蔣曉紅
在英語中,有些詞組看起來十分相似,但若用心觀察,你會發(fā)現(xiàn)它們的含義實(shí)際上是截然不同的。對此,筆者歸納了如下常見的易混詞組,以期同學(xué)們能夠準(zhǔn)確把握,避免錯用。
一、in a word, in other word及in word
in a word意為“總之,簡而言之”,相當(dāng)于“all in all” “in short”等,表示歸納與總結(jié)。例如:
In a word,I love my school.
總之,我愛我的學(xué)校。
In a word, smoking is bad for your health.
總之,吸煙有害健康。
in other word意為“換句話說,換言之”,常用作插入語。例如:
I lied to you,in other word, I cheated on you.
我對你說謊了,換句話說,我欺騙了你。
He doesnt agree to the plan, in other word, he is against the plan.
他不同意這個(gè)計(jì)劃,換句話說,他反對這個(gè)計(jì)劃。
in word意為“在口頭上”,其反義詞為“in deed(在行動上)”。例如:
We should not work for the people in word.
我們不應(yīng)該僅在口頭上為人民而工作。
Lets save water not only in word, but also in deed.
讓我們不僅在口頭上而且在行動上節(jié)約用水。
此外,還有“in words”,它的含義則是“用言語來表達(dá)”。例如:
Please tell me in words what you sang.
請用言語告訴我你唱的是什么。
It is difficult to express my feeling in words.
很難用語言表達(dá)我的感受。
二、at the end of ,by the end of 及 in the end
at the end of意為“在……的盡頭/最后/末尾”,它可以表示路的盡頭,也可以表示時(shí)間的末尾或事情的結(jié)尾,所以其后可以接時(shí)間名詞,也可以接地點(diǎn)名詞,其反義詞為“at the be-ginning of ”。例如:
Turn left at the end of the road.
在路的盡頭向左轉(zhuǎn)。
At the end of the year, the team was play-ing great.
球隊(duì)在這個(gè)賽季的尾聲表現(xiàn)得非常好。
by the end of意為“到……末/底為止”,表示截至的時(shí)間,常用于將來時(shí)或完成時(shí)態(tài)中。例如:
Well be gone by the end of the week.
我們周末之前會離開。
By the end of last month,I had planted thousands of trees.
截止到上個(gè)月,我已經(jīng)種了數(shù)以千計(jì)棵樹。
in the end 意為“最后,最終”相當(dāng)于“at last”或“finally”,常用于一般過去時(shí)態(tài)。例如:
The little girl fall asleep in the end.
最后,這個(gè)小女孩睡著了。
In the end,they arrived at the top of the mountain.
他們終于到達(dá)了山頂。
三、at the time, at one time及at
all time at the time 意為“當(dāng)時(shí),在那個(gè)時(shí)候”。例如:
It seemed like a good idea at the time.
當(dāng)時(shí)這主意好像不錯。
There was a war at the time.
那時(shí)正值戰(zhàn)爭。
at one time意為“一度,曾經(jīng)”。例如:
At one time, he worked in a school.
他曾在一所學(xué)校上班。
The street at one time must have been busy.
這條街曾一度很熱鬧。
at all time(s)意為“一直,總是,隨時(shí)”。例如:
No man is wise at all time.
沒有人一直聰明。
Please keep your room clean at all times.
請隨時(shí)保持房間干凈。
此外,還有“at times”意為“有時(shí),間或”。例如:
He walks to school at times.
他有時(shí)走路去上學(xué)。
at a time,意為“依次,每次”,例如:
Speak one at a time.
一個(gè)一個(gè)地說。
at the same time意為“同時(shí),不過”。例如:
She woke every morning at the same time.
她每天早上都在同一時(shí)間醒來。
總之,像這樣的易混詞組在英語中不計(jì)其數(shù),這要求同學(xué)們平時(shí)多注意整理、辨析、積累,了解它們的差異,熟知它們的真正含義,從而做到準(zhǔn)確運(yùn)用。