https://tw.news.yahoo.com/ybrain/d283cf ... 354edb692b
動詞加上一至兩個介系詞或副詞,就形成所謂「動詞片語」,它是英文母語人士日常生活裡經常會用到的口語用法,但只要搞錯了介系詞或副詞,意思就可能南轅北轍。以下五個動詞片語,請改成正確用法。
Q1. 彼得不高興,因為他的朋友不讓他知道野餐的計劃。
(A) Peter was unhappy because his friends refused to let him on their plan for the picnic.
(B) Peter was unhappy because his friends refused to let him in on their plan for the picnic.
let sb. in on sth.是常見口語,意指「透露、讓某人知道某事」,另一個意思接近的動詞片語是let on,差別在於let on中間不可以插入其他字詞。正確答案: (B) Peter was unhappy because his friends refused to let him in on their plan for the picnic.
Q2. 李太太愛偷聽別人的八卦。
(A) Mrs. Li loves listening to other people’s gossip.
(B) Mrs. Li loves listening in on other people’s gossip.
listen(聽)是不及物動詞,後面常接介系詞to,至於要表示「偷聽」,應該用listen in這個動詞片語之後,再視情況接on和受詞。正確答案: (B) Mrs. Li loves listening in on other people’s gossip.
Q2. 李太太愛偷聽別人的八卦。
(A) Mrs. Li loves listening to other people’s gossip.
(B) Mrs. Li loves listening in on other people’s gossip.
look in是「順道看望」,look into則是「調查」,in和into不可混用,意思差很大。正確答案: (B) Bill looked in on me while he was passing.
Q4. 現在我要來發考卷了。
(A) Now I’m going to pass out the test papers.
(B) Now I’m going to pass on the test papers.
pass on和pass out常讓人搞不清楚,因為兩者都有交出東西的動作,但前者是「傳遞」給下一個(群)人,後者則是把東西「發派」出去。正確答案: (A) Now I’m going to pass out the test papers.
Q5. 我擔心你的粗心大意會抵消創新能力。
(A) I’m afraid that your carelessness will cancel off your innovation.
(B) I’m afraid that your carelessness will cancel out your innovation.
我們都很熟悉cancel是「取消」的意思,它是及物動詞,後面不必加介系詞。若要表達兩個力量相互「抵消」,則須加上介系詞out(「出現;問世;顯露」的意思,如:His secret got out . 他的祕密洩漏了。在此cancel out的意思就是讓創新的特質不能表現出來,)而非off。正確答案: (B) I’m afraid that your carelessness will cancel out your innovation.