Day13: 常用动词五

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Matter

-- matter作为动词

1. It doesn't matter是非常常用的，它意味着it's not important、I don't mind、it's not a problem等：

   A: I forgot to buy milk when I was in town.

   B: It doesn't matter. We've got enough till tomorrow.

   It doesn't matter if you can't be here by nine o'clock. We can start without you and you can join us later.

2. 我们还可以经常使用matter提问，常跟一个if从句，这常意味着Is it a problem?：

   Does it matter if I leave my computer on all night?

   Would it matter which fight we got?

   A: I forgot to compy Chris in on the email to Margaret.

   B: Does it matter?

   A: I suppose not.

3. 我们也可以在肯定句中使用matter来表达某事对某人很重要，经常跟to，这不常见：

   A: Sally says the school buildings are in a bad state.

   B: Well, the local authority doesn't care. Nobody cares.

   A: Well it matters to Sally. She has to work there. It matters to me that my children should be polite to adults.

-- matter作为名词

1. what's the matter (with)用来询问某人有什么问题吗或询问状况或寻求一个看似有问题的情况的解释等：

   What's the matter, darling? Why are you crying?

   What's the matter with Derek these days? He's acting so strangely.

   我们不说the matter is ...，我们说the problem is ...：

   He'd like to live in the USA. The problem is he can't get a visa.

   Not: The matter is ...

   当我们回答what's the matter时，不使用matter而使用problem，如上。

2. matter作为可数名词时，意味着question、problem、issue：

   This is a matter for the police. We cannot deal with it ourselves.

   Are there any other matters to discuss today, or shall we finish?

   matter作为不可数名词时，意味着构成宇宙的物质：

   How much matter is there in the entire universe? Scientists are not absolutely sure.

3. as a matter of fact用来强调某事物和我们之前说过的、人们考虑期待的不一样：

   A: I don't think you like Hilary, don't you?

   B: No, that's just not true. As a matter of fact, I'm very fond of her. It's just that she irritates me sometimes.

4. in a matter of + time expression常用来指代某事物发生很快，或很快被完成：

   It's used to take an hour to get to the airport, but now with the new metro line you can get there in a matter of minutes. (过去需要一个小时才能到达机场，但现在有了新的地铁线，你可以在几分钟内到达)

5. no matter可以作为连词连接两个分句，它是it doesn't matter的简短形式，可以跟what/when/where/which/who/how来指即使我们尝试也无法改变的情况：

   No matter what I wear, I always feel dull and old-fashioned.

   No matter where she looked, she could not find the missing paper.

   He never answers emails, no matter how many you send him.

   只有一个分句，我们用it doesn't matter + what/when/where/which/who/how，而不是no matter：

   A: There are three phone numbers here for the tax office. Which one do I call?

   B: It doesn't matter which one you use.

   Not: No matter which one you use.

   同样的，it doesn't matter + if从句 而不是no matter：

   It doesn't matter if you wear a smart suit, they still won't let you in without a tie.

Mean

1. 解释或询问一个单词或短语意思等：

   What does 'strike' mean?

   Not: What means 'strike'?

   当我们谈论表达想法时，我们通常不会使用进行时：

   What does that sign mean?

   Not: What is that sign mean?

2. 我们使用mean来澄清我们所说的内容或解释我们想要说的内容：

   You have to take the road by the church.

   Which church?

   Here's what I mean, Lynn: there are roads ahead. Take the right-hand road.

   在mean后面加to动词不定式来表达意图：

   Sorry, I didn't mean to upset you.

   I mean to call you before I left. I forgot.

   通常用keep meaning to来表达长期的意图：

   I've got to go to dentist. I keep meaning to make an appointment.

3. 我们用mean来表达某事是重要的：

   The bracelet mean a lot to her. It had belonged to her grandmother. (手镯对她意义重大...)

   Does this name mean anything to you?

4. 我们可以使用mean + noun(名词) 来讨论一件事导致另一件事：

   Higher fuel prices will mean higher airfares.

5. 我们使用mean + -ing形式讨论必要的事情或某事的结果：

   I'll have to catch the 7 am train to Shanghai, which means getting up at 5 am. (I need to get up at 5 am.)

   我们也会用be meant to表达责任义务，与be supposed to(应该)相似，具体参考前文关于be动词的介绍：

   Why are you watching TV? You are meant to be working.

6. 我们用mean by来询问某人在使用一个单词或短语时想到的特定内容：

   We don't want to discourage her from studying.

   It depends what you mean by 'discourage'.

   Well, I mean make her think we can't afford to pay for her.

7. means作为一个名词，虽然以s结尾，但却是单数名词，我们可以用它来谈论做某事的方法：

   The most economical means of travelling to Aberdeen is by plane.

   Not: ... to Aberdeen are by plane.

8. I mean是非常常用的话语标记，当我们想要补充我们刚说过的内容时，我们会使用它，以便更清楚的说明或纠正我们说过的内容：

   The law is not fair. I mean, it is just not right that he didn't go to prison. (补充)

   It cost over 200. I mean, that's more than most of us can afford. (清楚的说明)

   I need to ask Helen, I mean, Harriet. (纠正)

   我们通常也会在犹豫的时候使用I mean，去减轻一些负面的东西或分歧等：

   A: What do you think of Ben?

   B: Well, I mean, he is not very confident and not always sure what he's supposed to be doing.

   I think Peter probably has a strong view about that. It's interesting ... I mean I ... what I said earlier and I mean Perter might disagree with me.

   当我们不确定说什么时，可以用I mean，经常在它前面或后面停顿：

   She's not coming back, er I mean, erm ... she and I have broken up.

   我们不用I mean来讨论我们的意见，这和I think有所区别：

   I think we should stay at the Lakeside Inn.

   Not: I mean we should stay at ...

9. 在口语中，我们经常使用you know what I mean(或if you know what I mean/do you know what I mean)短语来确认我们的听众是否理解我们的意思，或者我们认为听众和我们有相同的意见：

   A: I just can't go to Norah's house.

   B: Why's that?

   A: I just don't like all the cats. You know what I mean? They're everywhere even in the beds.

   B: Yeah, I have to say I'm not a fan of cats either.

   Ken isn't very helpful, if you know what I mean.

Miss

1. miss意味着not hit or reach something：

   The car went out of control. It missed a tree and hit a wall. (车子失控了，避过一棵树撞到墙上了)

   He threw the empty can towards the rubbish bin but he missed.

   也意味着not be present at / be too late for a planed event / activity：

   I will have to leave early otherwise I will miss my train. (我必须早点走，不然要错过火车了)

   We missed the start of the film.

   当我们不理解、没有注意或听到某事物时，我们会用miss：

   Sorry, I missed what you just said. Could you repeat it, please?

   I cleaned the window but I think I missed some bits.

   当因某人不在旁边感到悲伤想念时，使用miss：

   I miss you so much.

   We really miss having a dog in the house. (我们真的很想念在家里养狗)

   我们使用miss + ing形式：

   I miss swimming. I used to swim a lot.

   Not: I miss to swim...

2. missing可以作为形容词，意味着lost：

   Missing person; John Rice, Aged 45, Tall with dark hair. Missing from his house since ...

3. 当某人某物没有做他应该做的事时，我们使用fail而不是miss：

   The parcel failed to arrive.

   Not: The parcel missed to arrive.

   She think she's failed her exam.

   Not: She think she's missed her exam.

   当我们因不知道在哪或被拿走了而不在拥有某物时，我们使用lose而不是miss：

   She doesn't want to lose her job.

   Not: She doesn't want to miss her job.

   当我们用于指对于某些东西太迟太晚，或我们没有在我们需要在的地方，用miss而不是lose：

   I missed the bus.

   Not: I losed the bus.

   当我们表达我们没有足够的我们需要或想要的东西时，我们会用lack而不是miss：

   I know you lack some skilled people to build the boat and therefore I hope I can join your club to help you.

   Not: I know you miss some ...