其實我很抗拒寫「U.S. Troops, pleas for help. 這種這樣寫有問題嗎?」這類型的文章。
因為學英文,不應只談對錯;還要求達意。
但我知道很多學英文的人都喜歡看這類文章,因為他們往往覺得看了一個句子,無從分析其對與錯。
前幾天,有人在示威現場裡舉著“U.S. Troops, pleas for help.”的大字報,竟被藍絲說攻擊是串錯please做pleas。
英文底子不夠紮實的人無從駁斥,無從回應。
Please這個字是副詞,如果大家若略記得小學學過的英文文法規則的話。應該會知道副詞最重要的功能就是形容動詞。
我們看看以下例句:
Please help.
Please remain silent.
Please do not hesitate to contact me.
另外再看看:
Step aside, please.
Be considerate, please.
Help me, please.
從以上例子可以看到,please放在後方,我們通常會用逗號;如果放在前方,通常不會用逗號。
Please用作形容help;please用作形容remain;please用作形容do not hesitate。
或許please這個字為什麼用作形容後面的動詞不太明顯,但大家可以設想please就像是kindly的存在,形容放在它後面或前面的動詞。
(不過題外話,please和kindly的意思也是不同的,如果想知道有什麼不同,可以看看前幾天推出的影片。)
而pleas這個字則是眾數名詞;單數名詞就是plea。
為什麼有人會說U.S. Troops, pleas for help?
很簡單,因為plea這個字有懇求的意思;pleas就是超過一個懇求了。
所以說,寫 “U.S. Troops, pleas for help” 是對的;
寫 “U.S. Troops, plea for help” 也是對的;
寫 “U.S. Troops, please help” 也是對的;
但說成“U.S. Troops, please for help”就萬萬不對了。
Plea這個字,有動詞形態,動詞形態是plead。因為既可作及物動詞(transitive verb),也可作不及物動詞(intransitive verb)。
如果並非寫大字報,純粹描述香港人正在做什麼,可以寫:Hong Kong pleads the U.S. troops for help,也可以說:Hong Kong pleads for help.
也可以講成:
Hong Kong/the people in Hong Kong makes/make an urgent plea for help.
不做字源學(etymology)研究,許多第一語言用家也不知道,please和plea的字根其實是一樣的,同樣是來自拉丁文的placere。
自己不懂英文卻喜歡捉人錯處,我建議喜歡撚藍絲的朋友(雖然咁做似乎冇咩大作用),可以不妨刻意犯下文法錯誤,浪費藍絲時間,讓他們少些時間報警、和做沒有用的事;正面大愛一點看,教育一下他們。
想看排版美一點的版本,可去:https://medium.com/@tiffanysuen/u-s-troops-pleas-for-help-to-protect-hong-kong-%E9%80%99%E6%A8%A3%E5%AF%AB%E6%9C%89%E5%95%8F%E9%A1%8C%E5%97%8E-2b82b7672c0d
,
step aside意思 在 玳瑚師父 Master Dai Hu Facebook 的精選貼文
【玳瑚師父出差錄】 «傾家蕩產的人»
The man who lost his fortune (English version below)
賭,猶如一個人從海的淺處,游到海的深處,甚少有人會"急"時往身後的海岸望,又或者游回岸上。
吾在童年的時候,就已接觸賭。比如二十一點、阿十(福建話)、麻雀。。。慶幸的是,吾"沒有資格"成為賭徒。更不用說甚麼賭神、賭聖或賭鬼。賭是很迷人。但失了神迷上或染上,你,妳永遠也不用去算命了。為何?命定了啊!甚麼意思?歹命啦!為甚麼歹命呢?賭輸了錢,賭光了錢,心有不甘,四處向人借錢,欲碰碰運氣,看是否能連本帶利的贏回來。哪知,反而"要身一變"成了賭館及賭場的"恩主公"。
一個多星期前,就有一位中年男士向吾告白。原本賣了屋子,"身輕如燕"的他,卻將屋子所得之巨款,輕而易舉的投進賭海。搞到現在債務如山,老婆要離婚,等等。他當然有向吾請教,如何快捷速地的"雨過天晴"。吾依因緣,「精神統一」的觀察其面相、氣色、身型及其他,然後指點他應速速改善的方法。事後也耐心的告訴他,為何十個九個都"淪陷"於賭海。
與此同時,也告知所有"暗藏賭性"的你,妳。誠懇的祝福你,妳,不會將原有的家庭健康、信譽、財富等幸福,埋藏賭海裡。十個九個無法"瀟灑"從賭場走出來的原因之一是;全世界的賭場,由其是亞洲的,都是有佈局的。之二;賭場內有所謂的"高人"在"操控"。之三;賭場內是有"無形"在把守。在你,妳還沒進賭場前,"無形"早已將你,妳肩上的火給拍滅了。試問如何鴻運當頭?
舉凡人難免有"夢"。但這種夢,最易讓人賠了夫人又折兵。有固定的工作,固定的收入,領回家供養父母,給老婆,定期存款以備急時之需,供孩子讀書旅行增廣見聞、回饋社會、為自己積累更厚的福報,快樂、幸福而美滿。何苦要做「傾家蕩產」的人呢?
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Gambling is akin to a person walking from the shallow waters into the deep sea. Very few would turn back and return to shore in time.
I got to know gambling when I was still a child. Black Jack, Ah Chap, mahjong and all. Fortunately, I did not qualify as a gambler, not a inveterate one and definitely not the God of Gamblers! A lot of people are mesmerized by gambling but be warned that those who became addicted will never need to have their fortunes read. Why? You are destined to lead a woeful life.
Why a woeful life? Let me explain. When a person lost all his money, he would not take it lying down and would start borrowing from everyone in a bid to try his luck again and overcome his initial losses! Who knows, in a blink of an eye, he would become the big 'benefactor' of the casinos!
A week plus ago, a middle aged man made a confession to me. He was originally in a very comfortable financial position after having sold his house. He then freely gambled away the profits, and subsequently getting into mountains of debts and now faced threats of divorce from his wife. He sought my advice to solve his problem. With total focus, I observed his facial features, aura and body physique and taught him a way to quickly get out of his troubles. I then patiently explained to him why gambling is always a losing preposition for 9 out of 10 people.
This article is also meant for the secret gambler in you. I sincerely wish that you will not lose your family, your reputation and your wealth to your gambling addictions. Here are the reasons why 9 out of 10 will never walk out from the casinos with a swagger: First these big casinos, especially those in Asia, had their strategic geomancy placements set up firm and strong. Also, there are very powerful advisers who are key in controlling the entire proceedings. Lastly, there is a shroud of invisible beings guarding the casinos. Before you even step into the casino, they will have extinguish the 'fire' on your shoulders. How would you rate your winning chance then?
Everyone has their dreams, but such worldly dreams easily lead to throwing good money after bad. With a stable job and income, one can honour our parents and support the family. One can stash aside some money periodically for rainy days, use it for the children's education or spend it on travels to widen one's horizons. One can even contribute to the society and accumulate more merits. You can have a happy and blissful life. Why would you want to be the one to lose your fortune to the casinos?