1. For this cause I've changed my major.(x)
For this reason I've changed my major. (√)
cause是造成某個(gè)事件的直接“原因”,如:The cause of most car accidents is speeding by drivers.(大部分車(chē)禍的原因是駕駛員超速。) reason是事后提出解釋的“理由”。
2. The management wanted to know the cause for the strike.(x)
The management wanted to know the cause of the strike. (√)
英文習(xí)慣上說(shuō)the reason for sth,如:Tell me the reason for your frequent absences(請(qǐng)告訴我你經(jīng)常缺課/曠職的理由.)不過(guò),the cause of sth是“發(fā)生某事的原因”的固定說(shuō)法。然而也有cause for alarm / concern/optimism/pessimism的說(shuō)法,即“驚慌/擔(dān)心/樂(lè)觀/悲觀的理由或必要”,如:There is no cause for alarm.(沒(méi)有必要驚慌嘛。)
3. Air pollution is the most important cause of acid rain.(x)
Air pollution is the major cause of acid rain. (√)
中文可以說(shuō)“最重要的原因”,英文卻不可說(shuō)the most important cause。正確的說(shuō)法是 a / the chief / major / primary cause。
4. The poem sings the joy of being young.(x)
The poem celebrates / sings of the joy of being young.(√)
詩(shī)歌“歌頌”某物,須用 celebrate sth 或 sing of sth,不過(guò)后者是較為傳統(tǒng)的說(shuō)法。
5. The festival is alive with celebrities and other activities. (x)
The festival is alive with celebrations and other activities. (√)
celebrities是“名人”,與other activities (其他活動(dòng))不能對(duì)應(yīng),須用celebrations(慶?;顒?dòng))才貼切。
6. There are certainly things we need to discuss.(x)
There are certain things we need to discuss.(√)
a certain + 單數(shù)名詞. 表“某一”; certain + 復(fù)數(shù)名詞,表“某些”。certainly是副詞,表“的確”,通常置于被修飾的動(dòng)詞或形容詞之前,如:There certainly are things we need to discuss.(的確有些事情我們需要討論一番。)
7. I know for certainty that the thief is hiding in here somewhere.(x)
I know for certain that the thief is hiding in here somewhere.(√)
know/say for certain(有把握知道/說(shuō)出)為固定用法。如要用certunty,則必須說(shuō)I know with certainty that....。
8. A new law has been enacted to protect the physically challenging.(x)
A new law has been enacted to protect the physically challenged. (√)
challenging是形容詞,意為“具有挑戰(zhàn)性的”,如:The task is at once challenging and rewarding.(這項(xiàng)工作既富挑戰(zhàn)性且同時(shí)具有回饋性。) the physically /mentally challenged (身心障礙者)是代替the handicapped 的較委婉的說(shuō)法。
9. You did have a chance, but you destroyed it.(x)
You did have a chance, but you blew it. (√)
“毀掉一個(gè)機(jī)會(huì)”的說(shuō)法是 blow / ruin / spoil a chance。
10. This will increase your chances to win the election.(x)
This will increase your chances of winning the election. (√)
當(dāng)chance=opportunity(機(jī)會(huì))時(shí),其后可接動(dòng)詞不定式,如:I had no chance to introduce myself.(我沒(méi)有機(jī)會(huì)作自我介紹。)不過(guò),當(dāng)chance=possibility((可能性;幾率)時(shí),其后須接 of + N/V-ing。