1. 表示一般意義的“同情”“憐憫”等,是不可數(shù)名詞。如:
I saved her out of pity for her child. 我出于對她小孩的同情才救她。
We were moved to pity by her suffering. 我們受她的痛苦所感動而產(chǎn)生同情。
表示具體意義的“可惜的事”“遺憾的事”等,是可數(shù)名詞。如:
It seems a pity to give up now. 現(xiàn)在放棄好像很遺憾。
What a pity you can’t go with us! 真遺憾你不能和我們一道去。
2. 表示同情某人,其后通常用介詞 for。如:
I feel no pity for you at all. 我一點也不同情你。
He was full of pity for the poor. 他很同情窮人。
但是,have (take) pity on 中通常用介詞 on。如:
Do have [take] pity on me. 千萬要可憐可憐我。
She took pity on him and gave him some money. 她同情他,給了他一些錢。
3. 在“It’s a pity+that 從句”這一句式中,有時可省略句首的 It’s a。如:
他沒有及早想到這一點真是遺憾。
正:Pity that he didn’t think of this earlier.
正:It’s a pity that he didn’t think of this earlier.
有時其后的從句可用虛擬語氣,尤其是當從句有“竟然”之意時。如:
Pity [It’s a pity] that you should have to leave. 你非走不可真是可惜。
It’s a pity that he should have failed in the exam. 他竟然沒有考及格真是遺憾。