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4. |
big, large, great𣿅 |
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1. |
在現代英語裏，great 通常不用作大小的 "大"，該用
big 或 large。大體而言，這兩個字並無太大的區別，常可通用，不過 big 比較常用於日常口語中，而
large 則比較正式一點。 如：𣿅 |
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(1) |
Mummy, can I have a big lunch today?
(媽咪，今天我可不可以吃一頓豐盛的午餐?)𣿅 |
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(2) |
Sir Henry was feeling decidedly sleepy after a large lunch.𣿅
(亨利爵士吃過了豐盛的午餐後，很顯然地想睡覺了。
)𣿅 |
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2.
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若非指實質上的大小，而是指"重大的"事情或行動時，可用big或great,但後者比較正式，前者較為通俗。 如：𣿅
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(1)
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You're making a big (or great) mistake.
(你正犯了一項重大的錯誤。)𣿅
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(2) |
There's a great (or big) improvement upon your first
attempt.𣿅
(這比你第一次的嘗試大有進步。)𣿅 |
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(3) |
We've made a great (or big, long) step towards
success.𣿅
(我們已向成功之路邁進了一大步。)𣿅 |
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(4) |
A great (or big) change will certainly be produced in
the world's situation.𣿅
(世界局勢一定會有重大的改變。)𣿅 |
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(註) |
此種含義的 big 也可指人， 如 big man(大人物)， a big
fool(大傻瓜)𣿅 |
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3. |
只有great才可以修飾不可數的名詞， 意思是"許多的"，
"非常的"。 如： |
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(1) |
I had great difficulty in getting through on the phone.
(我好不容易才打通電話。) |
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(2) |
The matter is of great importance to us.
(這件事對我們而言極為重要。) |
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其他如： |
great care(非常小心)，
great happiness(許多快樂，非常快樂)， great |
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sorrow(極為憂慮)， great charm(極為嬌媚)等。 |
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4. |
great 還可作 "有名的"、"有權勢的"、"有歷史價值的"
講。 如： |
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(1) |
Napoleon was not a big man, but he was a great man.𣿅
(拿破侖並非大人物，但是他是位名人。)𣿅 |
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(2) |
One of his greatest paintings was stolen a few days ago.
(他的最有歷史價值的畫之一〔他的名畫之一〕幾天前被偷了。
)𣿅 |
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5. |
在比較通俗的口語中， great常被用來表示"喜歡"、"讚賞"、"驚歎"。 如：𣿅 |
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(1) |
"How do you like my dress?" "Great!"
("你喜不喜歡我這件衣服?"
"非常喜歡!")𣿅 |
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(2) |
"Would you like to go climbing tomorrow?" "Great!"𣿅
("你要不要明天去爬山呀
?" "好極了!") |
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(3) |
What a great dog!(好大的狗啊!) |
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(4) |
What a great thick stick!(好粗的一根手杖啊!)𣿅 |
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(5) |
Great party that was!(真是一次盛大的聚會!) |
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本句原是 That was a great party!
為了要加強語氣將 great party 移置在句首，而且將不定冠詞 a 省略 (詳見p.128-10)𣿅 |
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6. |
great 和 big可以連在一起同時使用，以表示 "驚訝"、"讚賞"、"憤怒"、"厭煩"、"輕蔑"
等各種不同情緒，必須注意的是一定是 great 在前， big 隨後。
如：𣿅 |
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(1) |
See what a great big fish I've caught!
(你看我捉到了好大的一條魚!)𣿅 |
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(2) |
You great big fool!(你這個大笨牛!)𣿅 |
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(3) |
Move your great big smelly feet!(移開你的臭腳!)𣿅 |
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(4) |
Take your great big head out of my light!
(把你的大頭移開，它擋住了我的光線!)𣿅 |
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5. |
tall, high𣿅 |
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1. |
指人、樹、竹、摩天樓、塔、工廠的煙囪以及其他高度大於其他方向延伸的長度而且頂端不與其他物體相連的物體之"高"時，用tall，不用high。 如： |
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(1) |
One boy is short; the other is tall.
(其中一個男孩很矮，另外一個很高。)𣿅 |
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(2) |
There's a lovely tall tree in our garden. |
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(我們的花園裏有一棵很可愛的很高的樹。) |
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(註) |
小孩子站在椅子上可能比大人高，這種比較高不用taller，該用
higher。 如： |
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The child standing on the chair looks higher than his father. |
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(站在椅子上的那個小孩看起來比他爸爸高。) |
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2. |
指龐然大物的高或高高在上的高用high，不用tall。 如： |
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(1) |
The high mountains are capped with snow.(那些高山都覆蓋著皚皚白雪。) |
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(2) |
The airplane flies high.(飛機飛得高。)𣿅 |
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(註) |
鞋跟的上端因為與鞋底相連所以不能用tall來形容其高，該用
high。 如： |
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She wears high heels to make herself look taller. |
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(她穿高跟鞋是要使她顯得更高。)𣿅 |
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3. |
說某人有幾呎幾吋高的 "高" 用 high 與 tall均可。 如： |
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(1) |
My husband is (or stands) 4 feet 6 inches high (or tall). |
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(我先生四呎六吋高。)𣿅 |
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(2) |
A person who stands 7 feet high is very tall.(一個七呎高的人是很高了。
) |
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4. |
指抽象的而非實際高度的高 (如高級的、高價的、高調的等等)只可用 high。 如： |
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(1) |
We pay a high rent for this house.(我們付出很高的租金租了這棟房子。) |
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(2) |
Most women have higher voices than men.(大多數的婦女比男士嗓音高。)𣿅 |