我想各位读者对于 a lot 这样的用法都不陌生。A lot 就是"很多"的意思,也就相当于 so many (用于可数名词),或是 so much (用于不可数名词)。比方说今天本来晚餐打算少吃点,没想到饭后妈妈居然又煮了红豆小汤圆,所以到头来还是吃太饱了。这种情况我就可以说,"I ate too much tonight." 或是 "I ate a lot today."。但是呢?老美光讲 a lot 还不过瘾,他们又把 a lot 这个片语,硬是加上一个 awful (恐怖的) 变成了 an awful lot,意即不但是很多,而且是"恐怖"地多。例如 "I ate an awful lot." 就是说吃的东西多到恐怖的地步,可能肚子都胀起来了。
基本上,所有包含 a lot 的句子都可以加上一个 awful 而变成比较夸张的讲法。比方说吧,a awful lot 这样的用法常被用在表达自己的谢意或是感谢人家的帮忙时。例如,"I thanked him an awful lot. (我非常地感谢他。)" 或者是 "I owe her an awful lot. (我亏欠她太多了。)" 加上 awful 可以表现出一种发自内心,由衷地感谢对方的诚意。
2. He is completely retarded.
他真是个十足的智障。
Completely 是一个在加强语气时非常好用的副词,它可以让你的语气立刻增强百分之五十。比方说有一次我打电话去订购一样仪器,花了好多时间跟他们解释,到最后,送来的居然还缺这个缺那个的。我忍不住随口抱怨,"He is so retarded. (他真是个白痴。)" 坐在旁边的老美大概也深有同感,附和道:"Yes, he is completely retarded. (他是个十足的智障。)" 这个 completely 在这里是不是用得很好?so retarded 跟 completely retarded 听起来感觉就是不一样。
由于 completely 是个副词,所以它不但可以用来修饰形容词,还可以用来修饰动词。比方说上司交代你一项任务,你不单是说:"I understand." 还可以说:"I completely understand." 表示自己可是完完全全地听明白了。每次老板交代任务下来问你了不了解,你就可以说 "Yes. I completely understand what you meant." 或是 "Yes. I perfectly understand what you meant." 你看多了这个 completely 和 perfectly 语气是不是立刻变得谄媚多了?记住,将来若想要升官发财就全靠这两个词了。
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