這幾句話的英文哪裡錯了?
你曾經因為睡過頭而這樣說嗎:Sorry, I slept over.
錯了!sleep over 是過夜,sleep in才是睡過頭。這種誤會說大不大,但有時真是糗。
英文說錯了沒人告訴你,外國同事朋友覺得「懂意思就好,沒必要糾正」、本國同事覺得「指出錯誤有點小尷尬」、「不用為你的英文負責」,於是你就帶著這些bug一輩子。
「Debug」徹底除錯適合有基本程度的English users,能自我介紹、做部分溝通,現在,把錯誤的文法、用字、口語說法…,徹底移除!
英語島採訪10位外籍教師最常聽到台灣學生犯的口語錯誤,歸納出6大類型,一次錯誤就是一次驚喜。從以下開始,剛剛的句子錯在……
錯誤No.1 中文腦直譯
* 我沒辦法接受辣的食物。
(X)I won't accept eating spicy food.
(O)I don't like/prefer eating spicy food.
* 那大概只能撐5分鐘。
(X) Only might be work for five minutes.
(O) It might work for only five minutes.
* 這是我最不希望你做的事。
(X) This is the thing I don’t want you to do the most.
(O) This is the last thing I’d expect you to do.
*我有機會進行電話會議。
(X) I have the opportunity do a conference call.
(O) I have an opportunity to participate in a conference call.
*他們很在意……。
(X) They very care….
(O) They care very much….
*我希望時間由我自己做決定。
(X) I want my time to be decision by myself.
(O) I want my time to be decided by myself.
Solution: 說出來的英文常常很「中式」,可以(1)發現老外的句子和你不一樣,立刻寫下來重複練習 (2)讀中英對照文章,眼睛讀中文,嘴巴說英文,再去對和英文原文哪裡不一樣,把這些英文模式思考內建到大腦。
NO.2 動詞不給力
*上禮拜認識了一個新朋友。
(X) I knew a new friend last week.
(O) I met a new friend last week.
*可以借一下廁所嗎?
(X) May I borrow your bathroom?
(O) May I use your bathroom?
*我要準備一場大考。
(X) I need to prepare for a big exam.
(O) I need to study for a big exam.
*我在泰國度假時住在一間不錯的飯店。
(X) I lived in a nice hotel during my vacation in Thailand.
(O) I stayed at a nice hotel during my vacation in Thailand.
Solution: 乍看之下文法沒錯的句子,其實用動詞被中文牽著走,有時候英文比較實事求是,「用」洗手間是use,「準備」考試其實是要study,「住」飯店其實只有停留stay幾天,邏輯通了就不容易再錯。
No.3 詞性搞不清
*去大賣場真好玩。
(X) Going to the mall is so funny.
(O) Going to the mall is a lot of fun.
*這個方法有效多了。
(X) That way is more efficiency.
(O) That way is more efficient.
*亞洲人
(X) Asia people
(O) Asian people
*我很急。
(X) I was very rush.
(O) I was very rushed.
*你必須排出優先順序。
(X) You need to category your priorities.
(O) You need to categorize your priorities.
Solution: 學單字要見樹見林,不要只查單字翻譯,找有各種詞性例句字典,就能掌握正確用法。例如學「決定」這個字,可以上thefreedictionary.com熟悉怎麼用動詞decide、名詞decision、形容詞decisive。