母語是英語的人在常見的介詞使用中很少犯錯,然而,英語學習者經常犯錯,因為他們更多地是直接從自己的語言中翻譯,而非聽地道的英語。
提高介詞使用能力最好的方法是:
1. listen to spoken English as much as possible
盡可能多地聽英語口語
2. test yourself on common prepositions
自我測試常用的介詞
下面羅列了10個常見的介詞用法錯誤:
1) arrive at 還是 arrive in
*When we arrived to Claudio’s house…
at通常用在具體的地點前:school學校、restaurant餐廳、airport機場、aunt’s house阿姨的家;而in通常用在城市或國家前面。
? When we arrived at Claudio’s house…
我們到達克勞迪奧的家……
? The train arrived at Shibuya station thirty seconds late.
火車延遲30秒到達澀谷車站。
? On Friday, the president arrived in Poland.
總統于周五到達波蘭。
? The K-pop band arrived in Phnom Penh last week.
韓國流行樂隊上周到達金邊。
2) at night
*We often go out in the night.
in可以用在in the morning, in the afternoon, 和in the evening里,但是night前面需要用at。
? We often go out at night.
我們經常在夜晚出門。
? Krakow is beautiful at night.
夜晚的克拉科夫很美。
3) look for 還是 wait for
*I was looking my glasses.
*Giulia was waiting me at the bus stop.
如果你想表達尋找,那么用look for或者search for;如果你想表達等待,那么用wait for。
? I was looking for my glasses.
我在尋找我的眼鏡。
? Tomis looking for a new job.
湯姆正在尋找一份新工作。
?Giulia was waiting for me at the bus stop.
茱莉亞正在車站等著我。
?Lucy is waiting for her sister to finish class.
露西正在等她的妹妹放學。
4) for [period of time]
*I’ve been working here since five years
for用在一段時間前面,比如:a few minutes/three months/twenty years。
since和具體的時間點連用,比如:this morning/September/the day we met。
?I’ve been working here for five years.
我已經在這里工作五年了。
?She hasn’t drunk coffee for years.
她好多年不喝咖啡了。
?She’s been living in Yokohama since February.
她從二月起一直住在橫濱。
?I haven’t seen her since yesterday morning.
昨天早上之后,我就沒再見到她。
5) in [months and years]
*It’s my birthday on July!
in總是和年份或月份連用。
?It’s my birthday in July!
我的生日在7月。
?Ola was born in 2004.
歐拉出生在2004年。
6) live/work/study in [cities and countries]
*I live at Tokyo.
在某個城市或國家居住、工作或學習用in,但住在某個具體的地址則用at,比如在一個特定的機構工作,或者是在某所大學學習。
?I live in Tokyo.
我住在東京。
?Roberta works in Sassari.
羅伯塔在薩薩里工作。
?Hector studies in Canada.
赫克托爾在加拿大學習。
?Ania lives at No.34, Green Street.
艾尼雅住在格林大街34號。
?Ryosuke works for Toyota.
涼介在豐田工作。
?Dara studies at Phnom Penh International University.
達拉在金邊國際大學讀書。
7) on [days and dates]
*It’s my birthday in Saturday!
on和具體的星期幾或日期連用:
?It’s my birthday on Saturday!
我的生日在周六!
?It’s my birthday on May 1st. (But remember: It’s my birthday in May.)我的生日在五月一號。(但是要記?。何业纳赵谖逶掠?in。)
8) it depends on
*It depends of what you want: Italian food or Chinese food.
depend后面如果要加某人或某物,一定要和on連用,不然只能說it depends。
?It depends on what you want: Italian food or Chinese food.
這取決于你想吃什么:意大利菜還是中國菜。
?We’ll go to either Disney World or the beach, depending on the weather.
我們要去迪士尼樂園或海灘,這要看天氣。
?What do you usually have for breakfast – tea or coffee? – It depends!
你早餐通常喝什么——茶還是咖啡?—看情況。
9) welcome to
*Welcome in Peru!
歡迎到某地用welcome to+地點,比如:a house/school/organization/city/country。
?Welcome to Peru!
歡迎來秘魯!
?Welcome to Cagliari.
歡迎來卡利亞里。
?Welcome to Meiji University.
歡迎來明治大學。
?Welcome to the Plaza Hotel. We hope you enjoy your stay.
歡迎來廣場飯店,我們希望你在此過得愉快。
10) married to
*He’s married with Kim.
與某人結婚要用married to或者get married to,也可以說marry sb.。
?He’s married to Kim.
他和金結婚了。
?John’s getting married to Sara next summer.
約翰明年夏天要和薩拉結婚。
?Kate is marrying my old school friend.
凱特要和我的一個老校友結婚了。