Ask & Learn聞問(wèn)切英語(yǔ)口語(yǔ):Need be
上一期讀者William問(wèn)及the Need be,令我想起另外一句慣用語(yǔ):if need be,意思是「如有必要」。南非前總統(tǒng)曼德拉就有一句名言:
"But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."「有必要的話,我愿意為這個(gè)理想付出生命。 」
我們?cè)诼吕睦涌吹?,If need be也有人說(shuō)成if needs be。用日常用語(yǔ)說(shuō)出來(lái),應(yīng)該是if there is a need或者if the needs are there,兩個(gè)都有人用,但比不上if need be或者if needs be那么常用。
再舉一個(gè)日常生活例子。F先生前幾天小病,不得不向上司請(qǐng)假,信中他說(shuō):
"I would be appreciative if I could be excused from the meeting this afternoon, but if need be, I'd be happy to come, too."
今天下午的會(huì)議,我希望你容許我缺席,但若有必要,我還是愿意出席的。
Have you any questions about English usage?
Don't hesitate to send them to us!
更多信息請(qǐng)查看生活口語(yǔ)