近年来,基于不同目的,到新加坡的外国人在不断增加中。这么一来,就有越来越多人要租买房子。下面这便条便是个急着要买政府组屋者发出的:
I am urgently to get a flat at this block. If you wish to sell your flat, please contact pager: xxxxxxxx.
这便条的目的一目了然,但是第一个句子里出现了两个错误。一个是词类(part of speech)问题,另一个是句型(sentence pattern)。
大家知道,英语接系动词(linking verbs)be等后面必须要有补足语(complements)。主要的是名词或形容词,也可以是表示地方的副词或副词短语,如:
① Jason is a teacher.
② Helens new hair style is fashionable.
③ Who is there?
④ All the students are in the classroom.
⑤ John used to be a business man.
⑥ That man was once very rich.
⑦ I had been in London before.
⑧ Tom was not in when Sam visited him.
不管是is, are, to be, was, been等,它们都是be不同形态的接系动词,跟着的补足语是名词(见①和⑤)、形容词(见 ②和⑥)、地点副词(#见③和⑧)和地点副词短语(见④和⑦)。
便条中用的是urgently,这是个状态副词(adverb of manner),不适宜充当补足语;应该改用形容词urgent,才合语法。麻烦的是:合语法、不合用法。
这便是便条中的第二个错误,也就是形容词句型(adjective pattern)不对。
I am urgent to get a flat at this block.这句话直译成中文是:我急着要在这座组屋买间单位,很顺口,很恰当。但是这句里的urgent不符合形容词惯用句型。反向翻译(中英),应该是:I am in urgent need of a flat at this block。不然就要把句型改为:It is urgent for me to get a flat at this block.
在英语里,it+be+adjective+(for someone) +to-infinitive是个极常用的形容词句型,如:
① It is possible for you to become a good editor.
② It is necessary for all of us to abide by the law and order of a country.
③ It is useful for us to learn a second language well.
④ It is fortunate to have such a good boss.
⑤ It is impossible to teach a lauguage well without a good dedicated teacher.
⑥ Is it right to say one thing but to do another thing?
⑦ Is it comfortable for you to act with a guilty conscience?
最后,顺便把与urgent有关的正确用法举出来:
⑧ This matter is important but not urgent, so take your time.
⑨ The woman sitting on the sofa wants to see the manager. She is urgent in her request.
⑩ We have just received a very urgent directive on the reshuffle of some key personnel.
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