place

按照英语惯用法,必须说 from place to place,而不能说 from places to places,这是因为英语里有一个所谓的平行结构原则:两个相同的名词放在一个平行结构里,名词一般采用单数形式,并且不用冠词。例如:

face to face day by day hand in hand side by side arm in arm toe to toe 请分析下列句中的平行结构：

1. He didn't have enough money, but he had gone from shop to shop. 他没有足够的钱，但他已经走了一家商店又一家商店。

2. The boys ran down the road arm in arm. (Henderson) 孩子们手挽手沿街跑过去。

3. She stood face to face with him. (Wells) 她和他面对面站着。

4. Day by day the situation is improving. (Wood) 形势一天一天地好起来。

5. Bob and Mary walked along hand in hand in the park. (DAI) 鲍勃和玛丽手牵手在公园里漫步。

6. I think we see eye to eye on that subject. (Wood) 我想我们对于那件事看法是一致的。

7. The two bottles stood side by side on the table. (LDCE) 两个瓶子并排放在桌子上。

place 是个特殊的词, 当动词不定式充当它的定语时可以省略介词。除了 place 之外,

place $^{5}$

day, time 和 way 也具有相同的用法。参见 infinitive $^{2}$ 。

上面的用法是正确的,请见上条和 infinitive $^{2}$ ,那里有详细的解答。

a better place to live 的说法是正确的,见以上两条和 infinitive $^{2}$ 。

它们有相同的一面:都可以作“代替……”解。例如:

1. She couldn't attend the meeting so her assistant took her place. 她不能出席会议,所以由助手替她。

2. Will Mr Green take the place of George? 格林先生将接替乔治的位置吗?

但是, take one's place 还有其他的用法: “入座”“站好位置”“取得地位”“被看成是”:

1. Take your places for the next dance. 各就各位,准备跳下一个舞。

2. This new work will take its place among the most important paintings of this century. 这幅新作品将跻身于本世纪最重要的绘画之列。

可以把它们看作是同义词,只是 place 比 put 正式,常常用于书面语体:

1. The waiter placed the meal in front of me. 服务员把饭菜放在我的面前。

2. She put the book on the table. 她把书放在桌子上了。