2012年2月10日星期五

古德明: 選擇題




問:It is advised to book hotel at least two weeks in advance if you intend to stay at / in Hong Kong(假如你有意在香港稍留,最好提早兩個星期預訂酒店房間)這一句,應用at還是in

答:這一句的It is advised應改為It is advisableYou are advised,而to book hotel則應改為to make a hotel reservation。至於stay,其後一般可用at,也可用inat多帶出較小的地方,in則多帶出較大的地方,例如to stay at a hotel(在某旅館住宿)、to stay in a country(在某個國家逗留)。讀者示下那一句,用in當然較好。

問:The college plans to spend 15 years to become / becoming a private university這一句,應用become還是becoming

答:這一句是說「學院計劃用十五年成為私立大學」,但較好說法是The college plans to achieve the status of a private university in 15 yearsThe college plans to become a private university in 15 years

論文法,「spend+受詞(object)」之後,可用「to+原形動詞(infinitive)」或「ining動詞」或只用ing動詞,但不可用「toing動詞」,例如:He spent much of his time / money to help(或helping / in helpingothers(他的時間/金錢,不少都用來幫助別人)。讀者說的那一句,當然不應用to becoming

一般而言,to之後,假如可用名詞,則才可以用ing動詞,例如:I am used to this weather / walking long distances(我習慣了這種天氣/走遠路)。