三、 常見習慣用語

　　(一)　知識概要

　　由于英語國家的語言習慣與中國的語言習慣有許多不同之處，所以造成了許多同學在做選擇或書寫，或與人交談中造成誤用中國方式來對英語的問句作解答。例如一 個小女孩十分好看，可愛，外國人見到時會講： You are so beautiful? 這時的答語應該是 Thank you? 如果外國人發(fā)現(xiàn)你的英語不錯，他們會講： Your English is very good? 這時中國人常常會說：不，我說的不好。這純是一種禮貌的答語，但是不符合英語習慣。它正確的答語應是 Thank you? 雖然交際英語有一些規(guī)律可講，但更重要的是學習外國的生活習慣，了解他們的文化背景，歷史淵源，這樣才能真正的學好一門外語。

　　(二)　正誤辨析

　　[誤] - What can I do for you?

　　- Yes， please help me?

　　[正] - What can I do for you?

　　- I'd like to buy a sweater?

　　[析] What can I do for you? 這一問語實際上用于的情景很多，要根據(jù)具體情況而定。如在商店中售貨員講這句話應譯為：您想要點什么?在其他場合也可以被譯為：我能為您做些什么?它的答語應是直接講出想讓對方提供的幫助。

　　[誤] - Which colour do you like?

　　- Sorry， I don't like?

　　[正] - Which colour do you like?

　　- I prefer blue?

　　[析] 由 which 來提問的問句是要回答具體的選擇，而不能泛指，泛泛的回答。如 Yes， I like it?

　　[誤] Do you like to come with us tonight?

　　[正] Would you like to come with us tonight?

　　[析] Do you like … 問的是對方的習慣，如： Do you like swimming? Do you like collecting stamps? 而 would you like … 則是一次性的邀請、提議。邀請的英語表達法還有如下幾種：

　　Shall we go? 我們走吧!

　　Let's go? 讓我們走吧!

　　How about having a cup of tea? 喝杯茶如何?

　　What about a cup of coffee? 喝杯咖啡如何?

　　Why not buy it? 為什么不買呢?

　　其肯定答語一般為Certainly， Yes， O.K.　All right， With pleasure?

　　[誤] Sorry， I've kept you waiting?

　　Not at all?

　　[正] Sorry， I've kept you waiting?

　　Never mind?

　　[析] "介意不介意"這一問法與答語在中英文中有所不同。如：

　　- Do you mind my smoking here?　- _________

　　A.　Yes， do it please?

　　B.　No， of course not?

　　C.　Yes， take it please?

　　D.　No， you can't take it?

　　這時正確的選擇應是B。 其意為：不介意，當然不。而A選項則自相矛盾了，它應譯為：是的我介意，請抽吧。而D選項是：不介意，你不能抽。當向?qū)Ψ綘幥笠庖姇r，可以有以下問法：

　　Do you mind if I open the door?

　　Would you mind mailing the letter for me?

　　其答語如果是同意應為： Certainly not， not at all?

　　而不同意時應為 Yes， 或 I'm sorry?

　　[誤] What's that man?

　　He is Mike?

　　[正] What's that man?

　　He is a teacher?

　　[正] Who's that man?

　　He is Mike? (He is Mike's father?)

　　[析] 由 what 提問是問的職業(yè)，由 who 提問問的是姓名或身份。

　　[誤] - How much are they?

　　- Half a kilo， please?

　　[正] - How many bananas do you want?

　　- Half a kilo? Please?

　　[析] How much are they? 問的是價格而不是實際物品的多少。

　　[誤] I'm sorry， but is this the way to the park?

　　[正] Excuse me， but is this the way to the park?

　　[析] I'm sorry 是對已經(jīng)做錯了的事向?qū)Ψ降狼笗r的開始語。而 Excuse me? 是在打擾對方之前表達歉意的話。

　　[誤] - Have a good time tonight!

　　- You are the same?

　　[正] - Have a good time tonight!

　　- The same to you?

　　[析] The same to you 是表達我也祝您有個愉快的夜晚，它是美語中的習慣用法。

　　[誤] - What's the problem?

　　- I've got a headache?

　　[正] What's wrong with you?

　　I've got a headache?

　　[析] What's wrong with you? 是詢問對方身體狀態(tài)如何，而 What's the problem?是問對方遇到了什么麻煩。

　　[誤] - Now， I'm back? Can I play?

　　- Perhaps? You'd better do your homework first?

　　[正] - Now， I'm back? Can I play?

　　- I'm afraid not? You'd better do your homework first?

　　[析] Perhaps 是表示對一種拿不準的事態(tài)的推論，如： Am I right? Perhaps?而 I'm afraid not? 則表達一種不同意的態(tài)度。 be afraid 的幾種用法有：

　　I'm afraid that you are right?

　　其后直接加賓語從句。

　　- Will you come to my birthday party?

　　- I'm afraid not? I have to go to see my father? He is in hospital?

　　其后+not，表示否定。

　　- Sorry， I don't want to go there alone， I'm afraid of the dog?

　　其后+名詞，表示對某人，某物的害怕。

　　Mary is afraid of making mistakes in the exam?

　　其后+ of + 動名詞，表示害怕做某事。

　　Mary is afraid to see the teacher because she didn't do well in the exam?

　　其后+ 不定式，表示不敢去做某事。

　　[誤] - How soon will you be ready?

　　- Two days?

　　[正] - How soon will you be ready?

　　- In two days?

　　[析] 此題關(guān)鍵是要根據(jù)情景，身臨其境，要注意的是對方問了什么，就應答什么。或答了什么就應問什么。 How soon 問的是"還有多久才能作完"，這時要用 in two days， 即在兩小時之內(nèi)即可以作完。如用 How long 提問，則答語可以用 two days。

　　[誤] - Would you mind if I have some time off?

　　- I don't mind?

　　- Monday and Tuesday of next week?

　　[正] - Would you mind if I have some time off?

　　- When exactly?

　　- Monday and Tuesday of next week?

　　[析] 有的對話是復雜的，稍有不慎就有可能選錯，而且英語中如選錯了答案是不容易找出錯來的。 I don't mind 是可以用來回答 Would you mind…這一提問的，但如仔細看一看則會發(fā)現(xiàn)我們要選用的不是陳述句而是疑問句。根據(jù)下面一句的答語來判定要用 when exactly? 什么時間，這樣才能與下句中具體的時間相符合。

　　[誤] Suppose your name is Tom? The phone rings and you pick it up? The first word you say will probably be "Who are you?"

　　[正] Suppose your name is Tom? The phone rings and you pick it up? The first word you say will probably be "Hello? This is Tom speaking?"

　　[析] 在英語學習中，習慣用法實際上在某種情況，或某種意義上講比語法更為重要。如果只從句子的角度上去分析，它們可能都是對的。比如，當你拿起電話時，如果你 想知道對方是誰，可以問"Who's that(speaking)?"但不要講"Who are you?"如果你想先介紹一下自己可以講"This is ×××× speaking"而不要講"I'm　××××"也不要講"My name is ×××××."　就語法而論，"Who are you?" "I'm ××××?""My name is ×××××?"并不錯，也是英語中可用的句子，但就打電話這一場合，就不宜用了。

　　[誤] - Do you think it's going to rain over the weekend?

　　- I don't hope so?

　　[正] - Do you think it's going to rain over the weekend?

　　- I hope not?

　　[析] 由于初學者對實際英語口語中表達感情意愿的答語不熟悉，如在肯定答語中 I think so? I hope so? I believe so? 是相同的，但在否定句中卻常用 I don't think so? 但I don't believe so? 和 I don't hope so? 則意為：我不信此事和我不希望此事發(fā)生。而 I believe not? 和 I hope not? 則為：我想可能不會發(fā)生吧!

　　[誤] - Is anybody there?

　　- No， Bob and Tom have asked for leave?

　　[正] - Is everybody there?

　　- No， Bob and Tom have asked for leave?

　　[析] 許多學生在寫作和選擇答語或問句時總要語法在前，而不是習慣用語在先。所以總是要拘泥疑問句中的不定代詞，用 anybody。 但是Is anybody there? 在英語中為：這里有人嗎?而Is everybody there?為：全都到齊了嗎?所以首先要考慮的是其答語。 No， Bob and Tom have asked for leave?

　　[誤] - Your handwriting is very good!

　　- No， my handwriting is very poor?

　　[正] - Your handwriting is very good!

　　- Thank you?

　　[析] 中國人遇到別人稱贊，總是以謙遜為美德。但英美人則往往認為自信是美德。所以當別人夸獎你或贊美你時，就應說： Thank you? 又比如中國人見面時常講 Where are you going? 或 Have you had your breakfast yet?而英美人則認為你過多的干預別人的私生活了。而他們見面時往往問一些無關(guān)緊要的話，如： Hello! How are you going? (你過得怎樣) Morning! 等。而 good morning? 和 How do you do? 則被認為是較正規(guī)的問候語，在日常生活中則十分少見。

　　[誤] When you have had dinner with an American friend and want to leave you may say： "Excuse me? I'll go first?"

　　[正] When you have had dinner with an American friend and want to leave you may say： "Excuse me? I have to go?"

　　[析] 這兩句答語都是正確的，其關(guān)鍵不是語法，而是習慣問題。如果在這樣的場合你講 I'll go first? 朋友們會迷惑不解，而 I have to go? 則表示由于外界的特殊原因而造成的你要離去，而你本人則十分不愿做此事。

　　[誤] - Would you like to come to dinner tonight?

　　- I'd like to， and I'm too busy?

　　[正] - Would you like to come to dinner tonight?

　　- I'd like to， but I'm too busy?