PETS-2语法讲解(308)
What's it for?
当我们看到什么东西不知道它的用途的时候,英文可以问:What's it for? 这个有什么用呢? 也有其它的说法:What is it used for? (它的用处是什么?)/What's its purpose? (它的目的是什么?)/What's its function? (它的功能是什么?)。
对 话
Edward: (Under car)Hey, could you pass me that small box? I really need it.
Bruce: What, this one next to your tools?
Edward: Yes, that's it, the small box next to my wrenches. Quick, it's urgent.
Bruce: Here you are. What's it for? Is it an engine part or something? It sounds vital and important.
Edward: It sure is. It's my beer cooler. My, this is thirsty work.
爱德华:(在车底下)嗨,请你拿那个小盒子给我吧,我要用它。
布鲁斯:什么?是否在你的工具旁边的那个?
爱德华:对,就是在我的扳拑旁边的那个小盒子,快点,急着要的。
布鲁斯:在这里,它有什么用途呢?是机件的某部份吗?看来好像很重要。
爱德华:当然是,这是我的啤酒冰箱。唉,这是令人口渴的工作。
爱德华在修理汽车,叫布鲁斯拿个盒子给他。布鲁斯问盒子有什么用:What's it for?爱德华说里面有啤酒可以解渴:My, this is thirsty work。
For字可用来说用途或目的,常和be(或is、was等be的变体)连用,例如:What is this instrument/the meeting/that for?(这工具是用来做什么的?/开会的目的是什么?/那是用来做什么的?)好挥霍的人会说:If you have money, spend it. That is what money is for.(有钱就要花掉。钱是给人花的)。
上述意思的for当然不一定要和be连用,例如:(1) What did you go there for?(= Why did you go there?你去那里干什么?)(2) They bought some machines for the manufacture of(或for making/manufacturing) toilet rolls.(他们买了一些制造卫生纸卷的机器)。留意for字带出的目的或用途,须用名词或动名词(gerund)表达。
My作感叹词,可表示惊讶、赞叹、懊恼等,例如:Oh my, what a beautiful wife you have got!(嗨,你太太真美!)
爱德华要酒解渴,可用一句俗语来说:I want to wet my whistle。Whistle是‘口哨’,作动词则是‘吹口哨’,例如:He whistled at every beautiful girl he saw on the street.(他在路上一看见美丽的女郎,就吹口哨)。口燥唇干,口哨即难吹;所以,to wet one's whistle(湿湿口哨)等于‘喝些东西’,一般指喝酒,例如:Let's go to the bar to wet our whistles(我们上酒吧喝一杯吧)
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