有无定冠词，意义各不同

彭现省

在英语中有很多常见短语有the和没有the时表达的含义各不相同，如果稍不注意，很容易因混淆而导致错误，因此同学们务必要弄清楚它们的不同。

1. at the hands of 在某人手中；at hand在手边，在跟前，即将到来。如：

His mother died at the hands of the enemy.

他的母亲死在敌人的手中。

When he writes，he always keeps a dictionary at hand.

他写作时，手边总是放着一本字典。

2. at the table在桌子旁；at table在吃饭，在用餐。如：

At the moment the Greens are playing cards at the table.

现在格林一家正围在桌旁打牌。

Children must learn to behave at table.

小孩吃饭要守规矩。

3. at the school在学校里；at school在上学。如：

I think the policemen are at the school now.

我想现在警察在学校里。

Is your elder sister at school？

你姐姐在上学吗？

4. by the day 按天（计）；by day 在白天。如：

Your salary will be paid by the day.

你的薪水将会按天支付。

She usually goes to work by day.

她通常上白班。

5. in the case of就……来说；in case of 如果，万一。如：

In the case of Russian grammar，it is much more difficult than the English grammar.

就俄语语法来说，它比英语语法难得多。

In case of fire， ring the alarm bell.

如遇火警，请按警铃。

6. in the charge of由……管；in charge of 负责（某事）。如：

The whole factory will be in the charge of me next week when the directors away.

下周厂长外出时整个工厂将由我管理。

Ill be in charge of the whole factory next week when the directors away.

下周厂长外出时我将负责整个工厂。

7. in the hospital在医院里；in hospital住院。如：

My sister works in the hospital.

我姐姐在医院工作。

He has been in hospital for several days.

他已经住院好几天了。

8. in the front of 在……（内部的）前面；in front of 在……（外部的）前面。如：

There is a blackboard in the front of our classroom.

在我们教室前面有块黑板（黑板在教室内）。

There is a tall tree in front of our classroom.

在我们教室前面有棵大树（大树在教室外）。

9. in the future将来；in future 今后。如：

Who can tell what will happen in the future？

谁能断定将来会发生什么事情？

You should be more careful with your work in future.

从今以后，你对工作应再仔细些。

10. in the hands of 由……照管（负责、掌握、控制、决定）；in hand 手上（的），在掌握中的。如：

The situation is well in the hands of the police.

警方很好地控制着形势。

I still have 10 pounds in hand after paying the bill.

付了账单后，我手上还有10英镑。

11. in the office在办公室里；in office执政，当权。如：

Miss Annie is talking with the manager in the office now.

现在安妮小姐正在办公室里与经理谈话。

Which political party is in office in your country？

贵国是哪一个政党执政？

12. in the possession of在……手中，由……掌握；in possession of 占有，拥有。如：

A large quantity of stolen property was in the possession of the chief.

大量偷来的钱财掌握在这个头目手中。

The chief was in possession of a large quantity of stolen property.

这个头目占有大量偷来的钱财。

13. in the sight of在……看来；in sight of 可以看见（某物）。如：

Blacks and whites in America are equal in the sight of the law.

从法律上来看，美国的黑人与白人是平等的。

Are you in sight of the red flag on the top of the mountain？

你能看见山顶上的那面红旗吗？

14. in the view of据某人看来；in view of 鉴于，考虑到，由于。如：

In the view of the headmaster，we are right in doing this experiment.

据校长看来，我们做这个实验是对的。

In view of the facts， it seems useless to continue.

考虑到这些实际情况，继续干下去似乎是无用的。

15. on the earth在地球上；on earth究竟，到底。如：

There are many kinds of animals living on the earth.

地球上生活着多种动物。

What on earth do you mean？

你到底什么意思？

16. out of the question不可能的；out of question 毫无疑问，没有问题。如：

Some of my classmates think Mary will get full marks in the English exam，but I think that is out of the question.

一些同学认为玛丽将在这次英语考试中取得满分，但我认为那是不可能的事。

He will fail in the examination again， which is out of question.

他考试又要不及格，这是毫无疑问的。

17. take the air 呼吸新鲜空气；take air传开。如：

Lets go out and take the air.

我们到户外去呼吸新鲜空气吧。

The story has taken air.

这个故事已经传开了。

18. the two of them他们俩；two of them他们中的两个。如：

The two of them have failed in the examination.

他们俩考试都不及格。

Two of them have failed in the examination.

他们中有两个人考试不及格。

19. the two of us我们俩；two of us我们之中的两个。如：

The two of us are from England.

我们俩来自英格兰。

Two of us are good at dancing.

我们中有两个人擅长跳舞。

（责任编校？筑彭益）