1. I’ll make a bath for you.(x)
I'll run a bath for you. (√)
英文中沒有 make a bath的說法。“放洗澡水”是run a bath。洗澡是take a bath (美式用法)或have a bath (英式用法)。另外,如要講“你的洗澡水放好了”可說Your bath is ready。
2. The battery is useless. You need to recharge it. (x)
The battery is dead. You need to recharge it. (√)
The battery is useless是說“這個電池不能再使用”,因此充電也無濟于事,所以該接著說You need to change it.(你需要更換電池了。)至于電池“沒電”.正確的用詞是dead(美式用法)或flat(英式用法)。
3. I started to be angry when I sensed that she would stand me up.(x)
I started to get angry when I sensed that she would stand me up. (√)
be angry是生氣的“完成”狀態(tài),如:Mary was angry when I came in.(當(dāng)我進門時,瑪麗早就在生氣。)get / become / grow angry則表由“未完成”進入“完成”的動作,如:Mary got angry when I came in.(當(dāng)我進門時,瑪麗就生氣了。)這個“氣”擺明是沖著“我”來的。
4. Since my brother is well over 30, he would like to get married and bear
children. (x)
Since my brother is well over 30, he would like to get married and have
children.(√)
生孩子是女人的專利,所以男人不能bear / give birth to children。但是男人可以have/beget children(注:beget是典雅的用詞,較少使用)。
5. Peter can win anyone at chess.(x)
Peter can beat anyone at chess. (√)
win(贏)可以接比賽、戰(zhàn)爭、獎項或獎金為賓語,甚至不接賓語,但不可以某人作賓語,如:You win (the game/money).就是“你贏了(這場比賽/獎金)。”“贏了/打敗某人”應(yīng)說beat / defeat sb。
6. A couple of drinks make my heart jtunp faster.(x)
A couple of drinks make my heart beat faster.(√)
sb's heart jumps是指某人受到驚嚇或遇到意外時,“心臟好像快要跳出來似的”,如:When a truck sped alongside me, I felt my heart jump.(當(dāng)一輛大卡車從我身旁呼嘯而過時,我覺得心臟都決跳出來了似的。)單純的“心跳加速”用beat faster。
7. I'm beaten, and I really need a rest. (x)
I'm beat, and I really need a rest. (√)
be beaten是“被打敗”的意思。be beat(此處的beat作形容詞)=be exhausted=be very tired,是“疲憊不堪”的意思。
8. If you want to come, let us know before. (x)
If you want to come, let us know before you do. (√)
If you want to come, let us know beforehand. (√)
before是“從前”的意思,用法參見前文(詞條ago)。 beforehand=in advance,是“提前”或“事先”的意思。
9. At the beginning, I didn't particularly like Mandy, but later I found myself growing attached to her.(x)
In the beginning, I didn't particularly like Mandy, but later I found myself growing attached to her.(√)
at the beginning通常要接 of 所引導(dǎo)的詞組,用來表達一個明確的“開始”,如:At the beginning of the movie, there is a war scene.(在這部電影的開始有一個戰(zhàn)爭的場面。)in the beginning (不接of) =at first = initially,用來表達“起初”這個較為籠統(tǒng)的開始。
10. I think he behaves rudely to his children. (x)
I think he behaves rudely toward his children. (√)
behave towards)=treat,是“對待某人”的意思。towards是英式用法。