三、 常见习惯用语

　　(一)　知识概要

　　由于英语国家的语言习惯与中国的语言习惯有许多不同之处，所以造成了许多同学在做选择或书写，或与人交谈中造成误用中国方式来对英语的问句作解答。例如一 个小女孩十分好看，可爱，外国人见到时会讲： You are so beautiful? 这时的答语应该是 Thank you? 如果外国人发现你的英语不错，他们会讲： Your English is very good? 这时中国人常常会说：不，我说的不好。这纯是一种礼貌的答语，但是不符合英语习惯。它正确的答语应是 Thank you? 虽然交际英语有一些规律可讲，但更重要的是学习外国的生活习惯，了解他们的文化背景，历史渊源，这样才能真正的学好一门外语。

　　(二)　正误辨析

　　[误] - What can I do for you?

　　- Yes， please help me?

　　[正] - What can I do for you?

　　- I'd like to buy a sweater?

　　[析] What can I do for you? 这一问语实际上用于的情景很多，要根据具体情况而定。如在商店中售货员讲这句话应译为：您想要点什么?在其他场合也可以被译为：我能为您做些什么?它的答语应是直接讲出想让对方提供的帮助。

　　[误] - Which colour do you like?

　　- Sorry， I don't like?

　　[正] - Which colour do you like?

　　- I prefer blue?

　　[析] 由 which 来提问的问句是要回答具体的选择，而不能泛指，泛泛的回答。如 Yes， I like it?

　　[误] Do you like to come with us tonight?

　　[正] Would you like to come with us tonight?

　　[析] Do you like … 问的是对方的习惯，如： Do you like swimming? Do you like collecting stamps? 而 would you like … 则是一次性的邀请、提议。邀请的英语表达法还有如下几种：

　　Shall we go? 我们走吧!

　　Let's go? 让我们走吧!

　　How about having a cup of tea? 喝杯茶如何?

　　What about a cup of coffee? 喝杯咖啡如何?

　　Why not buy it? 为什么不买呢?

　　其肯定答语一般为Certainly， Yes， O.K.　All right， With pleasure?

　　[误] Sorry， I've kept you waiting?

　　Not at all?

　　[正] Sorry， I've kept you waiting?

　　Never mind?

　　[析] "介意不介意"这一问法与答语在中英文中有所不同。如：

　　- Do you mind my smoking here?　- _________

　　A.　Yes， do it please?

　　B.　No， of course not?

　　C.　Yes， take it please?

　　D.　No， you can't take it?

　　这时正确的选择应是B。 其意为：不介意，当然不。而A选项则自相矛盾了，它应译为：是的我介意，请抽吧。而D选项是：不介意，你不能抽。当向对方争求意见时，可以有以下问法：

　　Do you mind if I open the door?

　　Would you mind mailing the letter for me?

　　其答语如果是同意应为： Certainly not， not at all?

　　而不同意时应为 Yes， 或 I'm sorry?

　　[误] What's that man?

　　He is Mike?

　　[正] What's that man?

　　He is a teacher?

　　[正] Who's that man?

　　He is Mike? (He is Mike's father?)

　　[析] 由 what 提问是问的职业，由 who 提问问的是姓名或身份。

　　[误] - How much are they?

　　- Half a kilo， please?

　　[正] - How many bananas do you want?

　　- Half a kilo? Please?

　　[析] How much are they? 问的是价格而不是实际物品的多少。

　　[误] I'm sorry， but is this the way to the park?

　　[正] Excuse me， but is this the way to the park?

　　[析] I'm sorry 是对已经做错了的事向对方道歉时的开始语。而 Excuse me? 是在打扰对方之前表达歉意的话。

　　[误] - Have a good time tonight!

　　- You are the same?

　　[正] - Have a good time tonight!

　　- The same to you?

　　[析] The same to you 是表达我也祝您有个愉快的夜晚，它是美语中的习惯用法。

　　[误] - What's the problem?

　　- I've got a headache?

　　[正] What's wrong with you?

　　I've got a headache?

　　[析] What's wrong with you? 是询问对方身体状态如何，而 What's the problem?是问对方遇到了什么麻烦。

　　[误] - Now， I'm back? Can I play?

　　- Perhaps? You'd better do your homework first?

　　[正] - Now， I'm back? Can I play?

　　- I'm afraid not? You'd better do your homework first?

　　[析] Perhaps 是表示对一种拿不准的事态的推论，如： Am I right? Perhaps?而 I'm afraid not? 则表达一种不同意的态度。 be afraid 的几种用法有：

　　I'm afraid that you are right?

　　其后直接加宾语从句。

　　- Will you come to my birthday party?

　　- I'm afraid not? I have to go to see my father? He is in hospital?

　　其后+not，表示否定。

　　- Sorry， I don't want to go there alone， I'm afraid of the dog?

　　其后+名词，表示对某人，某物的害怕。

　　Mary is afraid of making mistakes in the exam?

　　其后+ of + 动名词，表示害怕做某事。

　　Mary is afraid to see the teacher because she didn't do well in the exam?

　　其后+ 不定式，表示不敢去做某事。

　　[误] - How soon will you be ready?

　　- Two days?

　　[正] - How soon will you be ready?

　　- In two days?

　　[析] 此题关键是要根据情景，身临其境，要注意的是对方问了什么，就应答什么。或答了什么就应问什么。 How soon 问的是"还有多久才能作完"，这时要用 in two days， 即在两小时之内即可以作完。如用 How long 提问，则答语可以用 two days。

　　[误] - Would you mind if I have some time off?

　　- I don't mind?

　　- Monday and Tuesday of next week?

　　[正] - Would you mind if I have some time off?

　　- When exactly?

　　- Monday and Tuesday of next week?

　　[析] 有的对话是复杂的，稍有不慎就有可能选错，而且英语中如选错了答案是不容易找出错来的。 I don't mind 是可以用来回答 Would you mind…这一提问的，但如仔细看一看则会发现我们要选用的不是陈述句而是疑问句。根据下面一句的答语来判定要用 when exactly? 什么时间，这样才能与下句中具体的时间相符合。

　　[误] Suppose your name is Tom? The phone rings and you pick it up? The first word you say will probably be "Who are you?"

　　[正] Suppose your name is Tom? The phone rings and you pick it up? The first word you say will probably be "Hello? This is Tom speaking?"

　　[析] 在英语学习中，习惯用法实际上在某种情况，或某种意义上讲比语法更为重要。如果只从句子的角度上去分析，它们可能都是对的。比如，当你拿起电话时，如果你 想知道对方是谁，可以问"Who's that(speaking)?"但不要讲"Who are you?"如果你想先介绍一下自己可以讲"This is ×××× speaking"而不要讲"I'm　××××"也不要讲"My name is ×××××."　就语法而论，"Who are you?" "I'm ××××?""My name is ×××××?"并不错，也是英语中可用的句子，但就打电话这一场合，就不宜用了。

　　[误] - Do you think it's going to rain over the weekend?

　　- I don't hope so?

　　[正] - Do you think it's going to rain over the weekend?

　　- I hope not?

　　[析] 由于初学者对实际英语口语中表达感情意愿的答语不熟悉，如在肯定答语中 I think so? I hope so? I believe so? 是相同的，但在否定句中却常用 I don't think so? 但I don't believe so? 和 I don't hope so? 则意为：我不信此事和我不希望此事发生。而 I believe not? 和 I hope not? 则为：我想可能不会发生吧!

　　[误] - Is anybody there?

　　- No， Bob and Tom have asked for leave?

　　[正] - Is everybody there?

　　- No， Bob and Tom have asked for leave?

　　[析] 许多学生在写作和选择答语或问句时总要语法在前，而不是习惯用语在先。所以总是要拘泥疑问句中的不定代词，用 anybody。 但是Is anybody there? 在英语中为：这里有人吗?而Is everybody there?为：全都到齐了吗?所以首先要考虑的是其答语。 No， Bob and Tom have asked for leave?

　　[误] - Your handwriting is very good!

　　- No， my handwriting is very poor?

　　[正] - Your handwriting is very good!

　　- Thank you?

　　[析] 中国人遇到别人称赞，总是以谦逊为美德。但英美人则往往认为自信是美德。所以当别人夸奖你或赞美你时，就应说： Thank you? 又比如中国人见面时常讲 Where are you going? 或 Have you had your breakfast yet?而英美人则认为你过多的干预别人的私生活了。而他们见面时往往问一些无关紧要的话，如： Hello! How are you going? (你过得怎样) Morning! 等。而 good morning? 和 How do you do? 则被认为是较正规的问候语，在日常生活中则十分少见。

　　[误] When you have had dinner with an American friend and want to leave you may say： "Excuse me? I'll go first?"

　　[正] When you have had dinner with an American friend and want to leave you may say： "Excuse me? I have to go?"

　　[析] 这两句答语都是正确的，其关键不是语法，而是习惯问题。如果在这样的场合你讲 I'll go first? 朋友们会迷惑不解，而 I have to go? 则表示由于外界的特殊原因而造成的你要离去，而你本人则十分不愿做此事。

　　[误] - Would you like to come to dinner tonight?

　　- I'd like to， and I'm too busy?

　　[正] - Would you like to come to dinner tonight?

　　- I'd like to， but I'm too busy?