词汇是语言学习中重要的一环。不管学什么语言或写什么文章,丰富的词汇是不可或缺的要素。然而,许多学习语言的人常常为词汇不足而大伤脑筋。为什么会这样呢?主要原因是他们没有认清学习词汇的正确方向。
其中一个不正确的方向是对字义的认识不够全面。当他们懂得一个生字的其中一个意思时,便高兴得很,好像是完全掌握了这个字似的。比如知道arm的意思是手臂,就够了吗?那么①和②里的两个意思呢?
① The soldiers are up in arms.
② Riot police armed themselves with batons and tear gas.
另一个不正确的方向是对惯用语等闲视之。许多人只知道生字生词而忽略了各种惯用语的构成和特殊意义,结果对惯用语的应用一知半解或避而远之,这是不对的。学习词汇的正确方向
现在就谈谈学习词汇的两个正确方向。
●学习单字单词时,要把主要的意思都记起来,并且注意它们的用法。接着要注意每个字的派生词(derivative words)的构成及用法,如:
① friendfriendly; unfriendly; unfriendliness
② secureinsecure; insecurity
satisfied all his teachers.
(b) He has done everything satisfactorily.
(c) His work is satisfactory.
(d) Has he done everything to the satisfaction of his parents, too?
如果可能的话,可以把意思相近的字集合起来,通过联想去学习并区别它们在句子中的用法有何不同。有可能的话,顺便把合成词( compound words)也兼收并蓄。
●必须在常用惯用语上下功夫。一般人只知生字,不大留意惯用语的存在,更不去多管惯用语的类别及构成法。比如英语惯用语中最主要的一种是片语动词(phrasal verbs),数量很多,必须尽量学习和运用,会话或写作都适合。例如:
① I have to brush up (on) my economics for tomorrows test.(温习)
② Seeing that there was much work to do, Henry decided to call off his European trip.(取消)
③ Can the government do away with some outdated systems?(废除)
除了片语动词之外,其他类型的惯用语也要加强,包括下列 5 种短语:
Ⅰ. 介词短语,如:in a nutshell; by leaps and bounds; under the weather; for the time being.
Ⅱ. 动词短语,如:act as a brake on; Keep tabs on; make a clean breast of; get out of the rut.
Ⅲ. 名词短语,如:child a feather in one a feast for the eyes.
Ⅳ. 形容词短语;如:regular as clockwork; palatable to; compatible with; short of; few and far between.
Ⅴ. 谚语和成语,如:all is well that ends well; give him an inch and he will take an ell; never say die; strike while the iron is hot; the early bird catches the worm.
上一篇: 虚拟语气考试要点详解
下一篇: 英语阅读基本功—长难句过关(9)