



下面两句英文在意义上不知有何不同?
(a)Have you seen it already?
(b)Have you seen it yet?
【解答】 照一般规则,yet用于问句,already用于平叙句,如果把already也用在问句中,往往有惊讶的意味。(b)例是普通问句的说法,是问对方是否已经看过,而(a)例则表示惊讶,为什么这样快就看过了。例如马戏班来此表演刚第一天见报,而你就已经看过了,真想不到。
代替yet用于问句或否定句中的already,意思还是一样,不过多表示一点惊讶而已,再举例句如下:
Is he back already?(already = thus early)(他这样早就回来了吗?)
You’re not leaving us already,are you?(你这样早就要走了吗?)
Is it 10 o’clock already?(已经就有十点钟了吗?)
再看already正常用法的例:
The train has already left.(already = by this time)(火车已经开走了。)
I’ve been there already,so I don’t want to go again.(already = previ-ously;before now)(那里我已经去过,所以我不想再去了。)
When I called,he was already dressed.(already = by that time)(当我到他家时,他已经穿好衣服了。)
至于yet的普通用法,可分下列各种:
The work is not yet finished.(在否定句中yet = up to now、so far)(那工作还没有完工。)
The logic seems sound,but yet it does not convince me.(尽管说得有理,但我还是不能信服。)
I offered him still more,and yet he was not satisfied.(我对他说可以再多给些,而他还是未能满足。)
You must work yet(= even)harder.(你必须要再接再厉才行。)
We shall not employ him nor yet is brother.(我们不雇用他,而且也不雇用他的兄弟。)
As yet(= up to now or then)we have(had)not made any plans for the holidays.(我们至今〔或到那时为止〕还没有做出什么度假的计划。)
The enemy may win yet(= at some future time;before all is over),if we relax our efforts.(如果我松懈下来,敌人还是可以得胜的。)
It’s the best yet found.(到现在为止还没有见到比这更好的。)
I have yet(= still)more exciting news for you.(我还有更好的消息报告你。)
Be thankful you are yet alive.(yet = still)(你还活着,真是谢天谢地。)通常多用still。
Have you learned to swim yet?(你已经学会了游泳吗?)
Can’t you tell me yet?(yet = now)(你不能就告诉我吗?)
Need you go yet?(你就一定要去了吗?)
We have had no news from him yet.(我们到现在还没有接到他的信息。)