《英语惯用法》学习园地之一
写在前面的话
学院关工委根据校关工委员立项的相关精神，决定在院网站上开办《英语惯用法》学习园地。
英语语法是遣词造句的一套规则。对于中国学生来说，语法觉得难是因为有许多规则还有不少例外。这些例外生命力很强，形成习惯表达法即惯用法。惯用法是语法的特例，它跟语法既是亲家又是冤家，它们既大体一致又常常发生矛盾。一旦发生矛盾，语法就必须让步。如我们不可以说That seems an apple/a teacher,但可以说That seems a big/green apple/a successful teacher。在apple/ teacher之前必须加一个描绘性形容词，或者说That seems to be an apple/a teacher ，That seems like an apple/a teacher。又如我们希望做某事，可以说I want/wish/hope to do sth ， 但表示否定的意思，却只能说I don’t want /wish to do sth，而不能说I don’t hope to do sth。总之，像这类现象不胜枚举，所以说惯用法似乎更难。
为此，这个学习园地将为外院学生解答英语语法和惯用法中的疑难点，包括AmE和BrE存在的差别以及在具体词汇用法和句法结构中各语言学家的不同论述，同时提供有关英语语言及其发展的新信息或资料，以期帮助不同层次学生的学习需求。
学习园地每星期三出刊一次，每次就一两个或若干个有关语法惯用法的问题进行答疑，讲述。欢迎外院同学们提问，来稿。我们将尽力为你们排忧解难。
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外国语学院关工委
2013/3/19
《英语惯用法》学习园地之二
1.汉语的表示“一本这样的书”“一个这样的学生”等，不能说成a such book /student,不定冠词必须位于such之后：即such a book/student。 such之后跟一个单数可数名词时，名词前必须有不定冠词，否则就是错误的：*such book/student。但是such位于not/no/any之后，名词前不用定冠词是正确的说法， 因为no such/not…any such=否定+such a的意思。如:
I have got such a book.
=I haven’t got such book.
=I have got no such book.
There is not such an animal at the zoo.
=There is not any such animal at the zoo.
=There is no such animal at the zoo.
2.下面哪些说法是正确的:
A. only/quite/rather few days/students…
B. only/quite/rather a few days/students…
C. only/quite/rather little water/milk…
D. only/quite/rather a little water/milk…
E. very a few days/students…
F. a very few days/students…
G. very a little water/milk…
H. a very little water/milk…
B,D,F,H的说法是正确的，only/quite/rather表示肯定的意向，所以之后必须跟a few /little。如果用very时则放在a之后。
3.问:all the books/children=all books/children?
答:all the+复数名词具有特指含义，all+复数名词具有泛指含义。试比较：
⑴ I have read all the books you lent me.
⑵ A library must keep and collect all books if possible.
⑴ All the children in Class 3 passed the test.
⑵ All children are sometimes naughty.
但是，all+复数名词也可以有特指的意义。这时，其后必须跟限制性定语。如上面两组中的第⑴句中去掉the,也可以表示特指。因为有后置定语you lent me和in Class 3 修饰。
《英语惯用法》学习园地之三
4.“我买不起那辆昂贵的车”译成I can’t afford that an expensive car为什么不正确？应是that expensive a car。that为什么要置于expensive之前？这里的that是副词，副词修饰形容词（expensive），所以不定冠词应位于形容词之后，名词之前。能这样用的副词还有as,so,too和how(ever)。它们的固定语序是：as/so/too/that/how(ever)+副词+形容词+a/an+名词。如：so/too dark a room
that beautiful a girl
as nice a picture as that one
how strong the student
当形容词前有such或what修饰时，a/an要紧跟在such或what之后。如:
Such a beautiful girl
=so beautiful a girl
What a nice picture (it is)
=how nice a picture (it is)
5. Half an hour∕a mile∕an apple∕a cup of...表示“一半的”，在这种结构中，a也可以位于half之前，多见于AmE。如：a half hour/mile/apple/cup of...
如果把这“一半”当作整体看待，half+a/an之前可以加一个限定词，而a half之前不能这样用。如：
this/that
the first/second half+an hour/a mile...
another/the other
6.定冠词+不可数名词
物质名词和抽象名词通常属不可数名词，不跟冠词连用。 当抽象名词被一个后置定语修辞时，通常要加定冠词，表示特 指的意义，其意义缩小到一个特定的范围。试比较：
Water boil at 100°C.
The water in the cup is very hot.
Snow is white.
The snow around the house has melted.
I love music,poetry and art.
The music I heard last night was beautiful.
I like the art of the 18 centry.
但是，在一定的语言环境中，也可以不带限制性后置定语，表示你我双方都明了的意义。试比较：
It is impossible to breathe without air.
The air is not fresh.
Would you like coffee or cream?
The coffee was all right,but the cream was sour.
Milk is good for the health.
Please warm up the milk.
7.world,sun,moon,sky等前用the或a?
这些名词均指“独一无二”的意思，必须与the连用。但是，当这些名词前有一个描绘性的形容词修饰时，变成了普通名词，表示各种各样的景象。这时可与不定冠词连用。如： a. new/dark/changing/safer...world
a. burning/hot/newly risen/scorching...sun
a. bright/brilliant/full/pall...moon
a. blue/clear/cloudy/sunny...sky
《英语惯用法》学习园地之四
8. He can speak German in another few months的说法为什么不对？
表示一个人在“能力”或“体力”上能不能做某事时，can, be able to, be capable of和it is possible for sb to do sth 通常表示相同的意思。如：
He can speak/is able to speak German fluently.
He is capable of speaking German fluently.
It is possible for him to speak German fluently.
但是，表示将来有能力做某事时，要用will/shall be able to, 不用can。由于句中有个表示将来的时间状语in another few months, 所以该句不符合习惯表达法。
如果现在决定将来是否有能力做某事时，can和be able to才可以通用。如：
He can/will be able to speak German fluently after he has finished his course.
If it is fine tomorrow, we can/will be able to visit the Great Wall.
9. 下面三个句子中，为什么只有第三句是正确的？
From our cottage the ocean waves were able to be heard.
A bottle of ink is able to last half a year.
A computer is able to do the complicated work.
Be able to后面不能跟被动结构，改用could第一句就可以了。Be able to的主语必须是指人或高级动物的名词或智能的机器，他们才有能力做某事，所以第三句是正确的。第二句的主语是a bottle of ink, 一瓶墨水能用多久，只能用can 表达，所以是错误的。
10. 多项选择：
a. I can’t afford the house/it nowadays.
b. I can’t afford to buy the house/it.
c. I can’t afford the money for the house.
d. I can’t afford the money to buy the house.
e. I can’t afford so much money.
f. I can’t afford 35000 dollar.
g. I can’t afford 35000 dollar for the house.
h. The house cannot be afforded.
以上选项中c,d是错误的，其余的是正确的表达法。Afford 通常与can/can’t/be able to连用，表示有/没有支付钱的能力和做某事的充裕时间。所以不能接money 一词作宾语[句c, d]。如果只是说“付得起或付不起钱”时，afford 则可以接money一词作宾语[句e].或接具体款目作宾语[句f. g]。afford是及物动词，但不能用于被动结构 [句h]。
《英语惯用法》学习园地之五
11. 动态形容词和静态形容词
比较下面两组句子：
Be careful/ quick/ calm…
*Be old/ tall/ happy
He is being careful/ foolish/kind….
*He is being old/ tall/ happy…
形容词分静态（stative）和动态（dynamic）。静态形容词表示静止的，动态形容词具有动作和活动的特征。在句法上，静态形容词不能与祈使语气用在一起，不能用在be的进行时结构中。所以上面两组句子中的第二句都是错误的。
12. 本义形容词和转义形容词
本义（inherent）形容词直接描绘名词所表示的对象。它可以是定语形容词又可以是表语形容词。如：
a hungry man → The man is hungry.
her soft voice → Her voice is soft.
the green leaves → The leaves are green.
大多数形容词是本义的，它往往可以派生出一个意义相同或相似的名词：hungry→hunger , soft → softness , happy → happiness , green → green等。
转义（noninherent）形容词不是直接描绘或说明名词所描绘的对象，它只能作定语形容词用，不能作表语用。试比较：
a true scholar → *The scholar is true.
a true report → The report is true.
a strong opponent → *The opponent is strong.
a strong soldier → The soldier is strong,
a complete stranger → *The stranger is complete.
a complete failure → The failure is complete.
a wooden actor → *The actor is wooden.
a wooden cross → The cross is wooden.
以上每组中的第一句都是转义形容词，所以不能转换成表语。每组的第二句都是本义形容词，所以既可以作定语又可以作表语。
转义形容词可看作与相应的副词有关：
He is a true scholar. → He is truly a scholar.
It is a complete failure. → It’s completely a failure.
She is a strong opponent. → She is strongly an opponent.
转义形容词不像本义形容词能派生出一个名词。试比较：
a firm handshake → the firmness of the handshake
a firm friend → * the firmness of friend
a true report → the truth of the report
a true scholar →¬ *the truth of the scholar
《英语惯用法》学习园地之六
13. all与主语、(介词)宾语同位时的位置：
观察下列句子中的all位置：
a. we all (=all of us)
The students all know the answers.
(=all the students)
b. I gave an apple to the students all.
c. Have you drunk it all (=all of it)
d. It was all our fault.
e. what fun it was all.
句b 和e是错误的。当(介词)宾语是名词短语时，all 不能位于之后作同位语，应改为all the students 或all of the students或all of them/them all。当be 之后的表语由于结构需要而位于主语之前时，all也要向前移位于be 前面，句e的正确语序what fan it all was.又如：I could only think how unfair it all was.
14. all but 有两种意思：①almost/nearly ②except(for)
当all but 用在(分词)形容词、副词、动词之前，表示almost/nearly 的意思。如：
we have all but finished it.
He is all but tired after a long journey.
The watch was all but over when we arrived.
All but 之后接名词(短语)或代词时，作except(for)解。如：
All but John/him passed the text.
I’ve learned the poem by heart, all but the last verse.
The money has been paid back, all but a few pounds.
15. all可接一个认为可分的单数可数名词，但名词前必须带限定词。在许多情况下与whole表示相同的意思。注意all与whole的位置和限定词的用法:
All the/his family, story, banana…
=the /his whole family, story, banana…
与时间名词连用时，whole 的语气比all强。在AmE 中，all与时间名词连用常省略冠词the。如：
The whole day/morning/week/month/years…
= all day/morning/week…
= throughout the day/morning/years…
All唯独不与hour和century连用，要用whole表示：the whole hour/century。在否定句中，all之后仍然不用定冠词。如：
I haven’t seen him all day/morning.
《英语惯用法》学习园地之七
16.让步状语（从句）
英语的“让步”（concession）相当于汉语的 “虽然；尽管•••仍；不顾 ”等意思，通常由以下介词（短语）和连词表示相同的意思：
In spite of
｝ his injured leg, he won the race.
Despite
his leg was injured
(Al)though ｛
he injured his leg, he won the race.
Injured as his leg was ,he won the race.
要注意下面的几点用法：
① despite 比 in spite of较为正式,但in spite of比despite的语气稍微强些，都可跟一个表示让步的关系分句：
In spite of
｝ the fact that his leg was injured,he won the
Despite race.
这种结构比较啰嗦，虽然语法上是正确的。
② despite of的结构现在很罕见，已被废弃。In despite of 是一个陈旧的惯用词组。在兰登 （Random）词典（1987)和英语介词用法词典（by F.T.Wood,1979）上有以下例子：
He persisted in his conduct, in despite of repeated warning.
He was tolerant in despite of his background and education.
③ 语法学家一直认为though不如although来得正式，虽然可以交换使用，但还是有若干不同之处：
a. 为了强调对照，可以把though引导的分句中的某个成分置于句首，although的分句不能这样用。如：
Poor though he is, he is happy.
Fail though I did, I would not abandon my goal.
Bravely though they fought, they had no chance of wining.
b. though之前可以加even，表示强调，与even if相当，但although不能与even连用。 如：
Even though/If I didn’t know anybody at the party, I had a good time.
c. though之前还可以加as，其用法和意义与as if相当，但although就不能这样用。如：
He behaves as though/if he were better than us.
d. as引导让步从句时，虽与（al）though同义，但必须用倒装结构，以区别于as当连词时表时间或原因。如：
Patient as/though he was, he had no intention of waiting three hours.
Try as he does, he will never be top of his class.
比较下列句子：
I met John as/when I was coming here.(表时间)
As/since I couldn’t speak French, I lost my way.（表原因）
《英语惯用法》学习园地之八
17. almost在句中的位置，会影响句子的意思。试比较：
We almost sold the house.(but we didn’t )
We sold almost all our furniture.(but we kept some)
almost应于被修饰的词（组）的前面，如：
The baby’s almost walking now.
She’s almost thirty.
She said yes almost before he’d finished speaks.
They’ll almost certainly forget to do it.
Almost half of the students visited the Great Wall.
18.almost, nearly和practically这三个副词与“几乎/差不多”的意思有关，在许多情况下没有多大差别，如：
It’s almost / nearly / practically dark.
Almost / nearly / practically everyone went there.
在选用这三个词时，要注意以下几个点：
A. Nearly可以用在very, pretty和not之后，其他两个不可以这样用。如：
It’s not / very / pretty / nearly /﹡almost /﹡practically dark.
B. Almost 和practically 可以用在any（或复合不定代词/副词），no（或复合不定代词/副词），none和never之前，而nearly不能这样用。如：
Almost / Practically /﹡Nearly nobody came / any bus came.
I almost never see her.
Almost / Practically no answer was given.
在BrE中，更常用hardly any 或scarcely any替代almost no。如：
almost no
There was｛ hardly any ｝snow that winter.
scarcely any
C.这三个词都可以用在all,every(或复合不定代词/副词），always或谓语动词否定式之前。如：
We almost / nearly / practically didn’t have food to eat.
We almost / nearly / practically always have food to eat.
Almost / nearly / practically everyone/all the students have food to eat.
《英语惯用法》学习园地之九
19.another的用法
下面哪些词组是正确的表示法呢？
a. My another friend/photo…
b. Another my friend/photo…
c. This another friend/photo…
d. A quite another question/book…
e.Another two friends/photos…
f.Another additional question/book
※g.Another cups of tea
Another是an+other的意思，因为有不定冠词，就不能再another之前再加其他限定词，以上句a)-d)均是错误的表达法，应改为：
Another friend/photo of mine
Another of my friends/photos
My other friend/photo
This other friend/photo
Another 只能限定可数单数词，不能限定复数名词，所以句g是错误的。但是在复数名词前加上一个基数词two, three, four…则是标准英语。所以句e)是正确的。
Another指“另一个”，additional也是表示这个意思，所以一起使用（局f）。下面几个词组表示相同的意思。
Anther two books/days
Two more books/two books more
A further/an extra two books/days
An additional two books/days
20.least or the least?
Least是多功能的词，可以当限定词，代词或副词用。又是little的最高级形式。何时选用the least，下面几点供参考：
A. 当限定词用在名词前要用the least,如：the least danger/water/apples/students等。
B. 当代词单独使用时，least之前the可以省略。如：
Buy the one that costs (the) least（Longman）
People will choose the product that costs least (Macmilan)
the least当先行词后随定语从句时，the不能省略。如：
It was the least I can do to help.
Giving him food was the least we could do.
The least后随of-短语时，the 也不能省略。如：
He was the man who did the least of the work and got. the most of the money.
Money is the least of my problems right now.
注意：the least of 之后的名词是可数的，必须用复数，见上一例。
C．least当副词修饰形容词/分词形容词或修饰形容词+名词的短语时，必须用the least。如：
She chose the least expensive of the hotel.
I think you are the least suitable person for the job.
Least修饰谓语动词时，位于之前不必加the；位于句末时，可加可不加the。如：
He liked Miss Smith (the) least.
It was the answer he least wanted to hear.
It happened just when we least expect it.
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