学生英语学习常见错误［12］－习惯用语［误］ - What can I do for you?- Yes， please help me ［正］ - What can I do for you?- I'd like to buy a sweater ［析］ What can I do for you? 这一问语实际上用于的情景很多，要根据具体情况而定如在商店中售货员讲这句话应译为：您想要点什么?在其他场合也可以被译为：我能为您做些什么?它的答语应是直接讲出想让对方提供的帮助［误］ - Which colour do you like?- Sorry， I don't like ［正］ - Which colour do you like?- I prefer blue ［析］ 由 which 来提问的问句是要回答具体的选择，而不能泛指，泛泛的回答如 Yes， I like it［误］ Do you like to come with us tonight? ［正］ Would you like to come with us tonight? ［析］ Do you like … 问的是对方的习惯，如： Do you like swimming? Do you like collecting stamps? 而 would you like … 则是一次性的邀请、提议。
邀请的英语表达法还有如下几种：Shall we go? 我们走吧!Let's go? 让我们走吧!How about having a cup of tea? 喝杯茶如何?What about a cup of coffee 喝杯咖啡如何?Why not buy it? 为什么不买呢?其肯定答语一般为Certainly， Yes， O．Ｋ． All right， With pleasure［误］ Sorry， I've kept you waitingNot at all ［正］ Sorry， I've kept you waitingNever mind ［析］ "介意不介意"这一问法与答语在中英文中有所不同如：- Do you mind my smoking here?- ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ Ａ． Yes， do it pleaseＢ． No， of course notＣ． Yes， take it pleaseＤ． No， you can't take it这时正确的选择应是B其意为：不介意，当然不而A选项则自相矛盾了，它应译为：是的我介意，请抽吧而D选项是：不介意，你不能抽当向对方争求意见时，可以有以下问法：Do you mind if I open the door?Would you mind mailing the letter for me其答语如果是同意应为： Certainly not， not at all而不同意时应为 Yes， 或 I'm sorry［误］ What's that man?He is Mike ［正］ What's that man?He is a teacher ［正］ Who's that man?He is Mike (He is Mike's father) ［析］ 由 what 提问是问的职业，由 who 提问问的是姓名或身份。
［误］ - How much are they?- Half a kilo， please ［正］ - How many bananas do you want?- Half a kilo Please ［析］ How much are they? 问的是价格而不是实际物品的多少［误］ I'm sorry， but is this the way to the park? ［正］ Excuse me， but is this the way to the park? ［析］ I'm sorry 是对已经做错了的事向对方道歉时的开始语而 Excuse me 是在打扰对方之前表达歉意的话［误］ - Have a good time tonight!- You are the same ［正］ - Have a good time tonight!- The same to you ［析］ The same to you 是表达我也祝您有个愉快的夜晚，它是美语中的习惯用法［误］ - What's the problem?- I've got a headache ［正］ What's wrong with you?I've got a headache ［析］ What's wrong with you? 是询问对方身体状态如何，而 What's the problem?是问对方遇到了什么麻烦。
［误］ - Now， I'm back Can I play?- Perhaps You'd better do your homework first ［正］ - Now， I'm back Can I play?- I'm afraid not You'd better do your homework first ［析］ Perhaps 是表示对一种拿不准的事态的推论，如： Am I right? Perhaps而 I'm afraid not 则表达一种不同意的态度 be afraid 的几种用法有：I'm afraid that you are right其后直接加宾语从句 Will you come to my birthday party?- I'm afraid not I have to go to see my father He is in hospital其后＋not，表示否定 Sorry， I don't want to go there alone， I'm afraid of the dog其后＋名词，表示对某人，某物的害怕Mary is afraid of making mistakes in the exam其后＋ of ＋ 动名词，表示害怕做某事。
Mary is afraid to see the teacher because she didn't do well in the exam其后＋ 不定式，表示不敢去做某事［误］ - How soon will you be ready?- Two days ［正］ - How soon will you be ready?- In two days ［析］此题关键是要根据情景，身临其境，要注意的是对方问了什么，就应答什么或答了什么就应问什么 How soon 问的是"还有多久才能作完"，这时要用 in two days，即在两小时之内即可以作完如用 How long 提问，则答语可以用 two days［误］ - Would you mind if I have some time off?- I don't mind- Monday and Tuesday of next week ［正］ - Would you mind if I have some time off?- When exactly- Monday and Tuesday of next week ［析］有的对话是复杂的，稍有不慎就有可能选错，而且英语中如选错了答案是不容易找出错来的。
I don't mind 是可以用来回答 Would you mind…这一提问的，但如仔细看一看则会发现我们要选用的不是陈述句而是疑问句根据下面一句的答语来判定要用 when exactly? 什么时间，这样才能与下句中具体的时间相符合［误］ Suppose your name is Tom The phone rings and you pick it up The first word you say will probably be "Who are you?" ［正］ Suppose your name is Tom The phone rings and you pick it up The first word you say will probably be "Hello? This is Tom speaking?" ［析］在英语学习中，习惯用法实际上在某种情况，或某种意义上讲比语法更为重要如果只从句子的角度上去分析，它们可能都是对的比如，当你拿起时，如果你想知道对方是谁，可以问"Who's that(speaking)?"但不要讲"Who are you?"如果你想先介绍一下自己可以讲"This is ×××× speaking"而不要讲"I'm ××××"也不要讲"My name is ×××××．" 就语法而论，"Who are you?" "I'm ××××""My name is ×××××"并不错，也是英语中可用的句子，但就打这一场合，就不宜用了。
［误］ - Do you think it's going to rain over the weekend?- I don't hope so ［正］ - Do you think it's going to rain over the weekend?- I hope not ［析］由于初学者对实际英语口语中表达感情意愿的答语不熟悉，如在肯定答语中 I think so I hope so I believe so 是相同的，但在否定句中却常用 I don't think so 但I don't believe so 和 I don't hope so 则意为：我不信此事和我不希望此事发生而 I believe not 和 I hope not 则为：我想可能不会发生吧!［误］ - Is anybody there?- No， Bob and Tom have asked for leave ［正］ - Is everybody there?- No， Bob and Tom have asked for leave ［析］许多学生在写作和选择答语或问句时总要语法在前，而不是习惯用语在先。
所以总是要拘泥疑问句中的不定代词，用 anybody 但是Is anybody there? 在英语中为：这里有人吗?而Is everybody there?为：全都到齐了吗?所以首先要考虑的是其答语 No， Bob and Tom have asked for leave［误］ - Your handwriting is very good!- No， my handwriting is very poor ［正］ - Your handwriting is very good!- Thank you ［析］中国人遇到别人称赞，总是以谦逊为美德但英美人则往往认为自信是美德所以当别人夸奖你或赞美你时，就应说： Thank you 又比如中国人见面时常讲 Where are you going? 或 Have you had your breakfast yet?而英美人则认为你过多的干预别人的私生活了而他们见面时往往问一些无关紧要的话，如： Hello! How are you going? (你过得怎样) Morning! 等而 good morning 和 How do you do 则被认为是。