Lina Chu 香港浸會大學語文中心
有一些英文字,用來形容事物與形容人的涵義截然不同。Difficult與easy就是這樣的字。
先談一談形容事物的涵義。且看看difficult一字。用來形容事物時,可以解作困難、艱辛。
The Chang'er Moon Project is a very difficult task.
嫦娥探月工程是一項很艱難的任務。
It is very difficult to live in the remote mountainous region where supplies are scarce.
居住在偏遠山區十分艱苦,因為那裡物資缺乏。
difficult形容人 是指頑強難應付
一個常見到的錯誤是把上面的例子寫成:
People are difficult to live in the remote mountainous regions where supplies are scare
這樣一來,difficult變成形容人 people,而不是形容後面的行動,意思錯了。
使用difficult形容人,是指這個人頑強、難以應付。
He is difficult to deal with.
他不輕易應付。
China can be very difficult when the Taiwan issue is concerned.
如果涉及台灣問題,中國不容易妥協。
easy形容事物 解容易輕鬆舒適
再說easy。用來形容事物時,這個字解作容易、輕鬆、舒適。
Driving is easy to learn as it does not require too much physical strength.
駕駛很容易掌握,因為不需要太大體能。
It is easy to find a job in the city where economy is well developed.
在城市找工作比較容易,因為那裡的經濟發展完善。
同樣上面的例子,不可以寫成:
We are easy to find a job in the city where economy is well developed.
Easy 指的應該是找工作 (to find a job),不是我們(we)。
使用easy形容人,是指這個人隨和、做人隨便。
He is easy to talk to.
他很容易商量。
I am easy about where to have dinner.
到哪裡吃晚飯,我都無所謂。
如果要說:控制在互聯網散布消息是十分困難的。我們可以說:
It is very difficult for us to control spread of news on the internet. 或
To control spread of news on the internet is very difficult.
如果要說:在互聯網找資料是十分容易的。
我們可以說:
It is easy for us to find information on the internet. 或To find information on the internet is easy.
以後運用這兩個字的時候,就不應該太隨便了。
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