As … as 是常见的比较结构,其中第一个 as 是副词,修饰后面的形容词或副词,第二个 as 是连词或介词,那么毫无疑问,as good as 意为“与什么一样好”,然而事实却往往不是这个意思。
在英语中,good 以各种形式表现出“好”,但是被常用的往往却只有零星几种,是一个被低估甚至是被用错的单词,如 as good as 结构中的 good。
要弄清楚 as good as 的真正意思,首先得看看 good 的用法到底是什么样的,它可不是简单的“好的”意思那么简单,“好的”形式主要有以下几个方面:
一、高质量或符合某个标准的“好”,也就是常被使用的一种,例如:
The car was wearing out and no longer in a good condition.
这辆汽车在磨损,状况不再良好。
因此,与其说 My English is poor,还不如说 My English is not good.
二、令人愉快或满意的“好”,例如:
We are still able to keep in touch with each other, though, which is good.
不过我们仍然能够保持联系,这令人感到安慰。
因此,It's good to see you 通常意为“见到你很高兴”。
三、合情合理或有根据的“好”,例如:
You had good reason to behave like that yesterday.
你昨天有充分的理由这么做。
四、能*或精通的“好”,常用于在结构 be good at (sth/doing sth) 中,例如:
Isobel has always been good at reserving cheep rooms.
伊泽贝尔一向擅长预订便宜的房间。
五、善于应付的或精明的“好”,常用于结构 be good with (sth/sb) 中,例如:
She's very good with the old.
她对老人很有一套。
六、助人为乐或心里善良的“好”,例如:
It was very good of you to help me out when I'm in deep water.
当我处于困境时,你帮了我的忙,真是太好了。
七、温顺的或乖的“好”,例如:
I won't get you some ice cream if you're not good.
如果你不乖,我就不给你买冰淇淋了。
八、健康或强壮的“好”,例如:
You don't look too good today.
你今天看起来不太舒服。
九、有用或有好处的“好”,例如:
It's probably good for you to get some criticism now and then.
偶尔受点批评或许对你还有好处。
This suggestion is no good to me. I need something aggressive.
这个建议对我没有好处。我需要一些有志在必得的建议。