語塊的整理（6）：Basic concepts

09-02

來自專欄英語學習

【英語學習】這個系列的文章，共99篇，這是第13篇！

第七篇我們介紹了語塊，即英語學習過程中，不要孤立地背單詞，而是有意識地積累常見搭配，比如介賓短語、動賓短語、主謂搭配、副詞修飾形容詞等。

上篇我們整理了 English collocations in Use（Intermediate） 這本書中的第五個話題：Society and institutions，此篇為第六個話題：Basic concepts.

Time

in your free/ spare time

The doctors very busy but hell try to make time for you. 為你騰出時間

We got to the airport very early, so we had a meal in the restaurant to kill (some) time.

打發時間

The train left right on time. 剛好準時

Your attitude to work may change a bit as time goes by / as time passes.

I couldnt finish the exam because I ran out of time. 用完時間（時間不夠）

They work from dawn till dusk(整天) and indeed sometimes they stay up until the small hours（凌晨）.

Its taking them ages to complete their work but Tina is sure it will eventually all be worth their while. (花的時間)

Sound

We heard the ear-splitting/deafening sound/noise of three huge military aircraft passing low over our heads. 震耳欲聾的聲音

People who make excessive noise after 10 p.m. are very antisocial. 過高的噪音

We could hear the muffled sound of music from the flat above us. 模糊的聲音

I could hear raucous laughter coming from the party next door. 喧鬧的笑聲

I couldnt sleep with the constant roar of the traffic outside my window. 交通噪音

Loud music was blaring out of the radio in the kitchen. 大聲播放

As we talked to the factory owner, the machines hummed/whirred in the background.

機器轟隆隆

give a sigh(嘆息), a laugh, a loud cry, a cry of pain/surprise/alarm, a gasp(喘氣), a groan(呻吟)

make a scratching(刮擦) / clicking(咔嗒) / rustling(沙沙) / crackling(噼啪) sound

Distance and size

The hotel is a considerable distance from the beach. 很遠的距離

We have to live within commuting distance of my husbands office. 上下班距離

On our cycling tour, we managed to cover (a distance of) about 40 kilometres a day.

Ive never seen a member of the royal family at such close range before. 近親

low prices, low wages, low levels

small quantities, small numbers, small amounts, a small increase

problems or objects being on a large scale or on a small scale

a great deal of time / a great deal of money / a great deal of energy / a great deal of enthusiasm

major/minor difference, major/minor change, major/minor effect, major/minor difficulty, major/minor point, major/minor issues, major/minor factor

Colour and light

I love bright colours. I have a bright yellow jacket and I think the colour goes well with(很配) my bright green trousers. But my best friend thinks the colours clash(衝突). She says I should get some yellow trousers to match the jacket. Who is right?

A ray of sunlight(一束陽光) fell on his face and woke him up. It was six a.m. Soon the glare of the sun(刺眼的強光) would make it difficult to see his way across the desert. He must get to the village at once.

The law about re-using pictures from the Internet seems to be a grey area.

The trip to Brazil certainly added colour to our rather boring lives. 給生活添色

My brother cares a lot about green issues and has volunteered to do conservation work. 環保話題

The government tried to blacken his name because he was critical of their policies. 抹黑他的名聲

Im hoping Hilary can shed/throw some light on what happened at work yesterday. 解釋

My sisters illness cast a shadow over our New Year family reunion. 陰影

Jim has always been under the shadow of his super-intelligent sister. 失去關注

Texture

You need to wash greasy hair(油性頭髮) more often than you need to wash dry hair.

This cream is good for dry skin — that one would be better for oily skin(油性皮膚).

Use this cream and the rough skin(粗糙的皮膚) on your hands will soon become smooth.

The outward flight was very bumpy(顛簸). I hope the return flight is smoother.

Id much rather sleep with a firm pillow than a very soft pillow.

As time goes by, fruit goes soft and bread goes hard.

If someone has a sharp tongue, they say unkind things.

Coarse jokes(粗俗的玩笑) are vulgar jokes, jokes in bad taste.

Velvety sky(柔和的夜空) is dark and deep with a beautiful soft smooth quality like the cloth velvet.

Taste and smell

The fragrant perfume of wild flowers follows you. 芳香味

The distinctive aroma(芳香) of the local dishes and the smell of fresh coffee wafting across(飄蕩) the square from the small cafes is simply wonderful.

For many people, octopus is an acquired taste(something you dislike at first but start to like after trying it several times), but its a must on the south coast, and the subtle flavour(微妙的味道) of the local vegetable provides a perfect accompaniment.

bitter coffee 苦咖啡

an old carton of milk which had gone sour 發酸

body odour 體味

Bob and I share the same taste in music; we often buy the same CDs. 品味

We smelt danger and decided not to enter the city. It was a wise choice. 嗅到危險

Number and frequency

51 is an odd number 奇數 - 50 is an even number 偶數

Theres been a recent decline in the number of boys joining the army.

If we add up all the figures, it comes to a total of 794.

The standard unit of currency(貨幣單位) in most EU countries is the euro.

unit of electricity 電單位

unit of length 長度單位

widespread interest, widespread support 廣泛的

widespread damage, widespread poverty

rare disease, rare bird, rare species 罕見的

I couldnt get on with my work today because of constant interruptions - the phone kept ringing every five minutes.

It was a mistake to go on holiday with them. Their continual complaining drove us mad.

Describing graphs and charts

Profits rose sharply/steeply in July, but fell sharply/steeply in September.

There was a dramatic rise/fall in the number of students applying to university this year.

Numbers of mature students have increased steadily/gradually since the 1960s.

The number of crimes committed in the city has remained constant/stablesince 2001.

Movement and speed

We had a quick glance at the menu and went in. 迅速瞥一眼

The builders made rapid progress with the new stadium.

She made a speedy recovery after her operation.

The government took swift action to change the law.

Prompt payment of bills is a good idea. 快速支付

a prompt reply 立即回復

We had a brisk walk before lunch. 快走

We should not make a hasty decision; we may regret it later. 倉促決定

He drove at breakneck speed along the motorway and was soon stopped by the police. 超速

in slow motion 慢動作

We were stuck in slow-moving traffic for an hour on our way to the airport.

After the accident the traffic slowed to a crawl(爬) and then finally came to a standstill(停).

He always does everything in an unhurried manner. 不慌不忙

As it left the city, the train gathered/picked up speed and headed north. 加速

Several roads were closed, so we had to make/take a detour. 繞行

I tried to steer the conversation away from my terrible exam results. 轉移話題

One of the packages I posted went astray and never arrived. 走失

change

I made a few adjustments to the gears and my bike works much better now.

Weve had to make a slight alteration to our plans for the evening.

Weve made a few modifications to the software so that it suits our systems better.

Weve decided to adopt a new approach to the parking problem.

It is often much more difficult than youd expect to break a habit.

The Internet has revolutionised the way people do research.

Yoga has the power to transform the way we feel.

Would you like to change places/seats with me — then you can sit next to your friend.

exchange money 兌換貨幣

exchange ideas 交流想法

The standard of living is rising steadily / is improving. (NOT increasing or growing)

Theres been a big improvement in your performance this year. (NOT increase)

A number of problems arose during the journey. (NOT appeared)

（Something rises, for example, prices rise, profits rise, the sun rises. ）

Ways of speaking

Whenever I make a speech I always try to get to the point as quickly as possible.

I wonder if I could have a brief chat with you about our new secretary?

I had a quick word with Lorna about it yesterday; she said there have been problems.

I know its a delicate subject but I dont think we need to make it a lengthy discussion with everyone involved.

In fact I was going to ask you a favour.請你幫忙

I find it difficult to get into conversation with new people, or to join in a conversation thats already started.

I was at a party recently and I heard my friend Margie strike up a conversationwith a handsome man sitting next to her. Then, after a while, during a lull in the conversation, I heard her whisper softly to him that she was not married. She is. Why did she tell a lie? Should I have told him?

Ways of walking

Some were taking a stroll(遛) with their dogs, while more energetic people chose to go jogging.

We can go for a leisurely stroll around the park later.

The nurse walked briskly(麻利地) over to the bed.

She picked her way cautiously(謹慎地) along the icy pavement.

I didnt know what to do so I just wandered aimlessly around town all morning. 漫無目的地閑逛

The president strode confidently across the room. 自信地大踏步走

a walking encyclopedia 行走的百科全書

run into problems 遇到問題

Many different walks of life appealed to him. 不同行業

After only a month or two he had made great strides and was ready to take his book to a publishing house. (made great progress)

【英語學習】系列文章：

第一篇：當前【英語學習】的問題（1）

第二篇：當前【英語學習】的問題（2）

第三篇：當前【英語學習】的問題（3）

第四篇：【英語學習】的基本功（1）

第五篇：【英語學習】的基本功（2）

第六篇：【英語學習】的基本功（3）

第七篇：【英語學習】的進階（1）：語塊

第八篇：語塊的整理（1）：Travel and the environment

第九篇：語塊的整理（2）：People and relationships

第十篇：語塊的整理（3）：Leisure and lifestyle

第十一篇：語塊的整理（4）：Work and study

第十二篇：語塊的整理（5）：Society and institutions