60天口语社群里面有同学问到了一道选择题:
Would you like ______ clothes made in China? They are cheap and comfortable.
I’d love to. That pair of green trousers looks nice. Can I ______?
(A) some; try it on (B) any; try on it (C) some; try them on (D) any; try on them
题目的正确答案是C。
这道题出得比较有迷惑性,里面出现了一些值得关注的知识点。
第一个知识点是some/any的区分。
通常情况下,some用于肯定句,any用于否定句、疑问句和条件从句,比如我们要说:I’ve got some eggs. 而不能说:I’ve got any eggs.
但在一些说话者希望能够得到肯定回答的疑问句中,人们会用some来代替any,比如这句话:
Would you like some coffee?
说话者在提出邀请时希望得到肯定的答复,因此这里用的是some coffee,而不是any coffee
又比如:
Can you lend me some money?
这里说话者同样希望得到肯定答复,因此不说:Can you lend me any money?
同样的道理,我们要说:Would you like some clothes made in China?
另一个知识点则涉及到a pair of XX的问题。《英语常见问题解答大词典》里面提到,当a pair of与复数名词连用时,同一个从句中的动词要用单数。比如:A pair of glasses costs quite a lot these days.
但是a pair of XX后面的代词以及定语从句中的谓语动词则通常用复数形式。
举个例子,雅虎新闻今年有一篇文章,标题是:I’m racing to buy another pair of these M&S wide-leg trousers before they sell out again
标题里面用they来指代前面的another pair of these M&S wide-leg trousers
小标题也有这样的句子:You won’t find a more flattering, comfortable pair of trousers, and they’re only £27.50.
这里同样用they来指代a more flattering, comfortable pair of trousers
定语从句里面的谓语动词也用复数,比如国外一家时尚网站上有这样的句子:
For a comfortable pair of trousers which simultaneously serve some fashionable verve, look no further than this pair by Fear of God.
定语从句里面的谓语动词用的是serve,而不是serves
上面说的这些规律不仅适用于trousers,还适用于其他带有双数含义的名词,比如:a pair of shoes/socks/gloves
不过题目用cheap来表示商品便宜,这样用词是不恰当的,因为它还隐含有“质量低劣”的意思。
如果要表达“物美价廉”的意思,可以用affordable或者inexpensive,题干可以改为:They are affordable and comfortable.