我们中国人讲英语,一般都是顺着中从小到大用惯的中式语序,也就是中式思维。但这样往往会让外国人听得一脸懵逼......
1. 我非常喜欢它。
I very like it .✘
I like it very much. ✔
2. 这个价格对我挺合适的。
The price is very suitable for me. ✘
The price is right. ✔
Note:
suitable(合适的、相配的)最常见的用法是以否定的形式出现在告示或通知上。
如:
The program is not suitable for children.
这个节目儿童不宜。
3. 你是做什么工作的呢?
What’s your job? ✘
Are you working at the moment? ✔
Note:
what’s your job?这种说法难道也有毛病吗?是的。因为如果您的谈话对象刚刚失业,如此直接的问法会让对方有失面子,所以您要问:
Are you working at the moment?
(目前您是在上班吗?)
接下来您才问:
Where are you working these days?
(目前您在哪儿工作呢?)
What line of work are you in?
或者您从事哪个行业呢?
顺带说一下,回答这类问题时不妨说得具体一点,不要只是说经理或者秘书。
4. 用英语怎么说?
How to say? ✘
How do you say this in English? ✔
Note:
How to say?是在中国最为泛滥成灾的中国式英语之一,这决不是地道的英语说法.
同样的句子有:
How do you spell that please?
请问这个词如何拼写?
How do you pronounce this word?
请问这个单词怎么读?
5. 明天我有事情要做。
I have something to do tomorrow. ✘
Sorry but I am tied up all day tomorrow. ✔
Note:
用I have something to do.来表示您很忙,这也完全是中国式的说法。因为每时每刻我们都有事情要做,躺在那里睡大觉也是事情。所以您可以说我很忙.I’m tied up.(脱不开身)
还有其他的说法:
I can’t make it at that time.
I’d love to, but I can’t.
I have to stay at home.
6. 我想我不行。
I think I can’t. ✘
I don’t think I can. ✔
Note:
这一组然是个习惯问题,在语法上称为否定前置,这就是汉语里面说“我想我不会”的时候,英语里面总是说“我不认为我会”。以后您在说类似的英语句子的时候,只要您留心,也会习惯英语的说法的.
7. 我的舞也跳得不好。
I don’t dance well too. ✘
I am not a very good dancer either. ✔
Note:
当我们说不擅长做什么事情的时候,英语里面通常用not good at something,英语的思维甚至直接踊跃到:我不是一个好的舞者。
8. 现在几点钟了?
What time is it now? ✘
What time is it, please? ✔
Note:
What time is it now?这是一个直接从汉语翻译过的句子,讲英语的时候没有必要说now,因为您不可能问what time was it yesterday? 或者what time is it tommorow?
还有一种说法是:
How are we doing for time?
这句话在有时间限制的时候特别合适.
9. 我的英语很糟糕。
My English is poor. ✘
I am not 100% fluent, but at least I am improving. ✔
Note:
有人开玩笑说,全中国人最擅长的一句英文是:My English is poor.实话说,我从来没有遇到一个美国人对我说:My Chinese is poor. 无论他们的汉语是好是坏,他们会说: I am still having a few prblem, but I getting better.
当您告诉外国人,您的英语很poor,so that(那又怎么样呢),是要让别人当场施舍给我们一些英语呢,还是说我的英语不好,咱们不谈了吧。另外一个更大的弊端是,一边不停的学英语,一边不停地说自己的英语很poor,这正像有个人一边给车胎充气,又一边在车胎上扎孔放气。
10. 你周五愿意参加我们的晚会吗?
Would you like to join our party on Friday? ✘
Would you like to come to our party on Friday night? ✔
Note:
join往往是指参加俱乐部或者协会,如:join the Communist Party.事实上,常常与party搭配的动词的come 或者go。如go a wild party,或者come to a Christmas Party。