vacant/empty/hollow 「空空」如也?

 

1. 基本文法說明

Vacant指的是「位置無人坐的」、「職位空缺的」,它可以引申作「面無表情的」解。

如:Are there any vacancies for students in English literature courses? 英國文學課仍有空位給學生(仍有名額)嗎?

 

Empty的意思是「裡面沒有任何東西」。在汽、機車儀表板上的油量表(oil gauge)兩端通常有著EF兩個字,其中的E就是empty的意思(F則表示full)。此外,empty也可當動詞,就是「清除」的意思。如Mom asked me to empty the ashtrays at once.「媽媽要立刻清空煙灰缸。」

 

Hollow是「中空的」意思,也就是指物品內部是空的。如:The trunk of the tree is hollow.那顆樹是中空的。與empty一樣,hollow亦可做動詞用,即「使中空」之意。如:We have to hollow an egg before coloring it. (我們必須先掏空雞蛋內部才能將它上色。

 

2. 錯誤發生情況及修正練習
仔細看看下列的句子,哪裡出了錯?又該如何修正?

 

A. Is there any empty seats left in the student restaurant? (X)
      
學生餐廳裡還有任何空的坐位嗎?

 

B. The oil tank has already gone hollow. (X)
      
油箱裡的油已經用光了

 

C. Vacant bricks are ideal for it is lighter and sturdier. (X)

      空心磚頭是比較理的選擇,因為他們質輕且耐用。

 

3. 錯誤修正及解釋正確的句子如下:

 

A.  Is there any empty seats left in the student restaurant? (X)

Is there any vacant seats left in the student restaurant? (O)
           
學生餐廳裡還有任何空的坐位嗎?
解說:

Empty指「裡頭沒有任何東西」之意,而「空位」是「無人坐的」位子,而不是在「裡面沒有東西」的椅子,故應用vacant

 

B.  The oil tank has already gone hollow. (X)
    The oil tank has already gone empty. (O)
            
油箱裡的油已經用光了。
解說:

Hollow是「中空的」意思,而油箱是容器的一種,本來就是中空的hollow。油箱裡的油用光,應該用empty,表「裡面沒有東西」之的意思。

 

C.   Vacant bricks are ideal for it is lighter and sturdier. (X)
     Hollow bricks are ideal choices for they are lighter and sturdier. (O)

           空心磚頭是比較理的選擇,因為他們質輕且耐用

解說:

Vacant是作「沒有人使用、職位空缺的」解,而「空心磚頭」的意思是內部「中空」的磚頭,故選用hollow

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venture/risk/adventure 不同的「冒險」!

 

1. 基本文法說明

Venture常指的是「商機上的冒險」,它帶有點投機的意味。例如venture capital就是「(商業上的)風險成本」。而adventure指是一個「刺激的、危機四伏的冒險活動」,例如:It is really an adventure to take a walk in the park late in the night. (深夜在公園裡散步真是冒險。)

 

Risk是指「遭受危險、傷害、損失的可能」。如:Business always involves risks and rewards. (商業總是關乎風險與利潤。)

 

2. 錯誤發生情況及修正練習
仔細看看下列的句子,哪裡出了錯?又該如何修正?

 

A. It is quite an adventure to invest such an amount of money in an unfamiliar country. (X)

     在不熟悉的國家投資這麼多錢是一個很大的商業投機。

 

B. He is fond of excitement and he always looks for risks. (X)
      
他很喜歡刺激的感覺,而且總是尋求冒險。

 

C. There is an adventure of getting herself in trouble if she turns a deaf ear to the teacher’s advice. (X)

如果她不聽老師的建議,她很有可能會使自己陷入麻煩

 

3. 錯誤修正及解釋正確的句子如下:

 

A.  It is quite an adventure to invest such an amount of money in an unfamiliar country. (X)
It is quite a venture to invest such an amount of money in an unfamiliar country. (O)

         在不熟悉的國家投資這麼多錢是一個很大的商業投機

解說:

Adventure指的是「冒險、刺激的活動」,而投資大量資金於莫生國度,並不會給人興奮、心跳加快的刺激感,所以不適合用adventureVenture指的則是「商業上的投機、冒險」,故選用之。

 

B.  Jay is fond of excitement and he always looks for risks.(X)
    Jay is fond of excitement and he always looks for adventures.(O)
          
傑很喜歡剌激的感覺,而且總是尋求冒險。

解說:

Risk是「遭受危險、傷害的可能」,而吸引傑的是「刺激感」並不是受「危險、傷害的可能」。故應選用adventure指的是「冒險、刺激的活動」。

 

C. There is a venture of getting herself in trouble if she turns a deaf ear to the teacher’s advice. (X)
There is a risk of getting herself in trouble if she turns a deaf ear to the teacher’s advice. (O)

如果她不聽老師的建議,她很有可能會使自己陷入麻煩。

解說:

Venture是「商業上的冒投資」之意,而不聽老師的建議與商業是搭不上關係的。例句中,不接受建議的後果是一種陷入麻煩的「可能」,故應選用「risk」,表「遭受危險、傷害的可能」。

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voyage/ journey/expedition/excursion 從「遠足」、「旅行」到「探險」

 

1. 基本文法說明

Journey是指「由一地點到另一個地點且距離長的旅行」。它是用法較廣的「旅行」,可以是在空中、海上、或陸上,但常用於「路上」的旅行。The journey to Bangkok from here takes eight more hours. (從這裡到曼谷要八個多小時。) 它也可以引申做「歷程」解,如:Some people think that life is nothing more than a journey from birth to death. (有些人把人生視為由生到死的一場歷程。)

 

Voyage是指的是一趟「長途的旅程」,通常是指海上、空中、或太空而言。如:space voyage「太空旅行」;a voyage to other planets (到其它星球的旅行。)

 

Excursion是指「愉悅的短程旅行」,即「遠足、遊覽」之意,如an excursion to the beach「到海邊一遊。」Expedition則是指「艱辛、路途遙遠的旅程、遠征、探險」之意。an expedition to the forest「到森林的探險。」此外,expedition亦可作名詞,即為「遠征隊、探險隊之意。」

 

2. 錯誤發生情況及修正練習
仔細看看下列的句子,哪裡出了錯?又該如何修正?

 

A. Thanks to the development of technology, the space journey is no longer impossible. (X)

        由於科技的發展,到太空旅行已不再是不可能的

 

B. The excursion received rigid training before setting out into the heart of tropical forest. (X)

        在往熱帶雨林的中心出發前,探險隊的成員接受了嚴竣的訓練。

 

C. The voyage to National Palace museum is exciting even to people who live in Taipei. (X)

        即使對台北人來說,到故宮一遊仍然令人感到興奮

 

D. The expedition from New York to Sydney would be tiresome for little kids. (X)

        對小孩子來說,從紐約到雪梨的旅程是讓人疲累的。

 

3. 錯誤修正及解釋正確的句子如下:

A.  Thanks to the development of technology, the space journey is no longer impossible. (X)
Thanks to the development of technology, the space voyage is no longer impossible. (O)

         由於科技的發展,到太空旅行已不再是不可能的。

解說:

Journey是指「由一地點至另一地點的旅行」,而這裡的「太空旅行」並沒有特定的目的地。此外,voyage這個字常指「海上、空中或太空」中的旅行,故選用 voyage 較適當。

 

B. The excursion received rigid training before setting out into the heart of tropical forest. (X)
The
expedition received rigid training before setting out into the heart of tropical forest. (O)

         在往熱帶雨林的中心出發前,探險隊的成員接受了嚴竣的訓練。
解說:

Excursion是「愉悅的短程旅行」,這裡前往雨林內部須要較長的時間,且充滿未知與危險,故不適合用 excursion。此外,接受訓練的對象應是人,而不是事物,而 excursion僅能指旅行本身。Expedition則有「探險隊」的意思,故選之。

 

C.  The voyage to National Palace museum is exciting even to people who live in Taipei. (X)
The
excursion to National Palace museum is exciting even to people who live in Taipei. (O)

           即使對台北人來說,到故宮一遊仍然令人感到興奮

解說:

Voyage指的是一個「長途的旅程」,且通常是「海上、空中或太空」。台北人到故宮一遊,屬「短程且愉悅的旅行」,故選 excursion

 

D.  The expedition from New York to Sydney would be tiresome for little kids. (X)
    The journey from New York to Sydney would be tiresome for little kids. (O)

           對小孩子來說,從紐約到雪黎的旅程是讓人疲勞的。

解說:

Expedition是「艱辛、路途遙遠的旅行、遠征、探險」,而從一個城市搭飛機到另一個城市的過程,雖然遙遠,但沒有「遠征、探險」的性質,故不適用。而 journey是指「由一個地點到另一個地點的旅程」,恰適用於此。

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view/sight/vision 「視野」、「視力」與「遠見」!

 

1. 基本文法說明

View指的是「從某個地方望去的景色」。如The view from the balcony of his apartment is agreeable. (從他公寓陽台望去的景色很怡人。) 此外,view也可以當「意見」解。如:in one’s view「依某人看來」;We have different views on government policies. (我們對政府政策有不同的意見/觀點。)

 

Sight指的是「視力、眼見之物」。它與farnear搭配後,成far-sighted「遠視的」與near-sighted「近視的」。當做「眼見之物時」,如:Get out of my sight. 「滾開」,取「到我視線範圍外」之義;The green trees in the park are a pleasant sight to the capital citizens. 「對首都市民來說,公園裡的綠樹是令人愉悅的景象(眼見之物)。」。作「視力」解,如:My parents are far-sighted while I am near-sighted. (我雙親遠視,而我則是近視。)

 

Vision原是「(眼睛)看東西的能力」,如:She has little vision after the car accident three years ago. 「那場車禍以後,她幾乎看不見。」Vision可引申作「遠見、洞察力、獨到的看法」,即對未來的計劃與觀察的能力。如:Being a leader of vision, Bill gave a good impression on the interviewers. (身為一位有遠見的領導人,比爾給了面試官一個良好的印象。)

 

2. 錯誤發生情況及修正練習
仔細看看下列的句子,哪裡出了錯?又該如何修正?

A. The sight from the top of Jade Mountain is amazing. (X)

         玉山山頂的景色真令人驚奇。

 

B. The vision of her ex-boyfriend makes her feel bad. (X)

         見到她的前男朋友總使她難過。

 

C. Tom’s lack of view ruled out his chances of ever being promoted again. (X)

         缺乏遠見使湯姆喪失再被提拔的機會

 

3. 錯誤修正及解釋正確的句子如下:

A.  The sight from the top of Jade Mountain is amazing. (X)
    The view from the top of Jade Mountain is amazing. (O)

         玉山山頂的景色真令人驚奇

解說:

Sight為「視力、所見之物」的意思,而這裡指的是「景色」,且由玉山山頂,故應選用view,表「由某一地點望出去的景色」之意。

 

B.  The vision of her ex-boyfriend makes her feel bad. (X)
    The sight of her ex-boyfriend makes her feel bad. (O)

          見到她的前男朋友總使她難過

解說:

Vision是「眼睛能看東西的能力、遠見」,而這裡指的是「看見她前男友」,也就是把「她的前男友」視為「所見之物」的意思,因此應選用sight來表達「所見之物」的意思才對。

 

C.  Tom’s lack of view ruled out his chances of ever being promoted again. (X)
    Tom’s lack of vision ruled out his chances of ever being promoted again. (O)

           缺乏遠見使湯姆喪失再被提拔的機會

解說:

View指的是「由某一點望出去的景色」,而例句中湯姆得不到提拔的原因是缺乏「遠見」使然,故應選用vision表「遠見、洞察力、獨到見解」之意。

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very/ very much/very well 「非常地」不同!

 

1. 基本文法說明

Very當副詞時,是「非常地、極為」的意思。常用「very +形容詞」,如very upset「非常苦惱的」; very disgusting「非常噁心的」。Very也可以作形容詞,用以加強語氣,表「正巧的、就是的」之意。如This is the very pen I lost in the classroom yesterday. 「這正巧就是我昨天在教室遺失的那支筆。」 此外,very可與muchmany連用,即「very much + 不可數名詞」與「very many + 可數名詞」,表「非常多的」之意。如:He did not have very many friends in Japan when he first went there.「他剛到日本時,並沒有許多朋友。」

 

Very much主要有「非常多的」、「非常地」的意思。前者如:I do not have very much time to worry about trivial things. (我沒有很多時間去憂慮瑣碎的事情。) 後者如:I appreciate Lily’s help very much. (我非常感激莉莉的幫助。)

 

Very well大致有三個意思。它可做副詞片語,表示「非常好地」。如:Ian performed his job very well. (伊恩把他的工作做的非常地好。) 第二,very well中的well可以看成是形容詞「健康的、沒病的」,而very well即翻譯作「很健康的」。如:Tim has not been very well recently. 「提姆最近不是很健康。」 第三,very well可以做嘆詞用,表達「意願不高、妥協」的意思。如,Very well, then, since you have already settled the solution. (好吧! 既然你們已經選好解決的方法了。)

 

2. 錯誤發生情況及修正練習
仔細看看下列的句子,哪裡出了錯?又該如何修正?

A. She is very well scholar I came across in the seminar yesterday. (X)

        她恰巧就是昨天我在研討會遇到的那位學者。

 

B. His speaking ability has progressed very. (X)

        他的口語能力進步了非常地多

 

C. He will be very much soon after receiving a special treatment. (X)

        在接受特殊療程後,他將很快地恢復健康

 

3. 錯誤修正及解釋正確的句子如下:

A.  She is very well scholar I came across in the seminar yesterday. (X)
    She is the very scholar I came across in the seminar yesterday. (O)

        她恰巧就是昨天我在研討會遇到的那位學者。

解說:

Very well可視為形容詞片語,意思是「極健康的」,故原例句將翻成「他就是那位我昨天在研討會中遇到的極健康的學者」,意思有點怪。若用將very well改成very則很合邏輯,因為very可以用以加強語氣,作「正巧、就是的」解,來突顯整個事件之巧合。

 

B.  His speaking ability has progressed very. (X)

    His speaking ability has progressed very much. (O)

         他的口語能力進步了非常地多。

解說:

Very當副詞為「非常地」之意,無法直接修飾動詞,如原例句中His speaking ability has progressed very. 翻譯成中文近於「他的口語能力進步了非常地。」而「非常地」怎樣,並沒有說出來,所以整句是不完整的。Very much則是「非常地多」,可視為一個副詞

片語,用來修飾動詞progress

 

C.  He will be very much soon after receiving a special treatment. (X)
    He will be very well soon after receiving a special treatment. (O)

          在接受特殊療程後,他將很快地恢復健康

解說:

Very much當形容詞片語,作「非常多的」解,而在特殊療程後,病人應當更為「健康」才對,故選用very well,表「極為健康」之意。

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