2012年9月19日星期三

整個社會、可獲優待 - 古德明

2012年09月19日 - 蘋果 

問:The society as a whole(整個社會)的the字有沒有誤用?

答:這位讀者是今年中文大學英文系新生,說「上課時見到」這寫法。但不管是見於書本還是黑板,the society as a whole的the都應刪去。「整個社會」英文可說society as a whole或the community as a whole,例如:This is a policy that should benefit society as a whole / the community as a whole(這政策應對整個社會有利)。韋氏詞典Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's English Dictionary society條也有以下例句:Poverty hurts society as a whole(貧窮有損整個社會)。

「整個社會」的另一說法是society at large或the community at large。例如:This is a policy that should benefit society at large。

問:By collecting 30 credits, you will be upgraded to Gold membership which entitles you to exclusive offers這一句,entitles要不要改為will entitle?

答:這一句想是錄自宣傳文件,意思是「得到三十分,你就會晉升為黃金會籍,可獲特殊優待」。由於你現在還未得黃金會籍,「可獲特殊優待」是未來的事,所以用未來式的will entitle,絕對勝於現在式的entitles。當然,以下一句,說一般情況,則應用現在式動詞:Gold membership entitles the member to exclusive offers。

此外,原句的membership之後,最好加一逗點,因為那which子句(clause)並無界定(defining)作用。

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