2008高考必背英语词汇讲座-M字头

1、make...from, make...of, make...into, make up

　　make...from为“用...原料制成”，介词的宾语是原材料，用from表示从制成品上看不出原来的制作材料。例如：They make wine from grapes. 他们用葡萄为原料制成葡萄酒。This cake is made from corn. 这个蛋糕是以玉米为原料制成的。

　　make...of为“用...材料制成”，介词的宾语是某种材料，用of表示从制成品上可以看出原来的材料。例如：Nearly everything inside the room is made of bamboo. 屋子里的东西几乎都是用竹子制成的。This big box is made of wood. 这个大盒子是由木头制成的。

　　make...into为“把...做成”，动词的宾语是某种原料和材料，介词into的宾语是制成品。例如：They make milk into butter and cheese. 他们把牛奶制成白脱和奶酪。Can you make this material into a skirt?你能把这布料制成一件衬衫吗？

　　比较make...into与make...from, make...of的区别：Flour is made from wheat. 面粉是小麦制成的。Wheat can be made into flour. 小麦可制成面粉。Bottles are made of glass. 瓶子是用玻璃制成的。Glass can be made into bottles. 玻璃可制成瓶子。

　　make up为“构成，组成”，主语为构成一个整体的各个个体，宾语是一个集合体。此结构用于被动语态时，需加介词of，构成be made up of短语。例如：Ten doctors make up a visiting team. 十位医生组成了一支访问团。A car is made up of many different parts. 一辆汽车是由许多不同的零件组成的。Life is made up of both sweetness and sorrow. 生活中既有甘，又有苦。　

2、main, chief, major

　　这三个词都有“重要的”之意。

　　main：“主要的”，只用于物，强调事物的某一部分、分支的重要性，大小及潜力优于其他部分、分支，或表示该部分在整个事物中占有显赫的地位。This article has in the main preserved the fairness of news reporting.该文章大体上保留了新闻报道所用的不偏不倚的风格。His main reason for going to the library was to look up the book he spoke of yesterday.他到图书馆去的主要原因是去找他昨天谈到的那本书。

　　major：“重大的，主要的”，指在规模，数量，重要性方面超出同类的其他事物。John has also played a major part in the improvement of the paper.约翰在改进这份报纸的工作中也起了较大的作用。It was not until late afternoon that he began to tackle the major problem.直到傍晚，他才开始处理重大问题。

　　chief: "主要的,首要的"，强调在顺序,等级,重要性,价值方面高于其他所有同类事物,用于人时指 "地位最高",用于物，意为 "最重要的"。The chief engineer is the most important of a group of engineers in a job. He is highest in rank and probably in pay.总工程师是参加一项工作的一组工程师中首要的一个，他的级别是最高的，薪水也可能是最高的。The chief reason for the great changes in the cultural field is the development of economy.经济发展是文化领域内发生巨大变化的主要原因。　

3、material, matter, substance

　　这三个词组都可作“物质，材料”讲。

　　material：“物质，物资，材料”，一般指具物理成份，构成某具体物体的物质，尤指人造物品的制作材料；有时则引申为现实观念或现实的根据或基础。如：raw material原材料，指能够进一步加工的物质，也指可以被进一步利用的事件，观念等，例如用作文学素材。With the development of industry, the consumption of raw material by industry has been rising surprisingly.随着工业的发展，工业所消耗的原材料增长惊人。They discovered that they could weave the wool into the material, which can be made into warm coats and suits.他们发现可以把羊毛纺成衣料，再把衣料制成暖和的外套和西装。

　　matter：“物质，内容”，基本上指某种实体或构成所有客观事物的“物质”，与精神相对；也指与形式相对的“内容”。常用短语：a matter of course 理所当然的事, matter-of-fact 讲求实际的。The matter in your composition is quite good, but the writing is not lucid enough.你的作文内容很好，但文字不够清楚。We know nothing about force or energy, nor of any physical phenomenon, except through the agency of matter. 要是不通过物质这个媒介，我们对力或能会一无所知，更不会了解任何物理现象。

　　substance：“物质，东西"，常指具有某种物理或化学性质的特殊物质，或指构成某物，并赋予某种特性的物质；还可指 “重要的”或“实际性的”内容。常用短语：a question of substance 实质性问题；have substance 有道理，有根据，有内容。The function of the root of a plant is to fix the plant in its place and to take in water and food substance present in the earth.植物根的功能是将植物固定在所处的位置，并从土壤中吸收水及营养物质。A good chemical laboratory is equipped with precision instruments and supplies of many chemical substances. 一个好的化学实验室应配有精密仪器，并有充足的各种化学物质供应。　

4、maybe, possibly, perhaps, probably

　　这四个词都可表示“可能性”。

　　maybe：“可能，也许”，比其余的几个词更为随便和不正式，可能性不大，也可以表示一种非常委婉,礼貌的建议或要求。如：You could put it over there, maybe. 也许你可以把它搁在那边。He didn't feel quite right; maybe he got sunstroke. 他觉得不太好；也许是有点中暑。The doctor thinks maybe we'd better have a minor operation. 医生认为也许我们最好做个小手术。

　　possibly：“可能地，或者，也许"，可能性较大。用于否定句和疑问句时表示 "无论如何"之意。She expressed regret for any inconvenience which might possibly be caused.她为任何可能造成的不便而深表歉意。I couldn't possibly have finished typing such a long document in such a limited period of time. 无论如何，我也不可能在如此有限的时间内打完这么长的文件。

　　perhaps：“可能”，较为常用也较为正式的词，可能性也不十分大。它可以表示建议或要求，也可以表示以礼貌的方式下命令。I thought perhaps it was the letter you had been expecting. 我想这大概是你一直盼望的那封信。Perhaps you will kindly give us a hand when we are in trouble. 当我们陷入困境时，也许你会善意地帮我们一把。

　　probably：“很可能，大概”，可能性在这一组词中最大，表示一种几乎完全肯定的意思。He is the only witness of the accident; he can probably give us some detailed information about it. 他是这次事故唯一的目击者，他大概可以告诉我们一些详细情况。There is probably some kind of living matter on some other worlds, but we do not know yet. 很可能在其他的世界存在着另类的生物，只是我们尚不知道。　

5、mean, intend, propose

　　这组词都有“打算，有心做某事”之意。mean：“打算，想象，有...意图”，不如intend正式，强调心里想做的意思，但不强调决心。短语: mean...for 准备让...做...Everyone believed that it would be a very suitable match because John and Julia were obviously meant for each other. 每个人都认为他们的结合会很般配，因为约翰和朱利亚显然天生一对。He shouldn't have done it, of course, but he was thoughtless. And he meant to pay the money back. 当然，他本来不该那么做，但他考虑不周到，再说他是打算还钱的。

　　propose：“打算，建议”，指宣布或明确确定某人的意图，含有公开宣称或清楚解释这一意图之意。可接名词，动名词，不定式及从句。While summarizing the year's work, the managing director of the company proposed a greater project for the next year. 公司的总经理总结了一年的工作，提出了下半年度更大的工程计划。Generally speaking, what's reached in the end may be better or worse than what was proposed. 一般说来，最终所达到的效果总的要比计划的好或差。　

6、much, quite, so, very

　　这四个词都表示“十分，非常”之意。

　　much：“非常，十分，颇”，程度副词，多修饰动词，副词，过去分词，偶尔修饰个别形容词。修饰动词时，通常以very much, too much, so much等形式出现。I feel so much better today that I would like so much to go out. 我今天觉得好多了，所以，非常想到外边去。The distance from here to the town is much the same by either of the two roads. 从这里到镇上有两条路，无论是走哪一条，路程都相同。

　　quite：“十分，相当，非常”，程度副词，相当于completely, perfectly, rather等意思，在不正式的场合可代替very,可以修饰动词，副词，分词，形容词及介词短语。He has quite recovered from his illness and is now able to return to his post. 他已完全恢复健康，可以重返工作岗位了。The first step will need quite a long time and cannot be accomplished overnight. 第一步所需的时间相当长，决不是一朝一夕就能完成的。

　　so：“非常，十分，极，很，如此地”，表示程度较高，常用于口语中，有时以very替换，但在so组成的结构中则不能用very。常用短语：so that 如此...以至于；so beautiful a child/ such a beautiful child 如此漂亮的孩子。So absorbed was he in his work that his wife would not dare to make a sound. 他全神贯注地工作，以致他妻子不敢作声。All this was so sudden and unexpected that nobody quite realized what had happened. 这一切来得那样突然，以至没有人晓得究竟发生了什么事情。

　　very：“很，十分，非常”，语气比quite强，可用于正式场合，通常修饰副词，形容词和纯粹用作形容词的过去分词，以及形容词的最高级以加强语气，不能直接修饰动词。They did their very best to increase quantity and variety of their products. 他们尽了最大的努力来增加产品数量和品种。Whatever you may have heard about me from poets, I am really not a very romantic character. 不管你从诗人那里听到关于我的什么情况，我实际上不是十足的浪漫派。

7、mark, sign, signal, symbol

　　这组词都有“标记，标志”之意。

　　mark：“标志，标记"，含义广泛，指事物留下的深刻印迹或某物上用于辨别该物品的附属物，比sign更侧重于区别性或揭示性的标志，有时不一定十分直观或明显。One mark of a writer's greatness is that different minds can get a different inspiration from his works. 一个伟大作家的标志之一是不同的人都能从他那里得到不同的灵感。The lighthouse on the top of the hill serves as a mark for fliers. 山顶上的灯塔成了飞行员（识别地形）的标志。

　　sign：“记号，标记”，用法最广，可指符号（装置），也可指情绪，性格的直观显示，还指具体的用于识别或指示的标志，如指标牌，卡片等。借喻时讲作“征兆，迹象”。如：Sir, you are not to walk your pet on the lawn. Don't you see the sign: "keep off the grass"?先生，你不可以在草坪上溜狗，你没瞧见牌子上写着“请勿践踏草坪”吗？In the British Army, crown, stars and stripes are signs of military rank. 在英国军队里，王冠，星星和条形徽是军阶的标志。

　　signal：“信号”，常指约定俗成，用于传达某些信息的信号，也指灯光，声音或信号标志。A red light is a signal of danger, which is even known to a five-year-old child. 红灯是危险的信号，这一点就连五岁的孩子都知道。The sportsmen are all ready, waiting for the signal to start running. 运动员们都作好了准备，等待着起跑的信号。

　　symbol：“象征，符号”，指被人们选出的物体或图案，用来代表另一事物，并作为该事物的标记或象征。Symbol is a sign, figure or physical object, the meaning of which is established by convention. 常用的表义符号是由按常规规定其意义的符号，图案或实物图像构成的。In the picture the tree is the symbol of life and the snake the symbol of evil. 在这幅画中，树是生命的象征，蛇是邪恶的象征。　

8、made up of, made of, made from

　　这三个词组都同be动词连用。

　　made up of 含有“由...（成分）组成”的意思，即表示某物或组织由一个个成分或成员组成，of后通常接可数名词。例如：The committee is made up of seven members. 委员会由七名委员组成。The Third World is made up of the developing countries. 第三世界是由发展中国家组成。

　　made of和made from都有“由...（原材料）制成”的含义。但前者表示某一物品由某种原材料制成后，原料已看不出来。例如：Concrete is made of cement, sand, stone and water. 混凝土是由水泥，砂子，石头和水混合而成。Nylon is made from air, coal and water. 尼龙是由空气，煤和水加工制成。　

9、make the best of, get the best of

　　make the best of是指“充分利用时间，机会，场合，资源”等意思，其后接此类名词或短语。例如：You should make the best of this valuable opportunity. 你应该尽量利用这个宝贵的机会。We must make the best we can of the few natural resources we have. 我们一定要尽可能地充分利用我们所拥有的少量自然资源。

　　get the best of 亦可解作get the better of，其中的动词get亦可用have替代。它主要指主体与宾语在进行争斗或交锋中，“胜过，占优势，占上风”的含义。个别场合下，它还有“从...中得到最大的好处”的含义。例如：They were pretty evenly matched, but Martin got the best of him by a clever trick. 他们势均力敌，但马丁以智取胜。Our team got the best of the visitors in the last quarter. 我队在最后四分之一比赛中战胜了客队。With his indomitable spirit he got the best of his disease. 他以坚强不屈的意志战胜了疾病。　

10、man, mankind

　　这对词都表示“人类”的意思，但用法有所区别。

　　man一般以单数形式出现（现在也有人以复数men表示“人类”），其前不能置任何限定词，其相应的代词应是he, him, his, himself。例如：The changes between the states have been used by man to work for him since ancient times. 自古以来，人类就利用这两种状态的变化为自己服务。Engels pointed out a hundred years ago that labour created man himself. 恩格斯一百多年以前就指出，劳动创造了人类本身。

　　mankind前也不可加任何限定词，但可用形容词修饰。它是集合名词，可作单数或复数使用。作单数概念时，谓语要用单数，其相应的代词一般为it, its, itself(也有人用he ,him, his, himself);作复数概念时，谓语要用复数，其相应的代词是they, them, their, themselves。例如：Mankind is much cleverer than it was one thousand years ago. 人类比一千年前是聪明多了。All progressive mankind love peace. 所有进步人类都热爱和平。That is one small step for a man, but one giant leap for mankind. 对于个人来说那是小小的一步，但对于整个人类来说却是一次巨大的飞越。

　　请注意：human being也可表示“人类”，它是可数名词，有单复数之分。其意义比较具体，它一般用来区别人以外的事物，特别是动物或者是“神”，“鬼”之类。例如：Without its light and warmth there would be neither plants nor animals nor human beings. 没有光和热，就不可能有植物，动物，也不可能有人类。Although the Negroes were human beings just like the whites, they were not treated as humanbeing. 尽管黑人和白人一样都是属于人类，但是他们并没有被当作人对待。　

11、manage, try

　　manage为“设法做到”，指花费精力设法使某事终于做成功，相当于succeed in doing sth.。try为“试图，努力，尝试”，指花费精力去做某事，含有成功可能性虽然大，但仍有可能不成功意思。比较下列句子：He managed to finish his work in time. 他设法及时完成了他的工作。He tried to finish his work in time. 他试图去及时完成他的工作。

　　manage后常接名词或不定式作宾语。如：Without her I couldn't have managed all these things. 如果没有她，我不可能做成所有这些事。I don't see how I could possibly manage to do it. 我觉得我不太可能把这事做成。

　　try后常接名词不定式或动词不定式作宾语，它后接不定式时表示“努力做某事”，后接动名词时表示“试着做某事”。如：He tried to say something but he was too weak to say a word. 他努力地想说些什么，但是他太虚弱了，一个字也说不出。We shall try using another method. 我们应试着用另一种方法。　

12、many more, much more

　　这两者可指“更多”。

　　many more后接一个名词一定是个复数可数名词。若不接名词，则more本身就被看作是一个复数名词，表示复数概念。如：Some students are against the plan, but many more support it. 一些同学反对这项计划，但是有更多人支持它。We have many more left. 我们还剩下很多。

　　much more后接一个名词，这个名词一定是个不可数名词。若不接名词，则more本身就被看作是一个不可数名词。如：The farmers have produced much more rice. 这些农夫收了更多的稻谷。She has much more to do. 她还有很多事要去做。

　　many more不可能修饰形容词和副词，而much more和far more, even more, still more 等一样，可以修饰形容词和副词，表示“更加”。如：This TV set is much more expensive. 这台电视机要贵得多。He worked much more carefully on the new design. 在这项新的设计上，他工作努力得多了。　

13、many, the many, many a, a good many

　　many单独使用，用作形容词和代词，分别在句中作主语（谓语动词用复数），宾语，定语（后接复数可数名词），但不能用作表语。例如：Many of us have joined the Party. 我们中许多人已入了党。The policy of the cities growing their own vegetables has many advantages. 城市种菜，自给自足的政策有许多优点。I have a few, but not many. 我有一些，但不多。

　　the many起名词的作用，在句中作主语和宾语。作主语时，谓语动词要用复数，其意为“多数人或物”。例如：In the capitalist society the many are oppressed by the few. 在资本主义社会里，多数人受少数人压迫。Sometimes the few can defeat the many. 有时侯少数能胜多数。

　　many a用作定语，虽然它作“许多，很多”解，但其后所修饰的名词和与之有关的动词必须用单数形式。例如：Many a man comes or goes. 一个又一个的人来了又走了。I have received many a letter in the past few days. 最近几天我接到许多来信。

　　a good many亦可解作a great many,它们均为many 的强化语，它与many的用法相同，即可用作形容词和代词，所修饰的名词和谓语动词均分别用复数形式。例如：A good many new books were published by the Foreign Language Press last month. 上个月外文出版社出版了许多新书。We have a great many things to do at present. 我们目前有许许多多事要做。　

14、more than, more...than

　　more than连用，通常起副词的作用。若后接数词（=over），常译成“...以上，超过”；后接形容词，副词或动词，相当于very或much，常译为“难以”；后接名词，常译成“不止是，不仅仅”等。例如：He is more than twenty years old. 他20多岁了。She was dressed more than simply. 她穿得岂止朴素，简直近似于破烂。The beauty of the place is more than I can describe. 那个地方的美令我难以形容。

　　more...than中的more后也可接形容词，副词，动词或名词。修饰名词时，more作形容词解；修饰其他的词时，作副词解。than 是从属连词，常引出省略的比较状语从句，整个结构一般译为“比...更；与其说...倒不如说“等。例如：More people like to drink boiled water than tea. 喜欢喝开水的人比喜欢喝茶的人多。It is more blue than green. 与其说是绿的，不如说是蓝的。It is more common for Peter to talk too slowly than too quickly. 彼得说起话来往往不是太快，而是太慢。　

15、meet, meet with

　　meet 和meet with都可表示“预见，会见”，两者通常可换用。Yesterday afternoon I met (with) Shirley at the cinema. 昨天我在电影院碰见雪莱。The chairman met (with) the King of Holland for half an hour. 主席与荷兰国王的会见持续了半个小时。

　　meet还可作"迎接,应付,聚会,满足"等解释,它含有主动意义,即主语有意识地去完成某个动作,如: meet a friend (迎接朋友), meet the debts (偿还债务),meet the danger (对付危险)。例如：I went to the airport to meet my uncle. 我去机场接我的叔叔。The whole school meet to hear the report. 整个学校的人聚在一起听报告。Every effort is made to meet the demands of the people. 所做的努力都是为了满足人民的需求。

　　meet with作“碰到，受到，遭受”解，它含有被动意义，强调主语承受meet的动作所带来的后果，如meet with bad weather （碰到坏天气），meet with difficulty（碰到困难），meet with the refusal （遭到拒绝）。例如：He met with a lot of problems in this experiment. 他做这项试验遇到许多问题。The play met with a good reception. 这部电视剧受到了好评。　

16、much too, too much

　　much too 后接原级形容词与副词，意思是“实在太...”，其中的much是副词，用来修饰另一个副词too。如：It is much too cold here. 这儿实在太冷了。You sleep much too late. 你睡得实在太晚了。

　　too much后可接不可数名词，意思是“过多的... ”，其中的too是副词，修饰形容词much。 too much后也可不接名词，意思是“过多的东西，过多的事情”，其中的much是代词。如：He has got too much money. 他已得到太多的钱。You are asking too much. 你问得太多了。

　　be too much表示“过分，太难，对付不了，过于厉害”。如：She is afraid that the long trip will be too much for me. 她担心我受不了长途旅行的劳累。I tried to beat him, but he was too much for me. 我试图打败他，但我对付不了他。　

17、maybe, may be

　　maybe是副词，意为“可能，也许”，可用perhaps代替，不过美国人习惯上用perhaps, 不怎么爱用maybe。例如：Maybe he has reached there. 大概他已经到了那儿。Maybe you are right and maybe you are wrong. 你也许对，也许错。

　　may be中的may为情态动词，有过去式might的变化，表示类似maybe的意思，be为助动词或连系动词，有时后面可跟一个名词从句。例如：It may be raining in Beijing. 现在北京可能在下雨。It may be that he never got there. 或许他根本就没有到过那里。　

18、most, a most, the most, mostly

　　无限定词搭配的most可用作形容词和名词。前者通常修饰复数可数名词或不可数名词time，表示“大多数的，大部分的”的意思；后者常接of引起的介词短语或定语从句，表示“大多数人（东西，时间）”的意思。此外，most还可作副词，用来修饰副词，形容词或动词，表示“最，十分，非常，很”的意思。例如：Most students like English. 大多数学生喜欢英语。I was in Shanghai most of the time. 我大部分时间在上海。The present world situation is most favourable for the people. 当前世界形势对人民非常有利。

　　a most中的most等同于very（很，非常），修饰形容词，再跟单数名词。例如：The statue is made of marble of a most lovely colour. 这雕像是用一种颜色很好看的大理石雕成的。Guilin is a most beautiful city. 桂林是座非常美丽的城市。

　　the most主要有三种用法：1.其中的most为形容词many或much的最高级，表示“最多的；最高程度的”的意思；2.为两个音节以上的形容词或副词最高级的构成形式，表示“最”的意思，most前的定冠词有时可以省去；3.有时用作名词。例如：He takes the most interest in the model cars. 他对模型汽车最感兴趣。He is one of the most famous writers in China. 他是中国最著名的作家之一。This is the most I can do. 这是我力所能及的。

　　mostly是一个副词，只用作状语。一般放在所修饰的词或短语之前，主要表示“主要地；多半；大部分地”的意思。例如：She is mostly out on Sundays. 星期天她多半不在家。She uses her car mostly for going to the shops. 她用车多半是去商店买东西。　

19、must have done, should have done

　　must have done表示“想必已经，一定是”，指对过去的事物或者状态一种逻辑推断或确有把握的推测。由于must not是“禁止”的意思，不表示推测，因此must have done仅限用于肯定式，它的否定式是can not have done 或 could not have done。在疑问句中同样也是如此，不用must提问。如：You must have misunderstood me because I didn't say anything like that. 你一定是误会我了，因为我没有说过那样的话。"The lecturer was a tall thin man." "Then it can't have been Dr Zhu because he is short and fat. It must have been Dr Zhang." “那个作报告的人又高又瘦。” “那么，他不可能是朱博士，因为他又矮又胖。他一定是张博士。”

　　should have done表示根据事物的一般规律所做出的一般性的推断或推测，它的语气没有must have done强，把握也没有它大。如：They should have finished the work by now. 他们现在应该完成工作了。She should have arrived in Cairo by this time. 她现在应该到达开罗了。should have done还可以表示过去应该做或值得做的事情而没有做，常带有后悔，埋怨，不满，责备或惊奇等情绪。它的否定形式表示过去做了不该做的事情。must have done则没有这样的意思。如：You should have gone to see your grandpa last week. 你上星期应该去看望爷爷的。This wall shouldn't have been painted yellow. 这堵墙不应该漆成黄色。　

20、Mr. Smith's, the Mr. Smith, the Smiths

　　Mr. Smith's表示“史密斯先生的家”，即Mr. Smith's house。名词所有格后表示某人的家以及商店，教堂等名词，在习惯上可以省去。如：Shall we meet at Mr. Smith's tomorrow? 要不我们明天在史密斯先生家中见面好吗？Don't worry! You can leave the children at Mrs. Jone's. 别担心！你可以将孩子们留在琼斯太太家。

　　the Mr. Smith表示“那一位史密斯先生”，称呼前加定冠词用于需要区分具有同一姓氏的人的场合。如："We have two Mr. Smiths. Which one do you want?" "I want the Mr. Smith who works in the bank.""我们这儿有两个史密斯先生。你想找哪一位？" “我想找在银行工作的那一位史密斯先生。”

　　the Smiths表示“史密斯一家人”，复数姓氏加定冠词表示其夫妇俩，或夫妇俩加其子女。如：The Smiths are all early risers. 史密斯一家都起得很早。The Smiths could not pay for the advanced education that their son needed. 史密斯夫妇不能支付其子所需的高等教育的费用。