當於any place where one wants to go,where為何可以併入any place?wherever也是複合關係代名詞嗎?

    旋老師能推薦幾本適合學生關於寫作修辭的書嗎?

    謝謝旋老師

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    1. The earthquake hit at the time when most people were sound asleep.
      這個句子不能只省略the time,要省的話是把整個at the time省掉,句子會變成由when引導的時間副詞子句。如果只省略the time,成為at when,感覺像是when子句成為代表「問題」的名詞子句,當作at的受詞。

      Why the injection needs repeating every year is that the virus changes.
      這個句子不好,因為why子句看起來像是一個代表問題的名詞子句,意思會不通。但April is when the lilacs bloom.不會令人誤解when the lilacs bloom是個問題,只能當作April is the time when...解釋,夠清楚才可以省略。

      The MRT will take one within walking distance to wherever one wants to go.
      這個句子的情況和She walked to where I stood相同:因為很明顯是the place,不會混淆,所以可以省略或者併入關係詞。

      寫作的修辭,可以參考:Strunk & White, The Elements of Style。這是已經沒有版權的老書,可以很容易下載。

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  5. 旋老師好
    旋老師提到過,若省略先行詞,關係子句會失去依靠
    April is when the lilacs bloom.
    還原為April is the time when the lilacs bloom.

    She walked up to where I stood.
    還原為
    She walked up to the place where I stood.
    像這樣省略先行詞的話,關係子句不會失去依靠嗎,文法對嗎?這種省略的情況是不是僅限於關係副詞when, where, how, why的情況?

    這種省略先行詞的情況是正式用法還是非正式用法,是否僅限於口語中使用?
    省略掉先行詞以後,April is when the lilacs bloom.和She walked up to where I stood.中的when the lilacs bloom和where I stood是關係子句還是名詞子句?

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    1. 關係副詞通常不能省略先行詞,但是如果有很明顯的、嚴重的重複,還是可以省略。例如:
      This (station) is (the station) where I get off.「我下車的車站到了。」
      主詞補語the station和主詞this station重複。後面的地方副詞where又和先行詞the station重複。如此一連3次的重複,感覺太累贅,才會選擇省略先行詞,成為:
      This is where I get off.

      另外,the time when與the place where本身就是重複的說法,有些文法書主張應該避免使用。可以把when與where省掉,也可以採用the time that與the place that。若上下文有明顯的重複,甚至可以把the time與the place省掉。

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  6. I would rather he came tomorrow than today.
    應該還原成下面的哪一種情況?
    I would rather he came tomorrow than he come today.
    I would rather he came tomorrow than he comes today.

    He wanted to sunbathe rather than to swim.
    應該還原成下面的哪一種情況?
    He wanted to sunbathe rather than he want to swim.
    He wanted to sunbathe rather than he wants to swim.
    他的確不想游泳用原形動詞want to可以嗎?
    than後面與主句重複的部分是不是一定要省略掉才算文法正確?比如上面的主詞he與動詞want重複,是不是一定不能留下?

    I had no ambitions other than to have a happy life and be free.
    He didn't say anything except to keep silent.
    Nothing remains but to die.
    上面的to do應該怎麼還原?

    謝謝旋老師解惑

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    1. I would rather he came tomorrow than today.
      因為came採用非事實語氣,那麼事實上應該是he comes today。

      He wanted to sunbathe rather than to swim.
      句中的rather是比較級的程度副詞,原來是下面這兩句在比較:
      He wanted to sunbathe.
      He wanted to swim.
      兩句都是過去時間的事實語氣,但前者的程度大於後者,用rather than連接,成為:
      He wanted to sunbathe rather than he wanted to swim.
      然後再把he wanted省掉。這個重複,若不省略的話感覺太累贅。

      I had no ambitions other than to have a happy life and be free.
      還原為other than that I should have a happy life...

      He didn't say anything except to keep silent.
      還原為except that he should keep silent.

      Nothing remains but to die.
      還原為but that I should die.


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  7. Hampered in their movements, they hobbled rather than walked.
    這裡的walked是不是錯誤的用法,要改成walk,因為walk只是一種假設,並沒有發生?

    Rather than go there by air, I would prefer to take the slowest train.
    主句採用了prefer to,由於than平行對稱的,Rather than go能不能改成Rather than to go?

    The aim is to let the party happen rather than to make it happen.
    根據對稱,能不能把rather than to make寫成rather than make?

    I would do anything rather than she should get hurt.
    She decided to go there rather than he should go there.
    than後面的should能不能省略,直接用原形動詞表示不確定語氣,說成than she get hurt和than he go there.?

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    1. Hampered in their movements, they hobbled rather than walked.
      可以用walk。但是用walked也行,因為rather than是比較級的連接詞,要求前後對稱,所以可以用walked和hobbled比較。

      Rather than go there by air, I would prefer to take the slowest train.
      用to go文法正確,但感覺重複,通常都會把to省掉。

      The aim is to let the party happen rather than to make it happen.
      可以。

      I would do anything rather than she should get hurt.
      She decided to go there rather than he should go there.
      應該可以省略。

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  8. 旋老師您好,
    I would rather you stayed home than go out in this blizzard.
    事實上you didn't stay home,出門發生在過去,表示過去的非事實不應該用had stayed嗎?
    She would rather/sooner (that) you did your homework than watched TV.
    事實上you didn't do your homework,沒有做功課發生在過去,表示過去的非事實不應該用had stayed嗎?

    I would rather you didn't tell them.
    I would rather you didn't say a word about it.
    you said a word, you told them 都發生在過去,不應該都用過去完成式hadn't say, hadn't told表示過去的非事實嗎?這兩種情況是非事實嗎,還是說只是一種委婉的建議?非事實和委婉的建議兩者矛盾嗎?

    John would rather have slept than worked last night.
    have slept是否表達「過去的非事實」?既然提到了具體的時間last night,為什麼還能用完成式have slept?後面的worked可以寫成have worked嗎?

    They would rather have died than refused.
    主句中為什麼用的是have died,than後面為什麼用的是refused?句子應該怎麼翻譯好?

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    1. I would rather you stayed home than go out in this blizzard.
      後面的go out用原形動詞,表示「未來有可能發生」,前面用stayed表示「現在非事實」。表達的情況是對方決意要出去,你希望他不要去。

      She would rather/sooner (that) you did your homework than watched TV.
      這個句子不好,後面的watched應該改為watch,情況與上句同。

      I would rather you didn't tell them.
      I would rather you didn't say a word about it.
      時間是現在,didn't tell與didn't say是「非事實」語氣,表示對方已決心要說,無法挽回。

      John would rather have slept than worked last night.
      前面would rather have slept是過去時間非事實語氣,表示事實上沒有睡。後面的worked是過去時間事實語氣,表示事實上有工作,應該用過去簡單式。

      They would rather have died than refused.
      這個句子不好。前面would rather have died是「過去時間非事實」語氣,表示「寧可死了也不願…」,後面應該搭配的是原形動詞refuse,表示一種「未發生的假設情況」

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  9. I suggest you learning English.
    這句話有沒有文法錯誤?是否要把you改成your或者把suggest換成advise,因為suggest不能用於SVOC句型,比如不能寫成suggest sb to do?

    Fill in the blanks with articles where necessary.
    這裡的where necessary是什麼子句減化而來的?是關係子句嗎?如何還原?

    This viewpoint, however understandable, is wrong.
    這裡的however understandable是什麼子句減化而來的?如何還原?

    謝謝老師

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    1. 句子是錯的,因為suggest不適用SVOC句型。可改為I suggest that you learn English.

      是副詞子句減化,還原為where(ver) (it is) necessary (to do so)。

      副詞子句減化,還原為however understandable (it may be)。

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  10. 旋老師好,請教老師
    1.I'd heard complaint of what they saw as their parks being overrun.
    2.I am worried about me being likely to forget something.
    3.I saw him being beaten on the ground.
    若是把上面句子中的being省略掉之後會不會有錯誤?比如their parks being overrun可以還原成their parks which were overrun,那麼減化的時候減化掉be是否可行?

    at least, he has a son who he can look forward to.
    能不能把介系詞to放到who前面,寫成to who he can look forward?

    除了所有格以外,還有什麼常見的情況不能把介系詞前移到關係代名詞前面的呢?怎麼判斷放到介系詞前移到關係代名詞前面是不是合乎文法規則?

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    1. 第1句還原應該是Their parks were overrun,減化的做法是改為介系詞片語as their parks,後面改為分詞片語being overrun。因為有being,讀者比較容易看出their parks是原來的主詞、overrun是原來的主詞補語,整個在敘述一件事情「公園人滿為患」。若沒有being,可能就還原為as their park which was overrun,重點成為「公園」這一個地方,兩句的意思稍有不同。

      第2句情況與第1句相同。第3句則是時態的差別:him being beaten on the round還原為he was being beaten on the ground(進行式)。若沒有being,則還原為he was beaten on the ground(簡單式)。

      像look forward to這種構造,先有一個介副詞修飾look,後有一個介系詞片語to...,若拆開成為to whom he can look forward會感覺不大自然。

      介系詞是否能移動,似乎沒有一定的規則,要逐一檢驗。

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  11. 老師您好
    The roots of TIME’s annual franchise—singling out the person or persons who most influenced the events of the year—lie in the so-called great man theory of history, a phrasing that sounds particularly anachronistic at this moment. But the idea that influential, inspirational individuals shape the world could not be more apt this year. “I want to show [my 11-year-old daughter] that it’s O.K. to stand up for yourself, even though you feel like the world is against you,” says Dana Lewis, a hotel hospitality coordinator who is suing her employer over the actions of a serial groper. “If you keep fighting, eventually you’ll see the sun on the other side.” Or as artist and activist Rose McGowan put it, “Why not fight back? What else are we doing?”
    1 a phrasing that sounds particularly anachronistic at this moment是在暗示這次person of the year (TIME)不是有名的人物 ? 


    It's harder persuading Mary to go along with it.
    2為何用persuading Mary,而不用 to persuade Mary ? 不知兩者在語意上的差別是 ?


    3He works picking strawberries 跟He works to pick strawberries 在語意上的差別是? 


    This hotel said in a statement that it takes remedial action against harassment when unwarranted.
    4既然是when it is necessary it will take remedial action against harassment 為何原句不改成 it will take ?


    The accused were both Democrats and Republicans, but the consequences thus far have been limited—and ofter filtered through a partisan lens
    5ofter filtered through a partisan lens 是說the impact of consequences reduced through a partisan lens?
    謝謝老師




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    1. 1
      暗示的是:這個時代女權興起、小人物出頭,這都和great man有衝突
      2
      在it is後面比較常搭配to V,但是搭配Ving的話,意思也差不多。這裏是因為後面還有一個to go along,所以用Ving感覺比較不重複
      3
      這裏不大一樣。若用to pick...,暗示是in order to,和上文不合。用picking則是修飾他如何work,意思是「他的工作就是摘草莓」
      4
      若說will take,暗示「將來會」。說takes則表示這是「事實,已經在做」
      5
      意思是「戴上政黨色彩的有色眼鏡來解讀」

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  12. I have to score at least a 560 on the TOEFL.
    請問老師 560 前面為何要加不定冠詞,這不是蛇足嗎?謝謝。

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    1. 不加也可以。a 560意思是a score of 560,「這樣一種分數」

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  13. 老師您好
    Norms evolve, and it's long past time for any culture to view harassment as acceptable. But there's a great deal at stake in how we assess these new boundaries—for women and men together. We can and should police criminal acts and discourage inappropriate, destructive behavior.
    1 It's ... acceptable. =it's overdue for any culture to view harassment as acceptable. 感覺這一句跟全文語意不通。為什麼 harassment is acceptable ?

    Her frenzied fans bestow their love, and the star feeds off their worship, beaming it right back.
    2 beaming it right back. 是在暗示 ?
    謝謝老師

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    1. 1
      你的等式不成立。原句可以還原為It's long past time that any culture should view harassment as acceptable.「任何一種文化若還將性騷擾視為可以接受,這樣的時代老早過去了」,也就是「這種觀念不可接受」。另一種說法是採用假設法非事實語氣:It's time that we stopped viewing harassment as acceptable.
      2
      還原為副詞子句while she beams it right back「立即將它發射回去」,也就是將love與worship還給粉絲

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  14. 作者已經移除這則留言。

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  15. 旋老師您好
    1. Tony’s teacher told him that the only way to improve his Japanese is ____.
    (A)to practicing (B)practicing (C)to practice (D)practiced
    可以選 practicing 當補語用嗎?
    文法書上有提到一句型 All that (What) one has to is (to) V
    當中的不定詞 to 可以省略, 為什麼可以省略?
    請老師那第一題選(C)to practice 不定詞to可以省略嗎


    2. As for which skills are most essential, it is advised to emphasize ____
    most relevant to one's intended career.
    解答給those, 請問可以用ones(skills)嗎

    3. The first national study of its kind in England shows cancer patients have
    a 20% increased risk of suicide.
    請問 increased 可以換成 increasing嗎? 為什麼要用過去分詞 increased

    4. 如果在中翻英(老化的社會) aging society 和 aged society 可以通用嗎 ?

    5. 1. no more than
    2. no less than
    3. not more than
    4. not less than
    5. no more...than
    6. no less...than
    7. not more...than
    8. not less...than
    請問老師這些比較句型慣用語如何分辨?

    6. John often lies, which makes his father very angry.
    請問老師這裡關代 which 可以換成 as嗎?

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    1. 1
      用practicing也行。另外,在SVC句型中,左邊要有個do,右邊才可以用原形,例如:
      All I did was talk to him.
      因為左邊有did,右邊才可以用原形動詞talk。
      你問的句子因為左邊沒有do,右邊不能用原形動詞。
      2
      用those比較好,或者用the ones,因為下文有(that are) most relevant...指出是「哪些技能」,需要定冠詞或指示代名詞
      3
      increasing意思是「持續增加中」,increased則是「完成」的暗示,意思是「增加了多少」
      4
      an aging society是「持續老化中」,比較好。an aged society是「已經老化了」,並且有「陳年」的暗示,不是很合式
      5
      基本上是這樣:no more或no less都是用副詞no修飾more與less,這是比較常見的用法,表示「不多於」(上限)或者「不少於」(下限)。若是not more或not less,其中的not可以修飾後面的more, less,但也可以修飾前面的動詞例如is not。因為比較不清楚,所以比較少用。
      6
      不適合

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  16. 老師您好
    It's long past time that any culture should view harassment as acceptable.「任何一種文化若還將性騷擾視為可以接受,這樣的時代老早過去了」,也就是「這種觀念不可接受」。另一種說法是採用假設法非事實語氣:It's time that we stopped viewing harassment as acceptable.
    可是為何不寫成It is time that we stop viewing harassment as acceptable. (現在性騷擾不被接受) ? 因為 we stopped viewing harassment as acceptable是假設語氣,若還原不就變成we don't stop viewing harassment as acceptable ?
    謝謝老師

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    1. It is time that we stop viewing harassment as acceptable. 這種講法不清楚。因為we stop是事實語氣,表示這是「事實」。但是it is time that語氣是「該是…的時候了」,強烈暗示「還不是事實」,兩者的語氣互相矛盾

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  17. 旋老師提到過none of配合複數名詞使用時,後面的動詞可以是單數或複數,詞典中也有一樣的表述
    可是The Elements of Style中說None of us are perfect.要改成None of us is perfect.,和旋老師的說法不太一樣
    那none of配合複數名詞使用時,應該是用單數還是複數呢?

    None are fallible but those who are sure they are right.
    能不能改寫成None are fallible but are sure they are right.?即坊間的but作為準關係代詞的用法

    Although he is a famous professor, my friend is extremely naive in practical matters.
    可以減化為Although a famous professor, my friend is extremely naive in practical matters.嗎?

    謝謝旋老師!

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    1. 1
      The Elements of Style說的是修辭。若只看文法,None of us is/are right.都對。從修辭的角度看,is比are好,因為「沒有一個是對的」比較能夠強調。
      2
      文法正確,但意思不盡相同。原句是:「只有相信自己絕對正確的人才會出錯。」改過來成為:「沒有人會出錯,但是也相信自已絕對正確。」後者的意思不是那麼清楚。
      3
      可以

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  18. 旋老師您好:
    reach作為名詞時,在字典中解釋成:
    the distance that you can stretch out your arm to touch something
    這裡的關係子句應該怎麼還原?這裡的that是關係代名詞還是關係副詞?
    下面有兩個解釋方式,哪一個是正確的?
    1.you can stretch out your arm the distance to touch something
    2.you can stretch out your arm in the distance to touch something
    如果1句是正確的,關係代名詞that能代替作為副詞的the distance嗎?

    the distance where you can stretch out your arm to touch something是否正確?

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    1. 例如手臂可以伸出一米長:
      You(S) can stretch out(V) your arm(O) for one meter.
      句尾的for one meter是介系詞片語、地方副詞,修飾動詞can stretch out。但是介系詞for可以省略,如下:
      You can stretch out your arm one meter.
      同樣的情況還有:
      I walked (for) 5 miles.
      I worked (for) 5 hours.
      在介系詞片語中,如果受詞是「時間單位」(如hours)或長度單位(如miles),可以把介系詞省略,後面的名詞(5 miles, 5 hours)直接當作時間副詞或地方副詞使用。同樣的:
      You can stretch out your arm (for) one meter.
      因為meter是長度單位,前面的介系詞for可以省掉,直接當地方副詞使用。接下來看這兩句:
      "Reach" means the distance.
      You can stretch out your arm (for) the distance to reach something.
      以關係子句合併為複句,如下:
      "Reach" is the distance (for) which you can stretch out your arm to reach something.
      若將for省略,後面的which就可以改用that(關係代名詞)來表示。

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  19. We got to the station before the train had left.
    這句話的時態正確嗎?為什麼能在before子句中用過去完成式had left?
    有文章中指出這種情況屬於加強語氣的用法,解釋成「火車尚未開動之前,我們就到了車站。」,這種用法是否正確?

    The cloth is sold by the yard.
    Is gasoline sold by the gallon in America?
    Bananas are usually sold by weight.
    Sort these apples by size.
    上面的句子中,為什麼yard、gallon要加the,但weight、size不加the?是因為單位yard、gallon可以一份份數,而總稱weight、size不能數嗎?

    謝謝老師

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    1. 1
      其實應該是:
      We had got to the station before the train left.

      We got to the station before the train left.
      但是:
      We got to the train station before the train had left.
      也是可以接受的用法,雖然不大標準。完成式表示「已經」,放在before後面則可以用來表示「尚未」。
      2
      yard與gallon是「單位」,而所有的單位都是可數名詞。weight與size不是單位,屬於抽象名詞

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  20. For lack of evidence, the suspect was released.
    能不能寫成Lack of evidence, the suspect was released.?把Lack of evidence當作獨立短語處理
    或者能不能寫成For a lack of evidence, the suspect was released.?如何解釋?

    Too many teachers are treated with a lack of respect.
    能不能寫成with lack of respect?

    Lack of money makes him nervous.
    這句話的lack是不是要加限定詞the?
    即寫成The lack of money makes him nervous.?兩句有什麼區別?

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    1. 1
      先還原為完整的句子:
      Because there was a lack of evidence, the suspect was released.
      減化為非限定子句,應該是:
      There being a lack of evidence, the suspect was released.
      若改為介系詞片語,則是:
      For lack of evidence, the suspect was released.
      這裏用for lack不加a,是因為在這種介系詞片語中,lack已經轉為抽象名詞使用(表示「原因」),情況如同on foot, in bed, go to school, in office等等。
      2
      with a lack of respect帶有「一種」的味道(這是「一種態度」),要加a。
      3
      A lack(或the lack)of money makes him nervous.需要冠詞,因為也具有「一種」或「這種」的味道(表示「這種事情」或「這件事情」)

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  21. 請教旋老師,
    lack的及物和不及物用法怎麼使用?
    He does not lack for critics.
    能不能寫成He does not lack critics.?
    lack sth用於肯定句,lack for sth用於否定句,這種講法有沒有問題?

    怎麼判斷lack什麼時候是不可數名詞,什麼時候是單數可數名詞呢?
    This young man displayed a complete lack of courtesy.
    這句話的lack是單數可數名詞,為什麼不用不可數名詞的詞性,寫成displayed complete lack of courtesy?

    為什麼be lack of是錯誤的表述?要改成be a lack of?
    比如He is lack of sleep.要改成He has a lack of sleep.?

    He is a lack of sleep.這句話有沒有問題?是不是一定要改成He has a lack of sleep.?

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    1. 1
      lack當及物動詞時,意思是「缺少、沒有」。例如:
      She lacks confidence.「她沒有信心。」
      當不及物動詞時,意思是「有所欠缺、有所不足」。例如:
      This place does not lack for good restaurants.「此地不缺好餐廳。」
      lack for常常用在否定句,表示「不缺」。
      2
      lack當名詞使用,如果意思是「一種」,是可數名詞,要加a或the。如果沒有「一種」的意思,則是抽象名詞,不需要冠詞。
      3
      He is a lack of sleep.是錯的,因為用名詞a lack當主詞補語,表示它和主詞he是全等關係(前者就是後者)。但he是「人」,a lack是「事」,不能全等。

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  22. America the Beautiful: The Mighty Mississippi
    請問老師上面這句的結構為何? 可以理解為 the American beautiful thing 嗎?

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    1. 像「亞歷山大大帝」Alexander the Great,前面的Alexander是人名,後面的the Great是封號(代表the Great Emperor)。同樣的,America是地名,後面的the Beautiful是封號(代表the Beautiful Place)

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  23. 老師您好
    This is another page in the Bliss playbook: find a bogeyman and make the race a referendum on that person. Earlier this year, with Democrats on the verge of winning a special election for a House seat in the conservative Atlanta suburbs, Bliss was again dispatched to work his magic. He arrived with $7 million in hand and proceeded to turn the Democratic nominee, a telegenic 30-year-old named Jon Ossoff, into a proxy for Democratic minority leader Nancy Pelosi, who is loathed by many Republicans. “I don’t know what I’d do without her. She’s central to next year,” Bliss says of Pelosi. “You can have Speaker Ryan or you can have Speaker Pelosi. It’s chicken or steak. Fish is not on the menu.”
    You can have Speaker Ryan or you can have Speaker Pelosi. It’s chicken or steak. Fish is not on the menu 這一句是在暗示什麼?
    謝謝老師

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    1. Paul Ryan是眾議院議長(共和黨),Nancy Pelosi是眾議院少數黨領袖(民主黨)。若11月的期中選舉共和黨占眾議院多數,就是Ryan繼續擔任議長。若是民主黨獲得多數席位,就換成Pelosi擔任議長。美國是兩大政黨,非此即彼,不會有第三種可能出現。
      因為Ryan人緣很好、Pelosi人緣很差,這位策士Bliss先生採用的手段就是要脅:將民主黨候選人打為Pelosi的小廝,恐嚇選民「投給此人就等於投Pelosi當議長」。因為這一招很好用,Bliss才會說don't know what to do without her。

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  24. 老師好
    Although the economy finally began to improve, many British working people grew to hate the “Iron Lady,” as she became known.
    這是某閱讀教材中探討英國前首相柴契爾夫人的句子,as she became known是副詞子句還是形容詞子句?若為副詞子句,as連接詞前不會有逗點;若為形容詞子句,也應該寫成…the “Iron Lady,” who she became known as 抑或是寫成…many British working people grew to hate her, (who was) known as the “Iron Lady.” google了一下,發現了不少在知名稱謂後接上as she became known的用法,如: In May 1430 Joan of Arc,as she became known, was captured by French nobles. 究竟要如何解釋as she became known的結構呢?

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    1. 比較級的as與than,有些文法書稱為「準關係代名詞」。本句若將as解釋為準關代,後面就是形容詞子句,修飾先行詞the Iron Lady

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  25. 老師您好,想請教一下:
    The telephone ______ was the invention of Alexander Graham Bell.
    (A) as is known to us (C) as we know it
    (B) as we know (D) as do we know it
    想請教以下幾點是否有理解不對的地方:
    1. (A) as is know to us 等同於 (B) as we know。而此處都是關代as引導非限定形容詞子句修飾先行詞The telephone,因此The telephone 與 was 中間要有逗點隔開,所以 (A)與(B)不正確。
    2. (C) as we know it <- 不是形容詞子句,因為關代需要充當子句裡的主詞或是受詞,而這裡的子句as we know it有主詞we與受詞it(指The telephone),因此此處不是形容詞子句。想請老師講解這裡(C)是什麼問法結構功能。
    3. 可是網路上說答案是(C),主要說明是經查字典as we know it的用法是用來表示眾所皆知的事情因此有限定的意味直接接在修飾與後面不打逗點。參考https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/as-we-know-it。
    4. (D) as do we know it其實是as we know it的倒裝句。經查字典as可以配合倒裝句結構使用。那麼如果(C)是正確的話為什麼不可以選(D)呢?

    想請老師講解一下,謝謝老師!

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    1. the telephone as we know it可以視為下面這句的省略:

      The telephone in the same form as we know it...

      其中as we know it是副詞子句,as是外加的從屬連接詞,引導副詞子句修飾same。

      比較級的as子句可以倒裝,但倒裝的前提是要有省略。例如:

      His house is as big as mine is.

      在從屬子句mine is後面省掉了比較點big,等於是採用了前面主要子句中的big,這種情況下才可以倒裝成為as is mine。但是as we know it裏面並沒有省略,所以也就不能倒裝。

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    2. 老師您好,謝謝老師的解答,根據老師的講解又有幾點想請教:
      老師所講解的整句應該是:
      The telephone (省略in the same form) as we know it(=that form)...Graham Bell. -> 是一個"等於"的比較級same...as結構
      那麼是否可以這樣理解
      (i) The telephone in the form
      (j) We know that form
      -> The telephone in the same form as we know that form...
      -> The telephone in the same form as we know it(=that form)... <- 本題的答案(D)但是題目省略了(in the same form)
      -> The telephone in the same form as we know [省略it,因為比較點相同]... ---(k) 本題的答案(B)
      -> The telephone in the same form as do we know [因為比較點省略因此可以倒裝]... ---(m)
      如果以上正確想請教:
      1. 如果(k)正確,那此題不能選(B)as we know的原因是否因為題目以省略了 "in the same form" ?
      2. 如果題目是 The telephone in the same form___...。此時是否就可以選"(B)as we know" ?
      3. 之所以省略了"in the same form"之後則"as we know it"不能省略"it"的原因是否是: it的省略是基於與前句重復所以可以省略,如果前句整個句子都省略,就無法視後句的it與前句的form重復,因此it無法省略?
      4. 如果題目是The telephone in the same form___...。此時(m)句是否正確?

      想再請老師講解一下,謝謝您!

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  26. He saw a woman, accompanied by two children, walking slowly down the road.
    句中的walking slowly down the road是關係子句減化的結果還是副詞子句減化的結果?

    Mr. Maezawa, founder of the Japanese online clothing company Zozo and a former rock drummer, pictured above with Mr. Musk, plans to take up to eight artists with him.
    This week, Mr. Xu, pictured above, released an essay describing his time behind bars.
    句中的pictured above應該怎麼還原?是副詞子句減化嗎?

    Now, faster than many in either nation expected, that has all changed.
    句中的faster than many in either nation expected應該怎麼還原?

    謝謝老師解答

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    1. 1
      是單句的受詞補語:He(S) saw(V) a woman(O) walking...(C)
      2
      是關係子句who is pictured above的減化
      3
      faster than many people expected「比許多人預期的還要快」。加上in either nation來修飾many people就是「上述兩國中任何一國的人」

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  27. 旋老師好,
    It is a common superstition that black cats are unlucky.
    句中的that black cats are unlucky為什麼不是a common superstition的同位語
    但是that black cats are unlucky為什麼不能看做為a common superstition的同位語呢,既然「黑貓是不幸的」就是「一個常見的迷信」,A common superstition is that black cats are unlucky?

    Virgil Soames is the candidate whom we hope to elect.
    whom we hope to elect應該怎麼還原?如果還原成we hope the candidate to do sth不是文法錯誤嗎?
    whom寫成who可以嗎?

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    1. 1
      若這樣看,那主詞it就沒有內容了。所以,that子句還是當作真主詞,那麼假主詞it才不會落空
      2
      還原為we hope to elect him,所以是受格

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  28. 作者已經移除這則留言。

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  29. The campus, the classes, the people, all made me realize there was no place else I wanted to spend the next four years.
    主句The campus, the classes, the people是否應該改成The campus, the classes, and the people?

    He finally understood that people weren't just driven by power, that everything from basic physical desires to higher ideals of love and family could motivate people.
    that everything...前面為什麼沒有連詞and?即understood that..., and that...
    謝謝老師!

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    1. 1
      這個and可以省略
      2
      後面那句主要功能在說明前面,這時打個逗點就行了(類似同位格)

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  30. I think Horace admires Jessica more than I.
    Polly loves cake more than me.
    than後面的I和me已經表明了主受格,還原也是清楚的,但風格的要素中認為不能省略動詞,要改成下面兩句
    I think Horace admires Jessica more than I do.
    Polly loves cake more than she loves me.
    原來的兩句有文法錯誤嗎?下面的兩句修辭比上面的兩句修辭好嗎?

    On Tuesday, Chinese officials responded to the president's latest move by following through on an earlier threat to impose tariffs on $60 billion in American goods—nearly everything China buys from the United States.
    American goods的同位語nearly everything China buys from the United States內部沒有逗點,為什麼可以用破折號連接呢?

    China doesn't import nearly enough from the United States to target $200 billion in American goods—let alone the additional $267 billion in Chinese goods that Mr. Trump has threatened to tax.
    為什麼能在let alone前面用破折號呢?

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    1. 1
      原句文法沒錯,但是有點不清楚。完整的說法比較清楚
      2
      因為同位格內容比較長、比較複雜,用破折號比較清楚
      3
      表示語氣的轉折(再加上一件事)

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  31. 旋老師您好,請教老師:
    All that his realization told him was that ideas have power over people, not that people can choose to be better, to have goals of their own for no other reason than their own desire.
    1.not that前面為什麼沒有用連詞but?即was that..., but not that?
    2.choose to be better, to have goals...是不是應該改成choose to be better and to have goals...?又能不能寫成choose to be better and have goals...?
    3.than their own desire中their own desire的比較對象是什麼?比較點是什麼?怎麼還原?是否應該改成than of their own desire
    4.no other reason是不是應該改成no other reasons?

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    1. 1
      A, (but) not B中間的but可以省略
      2
      後面的to have goals若主要功能在於解釋說明前面,類似同位格的用法,不必加and
      3
      比較的是other reason(their desire也是一個reason)
      4
      原文沒錯。no解釋為「沒有一」,屬於中位限定詞(和冠詞a相同)

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  32. 請問旋老師
    One of the ablest scientists who have attacked this problem...
    為什麼這裡用have而不是has呢?先行詞不是one (scientist)而是the ablest scientists?
    對比這句「One (man) of the men is coming.」其中用的是動詞單數is

    Every window, picture and mirror was smashed.
    為什麼這裡用was而不是were?

    a grass-roots movement
    名詞片語的形容詞位置要去掉複數形,但這裡的形容詞位置grass-roots為什麼保留了複數形?是不是應該去掉複數形?

    BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen are being investigated by the European Commission for possible collusion to prevent the development of clean emissions technology.
    clean emissions technology的形容詞位置emissions為什麼保留了複數形?是不是應該去掉複數形?

    謝謝老師解惑

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    1. 1
      例如one of the many who were there,關係子句的先行詞是the many(在場的人有很多),所以用複數。One of the men is coming.主詞是one,後面的of the men是修飾one的修飾語,意思是「這些人當中有一人會來」(只有一人)
      2
      關鍵是看限定詞。every是單數
      3
      grass-roots要用複數才是「基層、民間」。grass-root則是真正的「草根」,意思不同
      4
      emissions沒錯。emission是「排放的動作」,emissions是「排出的廢氣」

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  33. 老師您好


    A few doors down from Jones’s Birmingham headquarters, I sat in the back of the Magnolia barbecue restaurant with an effusive 57-year-old white woman named Carole Griffin. The smell of smoked meat filled the air, and an urban radio station played on the speakers. Between songs, a deep-voiced man backed by jazz piano warned, “Roy Moore wanted to keep the Jim Crow language in the Alabama constitution. … Make sure everybody in your family votes.” It was funded by Highway 31, a super PAC funded by national Democrats that spent $4 million on Jones’s behalf.
    An Alabama native, Griffin owns a French bakery in town. She had always been quietly progressive, not wanting to alienate her customers. But Trump’s election motivated her to take a stronger stand. She was helping mobilize voters for the campaign in conjunction with MoveOn. Griffin also heads the local Indivisible chapter, which has grown to more than 2,000 members.
    “I was in despair about being a progressive in Alabama,” she told me. “Now I realize nobody knew where to find me!”
    1 I was in despair... Alabama及nobody knew where to find me 的原因是She had always been quietly progressive, not wanting to alienate her customers. ?

    L'Engle, who died in 2007 at 88, eventually came to accept the great publicity that attemps to censor Wrinkle (a book's title ) proffered. Not that the book, which won the Newvery Medal in 1963, need it.
    2Wrinkle proffered 是 Wrinkle offered, 應該可解釋為這一本書問世或在市面上流通之類的?

    3Not..it = The book didn't need the publicity. The book attracted more publicity because of the Newvery Medal ?

    She felt helpless watching her husband die, so she started researching alternatives.
    4從這一句可推斷是她的先生還沒死。但前半句的中文 『 他看到他先生死,她感到沒有希望』,我又覺得她先生死了。 不知問題出在哪裡? 
    謝謝老師

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    1. 1
      有關。Alabama偏保守,是共和黨的勢力範圍。在該州身為民主黨員是很寂寞的。結果發現並不寂寞,而是從前沒有表態,別人不知道自己的立場(nobody knows where to find me)。一旦表態,原來同好很多。
      2
      Attempts (to censor Wrinkle) proffered great publicity.「查禁這本書的嘗試,造成了極大的宣傳效果」。改為關係子句就是the great publicity that attempts (...) proffered.
      3

      4
      watching her husband die表示her husband was dying(but not dead yet)

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  34. 請教旋老師,對於TOEFL、IELTS涉及聽力的考試,怎麼樣才能有效地改進聽力筆記,或者建立自己的聽力速記系統呢?
    老師以前是怎麼克服聽力的筆記的難題呢?怎麼把雜亂的信息記得有條理?

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    1. 我沒有練習過速記。加強聽力有兩個辦法。1.廣讀:大量、快速、不求甚解的閱讀,可以增加閱讀速度。英文是拚音文字,聲音都拚在文字中。閱讀速度快,聽力理解的速度也就會變快。2.多聽:下載一些有聲書、放在mp3播放器或手機中,走到哪裏聽到哪裏。The Teaching Company的Great Course Series都是大學講課內容,與托福聽力考的東西相同,可以找來聽

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  35. 旋老師你好,你在文法書說:抽象名詞看不到摸不著,沒有具體形狀,數不出幾個,屬於不可數名詞,所以採用零冠詞。我困惑的是,抽象名詞既然是不可數名詞,我們不採用a/an就行,但是還可以選擇定冠詞the,為什麼就直接推導出只能用零冠詞?請問抽象名詞可以加定冠詞the嗎?請老師用例句解釋一下。謝謝。

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    1. 並不是「只能用零冠詞」,而是「可以用零冠詞」。要加the也行,例如the courage of the firefighters

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  36. 咨詢老師假設語氣的問題。
    She will get home at dinner time, but I would rather she got home a little earlier.(她會在晚餐時間到家,但我倒希望她早點到家。)
    這個句子would rather後面為什麼要用got?

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    1. would rather是「寧可,寧願」。上文說會晚歸,所以「早歸」就成了「非事實」,要用過去表示

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    2. 上文說「寧可早到」,本來是將來式,可是假設語氣後退一個時態,將來式後退一個時態不就是現在式嗎?為什麼會變成過去式?請老師用邏輯原理推導一番。

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  37. 請問老師
    1. None of the country's construction projects have ever been completed on time.
    這句的 ever 一定要有嗎?
    2. Green energy being in place of nuclear power is a big fat lie.
    主語我用 being 來凸顯這件事,這樣寫對嗎?

    謝謝老師

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    1. 1
      不一定
      2
      不夠清楚。可改為:Green energy being sufficient to replace nuclear power...

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  38. 作者已經移除這則留言。

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  39. I have a good idea where he may be hiding. 這句的名詞子句可以不放在同位格的位置,改放在介系詞的受詞的位置嗎? 變成 idea of where he may be hiding.
    謝謝

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    1. 可以。疑問詞引導的名詞子句可以直接當作介系詞的受詞

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  40. 老師好。我日前上課,同學問老師為何要把他作文裡某句話的 would 改成 will ,這時,老師問我意見,我想表達 "若我來寫這篇作文的話,我也會用 would",於是我說I would have used "would" as well. ,請問老師我用過去時間的假設用法對嗎?

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    1. 對。意思是「假若這篇作文當初是我寫的…」

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  41. 请问为什么副词partly可以修饰连接词because?比如句子:This is partly because women are often more excluded from financial services and educational opportunities than men. (VOA: special.2010.06.16)

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    1. 副詞partly修飾的是後面整個副詞子句(because women are ... than men)。副詞子句也是副詞類,可以用另一個副詞來修飾

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  42. Look at modern life, with all its vaunted amenities, and then look back to the largely agrarian life some 100 years ago.
    請問老師為何 modern life 用零冠詞,agrarian life 卻用定冠詞呢?

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    1. 在the life後面有some 100 years ago指出是什麼時候的life,所以要用定冠詞。modern life後面則無指明

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  43. 幫外國人兌換外幣的美語教學裡有這麼一句
    Would you like to make up the remainder, so I can give you an even amount?
    1. 前半句講的是補足差額,為何會使用 remainder (剩餘物) 這個字呢?
    2. 後半句是說錢能換得剛剛好,那 amount 怎不是用定冠詞呢?
    謝謝老師。

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    1. 1
      remainder就是what remains「剩下的部分」,例如你拿台幣換美金,手上的台幣可以換到19.93元,離整數20元還差一點,這個剩下的不足部分就是the remainder。再加點台幣,補足到20元
      2
      10,20,30…等等都是整數,所以湊到20元是湊到「一個」整數

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  44. It is a pity [that we should have missed the show].
    請教老師: 這句的 should 表示竟然,是語氣助動詞的一般用法,但我不解的是,語氣助動詞的一般用法搭配動詞的完成狀態不就表示非事實了嗎? 但 miss 是事實沒錯啊?

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    1. 這裏需要完成式才能表示「過去時間」。你說的有道理。這樣解釋好了:「竟然」表示「出乎意料之外」,也就是「猜不到」,可能應該歸類於語氣助動詞的猜測用法

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  45. I can’t leave a man behind, [who has done so much for my family].
    請問老師關係子句前面為何要多加逗點? 不加可以嗎?

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    1. 加逗點,表示這是可有可無的補充說明。不加逗點,則是指出「那個人、那種人」,都可以但是意思稍有不同

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  46. 之前咨詢老師關於假設語氣的問題還沒完全理解。
    She will get home at dinner time, but I would rather she got home a little earlier.(她會在晚餐時間到家,但我倒希望她早點到家。)
    我當時問的是:這個句子would rather後面為什麼要用got?老師的解答是:would rather是「寧可,寧願」。上文說會晚歸,所以「早歸」就成了「非事實」,要用過去表示。
    但是我不理解的是:上文說「寧可早到」,本來是將來式,可是假設語氣後退一個時態,將來式後退一個時態不就是現在式嗎?為什麼會變成過去式?請老師用例句或者邏輯原理推導一番。

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    1. 老師說過:「假設語氣」現在時間,動詞卻採用「過去式」;過去時間,動詞卻採用過去的過去,即「過去完成式」。假設語氣用在未來時間,表達的也是「與事實相反、絕無可能發生」的情況,仍舊採用「過去」作為表達方式。例如:If I were to tell the truth to my boyfriend, he would kill me!
      我不明白的是:既然假設語氣的現在時間和過去時間分別後退一步使用過去式和過去完成式,那麼假設語氣的將來時間後退一步不就是現在式嗎,為什麼會被推導為過去式?這是困惑我很多年的問題,期待旋老師幫我解答困惑。謝謝。

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    2. 還有一個問題:不知道老師有沒有覺得would rather很奇怪?would如果解釋為助動詞,請問助動詞不是加動詞原型嗎,為什麼後面可以用got?She will get home at dinner time, but I would rather she got home a little earlier.

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    3. 不論是現在時間或是未來時間,要表達「非事實」語氣同樣都是用「過去」來表達。例如:
      If I were to tell my father, he might kill me.
      未來時間非事實語氣,兩個動詞:were與might kill都是過去來表達

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    4. 為什麼「不論是現在時間或是未來時間,要表達「非事實」語氣同樣都是用「過去」來表達。」有什麼推理過程或者解釋過程嗎?不想死記硬背這些規則,想要理解為什麼。老師能談談嗎?

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  47. 請老師詳細解釋一下「集合名詞」,並給出一些例句。這方面你在文法書裡面沒有說到,可是在問不倒文法又談到staff和people兩個詞,我是非常困惑什麼是集合名詞,以及集合名詞怎麼用,怎麼判斷一個詞是不是集合名詞。

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  48. Will Durant and his wife are co-authors of The Story of Civilization.
    請問老師 co-authors 後面有介系詞片語來限定,前面怎會沒有定冠詞?

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    1. 情況類似Bill Gates is Chairman of Microsoft,可以說是普通名詞專有化

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  49. This triennial summit is where China makes the headline-grabbing aid and finance commitments that underpin its role as Africa’s most important economic partner, fostering new political and military co-operation in a region often ignored by western governments.
    請問老師句末的分詞構句是不是可還原成修飾動詞時間的副詞子句,又修飾的對象到底是前面關係子句的動詞 underpin 還是更前面的關係子句裡的 make?

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    1. fostering...部分可以還原為副詞子句because the aid and commitments foster new political and military cooperation...,修飾動詞underpin

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  50. When will be the meeting held? When will the meeting be held?
    請問老師哪一句才對?

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    1. 後者。疑問句只要倒裝助動詞will即可

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  51. He has died. 請問老師為何許多國人會說 die 無法用完成式? 在現在以前就完成的動作用現在完成式,die 沒理由不適用啊。謝謝。

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    1. 比較常用的講法是He died或He is dead。若說He has died,感覺好像是說「他有死過」,不大自然。

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  52. 老師您好
    So far the new protests have been relatively small, but they have grown in number–at least 38 towns and cities saw demonstrations on Jan. 1 alone, an official told TIME–and possibly in intensity; in one city, state television said protesters had tried to take guns from police. In Tehran, a veteran activist paraphrased 2009 presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi, whose contested loss led to the huge demonstrations named for his campaign color. “The Green Movement was the last time anybody tried to bring about change in the Islamic Republic peacefully,” the activist said. “When peaceful demonstrations are viciously suppressed, it is only natural that they will be replaced by violent protests.” So far the regime has held back from scaling up its response. But when it does, few are expecting a jobs program.
    1few are expecting a jobs program. 是在暗示 ?

    The impact of these stories comes from their produces' willingness to call the truth what it is, and to do so with moral clarity and style. But moral clarity and style can only get a publication so far; it must be met at least partway by a reader who is willing to be wooed.
    2 call the truth what it is= call what it is the truth ? 原句的寫法是要強調 the truth?
    3 to do so with moral clarity and style= produces' willingness to call the truth what it is with moral clarity and style ?
    4But ... wooed是說出版一本書容易,但讀者對 moral clarity and style買不買單又是另外一回事了 ?

    He broke his leg in a freak accident playing golf.
    5=He broke his leg in a freak accident while playing golf ? 因為有while 是意思,所以原句不宜在 accident之後加逗點,如果加逗點,就沒有while的意思,此時就有because的意思 ?
    謝謝老師

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    1. 1
      示威抗議的事情應該是缺乏工作機會。政府的回應則可能是出動軍警鎮壓、不大可能是創造工作機會
      2
      call the truth what it is
      其中的what是複合關係代名詞。若把先行詞還原,則成為:
      call the truth something that it is
      其中的關係子句又可還原為it is something,其實就是it is truth。所以,整句的意思相當於:
      call the truth "the truth"
      3
      to call the truth "the truth" with moral clarity and style
      4
      出版社固然可以call the truth "the truth" with moral clarity and style「明確地闡述真相」,但讀者也要願意接受真相才行:雙方各進一步才能相會。
      5

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  53. You commit so much as a misdemeanor. 請問老師這句的 so much as 是甚麼意思?

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  54. 請問旋老師
    1. S have/has no choice but to V 為什麼 but 後接to V?
    2. S do nothing but V 為什麼 but 接原型動詞
    3. What the host asked for compensation was nothing but taking/take a picture
    with him. 這裡 but後是用take還是taking
    4. All that/What sb have/has to do is V 為什麼原型動詞

    5. That the city that called itself the Paris of the Pacific looked like it
    had been bombed and burned.
    這句文法有錯嗎? 第一個that 作用是甚麼?
    謝謝老師!

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    1. 判斷原則:
      在SVC句型中,如果左邊(S部分)有do,右邊(C部分)可以用to V,也可以用V(原形)。
      在A but B句型中,如果左邊(A部分)有do,右邊(B部分)可以用to V,也可以用V(原形)。
      3 taking,因為but左邊沒有do。
      5 不是完整句子,只是一個從屬的that子句,沒有主要子句。

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  55. 老師好。我想用英文表達他還不至於做出這種事來,這類語境的不至於,英文有甚麼片語可用嗎?謝謝。

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    1. 可以說He is above that.,字面上是「他比那還高級一點」。

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  56. 老師好。語氣助動詞都有不確定的語氣,但 I can sing. 這句裡的 sing 有不確定的語氣嗎? 若說 sing 還沒唱,所以不確定,但 I sing every day. 的 sing 不也沒實際發生嗎? 我搞糊塗了。

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    1. I can sing意思是「我能唱、我會唱」,但並不是「我在唱」,也就是說「唱」的動作並沒真正發生,所以是不確定語氣。但I sing every day則表示「我每天都唱」,意思是每天都真的有唱,所以是事實語氣。

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  57. Young Japanese may be eating more Western food, Master Hachiro Mizutani says, but they always return to healthier home fare as they get older. Likewise, foreigners start with ersatz conveyor-belt sushi outside Japan, but soon hunger for the real thing—Tokyo’s genius take on fast food.
    請問老師最後一句Tokyo’s genius take on fast food是什麼意思?我看take on的意思是對某事的看法,但整句看來我就不懂了。

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    1. 名詞someone's take on something才是「某人對某事的看法」。在此是動詞,take on意思是「挑戰」。

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  58. 老師您好,想請教關於比較句的簡化。
    A. The Southern people are vicious now.
    比較句是想表達Northern people在過去的時候就已經變得像現今的Southern people那樣vicious。
    => The Northern people became as the Southern people are now.

    請問上句的簡化是否正確,因為根據老師教的我的理解是下方的簡化方式
    The Northern people became as vicious as the Southern people are vicious now.
    -> The Northern people became as vicious as the Southern people are now.

    不曉得基於什麼原因可以繼續簡化成
    The Northern people became as the Southern people are now.
    前句的"as vicious"也省略了,照理說子句的比較點可以省略是因為與主句的比較點相同。但是主句的比較點也省略,這樣會造成句子意思不明,本來應該無法省略。
    之所以可以省略的原因是否是因為如果前文有提到後方句子的比較點The Southern people are vicious now.則後方的比較句子的主句的比較點就可視為已知而可以同時省略?

    謝謝老師。

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    1. 原句是The Northern people became the same as the Southern people are now.,句中as引導的副詞子句修飾主要子句的主詞補語the same。

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  59. Students who rank in the top third of their class have a better chance of being accepted to the college of their choice.
    請問老師 top third 指的是從前面數來的第三名嗎?

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  60. 老師您好
    This movement was first launched in Taipei in 2012, expanding to Tainan in 2013, and to Hsinchu in 2014.
    1 expanding 是while expanding... 但原句用分詞的寫法是不是不好,因為 2012 2013, 2014 是各別的年份,不可能是同時(while) ? 應改成... expanded to Tainan in 2013, and to Hsinchu in 2014. ?

    Curators work tirelessly around the clock ensuring that the library has the most comprehensive and up-to-date information available.
    2 ensuring= while ensuring ?
    謝謝老師

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    1. 1
      如果原來的連接詞不是while,而是before之類,就可以說得通了。若改成expanded會多一個動詞。
      2

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  61. Young Japanese may be eating more Western food, Master Hachiro Mizutani says, but they always return to healthier home fare as they get older. Likewise, foreigners start with ersatz conveyor-belt sushi outside Japan, but soon hunger for the real thing—Tokyo’s genius take on fast food.
    我上次問老師最後一句話的意思。您說 take on 是動詞片語,但原文的 take 確實沒加上 s ,請問這是怎麼一回事呢?

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    1. 沒有s,那是我看錯了,應該是名詞:tokyo's genius take是個名詞片語:「東京高明的詮釋」

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  62. Researchers in the U.K. received a $6.4 million grant to develop a test for sexually transmitted diseases
    請問老師這句裡的不定詞片語是當形容詞(that can develop)還是副詞(so that they can)用?

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    1. 比較像副詞子句in order that they could develop...,修飾received

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  63. The problem won't seem so serious if you keep it in perspective.我多年前上過老師的字彙方法,當時我在 keep it in perspective 下面寫了"有比較",如今看了不是很懂。請問老師 in perspective 在這裡不作觀點解是嗎? 所以 keep ... in perspective 要解釋成把 ... 跟其他的 ... 比較嗎? 謝謝。

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    1. 對。per/spect/ive的構造是through/look/(n.),所以字面上是「透過別的事情再來看它」,暗示「不鑽牛角尖、有個比較」

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  64. 老師您好
    ... nothing more serious than flulike sympton
    1字面上--最嚴重也只有flulike sympton, 不會有比flulike sympton更嚴重之情事發生。但翻譯為何是 “得到flulike sympton”。感覺字面跟翻譯有出入 ?

    A is no harder than B
    2字面上A的難度小於或等於B. 但翻譯A 與B的難度是相同的。感覺字面跟翻譯有出入 ?
    謝謝老師

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    1. 1
      翻譯不夠忠實
      2
      應該是「A不會比B更難」

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  65. And perhaps the most radical rereading of the UDHR would be to emphasize the duties that we hold towards each other (as opposed to rights we have against each other) and even to include duties to non-human others. Otherwise, we may find that over the next 70 years, the UDHR, written at the start of the Cold War and with that era’s defining problems in mind, becomes less a point of reference than a Sapiens-centric curiosity from a distant century.
    請問老師
    1. 第一句的不定詞片語 to emphasize 是不是名詞用法,當主詞補語?
    2. 最後一句的比較級子句裡的 a Sapiens-centric curiosity 是當主詞還是主詞補語用?我不確定 the UDHR 是跟哪個對象在比較。

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    1. 1

      2
      主詞補語。
      The UDHR becomes a point of reference.
      The UDHR becomes a Sapiens-centric curiosity.
      是這兩句,比較的是程度副詞。

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  66. a final warning/offer
    請問老師,既然都說是最後的了,限定詞怎麼不是用定冠詞呢?用不定冠詞該怎麼解釋?謝謝。

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    1. 如果真的是最後一次,要用the,例如:
      This is the final offer. Take it or leave it.
      若用a final offer,言下之意是「其實可能還有得商量」。

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  67. Manual laborers are more strongly opposed to the tax hike than white-collar workers.
    我之前上了老師教的英文寫作課,老師說這句的反對對象是增稅,所以副詞子句的動詞可以省略。我想問的是,這樣寫不會變成粗工也反白領嗎?

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    1. 也有這個可能,但是因為manual laborers與white-collar workers都是人、the tax hike不是人,而比較級要求平行對稱,人只能跟人比,所以比較不容易混淆

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  68. 從農委會的前身農復會,到精省之前的農委會
    請問老師,我要翻成英文,第二句該怎麼安排名詞(農委會)跟副詞子句(精省之前)的關係才正確清楚?
    the Council before the government was streamlined

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    1. 就這樣就可以。或者加上幾個字:the Council as it was before the government was streamlined

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  69. 老師您好
    Reading your article on Talor Swift, you'd think it was about a musical prodigy—an inspiring composer whose music is profound and significant. I hope this was an exercise in satire
    1 this was an exercise in satire 是在暗示這位讀者所讀到的這篇文章其實不是在 誇獎 Talor Swift ,其實是反諷? 

    The CDC specialists believed they had a chance to control the epidemic if they worked with local health authorities. But Frieden's protests changed nothing. “They wanted to do it themselves—there was resentment.” Summing it up, he says, “WHO didn't want us there, so we left.”

    2 had a chance跟 they worked 改成 would have had a chance及 had worked是不是才正確 ? 
    謝謝老師

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    1. 1
      讀者在表達反對意見:你把Swift講得那麼好,我希望你是在講反話諷刺(因為我覺得她太爛了)
      2
      因為主要子句believed是過去式,後面had與worked也用過去式,這屬於事實語氣,「在前提有可能的情況下當作是事實」,也就是「當時他們真的相信是這樣」

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  71. 老師您好
    I (as a Ebola survivor and doctor) think whenever we go through a devastating experience, it's not about there being some inherent redemptive narrative, but it is an incredible opportunity for the redemption of something.
    1意思是:救病人的故事(redemptive narrative )不重要,重要的是 “救病人” (redemption of something.)。 ? 

    He is capable of turning weakness into strength. In the years before Alibaba went public, Ma leveraged his freedom from Wall Street pressure on quarterly earnings to keep his site free for a long time, building marketing share. Obliged to show shareholders progress on profit margins, eBay watched as Alibaba scooped up business
    2Ma leveraged his freedom from Wall Street pressure quarterly earnings的意思是 ?

    3Building...是 that keeping his site free for a long time built marketing share ?
    謝謝老師

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    1. 1
      大致是這樣,不過redemption不只是救「病人」
      2
      上市公司每一季的財報是股東關注的焦點,萬一出現虧損就會影響股價,所以上市公司每季都得設法交出一張亮眼的財報,這就構成一種壓力。阿里巴巴當時尚未上市,沒有這種壓力,可以專注在擴大市占率,就算虧損也沒關係
      3
      while he was building market share

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  72. 老师,為什麼说「不論是現在時間或是未來時間,要表達「非事實」語氣同樣都是用「過去」來表達。」?有什麼推理過程或者解釋過程嗎?不想死記硬背這些規則,想要理解為什麼。老師能談談嗎?

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    1. 基本上,只要是「非事實」語氣,都是用「過去」來表達。現在時間要用過去,未來時間是be going to變成過去的were to。過去時間則是再退一步成為「過去完成」,所以其實是相當一致的。

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  73. think of、think about、think out、think over。這幾個片語如何區分?每次使用都特別困惑。期待老師談一談。

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    1. 關於片語的用法,應該是字典上的說明最詳細,請參考the Free Dictionary的Idiom部分,網址如下:
      https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/

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  74. 作者已經移除這則留言。

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  77. 老師您好
    Instead of just processing what a film or a performance means, our declarations of love have become more like legal briefs, multipage documents with clauses and riders attached that must outweigh whatever we appreciated about the work itself-- and there's always someone ready to call out a perceived sin of omission.
    1 there's always someone ready to call out a perceived sin of omission. 的意思是 ?

    Democrats are confident Trump's PR offensive won't win over the public. But sides worry that caving on this issue will set the power dynamic for the next two year. Which means this shutdown may set its own kind of precedent.
    2 this shutdown may set its own kind of precedent是在暗示什麼 ?

    A is the most powerful person since B
    上句是否有暗示 A及B都是 the most powerful persons ?

    謝謝老師

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    1. 1
      看起來好像是在談影評。那句的意思是「總是有人會挑剔說片中遺漏了什麼東西,認為那是缺點」。
      2
      就是上文Both sides worry that caving on this issue will set the power dynamic for the next two years.。若某一方撐不下去而告屈服,將來在川普剩下的兩年任期中若再度發生雙方的角力,本案就會成為先例:現在屈服,將來還得再度屈服。
      3

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  78. 劍橋雅思大陸版本10,Listening Test 2 Section 1,有這麼一句話:I'd have to cycle uphill and on a hot day I'd arrive at work pretty sweaty so I think I'd need a shower somewhere at work.。這句話裡面的pretty sweaty是什麼成分?是否病句?

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    1. 副詞子句while I was pretty sweaty的減化,修飾動詞would arrive,句子無誤

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  79. 請問老師 in the Hualien and Taitung areas 的 area 為何是複數? 還原不是 in the Hualien area and the Taitung area 嗎? 經省略不是應該是 in the Hualien and Taitung area ? 謝謝。

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    1. 若是in the H and T area也對:在「花東地區」,把花東視為「一個地區」看待。若是in the H and T areas則是視為「兩個地區」看待,也對。

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  80. 旋老師你好
    1. 之前學到 oppose=be opposed to N
    1.I oppose your proposal.
    2.I am opposed to your proposal
    如果改成被動是 Your proposal is opposed to by me.
    還是 Your proposal is opposed by me
    請問改成被動態 to 需要寫嗎?

    2. 還有請問老師 a thirty-year-old student 這裡thirty-year-old當形容詞
    所以不能寫thirty-years-old
    但是有時候看文章複合形容詞也會加s
    還有在寫作上單數不可數名詞如果加上s這樣會算是嚴重錯誤嗎? 例如audiences

    3. I liked to hang out with friends and watch movies together.
    I liked to hang out with friends and watched movies together.
    請問老師這兩句哪句是對的?
    謝謝老師!

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    1. 1
      加不加to文法都正確,但實際使用是採取比較簡潔的做法,也就是不加to。
      2
      有時是為了清楚,例如a decades-old issue「一項幾十年的老議題」。若不加s,成為decade-old,感覺像是「只有十年」。有時是單字本身,例如a sports car,韋氏字典的解釋是形容詞拚成sports(並不表示複數)。至於audiences,可以表示「兩組以上的聽眾」。不可數名詞如果加上s作複數使用,往往都表示「種類」。另外像是a beer,其實就是a bottle of beer的意思。
      3
      前者較佳。hang out與watch movies這兩個動作,內容比較接近,所以對等連接詞and連接的應該是to hang out and watch movies。

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  83. 老師您好
    (第一段)Many of King’s civil rights allies discouraged him from going public with his antiwar views, believing that he should prioritize the somewhat less controversial domestic concerns of African Americans and the poor. But for King, standing against racial and economic inequality also demanded a recognition that those problems were inseparable from the military-industrial complex and capitalism itself. King saw “the war as an enemy of the poor,” as young black men were sent to “guarantee liberties in Southeast Asia which they had not found in southwest Georgia and East Harlem.”
    (第二段)What King understood was that the war was destroying not only the character of the U.S. but also the character of its soldiers. Ironically, it also managed to create a kind of American racial equality in Vietnam, as black and white soldiers stood “in brutal solidarity” against the Vietnamese. But if they were fighting what King saw as an unjust war, then they, too, were perpetrators of injustice, even if they were victims of it at home. For American civilians, the uncomfortable reality was that the immorality of an unjust war corrupted the entire country. “If America’s soul becomes totally poisoned,” King said, “part of the autopsy must read Vietnam.”
    (第三段)In his speech, which he delivered exactly one year to the day before he was assassinated, King foresaw how the war implied something larger about the nation. It was, he said, “but a symptom of a far deeper malady within the American spirit, and if we ignore this sobering reality … we will find ourselves organizing ‘clergy and laymen concerned’ committees for the next generation … unless there is a significant and profound change in American life.”
    1 …even if they were victims of it at home. 從上下文得知, they指的是black men soldiers ?
    2 If America’s soul becomes totally poisoned,” King said, “part of the autopsy must read Vietnam.” 意謂:Part of the reason that America’s soul becomes totally poisoned is the Vietnam War ?
    3‘clergy and laymen concerned’ committees 的意思是 ? 

    Sex trafficking occurs when a person performs a commercial sex act through force, fraud or coercion. For under-18-year-olds, it is any kind of commercial sex act.
    4it is any kind of commercial sex act.的意思是 ?
    謝謝老師

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    1. 1
      解讀為black and white soldiers較好,因為injustice影響到的是所有人
      2
      是。這是擬人化的手法:美國比喻為一個人,此人因靈魂中毒而死,死後解剖屍體以了解死因,會發現原因之一在於越戰
      3
      宗教與非宗教兩方面的關懷者
      4
      因為未成年,所以不必是through force, fraud or coercion,都可算作sex trafficking

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  84. This is just like the number of gyms criteria, but with the opposite effect.
    請問老師
    1. effect 為何要用定冠詞?我想表達某種反效果,並沒有指明是哪種,為何不是用 an opposite effect?
    2. 對等連接詞的前後內容不對等吧,為何右邊僅有介系詞片語?
    3. 去掉對等連接詞 This is just like the number of gyms criteria, with the opposite effect. 這樣表達正確嗎?

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    1. 1
      如果opposite表示「正相反」,那就只有一種
      2
      右邊還原為but it is so with the opposite effect。對等連接詞右邊與左邊重複的部分可以省略
      3
      正確

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  85. in this age where speed is of the highest priority
    請問老師關係副詞為何是 where ? 用 there 來代替 age 很奇怪吧!

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    1. this age「這個時代」其實是「現代世界」,也可以說是「地方」。

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  86. 旋老師好,
    昨天和朋友練習口說,自己講了一個冷笑話,然後介紹說這個笑話的作者是Adam Rowe。

    我脱口而出的表述是:
    This funny joke is written by Adam Rowe.

    但之後越想越不對勁,感覺自己用錯了時態,應該說作:
    … was written by Adam Rowe.

    畢竟笑話是在過去寫作的,動作發生在過去,理應用過去時。

    不知道自己這樣理解對不對,希望旋老師能幫忙解答學生的困惑。
    謝謝老師!

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    1. 用is或was都行。is表示「此人是作者」這件事實。was表示「過去寫的」。

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  87. 老師,關係子句裡面的by which time不知道如何理解,能講講是怎麼變化而來的嗎?
    比如:The percentage of students who valued the access to amenities and sports facilities more than tripled from 5% to 18% in 2002, by which time this factor had become the third most common reason for choosing a university.
    上面這個句子中,by which time是怎麼變化而來的?我始終分析不出來。

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    1. 先行詞是2002。關係子句可以還原為這個獨立的句子:
      This factor had become the third most common reason ... by that time.
      句中的by that time是介系詞片語、時間副詞,修飾動詞had become。其中的名詞片語that time裏面的限定詞that指的就是2002,改寫為關係詞就成為by which time。

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  88. 「be of + 名詞」如何理解?這是減化而來的嗎?劍橋詞典有這麼一個句子:The results of the election are of concern to us all.(選舉的結果對我們所有人都有重大影響。),我不明白為什麼會有「be of + 名詞」這種結構。

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    1. of concern只是個單純的介系詞片語,意思是「令人關心、引人關切」,放在be後面是當作主詞補語,修飾主詞the results。

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  89. 老師,教材裡面出現這句話,當我用文法去分析這句話的時候,我困惑了。
    Europe had the largest proportion of unproductive land at 23%, nearly twice the figure for Oceania and more than four times the level of degradation in north America.
    請問,nearly是副詞,twice也是副詞,後面的figure是名詞,這兩個副詞後面接一個名詞,符合語法規則嗎?為什麼可以這麼寫?
    還有,more than是什麼詞性,four times又是什麼詞性,為何可以more than + four times + the level(名詞)?始終理不清這句子的文法。

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    1. 1
      twice the figure是個名詞片語,構造是twice(前位限定詞)+the(中位限定詞)+figure(名詞),前面的nearly是程度副詞,修飾twice
      2
      four times the level是名詞片語,four times是前位限定詞,the是中位限定詞,level是名詞。more than是比較句法,其中than是從屬連接詞,more是many的比較級

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  90. It took no small tact to hint to the King ...
    請問老師這句的 no 修飾的是 small 還是後面整個名詞片語?謝謝。

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    1. no是限定詞:no small tack的構造是限定詞+形容詞+名詞,構成一個名詞片語

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  91. 老師,我看了你的文法書,始終無法看到一個詞就立刻判斷出來它是前、中、後位限定詞。比如,my three children,為什麼就是「中位限定詞+後位限定詞+名詞」,我們乍一看也不能直接知道這一區分結果,也有可能就認為是「前位限定詞+中位限定詞+名詞」。請問,這些詞究竟怎麼區分它是前、中、後位限定詞?一定要背誦常用的前、中、後位限定詞嗎?

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    1. 限定詞的位置取決於使用習慣。一個辦法是記下前、中、後位限定詞各有哪些,另一個辦法就是多閱讀,漸漸會習慣正確的順序

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  92. 老師,依舊是「匿名 2019年2月21日 下午11:03」提問的這個句子:
    Europe had the largest proportion of unproductive land at 23%, nearly twice the figure for Oceania and more than four times the level of degradation in north America.
    以上關於twice the figure和four times the level是「前位限定詞+中位限定詞+名詞」我已經懂了。但是,than是從屬連接詞的話,後面應該是省略了的從屬子句,如果還原出來,請老師幫忙看看是否正確(我總覺得還原出來的句子怪怪的):
    Europe had the largest proportion of unproductive land at 23%.
    The proportion in Europe is nearly twice the figure for Oceania.
    The proportion in Europe is more than the proportion in Europe is four times the level of degradation in north America.這句話中,the proportion in Europe is和前面重復,所以省略?

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    1. 還原為以下兩句:
      The proportion is many times the level in north America.
      The proportion is four times the level in north America.
      前句的many times改寫為比較級,成為more (times),後句加上than,就成為more than four times。

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    2. Europe had the largest proportion of unproductive land at 23%, nearly twice the figure for Oceania and more than four times the level of degradation in north America.
      請問老師,還原之後,是否就是:
      「nearly twice the figure for Oceania」還原為「The proportion in Europe is nearly twice the figure for Oceania.」?
      「more than four times the level of degradation in North America」→「The proportion in Europe is many times the level in North America.」和「The proportion in Europe is four times the level in North America.」→「The proportion in Europe is more than four times the level of degradation in North America」?

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  93. 1.
    It took no small tact to hint to the King that he had bad breath.
    老師好,我上次問了以上這句的 no 的功能,得知要當限定詞用,所以這句的意思是"不需要 small tact "嗎?
    2.
    As for single women, they may pursue their education and careers with such single-mindedness that they postpone marriage until the eligible men have vanished.
    以上這句的 career 為何是複數?每人不就一個 career 能 pursue ,還是因為主詞是複數,所以很多人的 career 就要用複數嗎?
    3.
    上句的 eligible men 前面為何要加定冠詞?我看不出限定的理由為何。
    謝謝老師。

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    1. 1
      「不是小技巧」,就是「大技巧」
      2
      因為主詞they是複數
      3
      上文說they postpone marriage,暗示已經有eligible men,所以下文可以說the men

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  94. Shipping goods by road was the most popular choice throughout the period, with around 70 million tonnes of goods delivered by this mode of transport in 1974. The total amount had since then risen steadily, despite fluctuation, and reached about 100 million by 2002.
    請問老師,第二個句子裡面的since then是副詞,還是某個省略簡化的句子?我在Merriam-Webster查到,since then解析為「within that time(在那段時間之內)」,可是since then貌似應該解析為「從那時之後」。我又在劍橋詞典和牛津詞典都查不到since then的解析。
    請問老師,since then該如何解釋?如果是某個省略簡化的句子,請問如何還原?請試舉一例。

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    1. 就是介系詞片語since that time,也就是since 1974,當時間副詞使用

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  95. 老師您好
    European citizens' perception of immigration writ large, and the character of new immigrants in particular, is largely wrong.
    1perception of immigration writ large是 perception writ large 的意思嗎? 也就是 perception that is easy to notice ?
    2 the character... 是perception of the character .. ?



    He reflects on the writing education he got from the nuns: They stressed “subject, verb and object,” he says. “Concrete nouns, active verbs,” Hamill adds. Breslin sums it up: “It was pretty good teaching.” Those nuns kenw vivid muscular prose when they saw it.
    3Those nuns kenw vivid muscular prose when they saw it.背後的意思是?
    謝謝老師

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    1. 1
      immigration writ large就是大寫的Immigration(把它當專有名詞)。
      2
      正確
      3
      「這些修女有見識,會看文章的好壞」。vivid, muscular是「生動、有力」,也就是上文concrete nouns, active verbs造成的效果

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  96. 1. Life is what we make of it.
    2. Life is what we make it.
    請問老師以上這兩句是什麼意思?謝謝。

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    1. 句1較好。可以分成兩句來看:
      Life is the thing.
      We make the thing of life.
      合成關係子句如下:
      Life is the thing that we make of it.
      再把先行詞the thing和關係代名詞that合併為複和關係代名詞,成為:
      Life is what we make of it.「人生就是我們打造出來的。」

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  97. It's worth remembering that prices go up in February.
    請問老師這句話的 it 是不是虛主詞,跟 It is 2 o'clock. 的功能一樣?

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    1. it是虛字,但它有內容:代表的就是後面的that子句

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  98. We’d usually simplify titles, even deleting stuff that may otherwise seem pertinent.
    請問老師這句的減化子句的原連接詞是 when 嗎?

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    1. 這個分詞構句可以還原為while, as等連接詞引導的副詞子句。但是減化子句若不保留連接詞,本身就是「不作清楚表示」。也就是原句並沒有要說清楚是什麼邏輯關係。

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  99. Why are taxpayers in Milwaukee and elsewhere subsiding what could be considered the largest health-club chain in the nation, allowing tens of thousands of otherwise scrawny murderers to transform themselves into muscle monsters.
    請問老師這句裡的otherwise是什麼意思?這個字就算去掉也通,我想再問有跟沒有的差異在哪。謝謝。

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    1. otherwise「不然的話」,表示「若各州的納稅人沒有補貼這個所謂連鎖健身房的話」,修飾scrawny murderers,暗示「如果不補貼讓他們有地方健身,他們只是小癟三」。

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  100. 老師您好
    Trump is not responsible for our attention economy. He just got in early and looked to corner the market. All this had been a long time coming, the technologies hooking us on cheap and constant stimulus, our reflective reflexes weaking to the point that the last remaining political sin is now uncertainty.
    1 our reflective reflexes weaking to the point that the last remaining political sin is now uncertainty 這句話的意思是 ?

    In no other Western democracy is it remotely as difficult for candidates to get on the ballot and give more choices and voices to voters
    2 =It is not remotely as difficut … in other Western democracy
    =It is very easy for candidates … in other Western democracy ?

    In the four years since Jason Moran became the artistic director of jazz at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, he's built a skate park on its steps...
    3如果句子是Since Jason...steps ,我可以了解其意思。但在開頭前加In the four years , 就不知句子該如何解釋 ? 

    Five years later, in 2007, after he published his first novel, James moved to the U.S. Eight years and two more books after that, he publish an essay...
    4如果Eight years 是2015,那two more books after that 的意思是 在2015年之後又出版了兩本書 ? 

    The Lego Movie, released in 2014, is a tough act to follow... The bad news is that The Lego Movie 2 is more of the same—yet less.
    5這是一篇影評,從文章當中可知作者覺得 The Lego Movie 2是比較差的。The Lego Movie 2 is more of the same—yet less.該如何解釋 ?

    Healthy forests capture and slowly release rainwater into rivers and aquifiers—proving reliable water that farmers use to grow the food we eat.
    6 proving=so that healthy forests capture... provides... ?
    謝謝老師

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    1. 1
      大意是說現代人越來越不會思考反省。在各式各樣的科技與訊息刺激之下都變得是遽下結論。關於政治問題如果遲疑猶豫,本來是慎重的表現,現在反而會成為罪過。
      2
      大意是說:沒有哪個民主國家要做這件事會像在我國這麼困難的。
      3
      since引導的子句修飾the four years是從什麼時候開始算的。
      4
      意思是five years and two more books after 2007「自2007後又過了5年,其間出了兩本書」。
      5
      more of the same指新作是「與原作同樣的東西」,yet less是「不及原作」。
      6
      還原為副詞子句so that this provides reliable water,句中的主詞this就是前面整個主要子句。

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  101. Attendant: Would you like the chicken or the fish for lunch, sir?
    Peter: The chicken, please.
    請問老師雞肉跟魚肉前面為何要加定冠詞?不加不也可以嗎?

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    1. 不加亦可。加上the,成為the chicken,意思是the chicken on our menu「我們菜單上的chicken」。

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  102. 老師好
    1. Armstrong is the first to land on the moon.
    land 的時間在過去,為何不用完成式的不定詞來表示相對過去時間?
    2. I have worked for that company. 意思是人現在不是公司的員工了。
    但是 I have lived here for 20 years.卻表示人還住在那裡,請問為何會有差別?

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    1. 1
      應該是Armstrong was the first man that could land on the moon.,句中的could land與was發生的時間相同,並非相對過去時間。若說Armstrong is the first man是把它當作「事實」敘述。
      2
      I have worked for that company並沒有明確表示「現在不是員工」,例如後面加上for 20 years,同樣可以暗示「現在還是員工」。另外,I have lived here for 20 years也沒有明確表示「現在還住在此」,例如刪去for 20 years,成為I have lived here「我有在此住過」,並不排除「現在已經搬離了」。總之,現在完成式只表示「截至現在為止」的動作,至於將來則並沒有明確暗示。

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  103. The Tai-Ex opened up 52-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 10,695
    on turnover of 2.4-billion N-T.

    The market did not change very much on Monday.

    Investors held on to money they made earlier in the session, when the market
    passed 10,700 for a short time.

    請問老師 earlier 的意思是相對於現在的早些時,還是表示 session 的初期?

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