| 词组 | real |
| 释义 | real The adverb real, which is used only as an intensifier, developed from a use of the adjective to modify compound noun phrases like good turn. By the 18th century the real was apprehended as an intensifier modifying good alone, and its independent use grew from then. It was a development that took place, apparently, outside of mainstream British English; the OED identifies it as chiefly Scottish and American, and we have some slight Irish evidence. It has been from the start primarily a spoken use. Criticism of the adverbial real began as early as Ayres 1881, and it has not begun to drop off yet. Insofar as this criticism tells you that real is informal and more suitable to speech than to writing, it is fairly accurate. When it wanders from this line to insist that real is an adjective only, or that real is a substitute for really, it is wrong. It is potentially misleading to label real as an error for really, because real and really are not very often used in the same way. Real is a simple intensifier, more or less equivalent to very; it is used only with adjectives and adverbs. Really is a full-fledged adverb; it is only sometimes used in an intensive function, and even then is more likely to mean "truly, unquestionably" than simply "very." The handbook writer who set forth "My aunt is really ill" and "My aunt is real ill" as synonymous is mistaken. The difference can perhaps be suggested by this passage from an interview published in a University of Minnesota publication: • You work at writing for a couple of years and you get to feeling real sociable. By the end of a day spent sitting in a room with a typewriter, you're really ready to meet and greet and go hang out with your friends —Garrison Keillor, quoted in Update (Univ. of Minn.), Fall 1981 We should add here a word about speech and writing. While it is still true that real is more likely to be encountered in speech than in writing, we notice that it has spread considerably in general writing—primarily that of newspapers and magazines—as a part of an informal, conversational style. • A booth with a real different look was set up by a Los Gatos, Calif, shop —Antiques and the Arts Weekly, 3 Dec. 1982 • ... he didn't follow politics real closely —Larry Pressler, People, 12 July 1982 • ... plays a playwright who travels back in time. How? By closing his eyes and wishing real hard — David Sterritt, Christian Science Monitor, 18 Dec. 1980 • Also, armadillos are real special to Texans —Wayne King, N.Y. Times, 7 Dec. 1982 • We plan to do all of the above real soon —Playboy, August 1986 • ... who will see viewers real soon —Guy D. Garcia, Time, 29 Oct. 1984 • ... promising ourselves another visit real soon — Teresa Byrne-Dodge, Houston Post Mag., 9 Sept. 1984 • ... with the stereo turned up real loud —Jack McCallum, Sports Illustrated, 3 Nov. 1986 • On the first real warm day, you can sit on the back steps in your PJs —Garrison Keillor, Lake Wobegon Days, 1985 Although this is mainly an American usage, we do have just a bit of British evidence: • I'm having a real good time —Ellen Terry, letter, 7 Dec. 1896 • The baddies were real bad, and the hero was intensely heroic —Benny Green, Punch, 4 May 1976 • A real swish, swinging rally is in store at Great Brick-hill on Saturday —Bucks Standard (Newport Pag-nell, England), 20 Sept. 1974 Even some literary people are not averse to real in their letters: • He suffered everything but death—he is one they hung up by the heels, head downwards ... but stuck to his convictions like a hero—John Barker, a real manly fellow —Walt Whitman, letter, 9 June 1863 • It's been real hot here —Flannery O'Connor, letter, 31 Oct. 1963 • Men regard me as a real daft one —E. B. White, letter, 1 Nov. 1956 |
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