说起来,这些错误都是难以避免,希望大家多个心眼就是了。在任何意义上的培训班里,口语永远都是任务最为艰巨的,要在短短几个小时时间里改变大家二十几年形成的思维方式和十几年来磨练出来的口语习惯确实是我比较奢侈的一个梦想。但是,我们还是得努力不是吗,希望这篇算是一个列表吧,多少算条捷径。
1. I very like it
I like it very much.
这个错误基本上是每个人都会出错的,原因非常简单,就是因为在使用中文思维,然后翻译成简单的英语表达,这是非常危险的一个习惯。
2. 这个价格对我挺合适的。
The price is very suitable for me.
The price is right.
suitable(合适的、相配的)最常见的用法是以否定的形式出现在告示或通知上,如:下列节目儿童不宜。The following programme is not suitable for children.在这组句子中用后面的说法会更合适。
3. 你是做什么工作的呢?
What’s your job?
What’s your occupation?
what’s your job?这种说法难道也有毛病吗?是的。因为如果您的谈话对象刚刚失业,如此直接的问法会让对方有失面子,所以您要问:目前您是在上班吗?Are you working at the moment?接下来您才问:目前您在哪儿工作呢?Where are you working these days?或者您从事哪个行业呢?What line of work are you in? 最地道的是说Occupation. 顺带说一下,回答这类问题时不妨说得具体一点,不要只是说经理或者秘书
4. 用英语怎么说?
How to say?
How do you say this in English?
Note:How to say是在中国最为泛滥成灾的中国式英语之一,这决不是地道的英语说法。同样的句子有:请问这个词如何拼写?How do you spell that please?请问这个单词怎么读?How do you pronounce this word?
5. 明天我有事情要做。
I have something to do tomorrow?
Sorry but I am tied up all day tomorrow.
用I have something to do来表示您很忙,这也完全是中国式的说法。因为每时每刻我们都有事情要做,躺在那里睡大觉也是事情。所以您可以说我很忙,脱不开身:I’m tied up.还有其他的说法: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. 我没有英文名。
I haven’t English name.
I don’t have an English name.
许多人讲英语犯这样的错误,从语法角度来分析,可能是语法功底欠缺,因为have在这里是实义动词,而并不是在现在完成时里面那个没有意义的助动词。所以,这句话由肯定句变成否定句要加助动词。
明白道理是一回事,习惯是另一回事,请您再说几话:我没有钱;I don’t have any money.我没有兄弟姐妹;I don’t have any brothers or sisters.我没有车。I don’t have a car.
7. 我想我不行。
I think I can’t.
I don’t think I can.
这一组然是个习惯问题,在语法上称为否定前置,这就是汉语里面说“我想我不会”的时候,英语里面总是说“我不认为我会”。以后您在说类似的英语句子的时候,只要您留心,也会习惯英语的说法的,
8. 我的舞也跳得不好。
I don’t dance well too.
I am not a very good dancer either.
当我们说不擅长做什么事情的时候,英语里面通常用not good at something,英语的思维甚至直接踊跃到:我不是一个好的舞者。
9. 现在几点钟了?
What time is it now?
What time is it, please?
What time is it now这是一个直接从汉语翻译过的句子,讲英语的时候没有必要说now,因为您不可能问what time was it yesterday, 或者what time is it tommorow?所以符合英语习惯的说法是:请问现在几点了?还有一种说法是:How are we doing for time?这句话在有时间限制的时候特别合适。
10. 我的英语很糟糕。
My English is poor.
I am not 100% fluent, but at least I am improving.
有人开玩笑说,全中国人最擅长的一句英文是:My English is poor.实话说,我从来没有遇到一个美国人对我说:My Chinese is poor. 无论他们的汉语是好是坏,他们会说: I am still having a few problem, but I getting better.
当您告诉外国人,您的英语很poor,so what(那又怎么样呢),是要让别人当场施舍给我们一些英语呢,还是说我的英语不好,咱们不谈了吧。
另外一个更大的弊端是,一边不停的学英语,一边不停地说自己的英语很poor,这正像有个人一边给车胎充气,又一边在车胎上扎孔放气。
11. 你愿意参加我们的晚会吗?
Would you like to join our party on Friday?
Would you like to come to our party on Friday night?
join往往是指参加俱乐部或者协会,如:join a health club; join the Communist Party.事实上,常常与party搭配的动词的come 或者go。如go a wild party,或者come to a Christmas Party。
12. 我没有经验。
I have no experience.
I don’t know much about that.
I have no experience这句话听起来古里古怪,因为您只需要说:那方面我懂得不多,或者这方面我不在行,就行了。I am not really an expert in this area.
13. 我没有男朋友。
I have no boyfriend.
I don’t have a boyfriend.
14. 他的身体很健康。
His body is healthy.
He is in good health. You can also say: He’s healthy.
15. 价钱很昂贵/便宜。
The price is too expensive/cheap.
The price is too high/ rather low.
16. 我们下了车。
We got off the car.
We got out of the car.
17. 车速快了。
The speed of the car is fast.
The car is speeding. Or “The car is going too fast.”
18. 这个春节你回家吗?
Will you be going back home for the Spring Festival?
是的,我回去。Of course! (这一句是错的)
当然。Sure. / Certainly.(这种说法是正确的)
以英语为母语的人使用of course的频率要比中国的学生低得多,只有在回答一些众所周知的问题时才说of course。因为of course后面隐含的一句话是“当然我知道啦!难道我是一个傻瓜吗?”因此,of course带有挑衅的意味。在交谈时,用sure或certainly效果会好得多。同时,of course not也具挑衅的意味。正常情况下语气温和的说法是certainly not.
19. 我觉得右手很疼。
I feel very painful in my right hand.
My right hand is very painful. Or “ My right hand hurts(aches).”
20. 他看到她很惊讶。
He looked at her and felt surprised.
He looked at her in surprise.
21. 我读过你的小说但是没料到你这么年轻。
I have read your novels but I didn't think you could be so young.
After having read your novel, I expected that you would be older.
22. 她脸红了,让我看穿了她的心思。
Her red face made me see through her mind.
Correct: Her red face told me what she was thinking.
24. 别理她。
Don't pay attention to her.
Leave her alone.
25. 我在大学里学到了许多知识。
I get a lot of knowledge in the university.
I learned a lot in university.
26. 黄山正在读书。
Samuel is reading a book.
Samuel is reading.
27. 她由嫉妒转向失望。
She was so jealous that she became desperate.
Jealousy drove her to despair.
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