雖然我主修英文,但是我對藝術更有興趣。 Although I major in English, I have more interest in art. * Although I’m majoring in English, I’m more interested in art.
Major這字必須用在 過去式 或 現在進行式 ,此外談到有興趣最好是用be interested in 或become interested in,不要用have interest in.
Ex. 2
我在國小時就接觸藝術。 I approached art when I was studied in elementary school. * I started to learn about art when I was in elementary school.
我接近藝術是中文的說法,英文裡應該說started to learn about art. 大多學生碰到要說在那兒「就讀」,都會用study一字,這是錯誤的用法。 應該說go to school,例如:What school do you go to ? 而不是What school do you study?*
逐漸接觸藝術之後,我發覺到藝術的偉大。 After touching the art step by step, I feel the art is great. * After I got to know more about art, I felt it was great.
「逐漸接觸藝術」,學生翻譯為touching the art step by step也是中國式的英文,最好說get to know more。
Ex. 3
我想我到八十歲也不會忘記它。 I think that I will not forget this thing when I’m eighty. * I will not forget this experience when I’m eighty. I don’t think (that) I will forget this experience when I’m eighty.
許多同學經常在句首用I think,但在英文裡很多時候是不必要的。I will not forget中已表示自己的認知, 可以直接說I will not forget this experience when I’m eighty. 如果堅持要用I think, 記得英文句的否定永遠放在主要動詞上,that連接受詞子句時經常可省略。 I don’t think (that) I will forget this experience when I’m eighty. 最後中文裡常會很廣泛地說說這件事,在英文裡要看事物的性質,如果很難找到合宜的字,就用this也可以。
Ex. 4
我發現學習英文不像以前那麼容易,因為我不能只瞭解一些簡單會話或文法。 I find that learning English now is not as easy as before because I can’t just understand some simple conversations or grammar. * I find (that) learning English now is not as easy as before, because it involves more than understanding some simple conversations or grammar.
我的體貼以及願意聆聽不同的想法,讓自己能夠營造團隊間的和諧氛。 Being thoughtful and listening to other’s different ideas made me know how to secure harmony among team members. * Being thoughtful and listening to other’s different ideas helped me learn how to secure harmony among team members. Being thoughtful and listening to other’s different ideas, I learned how to secure harmony among team members.
學生喜歡照中文意思「讓我…」翻譯成英文 let me, make me 是很奇怪用法,know是狀態動詞,這裡必須用動作動詞learn.
Ex. 6
我總是無法準時完成作業。 I always did not finish my homework on time. * Iseldom finished my homework on time.我一直都不知道我們是同一班的。 I always didn’t know we were in the same class.* I never knew we were in the same class.每個人上課都不應該遲到。 Everybody should not come to class late.* Nobody should come to class late.