用对方的某些词汇。这样看来,上表中某些词的分法
似乎有些过时。不过,这起码能让我们了解这种现象的主要趋势,知道哪些特别词汇首先在
国开始使用的。
4.语法差异
就总体而言,英美英语都使用同一语法体系,只是在以下几方面略有差异:
(1)在某些情况下,英国人用现在完成时,而美国人则用一般过去时。
英国英语常用现在完成时表示距现在不远的过去所发生的事情,而美国英语则倾向于
一般过去时。据调查,英国人使用过去时与现在完成时的比例约为2∶1,而美人约为3.5∶1
可见美国人较少使用现在完成时。例如:
Br.E: Bill has just called.
Am.E: Bill just called.比尔刚刚来过电话。
Br.E: The train left a minute ago. We’ve just missed it.
Am.E: The train left a minute ago. We just missed it.
火车一分钟前开走了,我们刚好错过。
Br.E: Have you eaten yet?
Am.E: Did you eat yet?吃过了吗?
(2)动词“get”的过去分词不同
美国英语“get”的过去分词有两种形式:“got”和“gotten”;而英国英语只有“got”一种形式。
注意,有些动词在英国英语里是不规则动词,而在美国英语中是规则动词,其过去分词
全不同。
(3)虚拟语气用法不同
美国英语基本保留了传统的虚拟语气形式(即动词原形),而英国英语除了法律条文和极
正式文体外,普遍在虚拟语气从句动词前加should。如:
Am.E: I suggest that the meeting be postponed.
Br.E: I suggest that the meeting should be postponed.
(我建议推迟会议。)
Am.E: It is vital important that the motion be placed on the agenda.
Br.E: It is vital important that the motion should be placed on the agenda.
(动议被列入议事日程是至关重要的。)
(4)在重复不定代词“one”作主语的句子中用法不同
美国英语里,如果句首用了one,那么,后面再提到这个one时就常用he, him, his和him-
self;而在英国英语里仍用one, one’s和oneself重复。如:
Am.E: One cannot succeed unless he tries hard.
Br.E:One cannot succeed unless one tries hard.
一个人不奋力拼搏是不会成功的。
Am.E: One should be careful in talking to his colleagues.
Br.E: One should be careful in talking to one’s colleagues.
和同事谈话应该小心。
(5)某些介词表达法不同
Am.E Br.E
Mary aims to become a writer. Mary aims at becoming a writer.
Le’s check that out. Let’s check up on that.
Please fill out the form. Let’s fill in the form.
My plan is different than yours. My plan is different from yours.
He starts his vocation Friday. He starts his vocation on Friday.
The conference begins March 1. The coference begins on March 1.
The swimming pool is open days The swimming pool is open each day
from June through September. from June to September.
Is George home? Is George at home?
I live on Lawton Street. I live in King Street.
Drinking tea is preferable Drinking tea is preferable
than drinkingwine. to drinkingwine.
(6)冠词用法差异
在冠词用法上,美国英语倾向简化,常省略冠词。而英国英语则要加冠词。这一现象在一
些表示时间概念的短语中尤为常见。如:
all afternoon, all winter, all week, all year round,
day before yesterday, this time of year
在of短语限定的名词(多为抽象名词)前,美国英语常省略冠词。如:
Substitution of iron forwood hastened the development of industry.
铁代替木材加快了工业的发展。
Sight of better implements filled the Indians with amazement.
看到了更好的工具,印第安人感到很惊异。
在表示疾病的名词前美国英语不用冠词,而英国英语则不然。如:
Am.E: measles麻疹,mumps腮腺炎,flu流感,scarlatina猩红热,smallpox天花
Br.E: the measles麻疹,the mumps腮腺炎,the flu流感,the scarlatina猩红热,
the smallpox天花
在河流、瀑布等的名词前,英国英语用定冠词“the”;而美国英语则省略。
the Mississippi, the Niagara Falls
但英国英语中也有不用冠词的一些短语,在美国英语却要加冠词。如:
Br.E: go into hospital, in hospital, go to school, at school
Am.E: go into the hospital, in the hospital, go to the school, at the school
Br.E: He has gone to school.
Am.E: He has gone to the school.
(7)美国英语经常省略一句话或短语中语法上不必要的词。如:
Go (to) see a doctor.去看医生。
five miles (and) a half五英里半
one/a cup (of) tea一杯茶
one bottle (of) beer一瓶啤酒
(Have you) been to Beijing?你到过北京吗?
(I have ) never seen such a thing.我从未见过这样的事儿。
Be careful when (you) cross the street.你过马路时要当心。
Where (are you) going?你到哪里去?
(You) see?你懂吗?
(You had) better go out right away.你最好马上出去。
———Where (do) you room?———你住在哪儿?
———(I do) up on the 4thfloor,405.———四楼405。
What (did)you say?你说什么?
(Do you) speak English?你讲英语吗?
(Are you) busy?你忙吗?
(Is there) anything else?还有事吗?
(8)表达“你有……吗?”的不同句式
应该注意,当问到“你此时拥有什么”时,美国英语用“Do
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