2015-04-29

還說甚麼,如有必要

http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/supplement/columnist/art/20050112/4580835


流行歌“ My Happy Ending”有一段說: All of the memories, so close to me, just fade away/ All this time you were pretending/ So much for my happy ending。末句是甚麼意思呢?

So much for有「還說甚麼」、「說到這為止」的意思,例如:(1)He never gives a cent to the poor. So much for all his talk about charity(他從來不施捨一毛錢濟貧,還空談甚麼仁愛)。(2) So much for this issue. Let's go on to the next item on the agenda(這個問題就談到這吧,我們要討論議程的下一個項目了)。
                                                               
讀者示下的那段歌詞是說「前塵歷歷如煙散,假意虛情歎息是君心,連理之歌且莫吟」。
Subject to change if need be(如有必要,當會修改)這一句, be字是怎樣用的?為甚麼不說 subject to change if needed?

Subject to change if needed這說法沒有錯,意思和原句也沒有分別,不過, needed是動詞, if need be的 need卻是名詞。 If need be是常用語,等於 if there be need,那 be字用的是所謂「虛擬式」( the subjunctive),所以不可用 is、 was等 be的變體取代,例如:(1) I am willing to work the night shift if need be(假如有必要,我願意上夜班)。(2)If need be, tell him(假如有必要,就告訴他吧)。 If need be可用來說現在或未來的事,另一說法是 if necessary,例如 Subject to change if necessary和 If necessary, tell him。

 
古德明
電郵 :
appledailykoo@hotmail.com

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