不知大家有沒有這樣的感覺:英語學得多了,平時說話也會在無意間冒出幾句。但很多人都沒意識到,這些我們說起來很自然的英語其實有很多都是錯的!下面我們就來細數一下這些常見的錯誤,以便大家加以改正,免得在歪果仁面前出洋相!
別理她。
誤:Don't pay attention to her.
正:Leave her alone.
我很喜歡它。
誤:I very like it.
正:I like it very much.
這個價格對我挺合適的。
誤:The price is very suitable for me.
正:The price is right.
注:"suitable" (合適的、相配的) 最常見的用法是以否定的形式出現在告示或通知上,如:"The following programme is not suitable for children."
用英語怎麼說?
誤:How to say in English?
正:How do you say this in English?
注:在中國,"How to say"可謂是濫用現象最為嚴重的一種說法,而它根本不是地道的英文表達方式,應儘量避免在交流中使用。
明天我有事情要做。
誤:I have something to do tomorrow.
正:Sorry but I am tied up all day tomorrow.
注:用"I have something to do"來表示"很忙",這也是典型的中式英語。因為每時每刻我們都有事情要做,躺在那裡睡大覺也是事情。可以這樣表達"我很忙,脫不開身":I'm tied up。當然還有其他的說法,比如:I'm afraid I can't make it at that time. I'd love to, but I can't, I have to stay at home.
我沒有英文名。
誤:I haven't English name.
正:I don't have an English name.
注:許多人講英語犯這樣的錯誤,從語法角度來分析,可能是語法功底欠缺,因為"have"在這裡是實義動詞,而並不是在現在完成時裡面那個沒有意義的助動詞。所以,這句話由肯定句變成否定句要加助動詞。
我想我不行。
誤:I think I can't.
正:I don't think I can.
注:這一組然是個習慣問題,在語法上稱為否定前置,這就是漢語裡面說"我想我不會"的.時候,英語裡面總是說"我不認為我會"。
我的舞也跳得不好。
誤:I don't dance well too.
正:I am not a very good dancer either.
注:當我們說不擅長做什麼事情的時候,英語裡面通常用"not good at something"。
現在幾點鐘了?
誤:What time is it now?
正:What time is it, please?
注:"What time is it now"這是一個直接從漢語翻譯過的句子,講英語的時候沒有必要說"now",因為你不可能問"what time was it yesterday"或者"what time is it tommorow"。
我的英語很糟糕。
誤:My English is poor.
正:I am not 100% fluent, but at least I am improving.
注:有人開玩笑說,全中國人最擅長的一句英文是"My English is poor"。然而外國人並不會對我們說"My Chinese is poor"。他們會說"I am still having a few problem, but I'm getting better." 因為你告訴對方你的英文 (或中文) 很弱又能如何,那咱就不談了?顯然不行!
你願意參加我們的晚會嗎?
誤:Would you like to join our party on Friday?
正:Would you like to come to our party on Friday night?
注:"join"往往是指參加俱樂部或者協會,如"join a health club","join the Communist Party"。事實上,常與"party"搭配的動詞是"come"或"go"。如"go a wild party",或者"come to a Christmas Party"。
我沒有經驗。
誤:I have no experience.
正:I am afraid I don't know much about that.
注:對老外來說,"I have no experience"這句話聽起來很怪異,因為只需要說"那方面我懂得不多",或者"這方面我不在行"就可以了,如:I am not really an expert in this area.
我沒有男朋友。
誤:I have no boyfriend.
正:I don't have a boyfriend.
他的身體很健康。
誤:His body is healthy.
正:He is in good health. / He's healthy.
價錢很昂貴/便宜。
誤:The price is too expensive / cheap.
正:The price is too high / rather low.
我們下了車。
誤:We got off the car.
正:We got out of the car.
車速快了。
誤:The speed of the car is fast.
正:The car is speeding. / The car is going too fast.
這個春節你回家嗎?
Will you be going back home for the Spring Festival?
誤:是的,我回去。Of course! (這一句是錯的)
正:當然。Sure. / Certainly. (這種說法是正確的)
注:以英語為母語的人使用"of course"的頻率要比中國人低得多,只有在回答一些眾所周知的問題時才說"of course"。因為"of course"後面隱含的一句話是"當然我知道啦!難道我是傻瓜嗎?" 因此,"of course"帶有些許挑釁的意味。在交談時,用"sure"或"certainly"效果會好得多,同理,"of course not"也不如"certainly not"。
他看到她很驚訝。
誤:He looked at her and felt surprised.
正:He looked at her in surprise.