問:(The) selling prices of(the) products are determined by our management(產品的售價,由管理層決定)這一句,假如是說我們公司所有產品,兩個 the是不是都不該用?
答:這問題涉及 the字用法兩個準則。第一,甲名詞之後,假如有「 of+乙名詞」,那麼,甲名詞一般要冠以 the,例如 the number of students(學生人數)、 the length of a boa constrictor(大蟒蛇長度)等。
第二,說某個團體的所有人、物,名詞一般冠以 the;說其中的若干人、物,則不用 the,例如:( 1) The students rose to their feet when the headmaster entered the hall(校長走進大堂的時候,學生都站起來)。( 2)"Students who break the school rules will be punished," said the headmaster(校長說:「違反校規的學生,會受到懲罰。」)
讀者示下那一句,說公司的所有產名, products之前自然應加 the; selling prices之後有「 of+名詞」,所以,冠詞 the也不能不用。
問:「謹附上報價單」應說 Please find the attached quotation、 Please find attached the quotation還是 Please find attached quotation?
答:論文法,第一、二句都正確,改寫為 Attached please find the/ our quotation也可以。不過, Please find attached...或 Enclosed please find...這樣的句式頗嫌僵硬老套,最好改為 We/ I attach(或 enclose) our/ the quotation for your consideration之類,讀起來自然得多。
(古德明)
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