文法淺釋系列 (88)

文法淺釋系列 (88)

文法(grammar)與句型(sentence patterns)

七. 助動詞 (Modal Auxiliary)  與詰問句 (Tag Question) :  

8) He may well be called Father of Democracy in that country.

(他有很好理由在該國被叫作民主之父。)

1.cannot very well + V：

They cannot very well tell us the truth. 他們不太好告訴我們實情。

      

2. may well + V = have good reason to + V 有好理由做….事

*Time and again weakness might have invited adventures which strength might

well have deterred.    

本身虛弱常會招惹他人冒險欺侮，但若强大就可以遏阻它。

(註：invite adventure 吸引他人冒險動武，deter v. 遏阻)

The words steady and unflappable were frequently applied to him and with

good reason.   有恆與不易激動常用於形容他的個性，而且再適當不過。

注意：本句可改寫為下句，意思不變：

The words steady and unflappable may well be frequently applied to him.

(unflappable a. not easily excited不易激動的)

9) You may just as well throw your money away as lend it to him.

(與其借錢給他倒不如把它扔掉)。

S + may (might) just as well + V…. (as + V.)   倒不如…與其..(有時亦可僅

用前半句表達) ** Note：* may well + V… 後面不可接 than….

例 ：We might just as well leave it at that.   我們不如將它保持原狀。

a. We will be called imperialists, regardless, so we might as well be competent

imperialists.

不管如何，我們會被叫做帝國主義者，因此倒不如做個稱職的帝國主義者。

b. One might as well try to stop the progress of a mighty railroad train by throwing his body across the track, as to try to stop the growth of the world in the direction of giving mankind more intelligence, more prosperity and more liberty.     

阻擋世界給予人類更多智慧、繁榮與自由的進步，無異用我們的身體躺鐵軌上去阻擋強力火車的行進。

【比較】：

c. For bankers, it is just as well Christmas comes but once a year. 對於銀行業者，(景氣雖差) 還好耶誕節到了，但一年也不過 ㄧ次。

Justin Lai 編

08/18/2014