浅析《薄冰英语常见共性问题解答》中的某些解答

顾祖良

（常熟理工学院外国语学院，江苏常熟 215500）

浅析《薄冰英语常见共性问题解答》中的某些解答

顾祖良

（常熟理工学院外国语学院，江苏常熟 215500）

在由商务印书馆国际有限公司2008年出版的薄冰所著《薄冰英语常见共性问题解答》一书中，存在一些语法、词汇及惯用法等方面的错误。针对这些错误，分析其原因，提出商榷意见，提供大量示例，并纠正错误。

英语；问题；解答；错误；分析

近日，笔者拜读了英语语法学泰斗薄冰教授的《薄冰英语常见共性问题解答》一书（以下简称《解答》），受益匪浅。不过，笔者发现该书中某些解答不能反映英语语言的实际情况，有一些例句不符合英语的表达习惯。对此，笔者不敢苟同。作为一名英语教师，同时又是英语爱好者，觉得有必要把这些问题提出来，和薄冰教授商榷，也供读者参考。

一、有关介词的使用问题

在英语中，不及物动词如其后跟宾语，动词要与相关的介词连用，如cope with sth.、object to sth.（doing sth.）。动词不定式作定语用，修饰其前的名词，同样需要跟介词连用，除特殊的几个名词外，相应的介词不可省略。另外，在be aware后跟不跟介词of，也有规定。而在《解答》中，例句及解答有误。

（1）在回答名词conditions的基本用法时，有以下一例句（p41）：He needs to cope everyday situations.

笔者认为原例句中的动词cope是不及物动词，常跟介词with。例如：①We must find a new way of coping with the situation.［1］309②Desert plants are adapted to cope with extreme heat.［2］373③Women must cope with working and taking care of the household and the family.［3］310因此，原句应改为：He needs to cope with everyday situations.

（2）在介绍关于修饰动名词的副词的位置时，有以下一例句（p310）：He objects kissing in public.（in public后置）

笔者认为原例句中的动词object用错了，object为不及物动词，需跟介词to连用，再跟宾语。例如：①I strongly object to being treated like a child.［4］1216②Many local people object to the building of the new airport.［2］1184当然，当object后跟that从句时，object为及物动词，不必再跟介词to。例如：He objected that the police had arrested him without sufficient evidence.［2］1184因此，原句应改为：He objects to kissing in public.

（3）有读者问这样一个句子（p131）：I have no house to live.我认为它是错的，live之后应有介词in，不知对否？答：这句话并不错，尤其在美国英语里经常这样用。如：I have no place to go.（go后可不用介词to）This is a bad night to walk about.（walk about后可不用介词in）

笔者认为动词不定式作定语修饰名词时，如果动词是不及物动词，当其前被修饰的名词往往是place、day、way或time时，介词可以省略。而对别的名词来说，不及物动词后的介词不可省略。例如：①I need a pen to write with.［5］242②The nurse has four patients to look after.［5］242③This is a good rule to go by.［5］242④Mary needs a friend to play with.［6］360⑤There is something im-portant to write home about.［6］360⑥There is no home to go to.［7］437⑦I want a room to sleep in.［7］437⑧Is Peter still looking for a place to live（=a house，apartment etc.to live in）？［3］839因此，原句I have no house to live.确实是错句，不符合英语的表达习惯，宜改为：①I have no house to live in.②I have no place to live（in）.

（4）有读者问这样一个句子（p140）：The people at the party were worried about Janet because no one was aware____she has gone.

A.where thatB.the place where C.of whereD.the place

这道题出现在不同的两本书上，但答案却不一样。一本书认为应选B，另一本书认为应选C。不知到底应选哪一个？答：我们认为上述两个答案都对。可能有人认为只有B是正确的，对C抱有怀疑。其实，aware of后接名词性从句的情况并不罕见，甚至还可以省去of。

笔者认为上述选择题的答案只有C.of where是正确的。答案B.the place where不正确，原因是aware后缺少介词of，where she has gone（has宜改为had）是定语从句，修饰名词place，并非aware of后的宾语从句，如去掉定语从句成分，则…because no one was aware the place明显有误。

be aware作“意识到；知道”解，有以下搭配用法：第一，be aware of后跟名词。例如：①You must be aware of the dangers that we face.［1］732②He was well aware of the problem.［2］100③I was always painfully aware of my shortcomings.［8］407第二，be aware后跟that从句，不可用介词of。例如：①Were you aware that your son was having difficulties at school？［9］75②I'm well aware that this is a risky investment.［4］96③Is she aware that I' m coming？［10］111不过，在that引导的从句前如有the fact，介词of不可缺少。在be aware of the fact that从句中，that从句是同位语从句。例如：①I'm perfectly aware of the fact that what I said does not in any way solve the various philosophical disputes，but why limit oneself？［11］②Psychiatric tests found the man was“normal”mentally and fully aware of what he was doing.［12］第三，be aware后如有how、what、when等词引导从句，aware后的介词of可有可无。例如：①I am not aware（of）how long he has lived here.［6］77②He was not really aware of what he was doing.［13］49③She was not aware（of）how much her husband earned.［14］274④I'm quite aware how you must feel.［14］274⑤I was too sleepy to be aware how cold it was.［14］274

二、有关冠词在短语中的使用问题

在英语中，短语中冠词的用法是由搭配关系决定的。例如：in decline、on the decline；in consequence、as a consequence；on the whole、as a whole；with the help of、with help from；for example、as an example；A take a fancy to B、B take the fancy of A等。同样，do sb.a favour和do sb.the favour在用法上也是不同的。而在《解答》中，相关解答有误。

（5）有读者问看到这样一个练习题（p49）：Could you please do me a favour to get this article___（publish）？此句中的a用得对吗？答：do sb.a favour是一常见说法，这里的不定冠词a是必须有的，否则就不合习惯。

不过，笔者认为从所问的问题来看，原句中的a用错了，宜改为定冠词the，否则就不符合习惯。do sb.a favour和do sb.the favour在用法上是有区分别的。在不同的搭配中，冠词也用得不一样。

do sb.a favour的适用范围为：第一，单独使用。如：①Will you do me a favour？［15］357②I wonder whether you would do me a favour.［14］1480有时也可说成do a favour for sb.如：I beg you to do a favour for me.［16］66第二，do sb.a favour and do sth.例如：①Could you do me a favour and buy some milk for me？［1］605②Could you do me a favour and pick up Sam from school today？［2］628第三，do sb.a favour by doing sth.例如：①I was able to do him a favour by recommending him for the job.［1］605②He did me a favour by making a copy of the article for me.［17］376此外，有时do sb.a favour后可用破折号“—”再接do sth.如：Do me a favor—turn the radio down while I'm on the phone，will you？［18］664

do sb.the favour的使用情况为：第一，do sb.the favour to do sth.如：①Do me the favor to me.［18］644②Would you do me the favour to turn down the radio？［19］175第二，do sb.the favour of doing sth.如：①Would you do me the favour of turning down the radio？［19］175②I ask you to do me the favour of turning on the light.［20］107

综上所述，可以看出do sb.a favour后不可跟动词不定式。因此，原问题中的冠词a用得不正确，宜改为the，即Could you do me the favour to get the article____（publish）？当然，冠词a也可不改，句子后面部分需要改动为：①Could you do me a favour and get the article_____（publish）？②Could you do me a favour by getting the article____（publish）？③Could you do me a favour—get the article____（publish）？

三、有关动词形式的使用问题

在It is（high，good，proper，about）time（that）从句中，谓语动词除了常用一般过去式，也可用“should+动词原形”。此外，在现代英语中，还有其他动词形式。而在《解答》中，未曾提及。另外，动词短语在句中作状语用时，根据搭配关系，有多种形式，如：to tell the truth、to be frank、to speak generally、generally speaking、compared with/to sth.、based on sth.等。当take sth.into account/consideration在句中作状语用时，根据英语的表达习惯，不能用to take sth.into account/consideration，而要用taking sth.into account/ consideration.但在《解答》中，相关解答有误。

（6）有读者问这样一道选择题（p101）：If I were in a movie，then it would be about time that Imy head in my hands for a cry.

A.buryB.am buryingC.buriedD.would bury所给的答案是C，请问为什么不是A或D？答：It is（high，good，about）time that…其意为是该做（或早应该做）某事的时候了。该句型从句部分的谓语动词常需要用虚拟过去式（即动词的一般过去式）。有时也可用“should+动词原形”，间或有时也可用“could+动词原形”，但不可用“would+动词原形”，也不可只用动词原形。

笔者认为，在It is（high，good，about）time that中，除了常用动词的一般过去式和“should+动词原形”外，有时可以用省略should的动词原形，也可用was/were dong的形式，甚至还可用动词的一般现在时形式。例如：①It is high time that we（should）put an end to this controversy.［21］181②It is high time that a stop be put to the wild and irrational ratings of the few unbalanced people in our society.［22］91③It's（high）time（that）I was going（或for me to go）.［10］1983④I said that it was time we were setting out.［14］4836⑤It is time little people were going to bed.［23］34⑥It is high time the people of this country are rid of vicious mosquitoes and a wicked government.［22］10⑦It's high time Pratt Street gets a little love.［24］

（7）有读者问这样一道选择题（p187）：____all the things into consideration，his life is a happy one.

A.TakingB.Having takenC.TakeD.To take我选A而所给答案是D，为什么？答：现在分词短语必须与全句是同一主语。如：Taking down a book from the top shelf，he sat down to read it.这里的taking的逻辑主语同时也是全句的主语，即he。上述问题如用taking，其主语与全句的主语his life不一致，故不妥。为什么正确答案是D呢？这是因为to take相当于let's take或if one takes。不定式的这一用法在英语中并不罕见，并多用于固定用法。如：To tell the truth，he went away without telling anyone.I'm not going.To begin with，I haven't got a ticket.

笔者认为原选择题的答案应选A.Taking，而不能选D.To take。所给的解释也不妥。有些分词短语在句中可作独立成分，用作评注性状语，表明说话人的态度或看法，不受句子主语的限制。这类常见的分词短语有：generally speaking、talking of、speaking of、judging by/from、taking…into account/consideration等。例如：①Generally speaking，the more you pay，the more you get.［2］1685②Talking of Sue，I met her new boyfriend last week.［2］1685③Speaking of books，have you read Gone with the Wind？［18］157④Judging from what you say，he ought to succeed.［18］953⑤Judging by his appearance，he must be over fifty.［18］953⑥His acting in the play was remarkable，taking into account his youth and inexperience.［14］4629⑦Taking everything into consideration，the result is better than I expected.［4］365⑧Taking everything into consideration，the event was a great success.［4］365⑨Taking all the factors into consideration，I stand by the former idea.［25］36⑩Taking all the factors into consideration，we may safely come to the conclusion that there is no such thing as destined fate in our life.［25］120综上所述，原读者所选择的答案A.Taking是正确的，而D.To take则不符合英语的表达习惯。

四、有关连词的使用问题

在倒装式的让步状语从句中，连词可以用as或though，有时也可用that。不过，much as是固定搭配形式，不能改为much though。而在《解答》中，相关解答有误。另外，连词since和for的相关解释也有误。

（8）有读者问这样一个句子（p244）：____，he does get irritated with her sometimes.

A.As he likes her much

B.Much though he likes her

C.Though much he likes her

D.Much as he likes her

请问为什么不选B而选D？答：该题选择答案D和B都是对的。句中的as用作从属连词，意为虽然、尽管，其用法特点是通常须将从句中做表语用的名词、形容词、（做形容词的）过去分词，以及修饰谓语动词的副词和谓语动词中的would或might之后的实义动词置于从句之首。从属连词though引导让步从句时，有和as相同的上述用法，尤其是在正式文体中以示强调，并可与as换用。

笔者认为在倒装语序的从句中，确实可以用as或though来引导让步状语从句。例如：①Tired as I was，I tried to help them.［4］79②Boy as he was，he behaved like a girl.［10］92③Try as she might，Sue couldn't get the door open.［3］66④Strange though it may sound，I was pleased it was over.［2］1839⑤The book，masterpiece though it is，is far from popular.［7］612⑥Fast as you read，you can't finish the book in two days.［26］60不过，英语中还存在着习惯搭配问题。much as已成为一个固定搭配，其中的as不宜随便改用though，尽管在语法上是可行的。例如：①Much as they admired her looks and her manners，they had no wish to marry her.［27］453②Much as I would like to stay，I really must go home.［2］1135③Much as I like her(=Although I like her a lot)，I wouldn't be married to her.［4］1158④Much as I would have liked to be there，it just wasn't possible.［3］55⑤Much as I enjoy Shakespeare，I was glad when the play was over.［9］34

综上所述，在英语中，much as是个固定搭配，即使见到有much though的实例，笔者认为也是不规范的用法，不宜模仿。因为我们在英语原版词典中能找much as的搭配用法，而找不到much though的相关用法和实例。笔者认为原全国考研题的编者或许真因为从习惯用法方面考虑，所给的选项D.Much as he likes her是唯一正确的答案，而选项B.Much though he likes her不符合英语的表达习惯。

（9）有读者问这样一道题（p253）：It must have rained last night，the street is wet.

A.sinceB.forC.because这里下雨是因，地湿是果，应该选哪个连词呢？答：这里应选since，因为这是一种推论，since从句并非地湿的直接原因。

而笔者认为这里应选for，不能选since。有时for引导的从句，表示后来发生的情况，从它可以推断出有前面说的情况。for分句对前一分句推断原因。例如：①It must have rained in the night for when I woke the next morning I saw the grass wet.［14］1627②She must have gone out early，for she had not shown up at breakfast.［14］1627③He must be ill，for he is absent today.［28］877④Mary must have had some problem，for she keeps crying.［28］877⑤He must have passed this way，for here are footprints.［29］57⑥It must have rained much of late，for the river is so high.［30］502⑦误：He must be at home because（as，since）the light in his room is on.正：He must be at home，for the light in his room is on.［30］502⑧He must be honest，for he is believed of all.［31］203⑨It must be snowing，for it is so bright outside.［32］273而since引导的从句通常放在句首，对既知的事实表示一种理由，一般不能用于推测性的原因。

五、有关疑问词how和what的使用问题

在英语中，疑问词how和what的用法有明确的分工，如：①What do you think/about…？②How do you like…？③What do you say to…？④What do you make of…？⑤What of…？⑥What if…？⑦What with…and（what with）等。当然，也有交替使用的情况，如：①How/What about…？②What/How do you feel about…？③What/How do you mean？不过，在《解答》中，相关的例句及解释有误。

（10）在介绍句型What…do with…？的用法时，有以下一例（p326）：Think over how to do with these goods.［注意］do with在此是一相当于及物动词的短语动词，其宾语是these goods，how是疑问副词，用作状语，修饰to do with.

笔者认为原例句中的how用错了，应改为what。do with作“处理”解，根据英语表达习惯，要用what to do with sth.，而不用how to do with sth.来表示“怎样处理某事”。例如：①I don't know what to do with my leisure.［31］290②What have you done with the letter？［33］211③I don't know what to do with(=how to use)all the foodthat's left over？［2］501而deal with和cope with则可以跟how连用。例如：①How should the government deal with the AIDS crisis？［1］308②I don't know how she can cope with looking after her family and doing a full-time job.［8］725因此，原例句应改为：Think over what to do with these goods.

六、有关代词no one的使用问题

代词everyone在句中单独使用，而every one则后可跟of sb.或us、you及them，也可单独使用。不过，no one一般单独使用，不可跟of结构。而在《解答》中，相关的例句有误。

（11）在介绍but做关系代词时的用法特点时，有以下一例（p89）：There is no one of us but wishes to go.（=There is no one of us who does not wish to go）.

英语中，根据表达习惯，no one、no-one或nobody，一般只可单独使用，其后不可跟of结构。如：①*No-one of my friends wished me a happy birthday.—None of my friends wished me a happy birthday.［34］442②* I've read no-one of his books.—I haven't read any of his books.(or：I've read none of his books.)［34］442③* No-one of the children could speak French.--None of the children could speak French.［35］367原例句宜改为：There is none of us but wishes to go.(There is none of us who does not wish to go.)

七、有关形容词worth和worthy前的修饰语问题

形容词worth前要用well来修饰，不用very，但对于worthy来说，则是例外，既可用well，也可用其他词修饰。而在《解答》中，对此未加以说明。

（12）在谈到worth需要well来修饰（不可代之以very）时，作者提到worthy也常可被well修饰，well worthy的例子如下（p291）：She's a good teacher and well worthy of respect.

而笔者认为尽管worth前要用well修饰，不用very，但worthy比较特殊，既可用well又可用very或quite来修饰。例如：①That is very worthy of our attention.［10］2199②That place was quite worthy of a visit.［36］1486③The money we raise will be going to be a very worthy cause.［2］2041④He's a very worthy man，I suppose，but he's very dull.［2］2041

八、有关so little和such little的使用问题

so little与such little在英语中均成立，不过，两者意思是不一样的。而在《解答》中，相关解答和例句有误。

（13）有读者问这样一道选择题（p75）：John doesn't understand you because he knowsChinese.

A.such fewB.so fewC.such littleD.so little请问C和D应选哪个？答：应选D，“such little+名词”则常后接that从句。如：Tom showed such little interest in his lessons that he almost failed.

笔者认为“such little+名词”常后接that从句这个观点并不科学，原例句也不符合英语的表达习惯。little作“小”解时，可用在“such little+名词”结构中，而当little作“很少”解时，要用在“so little+名词”的结构中。例如：①You talk very big for such a little man！［37］②She was such a little girl that one did not expect to see such a look on her small face.［38］③I have so little time to enjoy myself.［4］1021④The country has so little coal as to make it necessary to import large quantifies.［26］752原例句中的little不作“小”解，而作“很少”解，因此，such用错了，原句应改为：Tom showed so little interest in his lessons that he almost failed.

九、有关be thinking of doing sth.与think to do sth.的使用问题

动词think后既可跟to do sth.，也可跟of doing sth.。不过，在be thinking后，根据英语的表达习惯，不可跟to do sth.，而要跟of doing sth.。而在《解答》中，对此不同用法未加以区分。

（14）有读者问这样一个句子（p190）：The manager was thinkingon business the next day.

A.to go outB.out to go

C.of going outD.on going out

所给的答案是A，但为什么不是C呢？答：这里可以选C，因为think of相当于consider（考虑、想到）。这里也可以选A，因为think to可用以强调想去办一件比较具体的事。

而笔者认为原选择题的正确答案为C.of going out。尽管动词think后可以跟不定式，但当think用于进行时态时，其后不跟不定式，须用of doing sth.。例如：①Who is she thinking of marrying？［35］715②That's why I was thinking of getting out.（You do not say that you“are thinking to do”something.［35］715③I'm thinking of studying medicine.（不能说…to study…）［15］697④误：I'm thinking to try out the radio.正：I'm thinking of trying out the radio.［20］327因此，根据英语表达习惯，原选择题的答案只能是C.of going out。

从以上我们可以看出，在《解答》一书中，确实存在着许多错误。而这些错误容易误导一般读者，因为薄冰教授是公认的英语语法大家。笔者指出书中的错误，意在同薄冰教授进行商榷，同时也供读者参考。该书若再版，笔者希望编者能注意到上述不足之处并加以纠正，使该书更完善，真正能为读者解决英语学习中的疑难问题。

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A Preliminary Analysis of Some Answers in The Answers to Common English Questions by Bobing

GU Zu-liang

(School of Foreign Languages,Changshu Institute of Technology,Changshu 215500,China)

There exist a great many mistakes in English grammar,vocabulary and usage in The Answers to Common English Questions written by Bobing and published by The Commercial Press International Co.,LTD in August, 2008.This paper points out these mistakes,undertakes a preliminary analysis of the reasons for the mistakes and makes corresponding corrections.

English;problems;answers;mistakes;analysis

H313；H314

A

1008-2794（2010）07-0085-07

2009-11-30

顾祖良（1963—），男，江苏常熟人，常熟理工学院外国语学院讲师，主要研究方向为英语词汇和语法。