VOA慢速英语:In the Garden: Getting the Most Out of Mums

1.Newly planted mums should be watered two or three times a week, depending on conditions.

depend on随…而定

例句：Whether the game will be played depends on the weather.
      比赛是否举行要看天气而定。

      It depends on the weather.
      那要看天气如何而定。

Newly planted副词＋过去分词组成的合成词

2.This is why experts advise against placing mums near nightlights or streetlights.

advise against告诫; 强烈反对

例句：I strongly advise against it.
      我强烈反对这样做。

      In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.
      对于糖尿病患者, 医生告诫他们不要吃糖。

3.The light may interfere with their normal growth cycle. The plants may develop buds too soon.

interfere with干预, 阻挠, 妨碍, 阻止

例句：That interferes with my plan.
      那干扰了我的计划。

      The noise interferes with my work.
      这噪音妨碍我的工作。

4.If not, the chance of disease may increase.

If not不然的话, 否则

例句：The holiday was nothing if not varied.
      假日活动极其丰富多彩。

if not 可视为一个否定的条件状语从句省略。如：

I might see you tomorrow. If not, then it’ll be Saturday. 我可能明天去看你。如果不是明天，那就在周六。

Ask her if it is a convenient time. If not, can she suggest another possible time? 问问她那个时间方便不方便。要是不方便，那她可不可以提出一个可行的时间­?

注：有时not还可修饰另一个词语。如：

If not today, tomorrow I’m sure you’ll get an answer. 如果今天得不到回信，明天准能得到。

This is one of the oldest buildings in town, if not the oldest. 这是城里最古老的房屋之一，如果不是最古老的话。

Usually, if not always, we write “cannot” as one word. 我们即使不总是如此，也通常是把cannot作为一个词来拼写的。