“貌”相近，意相远的易混词辨析
英语中有许多拼写相近的单词,有的仅一个字母之差,意义却相差较远,可谓"貌"相近,意相远.因其"貌"近,难辨者众,常指鹿为马.其实这些词有很多都是同"根"生的"兄弟姐妹".本文试图把某些常用"貌"近之词依"貌"分组列出,结合构词法分析其"根",配以语句进行对比,希望能帮助英语学习者辨其"貌",知其意.
1. inspect, respect, expect, prospect
"貌"同处spect,词根:看.各相异处前缀in-:里面、内,in + spect "看里面"乃为"检查";re-:反复、回,re + spect "回头反复看"是为"尊重";ex-:外面、出,ex + spect "看外面"是在"期待";pro-:前、朝前,pro + spect "朝前看"就是"展望、前景".
(1) The customs inspectors are inspecting the outgoing baggage. 海关稽查员正在检查出关的行李.
(2) The candidate is widely respected and expected to be elected mayor of this city. 候选人广受尊重,有望当选为该市市长.
(3) I see little much prospect of his company. 我看他公司发展前景渺茫.
2. expose, propose, dispose, compose, oppose, impose
"貌"同处pos,词根+ 结尾字母e:放置.各相异处前缀ex-:外面、出,ex + pose "摆出来"是为"揭发、暴露";pro-:前、朝前,pro + pose "向前呈"引为"提出、提议";dis-:分开,dis + pose "分开放置"引为"布置、安排";com=con-:共同、一起,com + pose "放到一起"即为"组成、构成";op-:相反,op + pose "置于相反位置"引为"反抗";im=in:内、里面,im + pose "把……硬置于里面"乃"把……强加".
(1) The leaders opposed the idea of exposing these photos to the public. 领导们反对将这些照片公之于众.
(2) Man proposes; God disposes. 谋事在人,成事在天.
(3) Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen. 水是由氢和氧组成的.
(4) The director always attempts to impose his idea into every decision that is made by his office staff. 这位主任总是企图把他的个人意见强加于全体工作人员的每一项决定之上.
3. express, impress, depress, compress
"貌"同处press,词根:压.各相异处前缀ex-:外面、出,ex + press "把……压出"引为"表示、表明";im=in:内、里面,im + press "压入"乃"铭刻、给留下深刻印象";de-:向下,de + press "使压下"就是"使沮丧";com=con-:共同、一起,com + press "压在一起"即为"压缩".
(1) Children are encouraged to express feelings of sadness which they may be holding inside. 应当鼓励孩子们把他们可能藏在心里的不愉快表达出来.
(2) His words are strongly impressed on my memory. 他的话深深地铭刻在我心上.
(3) News of his father’s death depressed Mr. Zhou; he felt as if a heavy weight had been placed on his spirit. 父亲去世的消息使周先生消沉,他感到心里好像压了一块重石.
(4) Compress your composition into a shorter one within 100 words. 把你的作文缩写成100字以内的短文.
4. contribute, distribute, attribute
"貌"同处tribute,词根:贡品、献礼.各相异处前缀con-:共同、一起,con + tribute "贡品一起"引为"贡献、捐献";dis-:分开,dis + tribute "分贡品"就是"分发";at- 可表原因,at + tribute "表述奉献贡品之由"引为"归因于".
(1) Song Dynasty contributed three inventions to world civilization.
宋朝有三大发明对世界文明做出了贡献.
(2) The organizing committee distributed prizes
among the winners. 组委会把奖品分发给了获胜者.
(3) He attributes his success to his hard work. 他认为他的成就是他刻苦的结果.
5. constitute, substitute, institute
"貌"同处stitute,词根:站立.各相异处前缀con-:共同、一起,con + stitute "同在一起"乃为"组成、构成";sub-:下面,"使一件东西站到另一件东西之下"就是"用……代替某人或某物";in-:内、里面,"在里面站的"即为"机构、学院".
(1) The three men were driving a stolen car from a scientific institute in which the police found a quantity of illegal drug substances; these facts constituted enough evidence for the three to be charged and brought to trial. 三名男子驾驶一辆
