文章來源:http://blog.udn.com/corecorner/4802398
有些英文字看起來很簡單,其實很難用,因為中文裡找不到「對應字」(counterpart)。這些字夾在整個句子裡,聽得懂,但你從來不會這麼說。
It was a hard job, he took it though.(這工作很難,但他還是接受了)放在句尾,這個字的發音必須上揚。或是Somehow I don't like him.(不知怎麼地我就是不喜歡他。)
Though、somehow、anyway、nevertheless,這些字經常發生在口語上,看上去好像沒什麼意思,因為這關乎的比較是「口氣」的問題。
構成英文溝通的不只是文法、發音,還有一些是很微妙的轉折,這些轉折,會構成一種氣氛,文法寫作上稱它作語氣,假如側重在口語,我習慣稱它為「口氣」。
語氣比文法還複雜,因為它沒有很明確的規則,感受它比記憶它來得更有效。請把以下的句子唸三遍,不必刻意記,感覺它比記憶它重要!
Somehow
我們還是撐過來了。
We made it through somehow.
不知怎的,他就是怕他的老闆。
Somehow he was afraid of his boss.
搭車也好, 用其他辦法也罷, 我們總要設法去那裏。
We'll get there somehow, by train or otherwise.
他總算把這個概念硬灌了進去,並希望員工們記住它。
He drove the idea in somehow, and hoped that his staff would retain it.
Though
下雪又有什麼關係?
What though it's snowing?
不過,也許今天下午行嗎?
Perhaps this afternoon, though?
知心朋友不必多,交遊可以滿天下。
Have but few friends, though many acquaintances.
嗯,還不太好。不過比以前好點了。
Well, not too well yet. Better than I was though.
文章來源:http://blog.udn.com/corecorner/4802398
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