語法書上說的是一般情況(況且那也不是很準確的表述),而你說的都是特殊情況,如:
◆an only child 是英語慣用語,意思是“獨生子(女)”。如:
An only child is often left to his own resources. 獨生子女往往要自尋樂趣。
There was never any time for Kate to feel lonely, even though she was an only child. 凱特從沒有一刻感到寂寞孤獨,盡管她還是個獨生子。
◆first cousin 也是英語慣用表達,意思是“第一代堂(或表)兄弟”“第一代堂(或表)姐妹”,與second cousin相對應,后者的意思是“第二代堂(或表)兄弟”“第二代堂(或表)姐妹”。如:
He must be your first cousin, if your fathers were brothers. 如果你們的父親是弟兄,你們應是嫡堂兄弟了。
◆second to none 是英語習語,意思是“最好的”“不比任何人或東西差”,其字面意思是“對于任何人或東西來說都不是第二)。如:
He is second to none in enthusiasm. 他的熱情比誰都高。
As a football player John is second to none. 約翰是最好的足球運動員。
In playing the violin she is second to none in our school. 論拉提琴,她在我們學校里要算首屈一指了。
◆first thing in the morning 也是英語習語,意思是“早上起來要辦的頭一件事”。如:
I'll bring it round first thing in the morning. 我會明天一早就帶來給你。
We'll mail you a check the first thing in the morning. 我們早上要做的第一件事就是給你寄支票。
◆a last parting look 中不定冠詞其實與last沒有關系,它是修飾look的,其中的parting為形容詞,意為“離別的”。如:
With a parting look round his room, he went out. 他用惜別的眼光看了看這間房子, 然后就走出去了。
◆同上面的情況一樣,a wrong bus 中不定冠詞其實與wrong也沒有關系,它是修飾bus的,事實上 a wrong…的表達在英語很普通(好像我沒見過哪本語法書說wrong修飾名詞時其前一定要用the的)。如:
I'm afraid you have got a wrong number. 恐怕你打錯號碼了。
I might have come to a wrong conclusion. 我或許得出了錯誤的結論。
Without his glasses, he blundered into a wrong room. 因為沒戴眼鏡, 他走錯了房間。
He took a wrong turn and ended up on the coast road. 他轉錯了彎,結果到了海濱公路上。
◆a first child 與 the first child都可以說,意思都是“第一個孩子”,但用不定冠詞,為非特指;而用定冠詞,則為特指。比較并體會:
It is likely that a first child is pampered. 第一個孩子有可能被嬌慣。
The first child was born in the countryside. 第一個孩子生在鄉下。
事實上,“a first+名詞”這樣的表達在英語中很普通,不過要注意它與“the first+名詞”的區別:
He had written out a first draft. 他寫出了一個初稿。
That wasn’t bad for a first attempt. 第一次嘗試,還算不錯。
There has (got) to be a first time for everything. 做任何事都有個第一次。
He had to jump from a first floor window. 他不得不從二樓窗戶跳出來。
The move was a first step in establishing a union. 這一行動是建立聯盟的第一步。
Candidates must have a first degree at a minimum. 應征者必須至少具有學士學位。
As a first offender, he received a lenient sentence. 因為是初犯,他被從寬量刑。
The library boasts a first edition of Shakespeare. 這個圖書館以藏有初版的莎士比亞集而自豪。
He was not only admired as a first class actor and comedian, he was also making his name as a director. 他不僅以一流演員和喜劇演員而受人敬仰,而且他也是一個有名氣的導演。 回復時間:
2012/11/6 21:58:37 |