[誤] We got to the top of the mountain in daybreak.
[正] We got to the top of the mountain at day break.
[析] at用于具體時刻之前,如:sunrise, midday, noon, sunset, midnight, night.
[誤] Don’t sleep at daytime
[正] Don’t sleep in daytime.
[析] in 要用于較長的一段時間之內,如:in the morning / afternoon, 或 in the week / month / year. 或 in spring / supper /autumn / winter等等。
[誤] We visited the old man in Sunday afternoon.
[正] We visited the old man on Sunday afternoon.
[析] in the morning, in the afternoon 如果在這兩個短語中加入任何修飾詞其前面的介詞都要改為on, 如:on a cold morning, on the morning of July 14th
[誤] He became a writter at his twenties
[正] He became a writter in his twenties
[析]這句話應譯為:他在20多歲時就成了作家。在某人的一段生活時間段中要用介詞in來表示,而在具體歲數時用at來表示。
[誤] He went to New York to find a job in sixteen years old.
[正] He went to New York to find a job at sixteen.
[析] 在具體年歲前用at, 如:at the age of 12, at your age,等等。
[誤] We went to swim in the river in a very hot day.
[正] We went to swim in the river on a very hot day.
[析] 具體某一天要用介詞on, 又如:on New Year‘s Day
[誤] I’m looking forward to seeing you on Christmas.
[正] I’m looking for ward to seeing you at Christmas.
[析]在節日的當天用on,而全部節日期間用at,Christmas是圣誕節期間,一般要有兩周或更長的時間。
[誤] I haven’t see you during the summer holidays.
[正] I haven’t seen you since the beginning of the summer holidays.
[析] during表示在某一段時間之內,所以一般不與完成時搭配,如:I visited a lot of museums during the holiday. 而for表示一段時間,可以用于完成時,如:I haven‘t see you for a long time. 而through 用來表示時間時則為“整整,全部的時間”。如:It rained through the night.而since則是表達主句動作的起始時間,一般要與完成時連用。
[誤] At entering the classroom, I heard the good news.
[正] On entering the classroom, I heard the good news.
[析] On 加動名詞表示“一……就”。本句的譯文應是:我一進入教室就聽見這個好消息了。又如:on hearing… 一聽見, on arrival 一到達就……(on表示動作的名詞)
[誤] In the beginning of the book, there are some interesting stories.
[正] At the beginning of the book, there are some interesting stories.
[析] at the begining與at the end都是指某事物的開始與結束部分,均不指時間范圍,而in the beginning 則是指開始一段時間。in the end=at last是指“最終,終于”之意。
[誤] Till the end of next week. I will have finished this work.
[正] By the end of next week. I will have finished this work.
[析] by 引起的時間狀語表示了動作的截止點,其意思為“不遲于某一時刻將工作做完”,所以主句一般是完成時態。當然可以有將來時態,如:I‘ll be there by five o’clock.而till則表達其一動作一直持續到某一時刻,但句中的動詞一定要用持續性動詞,而瞬間的截止性動詞應用其否定句式,如:I won‘t finish this work till(until) next weekend.
[誤] He came to London before last weekend.
[正] He had come to London before last weekend.
[正] He came to London two weeks ago.
[析] before 一般要與完成時連用,而ago則與一般過去時連用。
[誤] I have studied English for three years gince I had come here.
[正] I have studied English for three years since I came here.
[析] since用來表達主句動作的開始時間,所以其引出的從句中應為過去時,而不能用完成時態
[誤] I can help you repair this bike. You will get it after two hours.
[正] I can help you repair this bike. You will get it in two hours.
[析]中文經常講兩小時之后來取,兩天內會修好,而這個介詞在英文中要用in而不要用after.其原因有二,①after 多用于過去時,如:I arrived in New York. After three days, I found a job in the bank. ② after 加時間是表達一個不確定的時間范圍,如:after three days, 即三天之后的哪一天都可以。所以在許諾若干時間內會完成某事時,一定要用介詞in.