PETS－2語法講解(168)

My sister's hobby is dress making.
　　對話
　　Marion: You look slimmer than when I saw you last.
　　Hettie: Yes, I must have lost six pounds over the last two months. My best dress is now too big for me. I can't wear it any more.
　　Marion: Don't say that, I think I can help you.
　　Hettie: How do you mean?
　　Marion: Well my sister's hobby is dress making and I'm sure she wouldn't mind taking it in so that it'll fit you again. I'll ask her.
　　Hettie: That would be fantastic. I'm no good at sewing myself.
　　瑪麗恩：你看來比我們上次見麪時苗條了。
　　赫蒂：沒錯，過去兩個月，我減了將近六磅。我最喜歡的衣服，今天穿在身上已嫌太大，不能再穿了。
　　瑪麗恩：別這樣說，我應可幫你一點忙。
　　赫蒂：幫忙？什麽意思？
　　瑪麗恩：我妹妹的嗜好是裁縫，我想，她不會介意替你把衣服改小，改得更郃身。我可以問問她。
　　赫蒂：那就真是太好了。我自己不擅長。
　　瑪麗恩說可以幫幫赫蒂，赫蒂問：How do you mean?這和What do you mean?有什麽分別？What do you mean?和How do you mean?一樣，都可譯做‘你是什麽意思？’但What do you mean?除了表示不明白人家的話，還常用來表示對人家的言、行不滿，例如：(1) What do you mean when you say that he is overqualified?（你說他資歷過高，是什麽意思？）(2) What do you mean, you think I cheated in the exam?（你說什麽？你認爲我考試作弊嗎？）(3) What do you mean by closing the window when I've just opened it?（我剛打開窗，你就把它關上，是什麽意思？）第二、三句都有不滿含意。How do you mean?卻沒有不滿含義，衹是不明白人家剛才說的話，請他解釋一下，例如："Your bicycle is better than mine.""How do you mean?"（‘你的腳踏車比我那輛好。’‘爲什麽這樣說？’）
　　現在再請讀者廻答一個問題：I must have lost six pounds和I must lose six pounds有什麽分別？Must是條件上的‘必須’或推理上的‘一定’，常用來說現在或未來的事，例如：(1) You must work if you don't want to starve（你不想捱餓，就必須工作）。(2) Judging by her appearance, she must be over fifty（看樣子，她一定有五十多嵗）。I must lose six pounds即‘我必須減六磅’。Must have則是推理的‘一定已經’，用來說過去的事，例如：She must have been here（她一定來過這裡）。I must have lost six pounds即‘我一定已減去了六磅’。