問:「快抓緊時間完成這工作」這一句,「抓緊時間」英文怎麼說?
答:所謂「抓緊時間」,是指分秒必爭,英文可譯做to lose no time或not to lose any time(一分鐘都不浪費)、to have no time to lose(一分鐘都不能浪費)等,例如:(1)We lost no time in trying to complete the task(我們致力完成這任務,分秒必爭)。(2)We must get to the airport by 10 o'clock. There is no time to lose(我們必須十點鐘到達機場,不能浪費時間)。
問:以下四句,據說意思不同,究竟不同在那裏?──(1)Only I gave my brother a pencil。(2)I only gave my brother a pencil。(3)I gave only my brother a pencil。(4)I gave my brother only a pencil。
答:口頭上,only一般用在主詞(subject)和動詞之間。讀者示下那四句,口頭上一般會說:I only gave my brother a pencil。不過,這一句說時重音在四個不同的字,就會表達讀者所說四句的意思:重音在I,等於Only I gave my brother a pencil,即「只有我給我弟弟一枝鉛筆,沒有其他人給他鉛筆了」;重音在gave,等於I only gave my brother a pencil,即「我只是給弟弟一枝鉛筆,此外我沒有做什麼」;重音在brother,等於I gave only my brother a pencil,即「我只是給弟弟一枝鉛筆,沒有給其他人」;重音在pencil,等於I gave my brother only a pencil,即「我給弟弟的只有一枝鉛筆,沒有其他東西」。文字不能表達重音,所以,only必須置於所修飾的字之前。