必學!六個全世界最常被誤用的單字,你用對了嗎?

在英文單字的演變史中,曾經有個非常有名的例子”Impact”,
早些年被某些記者誤用名詞為動詞,而被人大力投訴,
沒想到到了西元2000年,”Impact”演變成了可以同時作為名詞和動詞的單字,顯示了英文單字的可變動性!
但雖然如此,很多情形下單字的誤用是不被允許的,

下列的這六個常被誤用的單字就是!
不管他們多頻繁被用錯,定義和用法上基本不會再改變,
如此常用的單字,一定要好好學習分辨!

從英文字彙的掌握度看見你的英語力!狂推!

 

1. HISTORICAL

你認為它代表了: historic、歷史悠久的、有年分的、古老的
他其實代表了: pertaining to the past, but not necessarily important to it or a part of it 和歷史相關的

We visited historic Gettysburg to watch re-enactments of the battle; the actors wore historical clothing and had historical weapons.
我們參觀了歷史悠久的葛底斯堡並觀看的仿古戰役;演員們則穿著歷史服裝和有歷史的武器。

此處的historical clothing 和historical weapons 並不是歷史悠久的古董,而是和歷史相關的產物,兩者意義大不同!

2. NOVEL

你認為它代表了: any book 任何書籍
他其實代表了: a book that is a work of fiction 一定要是虛構的小說

Hidden among the shelves of Math and English books was a novel by Isaac Asimov.
在擺放著許多數學和英文書的書架上藏著一本由艾薩克·阿西莫夫寫的小說

3. LESS

你認為它代表了: fewer
他其實代表了: a smaller amount of uncountable nouns 不可數!切記!

Fewer sheep in the pasture means that less grass will be eaten.
草原上有比較少的羊就意味著會有比較少的草被吃掉。

附註更詳細的兩者差別:

(a) few +可數名詞
(a) little + 不可數名詞

a few / a little 為肯定含義,

還有一點 few / little 為否定含義,沒有多少了。

He has a few friends.   他有幾個朋友。
He has few friends.    他幾乎沒有朋友。
We still have a little time. 我們還有點時間。
There is little time left. 幾乎沒剩下什麼時間了。

典型例題:
Although he ‘s wealthy,he spends___ on clothes.
A. little  B. few C. a little  D. a few

答案:A.spend所指的是錢,不可數,只能用little或a little. 本句為although引導的讓步狀語從句,由句意知後句為否定含義,因此應用little表示幾乎不。

4. CONTINUAL

這個連很多譯者和英文是母語的人士都會很常講錯!注意!
你認為它代表了: with no interruptions 不斷的;連續的
他其實代表了: duration over a long period of time, not necessarily without interruption頻繁地(持續超過很長時間,未必不中斷)

Continual power outages throughout the winter led to my continuous winter cough and cold.
整個冬天的頻繁停電使我不斷的冬季咳嗽和感冒。(停電很頻繁發生,但不是整個冬天都在連續停電!)
讓大家看看兩個字的差異,讓大家更清楚喔!

Continuous indicates duration without interruption.
Ex. The continuous humming of the fluorescent lights gave him a headache.

Continual indicates duration that continues over a long period of time, but with intervals of interruption.
Ex. The continual street repair disrupted traffic for nearly two years.

5. INFAMOUS

你認為它代表了: famous 有名的
他其實代表了: having an extremely bad reputation; never used in a position manner 惡名昭彰、聲名狼藉的

Bob was infamous at work for stealing colleagues’ ideas.
Bob在工作上惡名昭彰,因為他會偷同事的點子。

6. SYSTEMIC

你認為它代表了: involving a system, method, or plan; orderly 有系統性的
他其實代表了: systemic, pertaining to or affecting the body as a whole 影響全身系統的、影響全身的

Phyllis’ doctors began thorough, systematic tests when they couldn’t cure her systemic infection.
Phyllis的醫生在不能治療她的全身性感染後開始進行系統測試。

經過了這六個字的學習,有沒有發現其實拼錯一點點意思就整個改變很多!這些被誤解甚深的單字,希望透過這樣讓大家更了解!也希望大家多多轉貼讓更多人知道喔:D希望有朝一日這些字都不會再被誤會啦!

從英文字彙的掌握度看見你的英語力!一起加油吧!

附個圖讓大家更了解(另外一半將在下星期強力推出喔!請繼續關注分享!感謝!):

 

sources: 12 Most misunderstood words , little/ few usages, continuous/continual,
作者: Kimberly Chin

 

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