我们先看一看三个英语词典中的例句。
第1个例句:《葛传槼英语惯用法词典》第122页choose词条
choose作“选择出来”解,不作“从…选择”解,如可以说I want to choose five from(或among,或from among,或out of)these books,但不可说These books are for you to choose。该在choose后面加from, from among或out of。
第2个例句:《英语常用词疑难用法手册》(陈用仪编著)第171页choose词条
choose这个及物动词,意思是“选中”、“挑选出”,表示结果的完成,不是表示“选择”的过程;它的直接宾语,不是多个供选择的对象,而是挑选完毕的当选择。【例如】
They’ve chosen a very strong team. 他们挑选出了一个很强的队。
Choose your words carefully. 要细心字斟句酌。
如果要说“选择”的过程,有多个供选择的对象,就要把choose改为不及物动词,在多个选择对象前面加上between(两个对象)或among/from(对个对象)。【例如】
You can choose among/from these hotels. 你可以在这儿家旅馆当中挑选。
There are lots of flavors to choose from. 有多种口味供选择。
There’s little to choose between them. 两者之间没有多少好选择的。
如果说:We have two people for you to choose,那就几乎等于“等额选举”,一定要对方选中两个人;应该把choose改为choose from,让对方从两个人当中选出一个人。
【真是高手——几行字就把choose说明白了。】
第3个例句:《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》第2668页sure词条23
With over 80 beaches to choose from, you are sure to find a place to lay your towel.
有80多个海滩可供选择,你一定能找到一处满意的。
【如果说With over 80 beaches to choose,含义是有80多个海滩要选用(即必须选用/选中80多个海滩)——这样与其后的You are sure to find a place to lay your towel语义是有矛盾的,后句的含义是to find a place…。所以这个句子中的choose后面必须使用from或用among,或用from among,或用out of。】
【另如】
Tom chose two books. 含义是Tom选中/挑选了两本书。
Tom chose two from/among/out of the books. 含义是Tom从这些书中选中了两本。
Tom had two books to choose from. 含义是Tom有两本书可以选用/挑选(选一本)。
(上句也相当于Tom had two books to choose between。)
Tom had to choose between the two books. Tom得从两本书中挑选一本。
(= Tom had to choose one between the two books.)
(= Tom had to choose one book between the two.)
Tom had to choose between death and dishonor.
Tom得在死亡和耻辱之间选择(一个)。
Tom had to choose between staying here and going out.
Tom得做出选择——是待在这里还是出去。
There are eight to choose. 含义是有八个要选用/选取/挑选(总数大于八个)
There are eight to choose from/among.
含义是有八个可供挑选/选取/挑选(结果是选用少于八个)。
补充一点:下面的句子都成立:
We chose Tom for our monitor.
We chose Tom as our monitor.
We chose Tom to be our monitor.
We chose Tom our monitor.
(最后一句不很常用)(后三者的用法,如同consider一样)
看了这些还没有懂choose的“选择”用法,说明“心没有静下来”。
2016年10月31日记