問:I regretted / admitted having broken the promise(我後悔 / 承認沒有遵守諾言)這一句,一般算不算正確?我的英文老師把having broken改為breaking,說regret等字之後,用「having+完成式動詞」很罕見。
答:用regret或admit說過去的事,其後接ing動詞或「having+完成式動詞」都可以,例如:(1)I regret telling / having told him the truth(我後悔把事實告訴他)。(2)He admitted cheating / having cheated in the examination(他承認考試作弊)。Sorry之後,同樣可以用上述兩個寫法,例如:I am sorry for using / having used it without your permission(我未得你同意,就拿來用,真對不起)。
一般而言,admit等字之後,用「having+完成式動詞」,較為強調所述事已成過去;用ing動詞,則是較常見用法。讀者示下那一句,我是他老師,就不會修改。
問:You are cordially invited to attend the conference(謹邀閣下出席會議)這一句,attend(出席)一字算不算贅詞?Invite一字,不是已有「邀請出席」意思嗎?
答:Invite是「邀請」,不一定是「邀請出席」,例如I invited him to leave是「我請他離去」。當然,You are cordially invited to the conference一般也是「謹邀閣下出席會議」的意思,但invite to之後,加上attend,意思會清楚一點,畢竟邀請人家到場,不限於「出席」,例如:You are cordially invited to attend and speak at the conference(謹邀閣下出席會議並致辭)。