講英文犯錯的原因,有一部分是屬於中文邏輯干擾導致,中文的「我去剪了頭髮」,直翻成英文是"I cut my hair."外國人聽到一定會覺得你是自己拿剪刀剪的,剪頭髮在英文會說"I have my hair cut."兩個句子其實都沒錯,只是第一句的重點在你自己剪了頭髮,第二句才是大部分人的情況:請別人幫你剪頭髮。
英文在動作的描述比中文更講求精準,仔細觀察,生活中往往是差使別人替你服務,而不是自己親力親為,所以用have、get、make(使、讓、叫)這類的動詞做替代。至於到底怎麼分,可以簡單分為我們是付費請別人協助(have something done),還是自己來。以Have為例子來看一下。
句型:主詞 + have +受詞+ 過去分詞
修車
I repaired my car. 我(自己)修了車。
I had my car repaired. 我(付費)請人幫我修車。
洗車
The car was washed. 我(自己)洗了車。
I had the car washed. 我(付費)請人洗車。
檢查眼睛
I tested my eyes. 我(自己)檢測了眼睛。
I had my eyes tested. 我(付費)請人檢測眼睛。
清洗衣服
I cleaned my coat. 我(自己)洗了我的大衣。
I had my coat cleaned. 我(付費)請人清洗大衣。
洗照片
I developed my photos. 我(自己)洗了照片。
I had my photos developed. 我(付費)請人沖洗照片
這樣的句法,無論時態、疑問還是直述,都適用:
未來式:
我要去修手錶
(X)I am going to fix my watch.
(O)I am going to have my watch fixed.
疑問句:
你去哪剪頭髮的?
(X)Where did you cut your hair?
(O)Where did you have your hair cut?
我可以去哪剪頭髮?
(X)Where can I cut my hair?
(O)Where can I have my hair cut?
make/have/get/let 「讓」得恰到好處
如果仔細去揣摩中文的「讓」字,它包含很多隱晦的意思,英文在字面上就區分得較為清楚,我們就用make跟have一組,get與let一組來比較看看。
make態度強硬
The teacher knows how to make his students study.(老師知道怎麼讓學生讀書。)(不管用任何方法)
have態度和緩
The teacher had me clean the blackboard.(老師請我清黑板。)
get 強調主因
His individualism got him fired.(他的個人主義讓他被炒魷魚了。)
let 強調意願(允許、容忍)
文章轉自{商業週刊}
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