As … as 是常见的比较结构,其中第一个 as 是副词,修饰后面的形容词或副词,第二个 as 是连词或介词,那么毫无疑问,as good as 意为“与什么一样好”,然而事实却往往不是这个意思。 在英语中,good 以各种形式表现出“好”,但是被常用的往往却只有零星几种,是一个被低估甚至是被用错的单词,如 as good as 结构中的 good。 要弄清楚 as good as 的真正意思,首先得看看 good 的用法到底是什么样的,它可不是简单的“好的”意思那么简单,“好的”形式主要有以下几个方面: 一、高质量或符合某个标准的“好”,也就是常被使用的一种,例如: The car was wearing out and no longer in a good condition.这辆汽车在磨损,状况不再良好。 因此,与其说 My English is poor,还不如说 My English is not good. 二、令人愉快或满意的“好”,例如: We are still able to keep in touch with each other, though, which is good.不过我们仍然能够保持联系,这令人感到安慰。 因此,It's good to see you 通常意为“见到你很高兴”。 三、合情合理或有根据的“好”,例如: You had good reason to behave like that yesterday.你昨天有充分的理由这么做。 四、能干的或精通的“好”,常用于在结构 be good at (sth/doing sth) 中,例如: Isobel has always been good at reserving cheep rooms.伊泽贝尔一向擅长预订便宜的房间。 五、善于应付的或精明的“好”,常用于结构 be good with (sth/sb) 中,例如: She's very good with the old.她对老人很有一套。 六、助人为乐或心里善良的“好”,例如: It was very good of you to help me out when I'm in deep water.当我处于困境时,你帮了我的忙,真是太好了。 七、温顺的或乖的“好”,例如: I won't get you some ice cream if you're not good.如果你不乖,我就不给你买冰淇淋了。 八、健康或强壮的“好”,例如: You don't look too good today.你今天看起来不太舒服。 九、有用或有好处的“好”,例如: It's probably good for you to get some criticism now and then.偶尔受点批评或许对你还有好处。 This suggestion is no good to me. I need something aggressive.这个建议对我没有好处。我需要一些有志在必得的建议。 十、合适的或适宜的“好”,例如: She would be good for this position.她很适合这个职位。 十一、相当大或相当多的“好”,如 a good few 或 a good many 等,例如: There are still a good few tickets available.还有好几张票。 The dining room is a good size.这餐厅相当大。 十二、不少于的“好”,例如: It's good ten miles to the airport.离机场至少十英里远。 十三、彻底的或完全的“好”,例如: They had a good cry about the loss.他们因损失痛哭了一场。 十四、有效的“好”,例如: The coupon is only good for two days.优惠券有效期只有两天。 十五、正派或高尚的“好”,例如: Giving the poor woman that money was a good thing to do.给那个可怜的女人钱是件善事。 其实 good 的实际用法还不止,是一个真正被低估的单词,而且有些 good 的用法还不包含在内,特别是一些习语,如 good money,它不是任何一种“好”钱,而表示“大笔的钱,辛苦挣来的钱”。 又如 as good as gold 也不是“和金子一样好”,而是“规规矩矩,很乖”等意思,相当于 good 的其中一个意思,例如: The kids have been as good as gold all day.孩子们一整天都很乖。 还有如 as good as,它的表面意思不容置疑,但是它额外的意思或用法更是无人问津,此时的 good 也不是任何一种“好”。 特别用法的 as good as 相当于一个副词,意为“与…几乎一样;几乎;简直是”,相当于 very neary,例如: The problemup in the air for a long time is as good as settled.这个悬而未决的问题几乎已经解决了。 因此在实际应用中,要根据不同的情景选择合适的 good,只有所有都好,才是好,才是 good。