一篇文字、事事順利 - 古德明

一篇文字、事事順利 - 古德明

問:評學生一篇文章寫得好,應說This writing is good還是This piece of writing is good?又出英文試卷,叫學生「試看安所寫文字,然後看圖為彼得寫一篇」,可不可說Read the writing of Ann's and then help Peter write his by looking at the picture?
答:This writing is good是正確寫法,那writing是不可數名詞(uncountable noun),指一篇文章以至一本書都可以,例如:His early writing is(或writings are)not as good as that(或those)of his mature period(他早期的著作,沒有成熟期那麼好)。複數形式的writings,一般是某個或某些作家著作的統稱。This writing is good當然也可改為This is a good piece of writing或This piece of writing is good。
至於Read the writing of Ann's那一句,宜改為Read Ann's writing等等。雙重所有格(double genitive),即writing of Ann's這種寫法,前面可用a、an、that、those、this、these、some、any等字,卻不可用the,例如:(1)This writing of Ann's is very well organised(安這篇文章,結構很好)。(2)Some friends of his helped him tide over his difficulties(他的一些朋友,協助他度過難關)。
問:All the best一語,是不是只可用於道別?
答:All the best是「祝一切順利」的意思,常用於道別,但其他場合也可使用,例如寫信祝賀朋友升遷,就可以說:All the best for your new job(謹祝履任新職,事事順利)。