字的動線:Keep vs. Pay

英文的動詞是句子的心臟,他可以代表動作、狀態,甚至決定時態,同樣都是「拿」,英文的bring(拿來)是come here with;take則是反方向而行,像是閩南語的「提去」,go there with,像這類的單字,請記得動線,不要用中文去直譯。

Keep

keep a promise 信守承諾
If you don't keep your promises no one will trust you.
如果你不遵守諾言,將來沒人會信任你。

keep a secret 保守秘密
He's not very good at keeping a secret, so I wouldn't tell him if I were you.
如果我是你我不會跟他說,因為他口風不緊。

keep a diary/record/accounts 寫日記、留下記錄、記賬
Our office keeps a record of all expenses claimed by employees.
辦公室所有員工的開銷都會留下記錄。

Pay

pay attention 請注意
Please pay attention to this slide.
請注意這張投影片。

pay a compliment 表達讚美
After she paid me a compliment I felt much more positive. 
聽到她的稱讚後,我覺得正面許多。

pay a visit 拜訪
He's in the hospital, why don't we pay him a visit
他在醫院,不如我們去看他一下?


文/王妍筑、Christopher Owen
企劃/英語島教學實驗室

收錄於英語島 2017年10月號
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