what is what; which is which; and who is who
這三個表達在口語中非常常用,由於其結構相同,用法相似,所以經常被弄混。本文擬對其用法區別作一歸納。
一、what is what
what’s what在口語中通常與動詞know, learn, show, tell, perceive等連用,其主要用法有:
1. 表示“哪個是哪個”。如:
The weeds and the flowers are coming up together, and we can’t tell what is what. 雜草和花長在一起,我們都沒法區別哪是草哪是花。
It will take you a few weeks to learn what’s what in the job. 你要花幾個星期的工夫才能熟悉這項工作。
2. 表示“好東西與壞東西”“有用的東西與無用的東西”“青紅皂白”。如:
He can’t tell what’s what. 他好醜不分(from www.hxen.com)。
You’re old enough now to know what’s what. 你已經不小了,應該知道好歹了。
3. 表示“什麽事情有用”“什麽事情重要”。如:
She certainly knows what’s what. 她當然知道輕重緩急。
4. 表示“事情的真相”“事情的究竟”。如:
I keep my ears open and I know what’s what around the office. 我一直在注意聽,知道辦公室發生的情況。
If he gets angry enough, he’ll tell you what’s what. 假如他生氣到一定的程度,他會告訴你到底是怎麽一回事。
5. 表示“事情的訣竅”。如(from www.hxen.com):
When it comes to cooking, Jenny knows what’s what. 談到烹飪,詹妮是內行。
Linda’s been in the business for thirty years—she knows what’s what. 琳達在這一行當裏幹了30年,很老練了。
二、which is which
which is which的意思“哪個是哪個”,通常用於區分兩個十分相似的人或事物,一般與動詞tell, know等連用。如:
You don’t know which is which, do you? 你不知道哪個是哪個,對嗎?
These kittens look exactly alike—how can you tell which is which? 這些小貓看上去一模一樣,你怎麽能分出哪個是哪個?
The twins are so much alike that I can’t tell which is which. 這對雙胞胎長得可真像,我都分不出誰是誰了。
Tag the bottles now or we’ll forget which is which. 把這些瓶子加上標簽,否則的話,我們就忘了哪個是哪個了。
注:有時可用which…is which這樣的形式。如(from www.hxen.com):
It took three months before we knew which end of the ship was which. 我們花了三個月時間才弄清楚哪是船頭哪是船尾。
三、who is who
who is who的意思是“誰是誰”“人們的情況(姓名、工作、身份等)”,通常與動詞know, learn, remember等連用。如:
It was so dark I couldn’t tell who was who. 光線很暗,我分不清哪個是哪個。
I don’t know anyone at this party; you must tell me who’s who. 這晚會上我一個人也不認識,你要告訴我哪個是哪個(即給我作介紹)。
You’ll soon find out who’s who in this department. 你很快就能弄清楚這個部門每個人的情況。
When I go to those family reunions, I can never remember who’s who. 我去參加那些家庭團圓聚會時,從來記不住誰是誰。
注:大寫的Who’s Who意為“名人錄”“名人詞典”。如:
Who’s Who states he retired in 1980. 《名人錄》上說他於1980年退休了。
The guest list reads like a Who’s Who of top American businessmen. 賓客名單讀起來像是美國頂級商人的名人錄。
From: http://www.hxen.com/grammar/jiaoxue/2009-08-21/87533.html
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