word的搭配及其用法

1. 請注意下列習語中word單複數的使用：

(1) have a word with sb. 同某人説句話或談談

have words with sb. 同某人爭吵

May I have a word with you? 我可以同你談談嗎？

I had words with my girlfriend last night. 昨晚我同女朋友少嘴了。

(2) in a (或one) word 一句話，總而言之

in other words 換句話説，也就是説

In a word, we must do our best to do it. 一句話，我們必須盡力去做。

You say you took the book without his permission. In other words, you stole it.

你説你未經他允話拿了那本書，也就是説，你偷了那本書。

2. 在下列習語中，word 表示“諾言”、“消息”等意義，一般只用單數：keep one’s word(守諾), break one’s word(失諾), give one’s word (許諾), leave word(留言), send word(捎信)等。如：

They failed to keep their word. 他們沒能守諾。

He sent word that he would he late. 他通知説他將遲來。

Please leave word (for me) with my child if I’m not at home. 如果我不在家，請留個信叫我孩子轉達。

注：word 表示“消息”，還通常用於“word came of ＋名詞”或“word came that＋從句”等結構，意為“有消息説”、“據説”。注意這裏的 word 只用單數，前面一般不用定冠詞(但偶爾也有人用)。如：

Word came of his success abroad. 有消息説他在國外發跡了。

Word (或The word) came that he could not come. 消息傳來説他不能來了。

3. eat one’s words 常被直擇為“食言”，其實它的準確含義是“收回前言”、“承認錯誤”(= take back one’s words)。