關係子句1：從中文角度看英文的關係子句

關係子句 (relative clause)有兩種，一種是定義性，或限定(defining)關係子句，一種是非定義性，或非限定(non-defiing)關係子句。

有人譯作補充性關係子句和非補充性關係子句，我認為很好。

所謂限定，即是這關係子句是必要的，若缺乏它，它修飾的名詞（先行詞）便沒有指明，那讀者便不知道作者指哪一個。

例如，若說：My sister who is an accountant is not married. （我那做會計師的妹妹未婚。）這句句子中，my sister是先行詞，who 是關係代詞，關係子句who is an accountant是限定的，因為子句前後沒有逗號。意思是我不止一個姊妹，所以我要限定我在談及那位做會計師的妹妹。

但如果我只有一位妹，那我的句子便成為：My sister, who is an accountant, is not married. 翻譯出來是：我的妹妹未婚，她是一位會計師。這是非限定關係子句，在子句前後是有逗號的（若在句子最後便後接句號）。

所以，如果將英文非限定關係子句翻譯成中文，便應如英文一樣，加上逗號，顯示這句是補充的資料，非必要的資料。

比較： I have a lot of friends who live in Hong Kong.（我有許多住在香港的朋友。）和I have a lot of friends, who live in Hong Kong.（我有許多朋友，並且他們都住在香港。）

不過這不定。

       

中英被動句

英語的被動句很有趣。很多中文句子雖然沒有「被」這個字，但實際是被動句，因此譯成英文的被動式。

例如：這間學校將於今年年底建成。譯成英文是：The construction of the school will be completed by the end of this year.

又或：請全體職員下午2時在會議室集合。譯成英文是：All staff are requested to meet in the conference room at 2 p.m.

從以上例句看到，其實中文不是沒有被動句，只是不是時常有被動標記，如「被」、「遭」、「給」等。

反而，中文常常也用沒有被動標記的被動句，而且有很多慣用語，如：

「應該說」，譯成英文是：It should be said that…

「很明顯」是：It is obvious that…

「普遍認為」是：It is generally agreed that…

「大家知道」是：It is well known that…

「必須指出」是：It should be pointed out that…

「必須承認」是：It should be admitted that….

「無可否認」是：It should not be denied that…

「可以肯定」是：It can be confirmed that…

「由此可見」是：It can be seen that…

「人們希望」是：It is hoped that…

大家可以看到，英文譯為被動句的，中文都沒有被動標記。

increased by ...times 型

increase to n times（④） 

increase n times／n-fold（⑤） 

increase by n times（⑥） 

increase by a factor of n（⑦） 

以上四式均應譯為：增加到n倍（或：增加n-1倍）。 

Eg. The production of integrated circuits has been increased to three times 
as compared with last year. 
積體電路的產量比去年增加了兩倍。 

Eg. The output of chemical fertilizer has been raised five times as against 
l986． 
化肥產量比1986年增加了4倍。 

Eg. That can increase metabolic rates by two or three times. 
那可使代謝率提高到原來的2倍或3倍（即提高1倍或2倍）。 

Eg. The drain voltage has been increased by a factor of four. 
漏電壓增加了3借（即增加到原來的4倍）。 

有被動意思的英語主動句

主要是4個動詞: need, worth, require,want

如: You hair needs cutting.

譯作：你該剪髮了。

The movie is worth watching.

譯作：這電影值得觀看。

Masters Degree or Master’s Degree?

by Maeve Maddox

Edwin Johnstone wrote:

What is the proper way to spell masters degree ?
or is it master’s degree?
or Masters degree?
or Master’s degree?

To answer this question, I’ve consulted the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, and some university dissertation guidelines.

Speaking generically, you would write master’s degree:

Jack has finally earned his master’s degree.

Speaking of a specific degree, you would capitalize Master:

He holds a Master of Fine Arts from State University.

When it comes to abbreviating academic degrees, you’d better check the style book that governs your work.

For example, here is what the guidelines say on the site of Ohio University:

Use periods when abbreviating academic degrees.
Ex. Dr. Bond received her A.B., M.A., and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. –Ohio University

Northeastern University, like the MLA guide, prefers to drop the periods:

Punctuating degrees: Do not include periods in degree abbreviations. [Ex. BS, BA, MA, PhD] The single exception is Hon. for Honorary. –Northeastern University

NOTE: Not all universities use the same abbreviations for the master’s degree:

Harvard University and the University of Chicago for instance, use A.M. and S.M. for their master’s degrees and MIT uses S.M. for its master of science degrees. Master of Science is often abbreviated MS or M.S. in the United States, and MSc or M.Sc. in ; Commonwealth nations and Europe. –Wikipedia

source: http://www.dailywritingtips.com/masters-degree-or-masters-degree/

標點1:Dr要有period嗎?

see: http://www.englishforums.com/English/DrDr/pkjwb/post.htm

Dr./Dr?

This question has been answered · 15 replies

Forums · General English Grammar & Vocabulary, Listening & Speaking · General English Grammar Questions

Sirs,

Dr or Dr. - is full stop required after doctor or not necessary?

Another quesition is that i want to put two names of the doctors in the letter. How to use title?

Dear Dr. Avinash and Dr. Pratap,

or

Dear Drs Avinash and Pratap

Can you please help me? thanks

SHiva K

6th May 2011

REPLY

Approved answer (verified by Mister Micawber)

Anonymous:

Mr Shiva K,

In British English it is not necessary to indicate an abbreviation with a full stop (period) after the abbreviation, when the last letter of the abbreviation is the same as the unabbreviated word,while the opposite holds true in North American English. This means that while the abbreviation of Doctor is usually written as "Dr" in most of the Commonwealth, it is usually written as "Dr." in North America.

When addressing several people, each of whom holds a doctoral title, one may use the plural abbreviation "Drs" (or "Drs."in American English) for example, instead of Dr Vinod and Dr Harsh: Drs Vinod and Harsh. The abbreviation Drs. can also mean doctorandus, a Dutch academic title.

Vinod Mangwani

26th July 2012

REPLY

ALL REPLIES

Mister Micawber:

Hello, Shiva.

Dr or Dr. - is full stop required after doctor or not necessary?-- It is no longer necessary. Both forms are acceptable.

Dear Dr. Avinash and Dr. Pratap

Dear Drs Avinash and Pratap-- Both of these are OK, too, though I would use the first.

6th May 2011Veteran Member84,880

REPLY

BarbaraPA:

I would suggest that in the United States, the period is still needed, as it is after Mr., Mrs., or Ms. I understand its use is declining (or gone) in other versions of English.

6th May 2011Veteran Member27,439

REPLY

V S Rao:

Hi Shiva,

AnonymousDr or Dr. - is full stop required after doctor or not necessary?

It is optional

AnonymousDear Dr. Avinash and Dr. Pratap,

Absolutely right.

AnonymousDear Drs Avinash and Pratap

Never write as Drs. Instead, elaborate it as Doctors. It is acceptable in medical correspondance.

Dear Doctors Avinash and Pratap.

_____

Regards,

Sri

6th May 2011Regular Member569

REPLY

Anonymous:

Thank you sirs. Lot of difference is observed with in english language use. American use is something easy compared to british use. British medical spellings are very difficult to write. Thanks again.

Shiva K

7th May 2011

REPLY

V S Rao:

Hi Shiva,

AnonymousBritish medical spellings are very difficult to write

Refer medical dictionary, if you have any difficulty.

Sri

7th May 2011

REPLY

Anonymous:

Thaks sir.

Shiva K

8th May 2011

REPLY

Anonymous:

The full stop after Dr indicating an abbreviation, was NEVER acceptable.

It should be Dr Avinash and Dr Pat...

Same applies for the plural

Rgds,

AC

14th September 2011

REPLY

BarbaraPA:

AnonymousThe full stop after Dr indicating an abbreviation, was NEVER acceptable. It should be Dr Avinash and Dr Pat...Same applies for the plural Rgds, AC

Hello AC.

This is simply not true in the U.S. We use the period after Dr. consistently.

Your statement that it is NEVER acceptable is incorrect. In fact, it's rare that we can say "never" with anything regarding English.

14th September 2011

REPLY

1 2

dimsumexpress:

Grammar GeekThis is simply not true in the U.S. We use the period after Dr. consistently.
Your statement that it is NEVER acceptable is incorrect. In fact, it's rare that we can say "never" with anything regarding English.

I agree with GG. As far as I am concerned, the proper abbrivation of "doctor" is always "Dr.". The lazy form without the period has become the acceptable "norm" in recent time, just one example among the thousands we have seen in the declining level of proper English usage. Some view this decline an evolving change. But for the specific mission of the Forum, we, I believe, should maintain the propriety. Just my two cents' worth.

14th September 2011Senior Member4,167

REPLY

Mister Micawber:

dimsumexpress But for the specific mission of the Forum, we, I believe, should maintain the propriety.

Oh, dear. No, dimsum. We are here to advice on current practice.

15th September 2011Veteran Member84,880

REPLY

Rover_KE:

Shiva, it is not appropriate to address everybody on the forum as Sirs.

In the western world we have many highly educated female teachers who are happy to help you.

Please show them the respect they deserve.

Rover

15th September 2011Senior Member4,310

REPLY

dimsumexpress:

Mister MicawberWe are here to advice on current practice.

Hi MM,

What I referred to as "mission" is to help learners to follow the traditional grammar rules, and perhaps advise them of the current practice as you mentioned. That being said, traditional grammar hasn't changed much for the past half century. The changes we have seen are those created by the technological advances which made a lot of us forgettful of simple math and grammar. That's the reality. Perhaps I had overstated the mission.

15th September 2011

REPLY

Approved answer (verified by Mister Micawber)

Anonymous:

Mr Shiva K,

In British English it is not necessary to indicate an abbreviation with a full stop (period) after the abbreviation, when the last letter of the abbreviation is the same as the unabbreviated word,while the opposite holds true in North American English. This means that while the abbreviation of Doctor is usually written as "Dr" in most of the Commonwealth, it is usually written as "Dr." in North America.

When addressing several people, each of whom holds a doctoral title, one may use the plural abbreviation "Drs" (or "Drs."in American English) for example, instead of Dr Vinod and Dr Harsh: Drs Vinod and Harsh. The abbreviation Drs. can also mean doctorandus, a Dutch academic title.

Vinod Mangwani

26th July 2012

REPLY

Anonymous:

"drs." (doctorandus) is in many European countries the equivolent of M.Sc., dr. (doctor) is the equivolent of a Ph.D. Hence, using drs. or Drs. may be confusing. So please give every person his/her own title.
"Dr." is an abreviation of doctor, therefore, it should, like all other abreviations, be written with a full stop.

11th August 2012

REPLY

Anonymous:

Dr Viduruwan Lakputhu:

Punctuation in abbreviations

People are often uncertain about whether or not to use full stops in abbreviations. Here are some guidelines:
1. In both British and American English, if you are using initial (i.e. first) letters to represent words, you don’t normally need to put a full stop after them:

BBC

UK

NATO


2. In American English, however, it is common to use a full stop as an alternative style for certain abbreviations, in particular:

USA or U.S.A.

US or U.S.



3. If an abbreviation consists of the first and last letters of a word, you don’t need to use a full stop at the end:

Mr

Ltd

Dr



4. If the abbreviation consists only of the first part of a word, then you should put a full stop at the end:



Wed. [= Wednesday]

Dec. [= December]



See more information about abbreviations .



Back to punctuation .

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