和客戶開會開到一半,會議室燈管突然閃了起來,Nancy 就決定要換會議室:Would you mind changing a meeting room?
change 其實不是這樣用的。這麼說會讓老外以為,是要跟人「交換會議室」,或者想要「改變會議室」。例如:
I haven't changed the room.(我一直沒有改變房間(維持原樣子)。)
We changed seats in the interval.(中間休息時,我們交換了一下座位。)
1. get/renew:換新
中文裡的「換新」,不是 change,是 get/renew。
我換了一個新工作。
(X)I changed a new job.
(O)I got a new job.他換了一個新女友。
(X)He changed a new girlfriend.
(O)He got a new girlfriend.我護照過期了,我得要換新的。
(X)My passport has expired. I have to changed it.
(O)My passport has expired. I have to get it renewed.
2. move:換地點
要換地方、和地點轉移相關的,用 move 比 change 自然很多。
中文指的「換」算是「移動到別的地方」,所以用 move,如:to move to another place/to move to a new location。
- Would you mind us moving to another meeting room?It's too loud here.(介意我們換一間會議室嗎?這裡太吵了。)
- Is there any way we can move to another place?(我們有辦法換到其他地方嗎?)
3. change:換房間、班機...
換車、換房間、換班機可以用 change,但是要加 「複數名詞」。
- I had to change(trains) twice to get there.(到那裡我必須換乘兩次(火車)。)
- Change at Taipei Main Station for Banqiao.(在台北車站換車去板橋。)
- You'll have to change planes at Seattle.(你得在西雅圖換乘另一架飛機。)
- I'd like to change rooms, please.(我想要換房間。)
(本文出自世界公民文化中心,熟到老外都覺得你英文好,加入量身訂做的 1on1 program)