問:要說「抗議者手『蹺』手,腳『蹺』腳,躺着等待警方拘捕」,那「手『蹺』手」,「腳『蹺』腳」,英文怎麼說?
答:廣東話所謂「蹺」,有「相勾連」的意思。手臂相挽,英文叫arm in arm,例如:The bride and groom walked arm in arm down the aisle(新娘和新郎手臂相挽,在兩邊座位之間的通道前行)。
但「腳相勾連」可不是常見的行為,英文也沒有固定詞語說這樣的事。要表達那「相勾連」的意思,可用entwine(纏繞)一字。謹把讀者所述句子翻譯如下:The protesters lay with their arms and legs entwined while they waited for the police to arrest them。
問:Kelly is selected / is being selected / has been selected by the school to attend the event這一句,哪個選擇正確?
答:這一句應是說「學校挑選了凱利出席那個活動」,動詞可用現在完成式has been selected。
Is being selected這現在進行式說法,表示「正在挑選」,例如:A jury is being selected to try the case(法庭正在挑選陪審團,審理這樁案)。
至於簡單現在式is selected,一般用來說定期的選拔,例如:Each year, ten students with good conduct and academic records are selected for the award of scholarships(每一年,十個品學兼優的學生會獲得選拔,領取獎學金)。