问
（A）By my watch it is ten o'clock.
(B) According to my watch it is ten o'clock.
by 和 according to 都作“按照”“依照”“根据”解, 它们是否可以互换?
答
只有指非常确定的事物(如 the clock, the term(s), the voice, the timetable, his appearance, the smell 等)时, by 和 according to 才是可以互换的。注意, 用于此种含义的 by 不能用在指人的名词或代词之前(× by him), 但: by his (her, their) own admission[根据他(她、他们)自己的承认]。还要注意, according to 只能表示来自其他人或来源的信息, 而不能表示来自说话人本人的信息。可以说 according to him, 但不能说 according to me。此外, according to 还不能与 opinion 连用(× according to my opinion, 应为: in my opinion)。请考察下列实例:
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The road was some forty miles long according to my map. (EED) 按照我的地图, 这条路大约有 40 英里长。
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He is rich by Chinese standards. (EED) 按照中国标准他是个富人。
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Do not judge a person by his looks. 不要以貌取人。