有個專案進行了好久,終於大功告成了。Zack在工作報告鬆了一口氣:"I'll end this project by Friday."意思是「我這禮拜五之前會完成這件事」。
中文想起來好想沒什麼問題,但在場的外籍同事都不禁納悶:"Are We gonna stop doing this?"(不做這個專案了嗎?)原來問題出在這句話用finish會比end來的恰當。
(X)I'll end this project by Friday.
(O)I'll finish this project by Friday.
Finish強調過程,讀完一本書、看完一場電影、吃完一頓飯,都用Finish;End強調結果,代表終止、了結,像合約終止、關係終止、會議結束、戰爭結束。
來看看實際的例子:
強調過程:Finish
(O)She finished her homework in just thirty minutes.(她30分鐘內就做完功課了。)
(O)I have finished my breakfast.(我已用完了早餐。)
(O)Sam finished second in the finals.(在決賽拿下了亞軍。)
(O)I finish work at five.(我五點下班。)
Finish後面加V-ing不是to V。
他們已經讀完這本書了。
(X)They've finished to read the book.
(O)They've finished reading the book.
強調結果:End
(O)His contract ends this month.(他的合約本月終止。)
(O)World War ll ended in 1945.(二次大戰結束於1945。)
(O)Turn left at the end to the road.(到路底左轉。)
End是強調結束點,自然發生的過程,所以後面不加V-ing也不加to V。
你跑完後傳簡訊給我
(X)Text me when you've ended running.
(O)Text me when you've finished running.
come to an end 結束
The meeting came to an end at six.(該會議6點鐘結束了)
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