善用你的语气（1）-英语点津
<p>我想各位读者对于 <span word="a">a</span> <span word="lot">lot</span> 这样的用法都不陌生。<span word="A">A</span> <span word="lot">lot</span> 就是"很多"的意思，也就相当于 <span word="so">so</span> <span word="many">many</span> (用于可数名词)，或是 <span word="so">so</span> <span word="much">much</span> (用于不可数名词)。比方说今天本来晚餐打算少吃点，没想到饭后妈妈居然又煮了红豆小汤圆，所以到头来还是吃太饱了。这种情况我就可以说，"<span word="I">I</span> <span word="ate">ate</span> <span word="too">too</span> <span word="much">much</span> <span word="tonight">tonight</span>." 或是 "<span word="I">I</span> <span word="ate">ate</span> <span word="a">a</span> <span word="lot">lot</span> <span word="today">today</span>."。但是呢？老美光讲 <span word="a">a</span> <span word="lot">lot</span> 还不过瘾，他们又把 <span word="a">a</span> <span word="lot">lot</span> 这个片语，硬是加上一个 <span word="awful">awful</span> (恐怖的) 变成了 <span word="an">an</span> <span word="awful">awful</span> <span word="lot">lot</span>，意即不但是很多，而且是"恐怖"地多。例如 "<span word="I">I</span> <span word="ate">ate</span> <span word="an">an</span> <span word="awful">awful</span> <span word="lot">lot</span>." 就是说吃的东西多到恐怖的地步，可能肚子都胀起来了。</p><p>基本上，所有包含 <span word="a">a</span> <span word="lot">lot</span> 的句子都可以加上一个 <span word="awful">awful</span> 而变成比较夸张的讲法。比方说吧，<span word="a">a</span> <span word="awful">awful</span> <span word="lot">lot</span> 这样的用法常被用在表达自己的谢意或是感谢人家的帮忙时。例如，"<span word="I">I</span> <span word="thanked">thanked</span> <span word="him">him</span> <span word="an">an</span> <span word="awful">awful</span> <span word="lot">lot</span>. (我非常地感谢他。)" 或者是 "<span word="I">I</span> <span word="owe">owe</span> <span word="her">her</span> <span word="an">an</span> <span word="awful">awful</span> <span word="lot">lot</span>. (我亏欠她太多了。)" 加上 <span word="awful">awful</span> 可以表现出一种发自内心，由衷地感谢对方的诚意。</p><p>2. <span word="He">He</span> <span word="is">is</span> <span word="completely">completely</span> <span word="retarded">retarded</span>.</p><p>他真是个十足的智障。</p><p><span word="Completely">Completely</span> 是一个在加强语气时非常好用的副词，它可以让你的语气立刻增强百分之五十。比方说有一次我打电话去订购一样仪器，花了好多时间跟他们解释，到最后，送来的居然还缺这个缺那个的。我忍不住随口抱怨，"<span word="He">He</span> <span word="is">is</span> <span word="so">so</span> <span word="retarded">retarded</span>. (他真是个白痴。)" 坐在旁边的老美大概也深有同感，附和道："<span word="Yes">Yes</span>, <span word="he">he</span> <span word="is">is</span> <span word="completely">completely</span> <span word="retarded">retarded</span>. (他是个十足的智障。)" 这个 <span word="completely">completely</span> 在这里是不是用得很好？<span word="so">so</span> <span word="retarded">retarded</span> 跟 <span word="completely">completely</span> <span word="retarded">retarded</span> 听起来感觉就是不一样。</p>
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