释义 |
■ even1) 作为副词,even 可以起两个相反方向的进一步强调作用,一个是正面方向的“甚至更加如何如何”;一个是负面方向的“甚至连这个也没有”。正面的进一步强调, - It's warm there even in December.那里甚至十二月也暖和。
- Even a child could do it.这样的事情连一个小孩子都能做。
- It would be madness even to attempt it.哪怕试试这样干也是发疯。
- The next day was even colder.次日更加寒冷。
- He seemed indifferent, even hostile.他的样子很冷淡,甚至带敌意。
负面的进一步强调, - He can't even sew a button on.他连一个扣子都不会钉。
- Don't even think about it.这件事情,你想也别想它。
- I am tasting happiness never even dreamt of before.我尝到从前连做梦也想不到的幸福。
2) 英语往往有些本来在从句中的成分“跳”到了主句中。 - I don't think you're right (= I think you aren't right),但有时候则本来在主句中的成分“跳”到了从句中。
even 作为一个负极性项 (negative polarity item, NPI),就通常出现在表示否定、怀疑或假设的从句之中,此时千万不要把 even 理解为加强从句中的肯定。 - The Sun's gravity holds this solar system together. In fact, the Sun's gravity is why we even have a solar system. (= In fact, the Sun's gravity even is why...) (Kids Discover)太阳的引力使得这个太阳系合在一起。实际上,就连太阳系之所以存在,也是由于太阳的引力。
- ... and Dr. DeBakey denying— implausibly, many say—that there even was a feud. (=... and Dr. DeBakey even denying...) (The New York Times, Science, Nov. 27, 2007, F1)…德贝基大夫甚至否认——许多人说这个否认是很勉强的——彼此有什么不和。
- Before she had even (= even before she had...) buckled herself in, the craft was airborne, banking hard across the Virginia woods. (Dan Brown, Deception Point, p.18)她还没来得及扣好坐稳,直升飞机就离地升空,斜斜地掠过弗吉尼亚的森林。
- Some question whether the sunken ship has even been found. (= Some even question whether the sunken ship has been found.)有些人连该沉船是否已被发现也提出质疑。
- Only 3 percent of Americans were even aware such an agency existed.哪怕仅仅知道有这个机构存在的美国人,也只有百分之三。
- The question is whether those forces are the right tool for the job at hand—can any number of US troops stop what has become a Sunni-Shiite civil war?—not to mention whether they're even available. (Newsweek, Jan. 8, 2007, p.26)问题在于这些兵力是否就是适合当前任务的工具——哪怕是多大数量的美国军队,就能制止一场已经发展成为逊尼与什叶两派内战的战争吗?——更何况这些兵力能否弄到还是个问题。
- A promising model has emerged in Brooklyn, where District Attorney Charles Hynes started his re-entry program long before other jurisdictions even realized they were necessary. (The New York Times, Nov. 29, 2007, A30, Editorial)一个有发展前途的(防止重新犯罪的)模式已经出现在布鲁克林,该地的区检察长海恩斯,甚至早在其他司法辖区尚未意识到有采取这些措施的必要之前很久,就开始推行了他的“回归社会”方案。
3) even 尽管既可以用于加强肯定,也可以用于加强否定,但是如果用于是否疑问句中,它的意思,按照语境或前后文,也可能并不是加强肯定,而是减弱肯定,加强否定的可能性。 - Did she even have a reason?她难道还有什么理由吗?
(有 reason 是最起码的要求,不可能是进一步的要求“甚至还有理由”。)奥巴马当选美国总统后,有人不服气,提出种种疑问,其中之一是对他是否真的出生在美国表示怀疑(美国宪法规定总统必须是土生的美国公民),说:Was he even born in the United States? 这里的 even,就不是加强肯定的“甚至”,反而是减弱肯定、加强否定的“难道”、“甚至连…也成问题”。但是如果问句不是一个 yes-no 的一般疑问句,而是一个特殊疑问句,句中的动词,其内容就是谈话双方都肯定了的,even 就是加强肯定。 - Why did God even place such a tree in the garden if he didn't want Adam to consume its fruit?上帝既然不想亚当吃树上的果实,那么他为什么还把这样一棵树放在伊甸园里呢?
4) even 最常用的是作为副词,大家心目中也习惯它作为副词的用法。但是 even 也可以作为形容词,意思是“平整的”、“齐平的”、“均衡的”、“平均的”、“均等的”、“打成平手的”。 - even ground平地
- an even coastline平整的海岸线
- an even game难分输赢的比赛
- to break even不赢不亏
- to plane the boards down to make them even把那些木板刨平
- The floor is not even.地面不平。
- He kept his voice even.他的声音平稳。
- After four rounds they're even.经过四个回合,他们打成了个平手。
- He stands an even chance of winning.他输赢的机会各半。
- So now we're even. 或 So that makes us even.现在咱们谁也不欠谁的了。
- Before Tuesday's voting, the two were even among white males this year. (The Associated Press, Feb. 13, 2008)在星期二的投票之前,他们两人今年在白种男性当中势均力敌。
- He's itching for a chance to get even.他渴望有机会能够报一箭之仇。
- ... and McCain's revival has not been robust enough to bring him even with Barack Obama. (George Will, Sunday Gazette, Schenectady, New York, Aug. 18, 2008, F2)…麦凯恩的卷土重来,势头并不够壮,不足以使他同奥巴马平起平坐。
有时候,even 本来作形容词用,但是后面还有副词成分,此时容易把 even 误认为副词(“甚至”)。 - Estrada sighed with relief, knowing he was closer to breaking even for the day. (The Washington Post, Feb. 24, 2008, A15)这里不能把 even for the day 连在一起,因为 even 在此是个形容词,break even 是收支相抵。所以全句应该译为:“埃斯特拉达松了一口气,他知道他今天的收支是相抵了。”
目录 |