1. 用英语怎么说?
How to say in English?✖
How do you say this in English?✔
How to say是在中国最为泛滥成灾的中国式英语之一,这决不是地道的英语说法。
同样的句子有:
- 请问这个词如何拼写?
How do you spell that please?
- 请问这个单词怎么读?
How do you pronounce this word?
2. 你是做什么工作的呢?
What's your job?✖
Are you working at the moment?✔
What's your job这种说法难道也有毛病吗?
是的!
因为如果您的谈话对象刚刚失业,如此直接的问法会让对方有失面子。
所以你要问:
- 目前您是在上班吗?
Are you working at the moment?
接下来才问:
- 目前您在哪儿工作呢?
Where are you working these days?
或者
- 您从事哪个行业呢?
What line of work are you in?
3. 这个春节你回家吗?
如果有歪果仁问你
- Will you be going back home for the Spring Festival?
你的回答是什么呢?
- Of course!✖
- Sure. / Certainly.✔
以英语为母语的人使用of course的频率要比中国的学生低得多,只有在回答一些众所周知的问题时才说of course。
因为of course后面隐含的一句话是“当然我知道啦!难道我是一个傻瓜吗?”带有挑衅的意味。
在交谈时,用sure或certainly效果会好得多。同时,of course not也具挑衅的意味。正常情况下语气温和的说法是certainly not。
4. 这个价格对我挺合适的。
- The price is very suitable for me.✖
- The price is right.✔
Suitable(合适的、相配的)最常见的用法是以否定的形式出现在告示或通知上。
- 下列节目儿童不宜。
The following programme is not suitable for children.
5. 明天我有事情要做。
- I have something to do tomorrow.✖
- Sorry but I am tied up all day tomorrow.✔
用I have something to do来表示很忙,这也完全是中国式的说法。因为每时每刻我们都有事情要做,躺在那里睡大觉也是事情。
所以说“我很忙,脱不开身”可以说:I'm tied up.
- I'm afraid I can't make it at that time.
- I'd love to, but I can't, I have to stay at home.
6. 我没有英文名。
- I haven’t English name.✖
- I don’t have an English name.✔
have在这里是实义动词,而并不是在现在完成时里面那个没有意义的助动词。所以,这句话由肯定句变成否定句要加助动词。
同样的句式:
- 我没有钱。
I don’t have any money.
- 我没有兄弟姐妹。
I don’t have any brothers or sisters.
- 我没有车。
I don’t have a car.
7. 我想我不行。
- I think I can’t.✖
- I don’t think I can.✔
这一组在语法上称为否定前置,这就是汉语里面说“我想我不会”的时候,英语里面总是说“我不认为我会”。
8. 我的舞也跳得不好。
- I don’t dance well too.✖
- I am not a very good dancer either.✔
当我们说不擅长做什么事情的时候,英语里面通常用not good at something。
甚至英语的思维直接踊跃到:我不是一个好的舞者。
9. 现在几点钟了?
- What time is it now?✖
- What time is it, please?✔
What time is it now这是一个直接从汉语翻译过的句子,讲英语的时候没有必要说now,因为不可能问what time was it yesterday或者what time is it tommorow。
所以符合英语习惯的说法是:请问现在几点了?
还有一种说法是:how are we doing for time,在有时间限制的时候特别合适
10. 我的英语很糟糕。
- My English is poor.✖
- I am not 100% fluent, but at least I am improving.✔
有人开玩笑说,全中国人最擅长的一句英文是:My English is poor.
如果是美国人,无论他们的汉语是好是坏,他们会说: I am still having a few problem, but I'm getting better。
以后和外国同行交流,可以实事求事地说:我的英语还不算十分流利,但至少我在进步。
11. 我没有经验
- I have no experience.✖
- I am afraid I don't know much about that.✔
I have no experience这句话听起来古里古怪,因为只需要说:I am not really an expert in this area. 就行了。
12. 你周五愿意参加我们的晚会吗?
- Would you like to join our party on Friday?✖
- Would you like to come to our party on Friday night? ✔
join往往是指参加俱乐部或者协会,如:join the Communist Party。
事实上,常常与party搭配的动词的come 或者go,如go a wild party,或者come to a Christmas Party。
13. 他的身体很健康
- His body is healthy.✖
- He is in good health.✔
- You can also say: He’s healthy.✔
14. 价钱很昂贵/便宜。
- The price is too expensive/cheap.✖
- The price is too high/ rather low.✔
15. 我们下了车
- We got off the car.✖
- We got out of the car.✔
16. 车速快了
- The speed of the car is fast.✖
- The car is speeding.✔
- The car is going too fast.✔
17. 我很喜欢它
- I very like it.✖
- I like it very much.✔
18. 我觉得右手很疼
- I feel very painful in my right hand.✖
- My right hand is very painful.✔
- My right hand hurts(aches).✔
19. 别理她
- Don't pay attention to her.✖
- Leave her alone.✔
20. 我在大学里学到了许多知识
- I get a lot of knowledge in the university.✖
- I learned a lot in university.✔