問:
Subject to這詞語有時作形容詞,有時作動詞,用法有什麼不同?
答:作形容詞的
subject to,指「容易受到……影響」或「須獲得或符合某些條件」, subject和 to之間不可有受詞( object);作動詞的
subject to,則指「使遭受某種待遇」, subject和
to之間可以有受詞,例如:( 1) He is subject
to headaches(他常患頭痛)。( 2) The
treaty was subject to the president's approval(條約須獲總統批准)。(
3) The candidates were subjected to many tests/ We
subjected the candidates to many tests(我們多方考驗應徵者)。
問: The
surgery was effective at transforming otherwise difficult and uncontrollable
individuals into placid, carefree creatures這一句,意思是什麼?
Otherwise一字又是怎樣用的?
答:這一句是說:「不是這手術有效,就無法把難以應付、無可控制的人,變成平靜、無憂無慮的傢伙。」 Otherwise指「假如沒有某事物,另一事物就會發生」、「此外」或「並非如此」,多用在子句(
clause)之前,但也會用在句中,例如:( 1) You
must have a membership card, otherwise you will be refused entry(你必須有會員證,否則不得進入)。( 2) He is somewhat
bad-tempered, but otherwise a good guy(他是個很不錯的傢伙,只是脾氣不大好)。(
3) They say Hong Kong is self-governing, but the facts
are otherwise(他們說香港是自治的,事實卻並非如此)。