問：巴士上，聽到 We will soon be arriving at Tuen Mun（我們即將到達屯門）一語；列車站上，又聽到 The train to Hong Kong is arriving（往香港之列車即將到達）一語。那 will be arriving和 is arriving有什麼分別？未來進行式（ future continuous tense）是怎樣用的？ We will soon be arriving at Tuen Mun可不可改為 We will soon arrive at Tuen Mun？
答：未來進行式常用來說一些已有安排或按照慣例會發生的事，例如：（ 1） We will be having roast pigeon for dinner（我們晚飯會吃烤鴿子）。（ 2） The dog will be waiting for him at the usual time（那隻狗會和平常一樣，在那個時候等他）。巴士即將到站，是已定的安排，所以用 will be arriving。
說未來， is arriving這樣的現在進行式（ present continuous tense）和未來進行式用法差不多。有時，這兩種時式會用在一起。在那樣的句子裏，未來進行式所說的事，發生時間一般會晚於現在進行式所說的事，例如： He is going to school for one more year, and then he will be going to university（他多上一年中學之後，就會上大學）。
至於 We will soon arrive at Tuen Mun，意思是「我們會很快去到屯門」。這話沒有「已安排好」含義，只是說未來的事，例如： Take a taxi, and we will soon arrive at Tuen Mun（我們搭的士，很快就可以去到屯門）。
（古德明）
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
總共十個、你的注意
問： A total of ten students attended yesterday's activity（昨天的活動，共有十個學生參加）這一句，是不是不可改寫為 Totally ten students attended yesterday's activity？
答：說「總計」，一般是說 a total of或 in total，但說 totally也可以，例如美國賓夕凡尼亞州立大學出版社的 Puritan Poets and Poetics書中有以下一句： The first edition of this poem, totally eight hundred copies, was exhausted within one year of the printing（那詩篇第一版共八百本，出版一年之內售罄）。那 totally eight hundred copies改為 a total of eight hundred copies或 eight hundred copies in total也可以。
留意 totally最好還是用來說「完全」，例如： That is totally unnecessary（那是完全不必要的）。
問： I would like to draw your attention/ yours attention to the conclusion of the report（敬請注意報告之結論）一語，應用 your還是 yours？
答： Yours是代名詞，不可帶出 attention之類名詞，正確說法當然是 your attention。讀者大概是因為英文書信常用 Yours sincerely/ faithfully等寫法，所以認為 yours attention也可能正確。其實 Yours sincerely等，無非是舊式英文書信結尾語的縮略， Yours sincerely等於 I am, sir, sincerely your friend/ your humble servant（我誠誠懇懇是你的朋友/你卑微的僕人），那 yours即 your friend、 your humble servant等。 Yours、 hers、 mine這些代名詞，文法上等於「 your/ her/ my+名詞」，一般用來避免重複一個字，例如： Is this watch yours?（= Is this watch your watch?這隻手錶是你的嗎？）
（古德明）
答：說「總計」，一般是說 a total of或 in total，但說 totally也可以，例如美國賓夕凡尼亞州立大學出版社的 Puritan Poets and Poetics書中有以下一句： The first edition of this poem, totally eight hundred copies, was exhausted within one year of the printing（那詩篇第一版共八百本，出版一年之內售罄）。那 totally eight hundred copies改為 a total of eight hundred copies或 eight hundred copies in total也可以。
留意 totally最好還是用來說「完全」，例如： That is totally unnecessary（那是完全不必要的）。
問： I would like to draw your attention/ yours attention to the conclusion of the report（敬請注意報告之結論）一語，應用 your還是 yours？
答： Yours是代名詞，不可帶出 attention之類名詞，正確說法當然是 your attention。讀者大概是因為英文書信常用 Yours sincerely/ faithfully等寫法，所以認為 yours attention也可能正確。其實 Yours sincerely等，無非是舊式英文書信結尾語的縮略， Yours sincerely等於 I am, sir, sincerely your friend/ your humble servant（我誠誠懇懇是你的朋友/你卑微的僕人），那 yours即 your friend、 your humble servant等。 Yours、 hers、 mine這些代名詞，文法上等於「 your/ her/ my+名詞」，一般用來避免重複一個字，例如： Is this watch yours?（= Is this watch your watch?這隻手錶是你的嗎？）
（古德明）
Monday, June 28, 2010
潛艇英雄
On the evening of 24 May 1941, British lieutenant commander Malcolm Wanklyn, in command of the submarine Upholder, sighted an enemy troop convoy strongly escorted by destroyers off Sicily. The failing light was such that observation by periscope could not be relied on, and the Upholder's listening gear was out of order. Still, Wanklyn decided to press home his attack at short range.
Wanklyn closed in. As he was about to fire, one of the enemy destroyers suddenly appeared out of the darkness at high speed, and he only just avoided being rammed. Then he brought his periscope sights on and fired torpedoes, which sank a large troop ship. The enemy destroyers at once made a strong counterattack, but with coolness and skill Wanklyn brought the Upholder safe back to harbour.
Wanklyn was killed along with his crew when his submarine was sunk in April 1942.
一九四一年五月二十四日，英國海軍少校馬爾科姆．華克萊恩指揮着潛艇支持者號，在西西里島附近看見敵軍的運兵船隊，由多艘驅逐艦護送。當時天色昏暗，難以用潛望鏡觀察，而潛艇的聽音設備也壞了。雖然如此，華克萊恩還是決定近距離攻擊。
他把潛艇靠近船隊，正準備開火，黑暗中敵軍一艘驅逐艦突然出現，高速撞過來。華克萊恩勉強避過，然後用潛望鏡瞄準，發射魚雷，把一艘運兵的大船炸沉。敵軍驅逐艦馬上大舉反擊，但華克萊恩頭腦冷靜，指揮得宜，潛艇安全開回港口。
一九四二年四月，華克萊恩的潛艇被擊沉，他和手下船員同告喪生。
（古德明）
Wanklyn closed in. As he was about to fire, one of the enemy destroyers suddenly appeared out of the darkness at high speed, and he only just avoided being rammed. Then he brought his periscope sights on and fired torpedoes, which sank a large troop ship. The enemy destroyers at once made a strong counterattack, but with coolness and skill Wanklyn brought the Upholder safe back to harbour.
Wanklyn was killed along with his crew when his submarine was sunk in April 1942.
一九四一年五月二十四日，英國海軍少校馬爾科姆．華克萊恩指揮着潛艇支持者號，在西西里島附近看見敵軍的運兵船隊，由多艘驅逐艦護送。當時天色昏暗，難以用潛望鏡觀察，而潛艇的聽音設備也壞了。雖然如此，華克萊恩還是決定近距離攻擊。
他把潛艇靠近船隊，正準備開火，黑暗中敵軍一艘驅逐艦突然出現，高速撞過來。華克萊恩勉強避過，然後用潛望鏡瞄準，發射魚雷，把一艘運兵的大船炸沉。敵軍驅逐艦馬上大舉反擊，但華克萊恩頭腦冷靜，指揮得宜，潛艇安全開回港口。
一九四二年四月，華克萊恩的潛艇被擊沉，他和手下船員同告喪生。
（古德明）
Sunday, June 27, 2010
救命的幽默
It was customary with French marshal Bassompierre（ 1579-1646）, when any of his soldiers were brought before him for heinous offences, to say to them,"Brother, you or I will certainly be hanged." This was a sufficient declaration of their fate.
A spy, who was discovered in Bassompierre's camp, was addressed in this language. The next day, as he was about to be led to the gallows, he pressed earnestly to speak with the marshal.
When introduced, the marshal asked him what he had to say."Why, my lord," said the culprit,"when I first had the honour of your conversation, you were pleased to say that either you or I should be hanged. Now I am come to know whether it is your pleasure to be so, because, if you won't, I must. That's all." The marshal, pleased with the fellow's humour, ordered his release.
法國元帥巴松皮埃爾（一五七九年至一六四六年）手下將士假如犯了大罪，帶到他跟前，他習慣說一句話：「老兄，要問絞的不是你，就是我。」這等於宣判了他們的命運。
巴松皮埃爾對軍營中抓到的一個間諜，也說了同一句話。第二天，那間諜要上絞刑臺的時候，懇求和巴松皮埃爾談談。
他獲帶去見巴松皮埃爾。巴松皮埃爾問他要說什麼。那罪人回答：「啊，大人，我第一次有幸跟你交談時，你說要問絞的不是你，就是我。現在，我是來問你想不想受絞刑。假如你不想，我不想都不行。我要說的就是這麼多。」巴松皮埃爾愛他幽默，下令把他釋放。
（古德明）
A spy, who was discovered in Bassompierre's camp, was addressed in this language. The next day, as he was about to be led to the gallows, he pressed earnestly to speak with the marshal.
When introduced, the marshal asked him what he had to say."Why, my lord," said the culprit,"when I first had the honour of your conversation, you were pleased to say that either you or I should be hanged. Now I am come to know whether it is your pleasure to be so, because, if you won't, I must. That's all." The marshal, pleased with the fellow's humour, ordered his release.
法國元帥巴松皮埃爾（一五七九年至一六四六年）手下將士假如犯了大罪，帶到他跟前，他習慣說一句話：「老兄，要問絞的不是你，就是我。」這等於宣判了他們的命運。
巴松皮埃爾對軍營中抓到的一個間諜，也說了同一句話。第二天，那間諜要上絞刑臺的時候，懇求和巴松皮埃爾談談。
他獲帶去見巴松皮埃爾。巴松皮埃爾問他要說什麼。那罪人回答：「啊，大人，我第一次有幸跟你交談時，你說要問絞的不是你，就是我。現在，我是來問你想不想受絞刑。假如你不想，我不想都不行。我要說的就是這麼多。」巴松皮埃爾愛他幽默，下令把他釋放。
（古德明）
Saturday, June 26, 2010
死去的女郎、最涼的五月
問： The relatives and friends of the two girls killed in the crash attended the ritual（死於撞車事故的兩名女郎的親友，出席了儀式）這一句， killed可不可以改為 being killed？
答： The two girls killed in the crash是 the two girls who were killed in the crash的縮略， killed不可改為 being killed。這個縮略法十分常見，例如：（ 1） The reward is commensurate with the risk（ that is） involved（報酬和所冒風險相等）。（ 2） The rings and watches（ which were） displayed were all very expensive（展出的戒指、手錶都很昂貴）。
英文的 ing動詞，一般有「正在進行」含義，例如： I heard the screams of the two girls（ who were） being tortured（我聽見那兩個正受酷刑的女郎尖叫）。讀者說的那一句， killed假如改為 being killed，似是說那兩個女郎正在死亡，那當然不對。
問：「今年的五月，是四十年來最涼的五月」這一句，譯做英文，可不可以說 The May of this year is the coolest one since the Junes of the past 40 years？
答：「今年的五月」，說時應已過去，所以讀者那句翻譯的動詞宜用過去式 was，不用 is；而 since（自從）一字也用得不妥當。全句可改正如下： The May of this year was the coolest（ one） in the past 40 years。假如要用 since一字，則可從今年起倒算四十年至一九七○年，而以 since 1970取代 in the past 40 years。
（古德明）
答： The two girls killed in the crash是 the two girls who were killed in the crash的縮略， killed不可改為 being killed。這個縮略法十分常見，例如：（ 1） The reward is commensurate with the risk（ that is） involved（報酬和所冒風險相等）。（ 2） The rings and watches（ which were） displayed were all very expensive（展出的戒指、手錶都很昂貴）。
英文的 ing動詞，一般有「正在進行」含義，例如： I heard the screams of the two girls（ who were） being tortured（我聽見那兩個正受酷刑的女郎尖叫）。讀者說的那一句， killed假如改為 being killed，似是說那兩個女郎正在死亡，那當然不對。
問：「今年的五月，是四十年來最涼的五月」這一句，譯做英文，可不可以說 The May of this year is the coolest one since the Junes of the past 40 years？
答：「今年的五月」，說時應已過去，所以讀者那句翻譯的動詞宜用過去式 was，不用 is；而 since（自從）一字也用得不妥當。全句可改正如下： The May of this year was the coolest（ one） in the past 40 years。假如要用 since一字，則可從今年起倒算四十年至一九七○年，而以 since 1970取代 in the past 40 years。
（古德明）
Friday, June 25, 2010
部分、向誰致敬？
問： Partially、 partly二字，用法有分別嗎？
答： Partly、 partially都有「部分」、「不完全」的意思，兩字有時通用，例如：（ 1） When he died, the work was only partly/ partially completed（他去世時，工作只是做好了一部分）。（ 2） The mistake was due partly/ partially to his inexperience（錯誤的原因之一，是他缺乏經驗）。
Partly、 partially的主要分別，在於 partly多指可分辨的部分， partially則多指「某個程度上」，例如：（ 1） His hair was dyed partly green and partly red（他的頭髮部分染成綠色，部分染成紅色）。（ 2） I am only partially convinced that he has told the truth（我並不完全相信他說了事情的真相）。
問：有畢業學生會邀請老師出席畢業晚宴，請柬上寫 All teachers are sincerely invited to a graduation party in honour of the graduates on（ date） at（ venue），那是說向教師還是畢業生致敬？
答：那一句是說「謹邀請所有老師某月某日蒞臨（地點），出席向畢業生致敬的畢業宴會」。以畢業生名義說這樣的話，當然不恰當，可改寫如下： All teachers are cordially invited to share in our joy as we celebrate our graduation on（ date） at（ venue）（我們將於某月某日假（地點）慶祝畢業，敬請所有老師蒞臨同樂）。 A dinner party in honour of the graduates這寫法，宜出於第三者手筆，例如大學請人出席其名譽畢業生賀宴： You are cordially invited to a dinner party in honour of our honorary graduates on（ date） at（ venue）。
（古德明）
答： Partly、 partially都有「部分」、「不完全」的意思，兩字有時通用，例如：（ 1） When he died, the work was only partly/ partially completed（他去世時，工作只是做好了一部分）。（ 2） The mistake was due partly/ partially to his inexperience（錯誤的原因之一，是他缺乏經驗）。
Partly、 partially的主要分別，在於 partly多指可分辨的部分， partially則多指「某個程度上」，例如：（ 1） His hair was dyed partly green and partly red（他的頭髮部分染成綠色，部分染成紅色）。（ 2） I am only partially convinced that he has told the truth（我並不完全相信他說了事情的真相）。
問：有畢業學生會邀請老師出席畢業晚宴，請柬上寫 All teachers are sincerely invited to a graduation party in honour of the graduates on（ date） at（ venue），那是說向教師還是畢業生致敬？
答：那一句是說「謹邀請所有老師某月某日蒞臨（地點），出席向畢業生致敬的畢業宴會」。以畢業生名義說這樣的話，當然不恰當，可改寫如下： All teachers are cordially invited to share in our joy as we celebrate our graduation on（ date） at（ venue）（我們將於某月某日假（地點）慶祝畢業，敬請所有老師蒞臨同樂）。 A dinner party in honour of the graduates這寫法，宜出於第三者手筆，例如大學請人出席其名譽畢業生賀宴： You are cordially invited to a dinner party in honour of our honorary graduates on（ date） at（ venue）。
（古德明）
Thursday, June 24, 2010
沖廁水、雖然
問： Please note that flush water supply to all floors has resumed normal（各層沖廁水供應已恢復正常，謹此奉告）這一句， normal一字是不是多餘的？
答：「沖廁水」英文一般不叫做 flush water，宜改為 water for flushing the toilet：「恢復正常」譯做 resume normal也很古怪。整句最好改寫如下： Please note that the supply of water to all floors for flushing the toilet has returned to normal/ has been restored。 Has been restored之後，文法上可加 to normal，但那的確有點「多餘」。
問： Despite she knew that the date of birth on the I.D. card was wrong, she did not correct it（她雖然知道身分證上的出生日期有誤，卻不更正）這一句，為什麼讀起來似乎有點不妥當？
答： Despite（＝ in spite of雖然、儘管）是介系詞（ preposition），而介系詞之後必須用名詞或動名詞（ gerund），不可用普通子句（ clause），所以不能說 Despite she knew that等等。讀者說的那一句，要改正，可在 despite之後加 the fact這個名詞，也可把 knew改為動名詞，即 Despite her knowing（或 Despite the fact that she knew） that the date of birth on the I.D. card was wrong, she did not correct it。留意「 Despite the fact that+子句」雖然文法正確，但頗嫌累贅，可以的話，就不要用這句式，例如可用 though取代 despite，即 though she knew that the date of birth等等。這樣，句子意思不變，說起來卻簡單自然。
（古德明）
答：「沖廁水」英文一般不叫做 flush water，宜改為 water for flushing the toilet：「恢復正常」譯做 resume normal也很古怪。整句最好改寫如下： Please note that the supply of water to all floors for flushing the toilet has returned to normal/ has been restored。 Has been restored之後，文法上可加 to normal，但那的確有點「多餘」。
問： Despite she knew that the date of birth on the I.D. card was wrong, she did not correct it（她雖然知道身分證上的出生日期有誤，卻不更正）這一句，為什麼讀起來似乎有點不妥當？
答： Despite（＝ in spite of雖然、儘管）是介系詞（ preposition），而介系詞之後必須用名詞或動名詞（ gerund），不可用普通子句（ clause），所以不能說 Despite she knew that等等。讀者說的那一句，要改正，可在 despite之後加 the fact這個名詞，也可把 knew改為動名詞，即 Despite her knowing（或 Despite the fact that she knew） that the date of birth on the I.D. card was wrong, she did not correct it。留意「 Despite the fact that+子句」雖然文法正確，但頗嫌累贅，可以的話，就不要用這句式，例如可用 though取代 despite，即 though she knew that the date of birth等等。這樣，句子意思不變，說起來卻簡單自然。
（古德明）
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