【问】 The newspapers report that at the moment he is paying his attentions to an Italian countess.

[原译]报纸报导说，他现在正在注意着一位意大利女伯爵。(书)

这种译法准确吗?

【答】 pay attention to作“注意”、“在乎”解，而pay one’s attentions to则作“追求”、“向……求婚”解。像这种由于名词的单复数形式不同而导致意义发生重大差别的例子，在英语里俯拾即是(have a word with与have words with，take note，take notes，in place与in places，at thefoot of与at the feet of)。请分析下列实例：

1. Now they ceased to pay attention to him. (Maugham)

此时他们不再注意他了。

2. Pay no attention to what that drunkard says.

不要介意那个酒鬼说的话。