進入本文前,請先想想以下英文詞彙：
a) 同音異意
b) 令人討厭的
c) 所有格的撇號
For some people, all it takes is a single text, instant message or comment on Facebook to reveal their poor grasp of the English language. a) Homophones — words that sound alike but are spelled differently and have different meanings — can be particularly b) pesky. Regardless, you should never choose incorrectly any of the following five homophones:
對某些人而言，單單只是一個簡訊，即時訊息或是在臉書上發表評論，即透露出所掌握的英語用語貧乏。同音詞 – 發音相同,但拼寫和意義不同 – 特別麻煩。 無論如何，下列 5 種同音字，永遠不要選擇錯誤:
1. "Your" vs. "You're" “你的” 和 “你是”
"Your" is a possessive pronoun, while "you're" is a contraction of "you are." Example 1: I think your suggestion works.
Example 2: You're pretty.
“Your” 是代名詞，“You’re” 是 “You are” 的縮寫。
例句 1：我認為你的建議會成功。
例句 2：你是漂亮的。
2. "Its" vs. "It’s" “它的”和“它是”
Normally, an c) apostrophe symbolizes possession of the noun, as in, "I took the dog's bone." But it is different with “its” and “it’s”. Use "its" as the possessive pronoun and "it's" for the shortened version of "it is."
Example 1：The Company is hoping to increase its sales figures.
Example 2：It's going to rain.
通常情況，一個名詞後面的撇號象徵其所有格，如“我拿了狗的骨頭。”“its ”為所有格代名詞,“it’s”為 “It is ” 的縮寫。
例句 1：公司希望增加其銷售數字。
例句 2：即將要下雨了。
3. "Then" vs. "Than" “然後” 和 “比...”
"Then" conveys time, while "than" is used for comparison.
Example 1：We left the party and then went home.
Example 2：Susan looks younger than she is.
“Then”傳達時間的順序,而“than ”是用於比較。
例句 1：我們離開了舞會,然後就回家了。
例句 2：蘇珊看起來比實際年紀年輕。
4. "Into" vs. "In To" “進入..”
"Into" is a preposition that indicates movement or transformation, while "in to," as two separate words, does not.
Example 1：We drove the car into the lake.
Example 2：I turned my test in to the teacher.
In the latter example, if you wrote "into," you're implying you literally changed your test into your teacher. Try speaking the sentence concerned aloud, pausing distinctly between “in” and “to.” If the result sounds wrong, you probably need “into.”
“Into” 是介係詞,表示動作或轉變,而“in to,”作為兩個單獨的詞,卻不是相同意思。 例如 1:我們將車開入湖中。
例如 2:我把我的測驗卷繳交給老師。在後面的例子中,如果你寫了“into,”就字面意思，你暗示你把考試變成你的老師。試著大聲念你覺得有疑問的句子, 在 “in” 和 “to” 之間停頓。如果聽起來不對，你可能需 要用 “into” 。
5. "Alot" vs. “A lot” “很多”
"Alot" isn't a word. This phrase to express “many” is always two separate words: a lot.
“Alot” 不是一個字。 表示 “很多” ，永遠是兩個分開的字 “a lot” 。
That’s the thing about language. It is intended to convey ideas, instructions and other specific things. If we are not all using a general set of rules, it defeats the purpose of having language. So next time, be careful of the words you choose. They may sound similar, but sometimes with completely opposite meanings.
有關於語言的東西。它的目的在於傳遞思想，教育和表達明確的事物。如果我們不使用一套通用的規則，會違背了語言的目的。因此，下一次，要小心選擇用字，他們或許聽起來很相似，卻往往有著完全不相同的意思。
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（本文轉載自世界公民文化中心，本文僅反映專家作者意見，不代表本社立場。）
