英语语法精讲：形似义异的句子
英语句子千变万化，但都有一定的句法。有些句子，外表相似，但含义不同。有时两个句子中，只有一个字不同，甚至只有一个标点不同，句子的意思也跟着不同。有趣的是，句子越浅白，问题可能越多。现在看看这两个句子：
(1) Ken said he had been fairly well treated.
(2) Ken said he had been fairly treated.
这两个句子都有副词“fairly”，但是在(1)里，它是个程度副词(adverb of
degree)，意思是“相当地”。在(2)里，它是个状态副词(adverb of
manner)，意思是“公平地”。第一个“fairly”修饰另一个副词“well”;第二个“fairly”修饰动词“treated”。
再看看这两个句子：
(3) Jimmy didn't buy the coat because it did not fit him.
(4) Jimmy didn't buy the coat because it did not suit him.
(3)和(4)的唯一差别是在动词“fit”和“suit”。前者指“尺寸”;后者指“款式”。区区一字之别，意思大不相同。
最后，比较下面四组句子，看看它们又如何“形似义异”：
(5) Samuel, the manager, told me that he was leaving the job.
(6) Samuel, the manager, told me to leave the job.
这两句主要的不同根源在“told”这动词的内涵。(5)里的间接引语(indirect speech)是个陈述句(declarative
sentence)。(6)里的间接引语是个祈使句(imperative sentence)。这两句的直接引语(direct speech)如下：
- “I am leaving the job,” said Samuel, the manager.
- “Leave the job !” said Samuel, the manager.
(7) The tourist spent two days in Singapore.
(8) The tourist spent two days on Singapore.
这两句的差别仅在介词“in”和“on”。
(7)里的意思就是“旅客在新加坡观光两天”。(8)里的目的不是“观光”，而是“研究”。(7)里指的是“spending time
sightseeing Singapore”。 (8)里指的是“spending time studying about Singapore”.
(9) I had a view of the London Bridge.
(10) I had a view from the London Bridge.
这两句的差别也在两个不同的介词：“of” 和“from”。
在(9)里，伦敦大桥是说话人“观看的目标”。在(10)里，伦敦大桥是说话人的“立足点”，去看别的东西。
(11) John helped her do the office work.
(12) John helped her to do the office work.
(11)表示“约翰直接和全面的帮助她，从而减轻她的负担”。(12)并不指直接投入有关的工作，而是以其他方式协助她，让她完成自己的任务。
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