1. 這個(gè)價(jià)格對(duì)我挺合適的。
The price is very suitable for me. The price is right. suitable(合適的、相配的)最常見(jiàn)的用法是以否定的形式出現(xiàn)在告示或通知上,如:下列節(jié)目?jī)和灰?。The following programme is not suitable for children. 上面在這組句子中用后面的說(shuō)法會(huì)更合適。
2. 你是做什么工作的呢?
What’s your job? What’s your occupation? what’s your job? 這種說(shuō)法難道也有毛病嗎?是的。因?yàn)槿绻恼勗拰?duì)象剛剛失業(yè),如此直接的問(wèn)法會(huì)讓對(duì)方有失面子,所以您要問(wèn):目前您是在上班嗎?Are you working at the moment? 接下來(lái)您才問(wèn):目前您在哪兒工作呢?Where are you working these days? 或者您從事哪個(gè)行業(yè)呢?What line of work are you in? 最地道的是說(shuō)Occupation. 順帶說(shuō)一下,回答這類問(wèn)題時(shí)不妨說(shuō)得具體一點(diǎn),不要只是說(shuō)經(jīng)理或者秘書(shū)。
3. 用英語(yǔ)怎么說(shuō)?
How to say? How do you say this in English? Note:How to say是在中國(guó)最為泛濫成災(zāi)的中國(guó)式英語(yǔ)之一,這決不是地道的英語(yǔ)說(shuō)法。同樣的句子有:請(qǐng)問(wèn)這個(gè)詞如何拼寫(xiě)?How do you spell that please? 請(qǐng)問(wèn)這個(gè)單詞怎么讀?How do you pronounce this word?
4. 明天我有事情要做。
I have something to do tomorrow? Sorry but I am tied up all day tomorrow. 用I have something to do來(lái)表示您很忙,這也完全是中國(guó)式的說(shuō)法。因?yàn)槊繒r(shí)每刻我們都有事情要做,躺在那里睡大覺(jué)也是事情。所以您可以說(shuō)我很忙,脫不開(kāi)身:I’m tied up. 還有其他的說(shuō)法:I can’t make it at that time. I’d love to, but I can’t, I have to stay at home.
5. 我沒(méi)有英文名。
I haven’t English name. I don’t have an English name. 許多人講英語(yǔ)犯這樣的錯(cuò)誤,從語(yǔ)法角度來(lái)分析,可能是語(yǔ)法功底欠缺,因?yàn)閔ave在這里是實(shí)義動(dòng)詞,而并不是在現(xiàn)在完成時(shí)里面那個(gè)沒(méi)有意義的助動(dòng)詞。所以,這句話由肯定句變成否定句要加助動(dòng)詞。
6. 我想我不行。
I think I can’t. I don’t think I can. 這一組顯然是個(gè)習(xí)慣問(wèn)題,在語(yǔ)法上稱為否定前置,這就是漢語(yǔ)里面說(shuō)“我想我不會(huì)”的時(shí)候,英語(yǔ)里面總是說(shuō)“我不認(rèn)為我會(huì)”。
7. 我的舞也跳得不好。
I don’t dance well too. I am not a very good dancer either. 當(dāng)我們說(shuō)不擅長(zhǎng)做什么事情的時(shí)候,英語(yǔ)里面通常用not good at something,英語(yǔ)的思維甚至直接踴躍到:我不是一個(gè)好的舞者。
8. 我的英語(yǔ)很糟糕。
My English is poor. I am not 100% fluent, but at least I am improving. 有人開(kāi)玩笑說(shuō),全中國(guó)人最擅長(zhǎng)的一句英文是:My English is poor。實(shí)話說(shuō),我從來(lái)沒(méi)有遇到一個(gè)美國(guó)人對(duì)我說(shuō):My Chinese is poor. 無(wú)論他們的漢語(yǔ)是好是壞,他們會(huì)說(shuō): I am still having a few problem, but I getting better。當(dāng)您告訴外國(guó)人,您的英語(yǔ)很poor,so what(那又怎么樣呢),是要讓別人當(dāng)場(chǎng)施舍給我們一些英語(yǔ)呢,還是說(shuō)我的英語(yǔ)不好,咱們不談了吧。另外一個(gè)更大的弊端是,一邊不停的學(xué)英語(yǔ),一邊不停地說(shuō)自己的英語(yǔ)很poor,這正像有個(gè)人一邊給車胎充氣,又一邊在車胎上扎孔放氣。
9. 你愿意參加我們的晚會(huì)嗎?
Would you like to join our party on Friday? Would you like to come to our party on Friday night? join往往是指參加俱樂(lè)部或者協(xié)會(huì)。如:join a health club; join the Communist Party. 事實(shí)上,常常與party搭配的動(dòng)詞的come 或者go,如go a wild party,或者come to a Christmas Party.
10. 我沒(méi)有經(jīng)驗(yàn)。
I have no experience. I don’t know much about that. I have no experience這句話聽(tīng)起來(lái)古里古怪,因?yàn)槟恍枰f(shuō):那方面我懂得不多,或者這方面我不在行,就行了。I am not really an expert in this area.