1. I very like it
Correct: I like it very much.
2. 這個價格對我挺合適的。
The price is very suitable for me.
Correct: The price is right.
Note:suitable(合適的、相配的)最常見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)目兒童不宜。
The following programme is not suitable for children
在這組句子中用后面的說法會更合適。
3. 你是做什么工作的呢?What’s your job?
Correct: Are you working at the moment?
Note:what’s your job這種說法難道也有毛病嗎?是的。因為如果您的談話對象剛剛失業(yè),如此直接的問法會讓對方有失面子,所以您要問:
目前您是在上班嗎?Are you working at the moment? 接下來您才問:
目前您在哪兒工作呢?Where are you working these days?
或者您從事哪個行業(yè)呢?What line of work are you in?
順帶說一下,回答這類問題時不妨說得具體一點,不要只是說經(jīng)理或者秘書
4. 用英語怎么說?How to say?
Correct: How do you say this in English?
Note:How to say是在中國最為泛濫成災(zāi)的中國式英語之一,這決不是地道的英語說法。同樣的句子有:
請問這個詞如何拼寫?How do you spell that please?
請問這個單詞怎么讀?How do you pronounce this word?
5. 明天我有事情要做。I have something to do tomorrow?
Correct: Sorry but I am tied up all day tomorrow.
Note: 用I have something to do來表示您很忙,這也完全是中國式的說法。因為每時每刻我們都有事情要做,躺在那里睡大覺也是事情。
所以您可以說我很忙,脫不開身:I’m tied up.
還有其他的說法:I’m I can’t make it at that time. I’d love to, but I can’t, I
have to stay at home.
6. 我沒有英文名。I haven’t English name.
Correct: I don’t have an English name.
Note: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在這里是實義動詞,而并不是在現(xiàn)在完成時里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。
明白道理是一回事,習(xí)慣是另一回事,請您再說幾話:
我沒有錢;I don’t have any money.
我沒有兄弟姐妹;I don’t have any brothers or sisters.
我沒有車。I don’t have a car.
7. 我想我不行。I think I can’t.
Correct: I don’t think I can.
Note:這一組然是個習(xí)慣問題,在語法上稱為否定前置,這就是漢語里面說“我想我不會”的時候,英語里面總是說“我不認(rèn)為我會”。以后您在說類似的英語句子的時候,只要您留心,也會習(xí)慣英語的說法的,
8. 我的舞也跳得不好。I don’t dance well too.
Correct: I am not a very good dancer either.
Note:當(dāng)我們說不擅長做什么事情的時候,英語里面通常用not good at something,英語的思維甚至直接踴躍到:我不是一個好的舞者。
9. 現(xiàn)在幾點鐘了?What time is it now?
Correct: What time is it, please?
Note: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,因為您不可能問what time was it yesterday, 或者what time is it tommorow?所以符合英語習(xí)慣的說法是:請問現(xiàn)在幾點了?
還有一種說法是:How are we doing for time? 這句話在有時間限制的時候特別合適
10. 我的英語很糟糕。My English is poor.
Correct: I am not 100% fluent, but at least I am improving.
Note:有人開玩笑說,全中國人最擅長的一句英文是:My English is poor.實話說,我從來沒有遇到一個美國人對我說:My Chinese is poor. 無論他們的漢語是好是壞,他們會說: I am still having a few problem, but I getting better.
當(dāng)您告訴外國人,您的英語很poor,so what(那又怎么樣呢),是要讓別人當(dāng)場施舍給我們一些英語呢,還是說我的英語不好,咱們不談了吧。
另外一個更大的弊端是,一邊不停的學(xué)英語,一邊不停地說自己的英語很poor,這正像有個人一邊給車胎充氣,又一邊在車胎上扎孔放氣。
我堅信,先不談別的,如果您現(xiàn)在就苦下功夫,把你手頭的某本英語教材吃通吃透,您的英語水平立即就會迅速的提高。所以您再也不用說:我的英語很poor.
您可以實事求事地說,我的英語還不算十分流利,但至少我在進(jìn)步。
11. 你愿意參加我們的晚會嗎?Would you like to join our party on Friday?
Correct: Would you like to come to our party on Friday night?
Note:join往往是指參加俱樂部或者協(xié)會,如:join a health club; join the Communist Party.
事實上,常常與party搭配的動詞的come 或者go。如go a wild party,或者come to a Christmas Party。
12. 我沒有經(jīng)驗。I have no experience.
Correct: I don’t know much about that.
Note:I have no experience這句話聽起來古里古怪,因為您只需要說: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.
13. 我沒有男朋友。I have no boyfriend.
Correct: I don’t have a boyfriend.
14. 他的身體很健康。His body is healthy.
Correct: He is in good health. You can also say: He’s healthy.
15. 價錢很昂貴/便宜。The price is too expensive/cheap.
Correct: The price is too high/ rather low.16. 我們下了車。We got off the car.
Correct: We got out of the car.
17. 車速快了。The speed of the car is fast.
Correct: The car is speeding. Or “The car is going too fast.”
18. 這個春節(jié)你回家嗎?
Will you be going back home for the Spring Festival?
是的,我回去。Of course! (這一句是錯的)
當(dāng)然。Sure. / Certainly.(這種說法是正確的)
以英語為母語的人使用of course的頻率要比中國的學(xué)生低得多,只有在回答一些眾所周知的問題時才說of course。因為of course后面隱含的一句話是“當(dāng)然我知道啦!難道我是一個傻瓜嗎?”因此,of course帶有挑釁的意味。在交談時,用sure或certainly效果會好得多。正常情況下語氣溫和的說法是certainly not.
19. 我覺得右手很疼。I feel very painful in my right hand.
Correct: My right hand is very painful. Or “ My right hand hurts(aches).”
20. 他看到她很驚訝。He looked at her and felt surprised.
Correct: He looked at her in surprise.
21. 我讀過你的小說但是沒料到你這么年輕。
I have read your novels but I didn't think you could be so young.
Correct: After having read your novel, I expected that you would be older.
22. 她臉紅了,讓我看穿了她的心思。
Her red face made me see through her mind.
Correct: Her red face told me what she was thinking.
23. 看到這幅畫讓我想到了我的童年時代。
The sight of these pictures made me remember my own childhood.
Correct: Seeing these pictures reminded me of my own childhood.
24. 別理她。Don't pay attention to her.
Correct:Leave her alone.
25. 我在大學(xué)里學(xué)到了許多知識。
I get a lot of knowledge in the university.
Correct: I learned a lot in university.
26. 黃山正在讀書。
Samuel is reading a book.
Correct: Samuel is reading.
27. 我遇到了很多困難。
I am having many difficulties.
Correct: I am having a few problems / lots of problems.
28. 請快點走,否則我們會遲到的。
Please hurry to walk or we'll be late.
Correct: Please hurry up or we'll be late.
29. 她由嫉妒轉(zhuǎn)向失望。
She was so jealous that she became desperate.
Correct: Jealousy drove her to despair.