There is/are & Have/has

 

1.中文「有」其實可分為兩種用法:

(1)為實質存在,表明物體位置,用於表示客觀存在。

Ex:j百貨公司有許多人。

There are many people in the department store.

k前面有個岔路。

There is a fork in the path up ahead.

(2)只是描述某種情況,並沒有說明具體位置,因此「有」這個字其實是沒作用的。

Ex:j有許多人趕在年前回家。

Many people hurry home before Chinese New Year.

k沒有人能忍受這樣的待遇。

Nobody can tolerate this kind of treatment.

2.而have / has多用「人」當主詞。

Ex:j他有能力做那件事。

He has the ability to do that.

k我有信要寫。

I have a letter to write.

【中翻英的盲點】

關於『有』這個字的翻譯,中國學生常會受限中文字的影響,而產生問題。

例如「有許多人趕在年前回家。」句中有兩個動詞:「有」及「趕」,但是「有」其實是沒作用的,如果一定要將它翻譯出來,反而會覺得怪怪的,下列是中國學生常會翻譯出的例子:

j There are many people who hurry home before Chinese New Year.(可接受但太囉唆)

k There are many people hurrying home before Chinese New Year.(可接受但怪怪的)

l There are many people hurry home before Chinese New Year.* (文法錯誤)

Hits: 321