英语语法重点、考点与难点(01)

7. means用法易错点

Every possible means ____ been tried, and we find only ____ this means can we do it well.

A. have, in               B. have, by               C. has, in                 D. has, by

此题应选 D。其余几项均容易被误选。这里主要涉及名词means(方式, 方法, 手段)的用法与搭配：

1. 单复数同形(永远有词尾-s)。若用作主语, 其谓语的数需根据句意来确定。比较：

All possible means have been tried. 所有可能的办法都已经试过了。

Every possible means has been tried. 每种可能的办法都已经试过了。

若句意不能明确地表明主语的单复数，其谓语则用单数或复数均可：

Is [Are] there any other means of doing it? 做这事还有其它的什么办法吗?

2. 表示以某种方式、方法或手段, 用介词by：

Only by this means can you do it well. 只有通过这种办法你才能做好此事。

有时用 by means of, 意为：用……, 依靠……：

Thoughts are expressed by means of words. 思想靠语言来表达。

3. 表示做某事的方法或手段, 多接“of＋(动)名词”：

But they had no means of cooking them. 但是他们没有办法来把它们煮熟。

Taking a plane is the quickest means of gettingthere. 去那儿最快的办法是坐飞机。

8. 能说I'm good friends with him. 吗

— Jim, are you ____ of his?

— Yes, I’m ____ with him.

A. a good friend, a good friend                 B. good friends, good friends

C. a good friend, good friends                  D. good friends, a good friend

此题应选C。容易误选A。

第一句应填a good friend, 这对于一般考生来说可能不成问题, 因为大家比较熟悉这样的句型：

I'm a good friend of hers. 我是她的一位好朋友。

He's a good friend of mine. 他是我的一位好朋友。

第二句应填good friends, 这则是许多考生不理解的地方, 因为此句主语明显是单数, 而后面的表语又怎么能用复数呢?按照英美人的看法：两个人交朋友, 关系是彼此的, 即你是我的朋友, 那我就是你的朋友, 所以他们在这类表达中用复数名词。又如：

He has made friends with her. 他已与她交上朋友。

Do you want to make friends with him? 你想跟他交朋友吗?

类似地, 以下各表达中, 也要用复数(www.hxen.net)：

He stood up and shook hands with us. 他站起来与我们握手。

You have to change trains at Wuhan. 你必须在武汉转车。

The teacher didn't let the two boys change seats. 老师没有让这两个小男孩换座位