克服英文的厭食症與貪食症
2009-09-05 工商時報 【Lily章】
有兩種人最難把英文學好
有兩種人最不容易把英文學好，一種是有英文厭食症的，一種剛好相反，有英文貪食症的。
「厭食」英文者看到英文就害怕，聽到英文耳朵就自動關閉，最喜歡用「My English is Poor」作為英文不好理所當然的藉口。很奇妙的現象是，試著停止說「My English is Poor」，他的英大就逐漸有起色。
厭食者英文不好比較容易理解，奇怪的是貪食者，居然英文也差。這類學習者，工具書很多，單字拚命背，唸英文時眉頭皺著，花很多時間，但付出和所得永遠不成比例。假如你因為這樣而想，乾脆放棄了，那就試試，每天給自己20分鐘，這20分鐘，找一篇英文文章大聲唸，唸完用自己的話做summary，再把文章裡平常少用的字或詞圈起來（注意，不是不認識的字！），把這個字多唸幾遍，直到你覺得你會用這些字已經是你的為止。
20鐘很短，你不至於忙到連20鐘都沒有，只要持續一個月，每天20鐘，你的英文體質就調整到最佳狀態，吃什麼補，都能吸收！
Part 1: 再談debug
上周的debug反應很熱烈，有讀者來函，覺得有些英文錯跟著自己大半輩子而不自知，有茅塞頓開之悟。本周延續上周的debug熱，再談幾樣「犯錯而不自知」的英文。
1.Headquarters vs. headquarter
I'm going to headquarter this weekend to meet with the CEO.（×）
我本周將至總部會見執行長。
Headquarters，當名詞的時候，意思是公司的總部到底是單數還是複數？其實它既非單數，亦非複數，因為"s"結尾並不能去掉。headquarters後面既可以接單數動詞，也可以接複數動詞，但是複數更為常見。例如：
The headquarters of Microsoft are in America.
微軟的總部設在美國。
但是，當headquarters所指的是一種權威而不是指"總部"所在的地方時，常常接單數動詞。例如：
The headquarters has approved to donate $30,000 to charity.（總部已經同意向慈善機構捐款3萬美元。）
如果你漏掉了"s"，不要以為"沒關係，不會產生歧義"。沒有了"s"的headquarter可不再是名詞了，而是一個動詞，是"提供給總部，建立總部"的意思。例如：
The new company will headquarter in Paris.
新公司會將總部設在巴黎。
The Texas Oil Company is headquartered in White Plains, New York, but its name is derived from the state of Texas.
德州石油公司的總部設在紐約的White Plains，公司的名字卻來自Texas這個州名。
2.Criteria vs. criterion
You have to meet our criterias to qualify for membership.（×）（你必須符合我們的標準才能取得會員資格。）
˙criteria （評定的標準） 是 criterion的複數形，不必加 "s"。它幾乎都以複數形式出現。
What criteria do you use when judging the quality of a project?
你用什麼標準來衡量專案品質?
meet/satisfy/fulfill/measure up to the criteria 符合標準。
3.Cross vs. cross out
To be on the safe side, you'll have to cross out the check.（×）（為了安全起見，你必須在支票角落畫兩條斜線。）
˙cross out something 是『刪除』錯誤的文字或數據，
如：I have crossed out these two words. （我已經把這兩個字刪掉了。）
cross a check 是在一張支票的（左上角）畫上兩條斜線。
The accident took place at a crossroad.（×）
這起事故發生在一個十字路口。
˙a crossroads （十字路口）以複數存在，因為十字路口是兩條路交會而成。
At a crossroads 也經常作比喻用法，表示某人處於人生或事業的『轉折點』，如：
I am at a crossroads in my career. （我現正處於一個事業的轉折點。）
More and more children are getting overweight, and fast food seems to be the main criminal.（×）（愈來愈多的孩子過胖，速食似乎就是罪魁禍首。）
˙a criminal 是一個很重的字，專指一個已經有犯罪事實的人。這裡可以用fast food is the main cause of obesity。
4.Custom vs. habit
The teacher has a custom of clearing his throat before he speaks.（×）（這位老師習慣在說話前先清一下喉嚨。）
˙custom 通常是指一個地方的『風俗習慣』，多半由文化積累所形成。如：
local / traditional customs （當地/傳統習俗）。個人的生活習慣需用 habit 。
中文人口經常把approach（方式）、habit（習慣）和custom（習俗）搞混。
5.Client vs. customer
As a lawyer, she often advises customers on legal matters.（×）（作為一個律師，她時常接受客戶的法律諮詢。）
．customer 是指到商店購物的顧客，像7-11、SOGO百貨有很多customers。client 是指向專業人士如醫師、律師等諮詢服務的『客戶』。關係多半比較長久。
6.Data vs. datum
You can store more datas on a DVD.（×）（你可以在DVD碟片上儲存更多的資料。）
˙data （資料）本是 datum 的複數形，所以不能再加"s"。不過這個字作為主詞時可接單數或複數動詞，如：
The data is/are being processed.（這些資料正在被處理中。）
7.Up-to-date
Up to date, we've not received any replies yet.（×）（到目前為止，我們尚未接獲任何回覆。）
˙up to date 或 up-to-date （置於名詞之前）是極為先進或能跟的上時代的意思，如：
All our equipment is up to date. （我們所有的設備都是極為先進的。）
Do you have a more up-to-date edition? （你們有更新的版本嗎?）
至目前為止應該用 to date = so far = up to now 是『迄今』之意，常搭配現在完成式使用。
Part 2: 10分鐘文法精讀: 有多種詞性的字
許多隨時隨地都用到的詞，包括虛詞，在用途上像是藥中的甘草，可以在句子中扮演不同詞類的角色。以下供各位參考：
1.After
Do you take after your mother?（介系詞）
My friend came soon after.（副詞）
My friend came soon after.（副詞）
After David had left, we returned.（連詞）
After David had left, we returned.（連詞）
The old man grew thinner in after years.（形容詞）
2. Above
The ceiling is above our head.（介系詞）
Can you see the dark clouds above.（副詞）
Can you see the dark clouds above.（副詞）
3.Better
I know better than do it.（副詞）
The committee selected the better candidate of the two. （形容詞）
Is the government determined to better the people's life?（動詞）
The living conditions have changed for the better.（名詞）
4. But
Allen was intelligent but he seldom worked hard.（連詞）
There is no student in the classroom but John.（介系詞）
I don't want any ifs and buts.（名詞）
5.Down
It turned dark when the sun went down.（副詞）
The boys are running down the road.（介系詞）
The boys are running down the road.（介系詞）
Tony has been feeling down lately.（形容詞）
Tony has been feeling down lately.（形容詞）
Some workers downed tools to protest against ill-treatment.（動詞）
Every one of us has experienced ups and downs.（名詞）
6. Like
Don't talk like that.（介系詞）
All children like ice-cream very much.（動詞）
All children like ice-cream very much.（動詞）
I think we are of like mind in this matter.（形容詞）
The artist is marvelous. It is hard to see his like again.（名詞）
7.Round
The earth goes round the sun.（介系詞）
He turned round and fled.（副詞）
He turned round and fled.（副詞）
The hunting dogs rounded up the boar.（動詞）
The hunting dogs rounded up the boar.（動詞）
Tom did not go to the first round of the talk.（名詞）
A square peg cannot fit in a round hole.（形容詞）
8.Up
Let's go up the stairs.（介系詞）
What are you up?（形容詞）
What are you up?（形容詞）
Food prices have gone up.（副詞）
Food prices have gone up.（副詞）
The shopkeepers have upped their prices by 10％.（動詞）
Hit the ball when it is on the up.（名詞）
Debug專欄 "debug"是世界公民文化中心一對一教學方法之一，光是揪出你的錯誤，英文不一定會進步，更重要的是：想辦法讓自己不再犯同樣類型的錯誤，才是英文進步的關鍵。
1.I am working on the behalf of my company.
2.We need a capable person to help us in time of difficulties.
3.In term of economic development, our country has done a good job.
4.Few would like to make friend with hypocrites.
5.Let's discuss this matter in details.
6.That rich woman is covered with jewelry from top to toes.
7.For the better or worse, we must try to get along with our colleagues.
8.The Public Relations Officer did not speak much. What is worst, she hated to mingle with people.
9.All must come to the meeting without failure.
10.A holiday abroad will take your mind of the work tension for a while.
Debugged
1.I am working on behalf of my company.
2.We need a capable person to help us in times of difficulties.
3.In terms of economic development, our country has done a good job.
4.Few would like to make friends with hypocrites.
5.Let's discuss this matter in detail.
6.That rich woman is covered with jewelry from top to toe.
7.For better or worse, we must try to get along with our colleagues.
8.The Public Relations Officer did not speak much. What is worse, she hated to mingle with people.
9.All must come to the meeting without fail.
10.A holiday abroad will take your mind off the work tension for a while.
以上內容由【世界公民文化中心】提供
