文法淺釋系列 (7)
文法(grammar)與句型(sentence patterns)
15) 1.以 –ics 結尾之名詞,大都純指學科, 後接單數動詞:
Mathematics is
a required course in high school數學是高中必修課程。
“Statistics obviously arises
in business and social science but
even enters the arts in analyzing manuscripts.”統計學先在商業與社會科學上用上了,但甚至在
分析草稿的方法上也用得上。
他如:
economics 經濟學;physics 物理學;phonetics
語音學;optics 光學; pediatrics小兒科學,
obstetrics產科學(gynecology婦科學);aesthetics) 審美學,genetics遺傳學等。
注意:
學科並不一定以 –ics
結尾:
organic chemistry有機化學;psychiatry精神病學;(psychology心理學) ;podiatry (足科-與
足部相關的醫學);philosophy哲學;ecology生態學;algebra代數;oncology惡性腫瘤科;
astrology星相學astronomy天文學;Sinology中國學
(Sinologist中國通)urology泌尿科;radiology
放射線科;pathology病理學等。
2. 但若指學科以外之義, 則接複數動詞:
Statistics show
that the number of people owning cars isincreasing. (統計資料顯示汽車擁有者的
數目正增加著。)
*本題為複數形名詞但具可作單數或複數,須依其意義而定。statistics n.可作”統計資料” 解 = statistical
data, 如本句;
另例:
His mathematics are
weak. 他的數學能力不好。但Mathematics is hard to learn. 數學不好唸。
His politics sometimes differ from ours. 他的政治觀點有時與我們不同。但,Politics is a required course in this department. 政治學在本系是必修課。
《笑話》:
I looked up the word politics
in the dictionary. It’s actually a combination of two words: poli, which means many, and tics, which
means bloodsuckers.
在字典查閱politics 這個字;我發現其實它由兩個字組合:poli意謂許多;tics則意謂吸血鬼。
注意:
也有些學科字尾不加s,
如,logic 邏輯;rhetoric 修辭學;music 音樂
16) A man of his means
can afford to live in such a luxurious hotel. (具有他的收入能力的人,才住得起如此豪華的飯店。)
由mean v. 轉成的字有:
A. meaning
(意義) of ~ =meaningful
(有意義);of no ~ = without any ~ =meaningless(無意義)
B. means:
1. 作“方法” “手段”解;其單數、複數同形:
There is (are) no
~of knowing what is happening in that country .無法知曉該國正發生什麼事。
“The end justifies the ~.” (目的證明手段是正當的) 『只達目的可以不擇手段』。*Note:
下列為常用片語:
a. by no ~ 決不 = not … at all
他決非學者。He is by no means a scholar. = He
is far from being a scholar. = He is not a scholar at all. = He is not a
scholar in the least.
* (置於句首時應接倒裝句)
By no means (In no way) can you touch the live wire with wet hands. 你絕不可用潮濕的手去碰觸通電的電線。
b. by ~ of 藉… = through= by virtue of
He attained his
goal by ~ of hard work. 借著勤勉他達到目標。
c. by all ~ 盡全力
They should carry out the instruction by
all means. 他們應盡全力執行這項指示。
May I use your phone? Sure, by all means. (= go ahead /be my guest)借用電話好嗎?請便吧。
2. 作“財富” “收入”解,僅可接複數動詞
His ~ enable him to live in plenty and comfort.
他的收入使他能過富裕且舒適的生活。
We must live within our ~ 我們量入為出。 * to live beyond one’s ~ 入不敷出
3. afford
vt.花得..;其前常加 can 或could;其後可接名 (代名詞) 或to + V:
I can’t ~ a Porsche.我開不起保時捷的汽車。
Poor senior citizens can’t ~ to be sick,” sighed
the old Grandpa. 老祖父嘆口氣說:『貧窮老人生病不起。』
17) 一些由外來語變成的英文字之複數形,有不同的變化:
a. A.單數形以-sis 結尾,複數形則以 –ses 結尾 ,
Are there any oases
to be found in this desert? (在此沙漠中能找到綠洲嗎?)
basis 基礎 bases / on
the basis of… 依據….
crisis 危機 crises
energy~ 能源危機 ; identity ~ 認同危機
parenthesis 括弧 parentheses 但psoriasis牛皮癬
hypothesis 假設 hypotheses metamorphosis變型,蛻變
metamorphoses ;analysis 分析
analyses paralysis 痲痺 paralyses (infantile~ sis
= polio)小兒痲痺
thesis論文 theses 比較:dissertation 學術或博士論文
-sis可表示某種疾病名稱:
*osteoporosis骨質疏鬆症,atherosclerosis動脈硬化,tuberculosis肺結核,stenosis狹窄,cardiac
~ 心室狹窄,狹心症,但ischemia缺血症。chassis底盤
【比較】:一些以- itis 結尾字表示身體某部的發炎:
hepatitis肝炎;encephalitis腦炎;arthritis 關節炎;bronchitis 支氣管炎;vasculitis 血管炎;
dermatitis皮膚炎
b. 單數-um 複數為-a
例:
datum 資料
data 如, database資料庫;bacterium
細菌 bacteria;memorandum 備忘錄
memoranda (簡稱為memo) addendum 附加條款 addenda spectrum 光譜spectra ;curriculum 課程 curricula 比較 extra-curricular activity 課外活動 (俚語-偷情)
c. 單數為 –on 複數為-a 例
phenomenon 現象 phenomena ;criterion標準 criteria
d. 單數為-us 複數為
–i 例
nucleus核子 nuclei ;nuclear war-head 核子彈頭;nuclear arms核武器; genius 天才
genii 或
geniuses。*Gemini双子星
Justin Lai,
06/17/2013
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