miscellaneous

2014年4月27日星期日

英文可以說in a long time

http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/threads/6324-in-a-long-time-for-a-long-time有討論。

除了for a long time外，英文也可以說 in a long time，但根據以上，in a long time多用於否定句，例如: I have not said foul language in a long time.

張貼者： 港深sir 於 上午1:49 沒有留言:  

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標籤： grammar

2014年4月24日星期四

the past forms

昨日向一位來自廣州的小學生解釋過去式。家長要求我用英文說話。我突然想不起過去式動詞的英文是什麼。（直譯是past verb，但記憶中應該不是。）

今日在網上搜尋，終於想起了。是the past form。過去式是一種時態(tense)，而每個動詞在不同時態也有其方式(form)。過去式動詞是past form，過去分詞是past participle，或past participle form.

我參考這裡：　http://www.eslcafe.com/grammar/verb_forms_and_tenses07.html

另外這篇也很詳細：　http://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/past_form.htm

張貼者： 港深sir 於 下午11:29 沒有留言:  

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標籤： grammar, verbs

articles 1

學與教英文多年，我認為英文的articles是最難學好的一部份。有數條rules要重新溫習：

6. Titles of People

When a title is given with a name, use nothing

President Mitchael Queen Mary Professor Scott

When a title is used without a name, use "the"

The president the queen the professor

7.Schools

When a school has "of" in its title, use "the"

The University of Arizona The University of London Chapter 2

When a school does not have "of" in its title, use nothing

Lincoln High School Arizona State University Liverpool John Moores University

8. Location versus Activity

When referring to an activity, use nothing

I am going to school now.(activity-study)

We went to cinema. (activity-see a movie)

He is always on time for class. (activity-learn)

When referring to the location, use "the"

The meeting is at the school. (location-campus)

They are remodeling the cinema. (location-building)

The new student had trouble finding the class. (location-classroom) 

連結:http://www.grammarbank.com/articles.html

另外，專有名詞前article的用法也很棘手。可參考這份文件：

http://www.yale.edu/graduateschool/writing/forms/The%20Use%20of%20Articles%20with%20Proper%20Nouns.pdf

以下兩篇也是類似內容：

http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/nouns-proper_2.htm

http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/nouns-proper_3.htm

張貼者： 港深sir 於 下午9:17 沒有留言:  

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標籤： grammar

2014年4月22日星期二

proof是可數嗎?

proof

noun [C or U] (SHOWING TRUTH)    /pruːf/

a fact or piece of information that shows that something exists or is true:

[+ that] Do they have any proof that it was Hampson who stole the goods?

I have a suspicion that he's having an affair, though I don't have any concrete (=definite) proof.

If anyone needs proof of Andrew Davies' genius as a writer, this novel is it.

"How old are you?" "21." "Have you got any proof on you?"

Keep your receipt as proof of purchase.

雖然字典寫proof可以是可數名詞，但所舉例子全是不可數的。因此一般proof也是不可數的。

張貼者： 港深sir 於 上午2:15 沒有留言:  

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標籤： grammar, noun

study vs studies

study和studies

【明報專訊】讀者Susie來電郵問，study和studies有何分別？

指「學習」或「研究」時，study可表示：

(1)She likes study better than sport.（抽象）

她喜歡讀書甚於運動。

(2)The study of foreign languages requires above all constant practice.（不涉具體成果）

學習外語，首要經常練習。

（A Dictionary of Common Used English Words）

(3)I like Conan Doyle's A Study in Scarlet.（詳細研究）

我喜歡柯南道爾的著作《血字的研究》。

(4)His face was a study.（研究對象）

他的臉值得仔細端詳。

Studies則可表示：

(5)I'd like to pursue my studies in London.（學業）

我很想在倫敦求學。

(6)I'll take American Studies next year.（學科）

我明年將修讀美國研究。

(7)The book is titled Studies in English Grammar.（論著）

該書名叫《英文文法研究》。

（《新世紀英漢辭典》）

(8)茲舉出幾種「研究成果」的說法：

the study of Chinese / a study in Chinese / studies in Chinese / Chinese studies

source: http://dictionary.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi?id=3501&c=4

張貼者： 港深sir 於 上午2:09 沒有留言:  

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標籤： grammar, noun

Scholarship 單數定眾數?

[U] serious, detailed study:

a work of great scholarship

解學術, 是不可數的

C1 [C] an amount of money given by a school, college, university, or otherorganization to pay for the studies of a person with great ability but little money:

He got/won a scholarship to Eton.

Paula went to the Royal College of Music on a scholarship.

解獎學金, 可數. 

張貼者： 港深sir 於 上午12:37 沒有留言:  

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標籤： grammar, noun

2014年4月21日星期一

As well as 的文法

Using 'as well as' with verbs?

Follow

Some guides say to add 'ing' to the verb after 'as well as'.

E.g. 'I joined the sports club and the music club, as well as participating in the student government and serving as a class leader.'

ALSO: 'The new clinic treats sick people as well as providing young doctors with a place to acquire practice.'

But what if the sentence is like so: 'I can sing as well as dance.' Should it be 'I can sing as well as dancing.'? Sounds funny to me.

OR 'I like to play soccer as well as play basketball.' Should it be 'I like to play soccer as well as playing basketball.'?

Update : Found the answer myself. If there is an infinitive before the verb such as 'to' or 'can' then the verb after 'as well as' should not have and '-ing'. Else, it must have an '-ing'.

Update 2: So, it should be: 'I can sing as well as dance.' and 'I like to play soccer as well as play basketball.'

BUT: 'I swim on weekends as well as playing tennis on Wednesdays.'

The '-ing' is necessary after 'as well as' unless the main clause has an infinitive before the verb such as the 'to' in 'to play' or the 'can' in 'can sing'.

link:https://sg.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091222070833AATxM3y