对于区分 can 和 can't 有困难的人士,曾经有个建议说 用be able to和be unable to来代替。我也曾经这样说过。* A- |5 [. l1 ]1 a3 L0 i
9 I: s! _8 Z) a" q- m& r4 H% u但是要分场合。因为be able to实际的含义是有能力做。要是忽视这个含义,就可能出错。5 q6 b. \ f! b$ X- B' g
8 @/ j1 U. @( s0 g0 n" c2 D比如,The rules can't be enforced. 要是给换一下,变成了 The rules are unable to be enforced. 这句话在逻辑上乱七八糟。因为rules本身没有什么能力去被执行。如果说 The manager was unable to enforce the rules. 逻辑上语法上都说得过去,可是被迫使用了主动语态,与原意不完全符合。: r" z; }7 g( P* C; y; l
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如果我理解有误,请大家指正。
4#雲吞 ! E- b- }0 E# W1 s 2 h- |; { o! [ g) `6 ]% a1 f/ I( N下面是一个老外在网上出售仿真枪时作的说明: ^; @' j* b- m0 j8 N 1 K- g4 ^( V( e- x" O$ RThis item cannot be made to fire and has never been capable of firing. The metal is not strong enough to hold a charge. For decorative purposes only. # J2 ~2 v8 r# | Q. Z! r) A! _) M( u* v+ \
谨供参考。