問:Candy和candies、chocolate和chocolates有什麼分別?
答:Candy(糖果)和chocolate(巧克力)一樣,作可數(countable)或不可數(uncountable)名詞都可以。作可數名詞,指一塊糖果或巧克力;作不可數名詞,則指糖果或巧克力這類食物,例如:(1)There were 20 candies / chocolates left in the box(盒子裏剩下二十塊糖果 / 巧克力)。(2)Don't eat too much candy / chocolate(不要吃太多糖果/巧克力)。
有時,用candy或candies、chocolate或chocolates都可以,例如:She gave the child some candy / candies(或chocolate / chocolates)(她給孩子一些糖果 / 巧克力)。
問:以下一句,文法有沒有錯?── Would you mind if I smoke?(介意我吸煙嗎?)
答:問人家介不介意你做某事,起句可用Do you mind或Would you mind這說法,例如:Do / Would you mind my smoking? 用would的說法,語氣較用do委婉一點。
此外,would是假設語氣動詞,其後假如用if子句(clause),那if子句的動詞也應用假設語氣,例如:"Would you mind if I smoked? 假如用do取代would,則if子句的動詞就應用smoke。
留意假如你同意對方做某事,回答時應說No而不是Yes,例如:"Would you mind if I used your computer?" "No, help yourself."(「介意我用你的電腦嗎?」「不介意,你自便吧。」)