thanks for与thanks to

这两个短语中的thanks是名词，实际上可看作I'd like to express my thanks for/ to...的省略形式。由于它们常用在口语中，尤以简洁为宜。

thanks for中的介词for表示原因。其后须接名词或动名词，表示"感谢"的缘由。例如：A thousand thanks for your kindness.非常感谢你的善意。Well, I must be going now. Thanks for your time.我得走了。谢谢你为我花费了时间。

thanks to中的to为介词。它有两种意义和用法：一是表示"谢谢"的意义，其介词to后须接表示人的名称或代词，即"谢谢"的对象；二是作短语介词用，表示原因，其后须接名词，代词或动名词，常译为"由于，因为"或"多亏"的意思。例如：You helped me a lot. Many thanks to you.你给予了我许多帮助，非常感谢你。It was thanks to your stupidity that we lost the game.正是由于你的愚笨害得我们输了这场比赛。Thanks to a good teacher, she passed the exam.多亏有位好老师，她才通过了考试。 　

the reason why与the reason that

这两个短语中的why和that分别引导的都是同位语从句，它们均表示"...的理由（或原因）"的意思，两者可以通用。例如：The reason why/that it should be so is now clear.应当如此的理由现在清楚了。The reason why/that idealism and metaphysics are held to be obstacles to truth is that they discourage scientific inquiry into truth.唯心论和形而上学之所以被认为是真理的障碍是因为它们阻碍对真理的科学的探讨。

值得注意的是the reason why/that后接表语从句时，多数语法学者认为应该用that引导，有的语法学者则认为用because引导也是可以的。以下是摘录的原文例句：The reason why I am dealing with so many pictures tonight is because I happen to have seen them all just recently.我今晚之所以谈这么多的影片是因为我恰好最近都看过。The reason why he's late is that/because there was a breakdown on the railway.他之所以迟到是因为火车出了故障。　

three weeks ago与three weeks before

这两个词组均属于"一段时间＋副词"结构。类似的说法还有five years ago, five years before; two days ago, two days before等。 "一段时间＋ago"是以现在为准，表示"自今...前"的意思，它常与一般过去时的动词连用。若状语是"since＋一段时间＋ago"结构，或者谓语有情态动词，动名词或虚拟语气等，其句子有时可用完成时态。例如：Several million years ago， our country was covered by thick forests.几百万年前，我们的大地被茂密的森林覆盖着。He has been there since two weeks ago.两周以来，他一直在那儿。He must have seen the film two days ago.他两天前一定看过这部影片。I remember meeting you somewhere two years ago.我记得两年前在哪里见到过你。I had thought that he had died at least twenty years ago.我原以为他二十年前就去世了。

"一段时间＋before"是以过去某时候为准，表示"那时的...前"的意思。常用于过去完成时。例如：Mr. Li went abroad in 1978. I had met him two years before.李先生1978年出国的，在那两年前我见过他。When I visited her, she told me that she had graduated from the college three years before.当我去拜访她时，她告诉我她是三年前从那所大学毕业的。

till，until till，until

都可以用作连词和介词，用于肯定句和否定句。用于肯定句时，只与持续性动词连用，表示"到...为止"。用于否定句时，通常与瞬间动词连用，也可与持续性动词连用，表示"直到...才"的意思。这两个词一般情况下可以相互换用。例如：We waited for him until/till six o'clock.我们等他到一直等到六点钟。The pupils will not begin the meeting till/until their class supervisor comes.学生们等到班主任一到就开始开会。They didn't talk until/till the interpreter came.直到译员到，他们才交谈。He did not go to bed until/till he had made sure that nothing was wrong with the pipes.他检查水管，确准它们没有毛病，才去睡觉。

当until用于句首时，一般不能用till代替。在以not开始的从句或短语里，till一般也不可代替until，而且这种句式要用倒装语序。例如：Until the last minute of the match we kept playing.直到比赛的最后一分钟，我们仍然坚持奋战。Not until he had finished his work did he go home.他直到把工作做完，才回家去。 　

tiresome，tiring，tired

这三个形容词均可用作定语，表语或补语。

tiresome和tiring都表示"令人讨厌的，令人疲乏的"的主动含义，其行为主体或所修饰的词多为事物，有时也可以是人。两者一般可以换用。例如：The job is tiresome (or: tiring).这工作真累人。That is a tiresome (or: tiring) talk.那是一次令人厌倦的谈话。He is a tiresome (or: tiring) fellow.他是个令人讨厌的家伙。

tired的意思是"疲倦的，劳累的"，其主语或者所修饰的词通常是人。它还有"厌倦"的意思，其后常接介词短语。例如：He has worked the whole day, so he feels very tired.他工作了一整天，感到非常劳累。The tired man has gone to rest.那个疲惫不堪的人休息去了。Such a long lecture would make the audience tired.这么冗长的讲话会使听众感到疲乏。

to date，up to date，up-to-date

to date是介词短语用作副词，在句中作状语，通常用于句首，意为"到目前为止，到现在为止"。up to date也有这一意义和用法，这时，两者可以通用。例如：To date (or: Up to date) twenty students have been accepted into the school.到目前为止已有二十名学生被接受入学。Up to date (or: To date) we have no news of him.到现在为止我们还不知道他的消息。

up to date起形容词的作用，一般在句中作表语或补语，定语通常用up-to-date。它们均表示"最新的，现代化的，最近的，符合最新发展的"的意思。例如：That car is a beauty and quite up to date.那辆小汽车式样美观，新颖。He is always right up to date in his information about this subject.在这个学科上，他一向掌握最新的情报。The yearly supplement keep the dictionary up to date.逐年的增补使这部词典的内容能随时跟上形势的发展。What he has used is a up-to-date method of language teaching.他使用的是一种最新的语言教学法。 　

to one's mind与on one's mind

这两个短语中的one's根据主语的不同可有单复数变化形式，如my, your, his, our, their等，但其中的mind却只能用单数形式。

to one's mind是介词短语，有两种用法和意义：1.起副词的作用，在句子中作状语，表示"照某人的看法，据某人的意见"的意思；2.起形容词的作用，一般在句中作补语或表语，表示"合某人的心意，为某人所喜欢"的意思。例如：More people agree with him but to my mind he's quite young.大多数人都赞同他，但依我看来，他太年轻了。So now, the house, to his mind, had a most pleasing and comfortable appearance.因此，这座房子，在他看来，有着一种使人愉快和舒适的外观。He found life in the countryside very much to his mind.他发现乡村生活很合自己的口味。The event is just to their mind.这事正和他们的心意。

on one's mind亦可解作upon one's mind， 其本义为"在心上"，用作位置状语，常同动词have, get连用；亦可用作连系动词be的表语。它往往被引申为"惦记，操心，焦虑"的意思。例如：He looks as if he has something on his mind.他仿佛有什么心事似的。Something was obviously on his mind, but he was reluctant to say what it was.他显然是在担心什么事，但他却不愿说。　

to safety，in safety，for safety，with safety

这几个由介词加名词safety构成的介词短语，因使用的介词不同，其含义和用法也就有区别。 to safety相当于to a safe place，表示"到达安全地带或地方"，常同动态意味很强的动词，如move, transport等连用。例如：They have moved to safety.他们已经转移到安全的地方。The valuables have been transported to safety.那些贵重物品已经运到安全地带。

in safety主要表示某人或某种事物"处于安全的状态或地位"，常用作连系动词be的表语。例如：We are now in safety.我们现在安全了。Don't worry, they are in safety.别着急，他们很安全。

for safety是指"为了安全，为了确保安全，为了安全起见"的意思。例如：While the family were away from home they placed all their valuables in the bank, for safety.当全家人外出时，他们为了安全起见，把所有贵重物品都存入银行。He placed all his money in the safe for safety.为了确保安全，他把所有钱都放进了保险柜。

with safety属表示-ly副词意义的介词短语，意为"安全地，不冒任何风险地"，相当于safely。in safety也有这一含义，这时两者可以通用，只是with safety更常见。例如：They crossed the road with (or: in) safety.他们安全地穿过了马路。Cut off by the rising waters, the two boys climbed on to a ledge of rock, where they remained with (or: in) safety until they were rescued.两个孩子被不断上涨的洪水截断了归路，他们爬上岩壁，安全地在上面呆到被营救出来为止。 注：with safety有时还可以表示"无误地"的意思。例如：I think we can reckon with safety on at least ten people supporting us.我想我们能准确无误地指望至少有十个人支持我们。 　

together与altogether

这两个均用作副词，在句中作状语。

together主要表示三种意思：1.一起(in company) 2.同时(at the same time) 3.一致地，统一地。其前可加all以加强语气，即all together。例如： The family together earned one hundred dollars a week.一家人合在一起每星期挣一百美元。Let's work together.让我们大家一起工作。The bells rang out together.钟声齐鸣。The arguments does not hang together well.这论点前后不尽一致。

altogether也有三个意思：1.完全地，全部地( entirely, wholly )；2.总而言之，总之 (on the whole)；3.总共。它常同数词连用，all together也有这个意思，此时两者可以互换。例如：He felt not altogether satisfied.他并不完全满意。It was raining, but altogether it was a good trip.尽管下着雨，但总的来说还是一次愉快的旅行。There are five apples on the plate altogether.盘子里总共有五只苹果。 　

too much与much too

too much可分别用作形容词（后接不可数名词），代词或副词。它主要有三个意思：1.太多的，过分的。2.极好的，激动人心的。3.（估价）太高的。例如：Don't give him too much praise.不要给他太多的赞扬。Too much is as bad as too little.过犹不及。We cannot admire his courage too much.我们怎样赞美他的勇气也不过火。Don't think too much of yourself.不要自以为了不起。

much too表示"（实在）太"的意思，常用作副词，修饰形容词或副词。例如：The coat is much too large for me.这件上衣我穿实在太大。He studies English much too hard.他学习英语实在太刻苦了。 注意：下面一句中由于在much too和名词之间有一个表示数量意义的little，所以这句话也是正确的。例如：I am afraid that you have given much too little care to your work.我很担心你工作太不细心了。 　

tremble with，tremble at，tremble for

tremble with是"因……而发抖"的意思，其后通常接anger, cold, hunger, fear, excitement等名词，表示原因。例如：He is trembling with cold.他冻得发抖。His voice trembled with excitement.他兴奋得声音发颤。 tremble at表示"因（听到，看到）……而害怕（发抖）"的意思，因此常以tremble at the thought of (at the idea of, at the sight of, etc.)的形式出现。例如：She trembled at the idea of having to go through that ordeal again.她一想到再受那种折磨就害怕。He trembled at the sound of bursting bombs.他听到炸弹爆炸的声音吓得发抖。

tremble for表示"为...而担忧"的意思，接近于be worried about，其后可接安全，生命等名词外，还可接表示人的名词。例如：His parents tremble for his safety.他父母为他的安全担忧。I told him I trembled for the children not being back.我告诉他，孩子们没回来，我很着急。 　

troubled与troublesome

这是一对由trouble派生的形容词，但两词的含义有所不同。 troubled主要指人的神色，表情或说话声等"不安的，忧虑的（worried)"的意思。它还指"混乱的，动乱的"形势，状态等。例如：His troubled look frightened me.他那种忧虑的神情使我大吃一惊。He looks troubled.他看上去神色不安。The present situation is in troubled waters.当前形势正处于混乱的状态之中。

troublesome是"令人烦恼的，令人讨厌的（causing trouble or anxiety)"的意思。它还可表示"困难的，麻烦的(difficult)"等含义。例如：The cough is quite troublesome.这咳嗽真讨厌。He is a troublesome child.他是一个恼人的孩子。The troublesome problem will soon be solved.这道难题很快就会解决的。注意：形容词后缀-some的含义是"有……倾向的"，它加在某些动词或名词后面，使该词变为具有主动意义的形容词，如：bothersome，tiresome, meddlesome等。 　

tune in与in tune

这是一对同素反序词语，其意义和用法则完全不同。

tune in是动副型短语动词，一般起不及物动词的作用，表示"调谐（收音机或电视机等）"的意思，一般译作"收听，收看"。若要言明收听或收看的内容，则往往在tune in后加介词to或on，即tune in to (or: on),后接收听或收看的内容。此外，它还有"使协调，使和谐"的意思，这时一般用其被动形式，即be tuned in。例如：We usually tune in to the news.我们一般收听新闻节目。Let's tune in to (or: on) Radio Beijing.让我们收听北京广播电台。They are tuning in (to) the public channel.他们在收看公众频道。He's not very well tuned in to his surround.他和周围的环境有些格格不入。The lecturer could see from the expression_rs on the faces of his audience which students were really tuned in to what he was saying.演讲者从听众的面部表情上可以看出哪些学生对他所讲的内容是真正产生共鸣的。

in tune是介词短语，其中tune是名词。它的本义为"音调准确，合调"，常转义为"一致，协调，和睦，融合"，与介词with短语连用，即in tune with, 表示"与……一致"的意思。此短语一般同连系动词be连用作表语。例如：Our grand piano is in tune.我们的大钢琴声音很准。The piano and the violin are quite in tune.钢琴和小提琴很合调。Bessie's mind was not quite in tune with the profundities of that learned journal.蓓西的头脑理解不了这本深奥的学术性杂志。Our policies are in tune with the needs and the aspirations of the people.我们的政策和人民的需要与愿望是一致的。 　

turn down与turn off

turn down表示"拒绝"，后接表示人及请求，提议等一类的名词；它令可表示"减弱"，用于调低，开小收音机，煤气等场合。

tune off表示"解雇，辞退"，后接表示人的名词；它令可表示"关掉"，用于关上收音机，煤气，自来水等场合。试比较：I didn't get the job. The company turned me down because I did not know English.由于我不懂英语，所以这家公司没有录用我。The boss thought him a trouble-maker and turned him off.老板认为他是一个惹麻烦的人而把他辞退了。Turn the gas down! The meat is nearly done.把煤气开小些！肉几乎已熟了。Don't turn the radio off. I'd like to hear the evening news.别把收音机关掉。我想听晚间新闻。 　

turn in与turn out

这两个动词短语的意义完全不同，且毫无关系。

turn in可作"交上，上缴"解，其中的in为副词。它另可作"拐入"解，此时 in为副词或介词。如：Don't forget to turn your copy-books in.别忘了交上你们的抄写本。The soldier should turn in his equipment on leaving the army.士兵在离开军队时须交还装备。The driver had difficulty turning in such a narrow street.司机好不容易把车拐进这样窄的街道。

turn out的意义是"生产，赶出去，证明是"，其中的out为副词。如：The factory turned out 2,000 motorbikes a month.工厂每月生产2000辆摩托车。I'll have you turned out if you make any more trouble here.如果你们再在这里捣蛋，我就把你们赶出去。The boy turned out successful after all.毕竟那孩子最终变得很有出息。

gather与collect

gather为“收集，聚集”，可用于人或事物，指把零散的人或事物聚集起来。

collect为“收集，采集”，只能用于事物，不能用于人。当指一般性的收集，即把分散的事物集合在一起时，与gather同义，可以相互换用。如gather/collect flowers（采花），gather/collect fallen leaves(聚拢落叶)。它另可指为某种目的而有选择地收集，着重计划性和选择性。试比较：gather books 把书聚集在一起 -- collect books 收集藏书gather money 攒钱 -- collect money 筹募资金gather stamps 把邮票集中在一起 -- collect stamps 集邮gather thoughts 集中思想 -- collect thoughts 组织思想　

gaze，glare，stare

gaze为“凝视”，指聚精会神地注视，含有倾慕，神往或惊喜等意味。它常和介词at, on, into连用。如：He gazed into the blue sky.他出神地望着蓝天。She gazed at/on the film star with admiration.她带着倾慕的眼神看着那个影星。

glare为“怒视”，指凶狠愤怒地注视，强调敌对的态度。它常和介词at连用。如：The angry farther glared at his daughter.怒气冲冲的父亲愤怒地看着自己的女儿。The men who were fighting glared at each other.正在打架的两个人愤怒地看着对方。

stare为“盯着看，呆看”，指出于惊奇或痴呆，无礼地，目不转睛地看。它常和介词at, on, into连用。如：His eyes were staring at her like those of a wild animal.他的眼睛像野兽般地盯着她看。He stared on the foreigner in wonder.他好奇地盯着那个外国人看。　

get in与get on

这两个短语均可表示“上车”。get in后接小轿车，出租车等小型车辆。由于其车身较低，只有进入的概念，没有上的概念。get on后接公交车，火车等大型车辆，以及飞机，自行车，摩托车，马匹等，指上车上马时要脚登上阶梯或踏脚等。表示“下车，下马”时，也相应地用get out of a car/taxi 及get off a bus/train/horse等。如：They invited us to get in the car and go to the amusement park.他们邀请我们上车去游乐场玩。When the singer got out of the taxi, he was welcomed by a group of young people.当这位歌手走出车门时受到了一群年轻人的欢迎。They are calling us to board the plane; let's get on. 他们在叫我们登机，我们走吧。　

get into trouble与go to the trouble

get into trouble为“出事，遇到麻烦”，指由于行为不慎等原因而招惹麻烦，陷入困境。如：If you go this way, you might get into trouble with the police.如果你这么做的话，警方会找你的麻烦。He has got into trouble; let's go and help him.他遇到了麻烦，我们去帮助他吧。此结构中的get也可作及物动词，后接宾语，表示“使某人陷入困境”。如：His bad habit was always getting him into trouble.他的坏习惯使他惹上了麻烦。

go to the trouble为“费事，不辞辛苦”， 指主动地去承担麻烦，后可接动词不定式或接of短语。它与take the trouble同义。如：The host went to the trouble to make me comfortable.主人为了我的舒适而不辞麻烦。She went to the trouble of shortening the trousers for her younger brother.她主动揽下了把她弟弟的裤子改小的任务。为了加强语气，此结构中的trouble前可用a lot of等修饰语代替the。如：I'll stay here for dinner, but please do not go to a lot of trouble for me.我会留下来吃饭，但请别特地为我做很多菜。

gift与present

这两个词皆可作“礼物”解，常可互换使用。gift的基本含义是强调give(给)，表示一种“赠与”，它可指新的，珍贵的礼物，也可指一件旧的物品。它不强调给予者与受予者之间的关系，不具有为所接受的东西付酬谢的含义，也排除了回报之意。如：He gave gifts of money to the poor. 他将钱赠予穷人们。The gold chain was a Christmas gift from her aunt. 这条金链子是她阿姨送给她的圣诞礼物。

present专指为表达敬意、亲情、友谊而赠送的实物，强调赠送者与接受者之间的亲密关系。如：Students exchange presents on New Year's Eve. 除夕之夜，学生们互赠礼物。　

give away与give way

这两个动词词组意义完全不同。give away是一个及物动词词组，后需接宾语，它的主要意义为“分发(奖品，考卷，书本等物品)，失去(机会)，泄露(底细，机密，想法)”。如：The principal gave away the prizes at the sports meeting.校长在运动会上颁奖。You have given away a good chance.你失去了一个良机。The heroic girl refused to give away the secret to the enemy.女英雄在敌人面前拒绝泄漏秘密。

give way是一个动宾结构的词组，后面不能再接宾语。它主要用来指人显示谦让和屈服的“让路，让步”，以及具体事物的“崩塌"。如：The boy gave way to the old lady.这男孩给一位老太太让路。It's his mother's fault for giving way to him too often.老是迁就这孩子是他妈妈的错。The old wall gave way and injured three children.这堵墙崩塌了，致使三个孩子受伤。

give in与give up

这两个短语动词作“投降”讲时，通常可以互换使用。如：Completely surrounded by our troops, the enemy finally gave in / up.由于我军将敌军团团围住，他们终于投降了。

give in还可表示“屈服；让步”的意思，此时它作不及物动词用，后不能跟宾语。如：Stubborn as he was, he finally gave in.他虽然很固执，但最后还是让步了。Both sides argued with reason, and neither would give in.双方都振振有词地辩论着，可谁也不服谁。

give up 则还可表示“放弃(希望)；戒除”的意思，作及物动词用，其后接名词或动词作宾语。如：All hope of finding the missing aircraft was given up and the search abandoned.要找到那架失踪的飞机已经毫无希望，于是搜索停止了。He soon gave up smoking when he heard the medical report.他听了那次医学报告后，不久就把烟戒了。　

give off与give out

这两个短语都表示“散发，发出”之意，一般可以换用，但侧重点有所不同。give off通常用来表示“散发，发出”某种气体或气味。如：Boiling water gives off steams.开水散发出蒸汽。This milk must be bad, for it is giving off a nasty smell.牛奶一定变质了，因为它散发出一种令人恶心的气味。The chimney no longer gives off volumes of waste gas into the atmosphere, as protective filters are being used.加装了防护过滤器以后，这烟囱已不再向空中散发成股的废气了。

give out 则通常用来表示“散发”某种光，声，热，信号等物理现象。此外，它还可以表示“分发，宣布，耗尽”等现象。如：The leaves gave out a whirring sound.树叶发出沙沙声。The sun gives out light and heat to the earth.太阳向地球发出光和热。The ship gave out radio signals for help.船发出无线电信号求助。The government gave out food to people out of work.政府向失业者分发食品。He gave out that the president was dead.他宣布说总统去世了。It was feared that food supplies would give out before the besieged town could be relieved.都害怕在那城市解围之前断了粮。Both the man and the horse gave out after the long ride.赶了很长一段路后，人马俱乏。　

glad，happy，pleased

glad为“高兴的，乐意的”，指一时短暂的强烈喜悦，只能用于人。它只能作表语，不作定语，后可接介词of短语，不定式或that从句。如：I'm glad of your success in the games.你在比赛中获得胜利，我为你感到高兴。We're glad that you have won the gold medal.我们很高兴你能获得金牌。

happy为“幸福的，高兴的”，隐含一种强烈的满足感，可用于人或事物。它可作定语及表语，后可接介词 about, at, over, with短语及不定式或that从句。如：The story has a happy end.这个故事的结局皆大欢喜。I am so happy that you could visit us.很高兴你能来看我们。