早兩天跟學生聊天,發現原來「used to」 和 「be used to」 的兩種不同用法也會考起學生。對話內容如下:
學生:I used to sleep with my teddy bear. I can't sleep without it.
我:Oh! Where is your teddy bear now?
學生:At home.
我:So you still sleep with it every night?
學生:Yes.
這名學生因為混淆了「used to」和「be used to」的用法,所以令我誤會 teddy bear (泰迪熊)已不存在。如果他說的是「I am used to sleeping with my teddy bear.」意思就完全不同了。
used to:在過去經常做,而現在沒有再做的事,我們會用used to 來表達。例如,學生的例子「I used to sleep with my teddy bear.」(在過去的時光,我經常和泰迪熊一起睡覺);「I used to get up at six when I was a student.」(當我仍是學生時,我經常六點起床。)和泰迪熊睡覺或六點起床這兩個行為,現在已不再發生了。
Usage︰運用used to時,主要是used to + base form of verb(基本形態的動詞,不用作任何改變),例如used to cry(過去經常哭泣)、used to cook by myself(過去經常自己煮食)、used to speak loudly (過去經常高聲說話)。
be used to :和used to 不同,be used to是表達習慣於的事情,也可表達熟悉某事情,能用在不同時態上。例如,學生習慣和泰Y熊睡覺「I'm used to sleeping with my teddy bear.」 沒有teddy bear 的陪伴,可能會睡不茤O!「I'm used to the cold weather in Canada.」(我已習慣了加拿大寒冷的天氣。)
Usage︰運用be used to,是be + verb-ing / noun,例如,is used to living alone (習慣了獨居)、was used to going home late(過去習慣夜歸)、 are used to the new job(習慣了新工作)。
以下是不同的例子,可作參考:
Examples
used to 1. I used to sleep at eleven o'clock.
2. I used to see my grandma once a month.
be used to 1. I am used to having you beside me.
2. I wasn't used to the hot weather in Singapore.
■程韻
作者簡介:英國文學碩士,在男校任教英語的女教師,愛好文學和動物。
Exercises
1. Please sleep quickly! You __________________ late. (aren't used to staying up / used to stay up)
2. We _____________ to school together. (used to go / were used to go)
3. I _________________ you. I'm sorry. I don't love you anymore. (used to love / am used to loving)
4. _______ you ____________ your new school? (Are, used to / Did, use to)
5. Don't worry. You will _____________ it. (be used to / use to)
Answers:
1. aren't used to staying up
2. used to go
3. used to love
4. Are, used to
5. be used to
隔星期五見報
|