初中英語數詞用法易錯點歸納

蔣紅秀

易錯點一：用錯“生日”前的序數詞

當我們要表示某人多少歲的生日時，我們習慣上是在birthday前用序數詞，而不是用基數詞，因為“多少歲的生日”其實指的是“第多少個生日”。如：

我們要舉辦派對慶祝吉姆的60歲生日。

正：Were having a party for Jims sixtieth birthday.

誤：Were having a party for Jims sixty birthday.

她20歲生日剛過便生下了小吉姆。

正：She gave birth to little Jim just after her 20th birthday.

誤：She gave birth to little Jim just after her 20 birthday.

易錯點二：用錯“一兩……”之類的表達

漢語說“一兩……”，說成英語可用a...or two或one or two...這樣的表達，但是不能用 one...or two或a or two...等。如：

我看到瑪麗一兩分鐘前離開的。

正：I saw Mary leaving a minute or two ago.

誤：I saw Mary leaving one minute or two ago.

要參觀這個城市一兩天就夠了。

正：One or two days are enough to see the city.

誤：A or two days are enough to see the city.

易錯點三：用錯“一個半”之類的表達

用英語表示“一個半”的方法是：a...and a half或one and a half...，但在one and a half 之后要接復數名詞，不接單數。如：

我在一個半小時之內考試完畢。

誤： I finished the examination in one and a half hour.

正： I finished the examination in an hour and a half.

正：I finished the examination in one and a half hours.

注意“兩個半”“三個半”“四個半”之類的表達。如：

Its about two and a half miles away. 大約有兩英里半遠。

This happened four and a half centuries ago. 這是四個半世紀前發生的事。

易錯點四：用錯“每隔……”的表達

用英語表示“每隔……”的最常用方法是“every+基數詞+名詞（復數）”。如：

There were traffic lights every ten yards. 每隔十碼就有紅綠燈。

Buses leave from here every five minutes. 公共汽車每隔五分鐘從這兒發車。

有時也用“every+序數詞+名詞（單數）”，注意不要弄錯了其中的名詞的數。如：

奧林匹克運動會每四年辦一次。

正：The Olympics are held every four years.

正：The Olympics are held every fourth year.

如果是表示“每隔一……”或“每兩……”，則還可以用every other...，如“每隔一年（每兩年）”可說成every two years， every second year， every other year。如：

He gets home leave every two years. 他每兩年有一次探親假。

The reunion is held every second year. 聯誼聚會每兩年舉行一次。

We go abroad for our holidays every other year. 我們每兩年出國度假一次。

注意不要將以上各用法混用在一起。如：

你只需要每隔三天給植物澆一次水。

正：You only need to water the plants every three days.

正：You only need to water the plants every third day.

誤：You only need to water the plants every three day.

誤：You only need to water the plants every third days.

易錯點五：用錯“另外幾個……”的表達

用英語表示“另外幾個……”通常是用“another+數詞+名詞”或“數詞+other+名詞”。翻譯時有時需根據具體語境靈活處理。如：

Three other students were sent to help them. 另外三個學生被派去幫助他們。

Well have to wait another three weeks for the results. 我們還得再等三周才能知道結果。

注意不要將以上表達中與數詞搭配的another和other混用。如：

我沒趕上火車，只得再等兩小時。

正：I missed the train and had to wait another two hours.

誤：I missed the train and had to wait other two hours.

易錯點六：混淆數詞的單復數形式

當要表示某人的大約年歲和世紀中的某個年代時，我們習慣上要用逢整“十”的基數詞的復數形式。如：

His family left for Paris in the nineties. 他們一家于90年代去了巴黎。

Mr Smith began to teach French in his sixtieth. 史密斯先生在60多歲開始教法語。

注意：此時的數詞不可用單數形式，而且前面的定冠詞也不可省略。如：

約翰結婚時已經40多歲了。

正：John was well into his forties before he got married.

誤：John was well into his forty before he got married.

另外，補充一點：當表示年代時，有時還會說出某個世紀，此時要使用類似以下這樣的表達：

in the 1960s 在20世紀60年代（其中的撇號可以省略）。

since the 1990s 從20世紀90年代開始。

（編輯 陳根花）