蔣紅秀
易錯點一:用錯“生日”前的序數詞
當我們要表示某人多少歲的生日時,我們習慣上是在birthday前用序數詞,而不是用基數詞,因為“多少歲的生日”其實指的是“第多少個生日”。如:
我們要舉辦派對慶祝吉姆的60歲生日。
正:Were having a party for Jims sixtieth birthday.
誤:Were having a party for Jims sixty birthday.
她20歲生日剛過便生下了小吉姆。
正:She gave birth to little Jim just after her 20th birthday.
誤:She gave birth to little Jim just after her 20 birthday.
易錯點二:用錯“一兩……”之類的表達
漢語說“一兩……”,說成英語可用a...or two或one or two...這樣的表達,但是不能用 one...or two或a or two...等。如:
我看到瑪麗一兩分鐘前離開的。
正:I saw Mary leaving a minute or two ago.
誤:I saw Mary leaving one minute or two ago.
要參觀這個城市一兩天就夠了。
正:One or two days are enough to see the city.
誤:A or two days are enough to see the city.
易錯點三:用錯“一個半”之類的表達
用英語表示“一個半”的方法是:a...and a half或one and a half...,但在one and a half 之后要接復數名詞,不接單數。如:
我在一個半小時之內考試完畢。
誤: I finished the examination in one and a half hour.
正: I finished the examination in an hour and a half.
正:I finished the examination in one and a half hours.
注意“兩個半”“三個半”“四個半”之類的表達。如:
Its about two and a half miles away. 大約有兩英里半遠。
This happened four and a half centuries ago. 這是四個半世紀前發生的事。
易錯點四:用錯“每隔……”的表達
用英語表示“每隔……”的最常用方法是“every+基數詞+名詞(復數)”。如:
There were traffic lights every ten yards. 每隔十碼就有紅綠燈。
Buses leave from here every five minutes. 公共汽車每隔五分鐘從這兒發車。
有時也用“every+序數詞+名詞(單數)”,注意不要弄錯了其中的名詞的數。如:
奧林匹克運動會每四年辦一次。
正:The Olympics are held every four years.
正:The Olympics are held every fourth year.
如果是表示“每隔一……”或“每兩……”,則還可以用every other...,如“每隔一年(每兩年)”可說成every two years, every second year, every other year。如:
He gets home leave every two years. 他每兩年有一次探親假。
The reunion is held every second year. 聯誼聚會每兩年舉行一次。
We go abroad for our holidays every other year. 我們每兩年出國度假一次。
注意不要將以上各用法混用在一起。如:
你只需要每隔三天給植物澆一次水。
正:You only need to water the plants every three days.
正:You only need to water the plants every third day.
誤:You only need to water the plants every three day.
誤:You only need to water the plants every third days.
易錯點五:用錯“另外幾個……”的表達
用英語表示“另外幾個……”通常是用“another+數詞+名詞”或“數詞+other+名詞”。翻譯時有時需根據具體語境靈活處理。如:
Three other students were sent to help them. 另外三個學生被派去幫助他們。
Well have to wait another three weeks for the results. 我們還得再等三周才能知道結果。
注意不要將以上表達中與數詞搭配的another和other混用。如:
我沒趕上火車,只得再等兩小時。
正:I missed the train and had to wait another two hours.
誤:I missed the train and had to wait other two hours.
易錯點六:混淆數詞的單復數形式
當要表示某人的大約年歲和世紀中的某個年代時,我們習慣上要用逢整“十”的基數詞的復數形式。如:
His family left for Paris in the nineties. 他們一家于90年代去了巴黎。
Mr Smith began to teach French in his sixtieth. 史密斯先生在60多歲開始教法語。
注意:此時的數詞不可用單數形式,而且前面的定冠詞也不可省略。如:
約翰結婚時已經40多歲了。
正:John was well into his forties before he got married.
誤:John was well into his forty before he got married.
另外,補充一點:當表示年代時,有時還會說出某個世紀,此時要使用類似以下這樣的表達:
in the 1960s 在20世紀60年代(其中的撇號可以省略)。
since the 1990s 從20世紀90年代開始。
(編輯 陳根花)