高考英语作文易混淆的词汇解析（六）

发布时间：2017-03-11

作者：Kimmy

来源于：昂立外语网站

20. Total

Total means exactly what you think it means but total is used unnecessarily on a frequent basis. When there is a total of 50 people who do something, the total is 50 whether or not you use the word “total。” Or you might hear someone say that they were totally surprised. Surprise is not a conditional emotion. You were either surprised or not. The use of total didn’t add anything of value to the sentence. In most cases, the definition is correct but using the word is repetitive when put in context with the rest of the sentence. Total的含义和你认为的完全一样，但是，total总是被不必要地使用。假设总共有50个人在干活，那么不管你有没有用total这个词，total(总数)肯定就是50。或许你听人说过他们totally(完全)被吓到了。“吓到”并不是一种条件性情绪，你要么被吓到，要么没有。句中添加一个total根本起不到任何意义。在多数情况下，这个单词的定义是正确的;但是，如果把单词放到字里行间就显得重复了。

21. Literally

What you think it means: Figuratively。你以为单词的含义是：象征地。What it really means: Actually。单词的真正含义是：确切地。

This is something that has come about relatively recently and my generation may have helped propagate this one. Literally means actually. When something is literally true, it is actually true. If I haven’t seen my friend in literally five years then I actually haven’t seen them in five years. People use literally along with hyperbole to show an emotion: “I haven’t had Chinese food in literally a million years。” This is meant to denote that the person hasn’t had Chinese food in a while. The word those people actually want is figuratively. They figuratively haven’t had Chinese food in a million years. They probably literally hadn’t had it in a few days or weeks。这个单词是近些年才流行起来的，我这一代人或许起到过推波助澜的作用。Literally的意思是“确切地”。如果某事literally(确切)属实，那它就确实是真的。如果我literally(确切)有5年没见过朋友了，那就是说我的确5年都没见过他们。为了表达情感，人们会夸张地使用这个单词：“我literally(确切)有一百万年没吃中国菜了!”这是指那个人有一段时间没吃中国菜了。这些人其实是想用figuratively(象征地)这个单词，表示他们figuratively(仿佛)有一百万年没吃中国菜了。他们可能literally(确切)只有几天或几个星期没吃中国菜罢了。

22. Can

What you think it means: What is permissible。你以为单词的含义是：可行的。What it really means: What is possible。单词的真正含义是：可能的。

This is one you have to nip in the bud in childhood because it’s much harder to correct in adulthood. When you can do something, you have capacity within you to perform that action regardless of whether or not you actually do it. I can bang my head into my desk but I absolutely will not do it. When people use can incorrectly it is because they mean to use the word “may。” When you ask someone if they can open the door, you did not ask them to open the door. You asked them if they were capable of opening the door. If you wish for them to perform the task, you should ask if they will open the door. When you ask if you can have something, you’re not asking someone to give it to you. You’re asking if you have the capacity to own it. If you need something, ask if you may have it。这个单词的使用必须在儿童时就开始注意，一旦用错，成年以后就很难纠正了。当你can(可以)做某事时，即意味着不管实际行动与否，你自身都有能力去采取那个行动。我can(可以)把头撞到桌上，但我绝对不会这么去做。有时人们错用can这个单词，是因为他们本想表达may(可能)。当你问别人是否can(可能)开门时，你其实并没有要求对方一定得开门，只是在询问对方能不能开门;要是你希望对方开门，你就会直接问“是否开门”了。当你问对方是否can(可能)有某事物，你其实并没有要求对方把它给你，你只是在问对方有没有拥有那个东西的可能性。如果你需要某物，你会直接问“是否可以拥有它”。