問: I like to swim和 I like
swimming意思有分別嗎?動詞之後,用「 to+原形動詞( infinitive)」或 ing動詞,有沒有規則可循?
答:第二個問題的答案是「沒有」。例如「我喜歡游泳」,英文可說 I like to swim、 I like swimming或 I enjoy swimming,卻不可說 I enjoy to
swim。不同動詞有不同的慣用法,否則學習英文會容易得多。
而說習慣上、取捨上的「喜歡」, like之後會用「 to+原形動詞」,不用 ing動詞。例如「他習慣事事齊齊整整」,英文是 He likes to keep everything neat and tidy,不宜說 He likes keeping everything neat and tidy。同樣道理, I didn't like to wait是說「我不想等候」,說話者當時應該沒有等候; I didn't like waiting則是說「我不喜歡等候」,說話者當時確有等候,現在訴說等候時的感覺。
留意 like to do something和
should/ would like to do something意思不同。 Should/ would
like to do something表示「想做某事」,例如
He would like to keep everything neat and tidy是說「他希望事事齊整」,但習慣上他未必事事整齊。
問:考評局最近發表的通識試卷式樣有以下一句,是什麼意思?— Discuss whether prejudice
poses difficulties for the personal development of people in Hong Kong from
ethnic minorities。
答:這一句似乎沒有什麼難以明白,意思是:「歧視有沒有妨礙香港少數民族人士身心、能力等的發展?試申己見。」