你問我答
如何給出或?qū)で蟊WC:make sure、be sure、ensure、guarantee、see to it
內(nèi)容簡介
一位聽眾想知道怎么準(zhǔn)確表達(dá) “確保一件事會(huì)按預(yù)期實(shí)現(xiàn)”。在英語中 “make sure”、“be sure”、“ensure”、“guarantee” 和 “see to it” 等詞語和搭配都可以表示 “主動(dòng)給出或?qū)で笏说谋WC”,但你知道它們的使用要點(diǎn)嗎?本期 “你問我答” 節(jié)目就讓我們來學(xué)習(xí)如何 “make things certain”。
文字稿
(關(guān)于臺(tái)詞的備注: 請(qǐng)注意這不是廣播節(jié)目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能沒有體現(xiàn)錄制、編輯過程中對(duì)節(jié)目做出的改變。)
Buli
Hello,大家好,歡迎收聽 BBC 英語教學(xué)制作的 “你問我答” 節(jié)目。You are with me, Buli.
Georgie
And me, Georgie. One of our listeners has asked us a question.
Question
Hello. How do I say 'make certain something will happen as expected'? Is it 'make sure', 'be sure', or are there some other ways to say that?
Georgie
That's a good question. Buli, let's make sure we answer this question properly.
Buli
I'll see to it that we do, Georgie. 這個(gè)問題其實(shí)是關(guān)于在英語中如何給出或向他人尋求完成某事的承諾。而這位聽眾提到的 “make sure” 是英語中表達(dá) “確保某事會(huì)發(fā)生” 這個(gè)意思時(shí)最常見的搭配,而我則剛剛用到了習(xí)語 “see to it”。本期節(jié)目就讓我們來梳理一下英語中相關(guān)的用法。
Georgie
Yes, 'make sure' is common in written and spoken English and implies a personal responsibility to confirm something. It can be used as a command – to tell someone what to do – but it can also be used by the person to express their intention that they'll do it.
Buli
“Make sure” 表示 “某人需要積極確保某事的發(fā)生”。這個(gè)搭配不但可以用來對(duì)他人提出要求,也可以用于表示自己完成某事的意愿。來聽本期節(jié)目的第一組例句。
Examples
Please, make sure you turn off the lights when you leave the house.
(請(qǐng)確保你離開房子時(shí)把燈都關(guān)上。)
We need to make sure we turn off the lights when we leave the house.
(我們需要確保我們離開房子時(shí)把燈都關(guān)上。)
Buli
我們在口語和書面用語中都可以使用 “make sure” 來表示 “確?!薄5绻覀兿胩岢龅囊蟛皇呛軓?qiáng)硬,或者只是一個(gè)善意的提醒,就可以用 “be sure” 這個(gè)搭配。
Georgie
It's most commonly used as an instruction to another person, but we can also use it to express intention, although this is less common and a bit formal.
Buli
是的。需要注意的是 “be sure” 多用于傳達(dá)對(duì)他人的要求或提醒,如果搭配第一人稱語氣就會(huì)比較正式。請(qǐng)聽例句。
Examples
Be sure to get plenty of rest before your big presentation.
(在你的重要演講之前,一定要充分休息。)
I'll be sure to call you back as soon as I can.
(我一定會(huì)盡快給你回電話。)
Buli
在上面的例句中,我們注意到 “be sure” 經(jīng)常和動(dòng)詞不定式搭配,變成 “be sure to do something(一定要完成某事)”。和多用于口語的 “be sure” 相比,動(dòng)詞 “ensure” 就顯得嚴(yán)肅得多了?!癊nsure” 的意思是 “保證,確?!?,我們經(jīng)常會(huì)在一些官方文件中看到它。比如:“We must ensure that all safety protocols are followed.(我們必須確保遵守所有的安全條例。)”
Georgie
Another useful word for this question is 'guarantee'. It can be a noun, 'a guarantee', which is a formal assurance or promise that something will happen, or a verb 'guarantee', which means to provide that formal promise.
Buli
和 “ensure” 類似,另一個(gè)常用詞匯 “guarantee” 在作為動(dòng)詞時(shí)的意思是 “作出保證,為某事?lián)!薄5?“guarantee” 更加強(qiáng)調(diào)這種保證的真實(shí)和有效性。它也可以作為名詞使用,意思是 “保證,擔(dān)?!薄砺犗旅娴膬蓚€(gè)例句。
Examples
There's no guarantee that this project will be successful.
(不能保證這個(gè)項(xiàng)目絕對(duì)能成功。)
We guarantee the product will be delivered on time.
(我們保證產(chǎn)品會(huì)按時(shí)交付。)
Buli
正如例句中使用 “guarantee” 來 “保證” 產(chǎn)品的交付一樣,當(dāng)我們想獲得或給出最正式的保證,甚至是付諸法律的要求時(shí),就可以用 “guarantee” 來準(zhǔn)確地傳達(dá)我們的意思。
Georgie
Finally, shall we return to the idiom you used at the start?
Buli
當(dāng)然!我在節(jié)目一開始時(shí)使用的短語 “see to it” 和本期節(jié)目問題中提到的 “make sure” 非常相似。但它們的區(qū)別在于 “see to it” 僅在工作環(huán)境中比較常見,特別是當(dāng)上級(jí)向下級(jí)分配任務(wù)或下級(jí)給出保證的時(shí)候。請(qǐng)聽例句。
Examples
Please, see to it that the contracts are written before Monday.
(請(qǐng)你務(wù)必在周一前將合同起草完畢。)
I'll see to it that the repairs are completed by the end of the week.
(我保證在本周結(jié)束前完成維修工作。)
Georgie
Buli, I think we've made sure to answer this question, but unfortunately, there's no guarantee that our listeners were concentrating!
Buli
Well, then my advice is that they listen again to ensure they've understood our explanations. 那么下面就讓我們一起來復(fù)習(xí)一下本期節(jié)目吧?!癕ake sure(確保)”,強(qiáng)調(diào)需要有直接行為確保事情的完成。“Be sure” 或 “be sure to do something(一定做某事)”,可以用來表達(dá)非硬性的要求或建議?!癊nsure” 是動(dòng)詞,意思是 “保證,確保”,常用在正式或官方文件中?!癎uarantee” 作名詞的意思是 “保證,擔(dān)?!保蛔鲃?dòng)詞時(shí)的意思是 “作出保證,為某事?lián)!?,在本期?jié)目介紹的表達(dá)中具有最強(qiáng)的約束力和真實(shí)性。最后是 “see to it(務(wù)必/確保完成某事)”,用于在工作環(huán)境中主動(dòng)負(fù)責(zé)或作出安排。
Georgie
Remember, if you have a question about the English language you'd like to ask us, please send us an email. Our email address is: questions.chinaelt@bbc.co.uk
Buli
你也可以通過微博私信的方式向我們提問。我們的微博賬號(hào)是 “BBC英語教學(xué)”。Bye.
Georgie
Bye.