B

babe

“婴孩”现在通常用baby，不用babe。

baby

1.往往用it或which指baby。例如：The baby is crying, I wonder what is the matter with it.

2.baby boy和boy baby，baby girl和girl baby都可以说。baby boy着重在那boy尚在婴孩时代，boy baby着重在那个婴孩是男而不是女。baby girl和girl baby有同样的区别。baby brother，baby sister，baby son，baby daughter等不可改作brother baby等。

3.假使家里只有一个婴孩，往往把baby用作专有名词一般，前面没有the。例如：Look after baby.

bachelor

1.从来不曾结过婚的男子才是bachelor，假使某人的妻子死了，他便成为widower，并不是bachelor。但离婚的男子有时也叫作bachelor。

2.bachelor不指女子。但有bachelor girl这名称，指从来未曾结婚的年轻而自立的女子。

back

1.back and forth是美国英语，相当于英国英语backwards and forwards或to and fro。

2.back of和in back of都作“在…的后面”或“赞助着…”解，是美国英语，有人以为in back of不正当。

3.back pay，back rent，back salary，back taxes等都是美国英语，back作“拖欠着的”解。

4.as far back as the fifteenth century等表达方式里的第二个as后面没有in。

backwards

该说backwards and forwards，不可说forwards and backwards。

bad(ly)

1.在I want it badly, He needs a new coat badly等句子里的badly作“很”解，原来用在口语里，现在用在文字里也很普通。它所形容的词，通常是want，need或require。也可以说The book is badly in need of revision和I shall miss you badly。

2.feel bad和feel badly都作“感觉身体上（或精神上）不舒适”解，有时也作“因为跟他人同情而感觉不愉快”解。许多英美人以为该用bad，不该用badly。照字面讲，feel badly也可以用作“触觉不好”解。

bagful

参见-ful

baggage

1.说“行李”现在在英国通常用luggage，在美国通常用baggage。

2.baggage统指“行李”，不指“一件行李”，前面不可加a，也没有复数形式，如可以说a large amount of baggage，不可说many baggages。“一件行李”该说a piece of baggage或an article of baggage。

bail

bail out是“用降落伞从飞机上跳下”。也作bale out。

bake

bake偶尔带有双宾语。例如：The farmer baked the traveller some cakes.

balance

the balance作“其余”解主要用在美国，在英国通常不用它而用the remainder或the rest。

bale

参见bail

Balkans

Balkans（巴尔干半岛）前面有the。注意词尾有s，实际指半岛上的各国，the Balkan Peninsula里的Balkan词尾没有s。

ball

1.说“球类运动”在ball前面不该有a或the，如play ball，不作play a ball或play the ball。play with a ball是“玩一个球”，play with the ball是“玩这个球”。

2.ball指“球类运动”现在可说总是指“棒球运动”（base-ball）。play ball在美国有五个意思：（1）玩棒球，（2）开球，（3）开始行动，（4）合作，（5）公平办事。

3.ball指盛大的舞会，是社交性质的，欧美国家舞场里的跳舞不可叫做ball。ball是正式的舞会，私人的小型舞会叫dance。

4.ball（舞会）前面用at，不用in。

5.“开舞会”说hold a ball或give a ball都可以。但在请帖里通常用held。

ballet

ballet（芭蕾舞）有时用作抽象名词，指“芭蕾舞的艺术”或“芭蕾舞的娱乐”。

ballistics

参见-ics

bandit

bandit有两个复数形式：bandits和banditti。banditti现在很不普通，尤其在注重“各个”而不注重“集团”的场合不该用banditti，如在These mountains were infested with banditti before liberation里还可以用banditti，但在Three bandits were arrested里的bandits不该改作banditti。有时a banditti用作“一队匪徒”解。

bank

1.河的两岸，向下游看在右面的叫right bank，左面的叫left bank，如长江从西向东流，南岸是right bank，北岸是left bank。

2.一条河有两个banks，照理一个湖并没有分得清楚的两个banks，但习惯上说到湖的岸，也用复数形式banks。

3.一条河有两个banks，照理说在一边岸上该说on one of the banks of the river或on a bank of the river，但习惯上却说on the bank of the river，或者就说on the banks（复数形式）of the river。

barbarian

barbarian，barbaric和barbarous都是形容词，但在意思上有区别，barbarian是“属于野蛮民族的”，barbaric往往有“野蛮民族的色彩或风趣”的意思，barbarous往往有“野蛮得可恨或可耻”的意思。如barbarian king是“野蛮民族的王”，barbaric king是“有野蛮民族的色彩的王”（如仪仗极其壮丽的），barbarous king是“野蛮成性的王”。又如a barbarian custom是“一个野蛮民族的风俗”，a barbaric custom是“一个有野蛮民族色彩的风俗”（如粗陋的或俗丽的），a barbarous custom是“一个残忍或不人道的风俗”。

barbaric

参见barbarian

barbarism

主要相当于barbarian。例如：They used to live in barbarism.

barbarity

主要相当于barbarous。例如：The bandits treated their prisoners with barbarity.

barbarous

参见barbarian

barbarousness

=barbarism或barbarity，如the barbarousness of their former mode of life和the barbarousness of the bandits' treatment of their prisoners。

barefoot(ed)

在名词前面用barefooted，如barefooted children。在谓语里，barefoot比barefooted普通，如In the old society such children used to be barefoot和In the old society such children used to go about barefoot里用barefoot比用barefooted普通。

bargain

bargain是“便宜货”，good bargain也是“便宜货”，bad bargain是“买得太贵的东西”。

barn

barn在英国指堆积谷类、柴草等的房子，但在美国也指马棚、牛棚等。

baron

baron是英国五种爵位里最低的，通常译作“男爵”。在美国并没有爵位，也就无所谓baron，但往往用baron指工商巨头、大王，如coal baron，oil baron，beef baron等。现在英国也用。

barracks

1.即使指“一所兵营”通常也用barracks而不用barrack。有时用a barracks。

2.the barracks有时指军队生活。例如：The best years of his life were spent in the barracks.

base

1.base通常指有形的基础，basis通常指无形的基础，如the base of the pillar和the basis of the philosophy。“军事基地”是military base，“基础和上层建筑”是the basis and the superstructure。

2.base的复数形式是bases，读作［ˈbeɪsɪz］，basis的复数形式也是bases，读作［ˈbeɪsiːz］。

base(-)ball

说“棒球运动”在base(-)ball前面不该有a或the，如play base(-)ball，不作play a base(-)ball或play the base(-)ball。play with a base(-)ball是“玩一个棒球”，play with the base(-)ball是“玩这个棒球”。

Basic

Basic或Basic English（基本英语）是英国人C. K. Ogden首创的用850个单词的一种英语，前面没有the，如a story in Basic (English)，不作a story in the Basic (English)。

basis

1.参见base

2.on a whole-time basis，on an international basis等表达方式里的a或an不可省去。on a(n)...basis往往嫌累赘，如They work on a whole-time basis不及They work whole-time简洁。

basket-ball（或basketball，或basket ball）

说“篮球运动”在basket-ball前面不该有a或the，如play basket-ball，不作play a basket-ball或play the basket-ball。play with a basket-ball是“玩一个篮球”，play with the basket-ball是“玩这个篮球”。

basketful

参见-ful

bath

bath通常是名词，bathe通常是动词，但bath也可以用作动词，bathe也可以用作名词，有下面几点该注意：

（1）说“在浴盆里洗澡”在英国通常说take a bath或have a bath，极少用bathe，除了在上下文说明以外，用了bathe总是指在海里或河里洗澡。但在美国用bathe很普通。

（2）说“在海里或河里洗澡”在英国说take a bathe，have a bathe或bathe（动词），不用bath。在美国说bathe（动词）或have a bath，几乎不把bathe用作名词。

（3）说“替（小孩、病人，或猫、狗等）洗澡”在英国用bath（动词），在美国用bathe。

（4）说“洗（脚）”、“洗（腿）”、“洗（眼）”、“洗（伤口）”等用bathe，不用bath，如The nurse is going to bathe the patient's feet里的bathe不可改作bath。

（5）bath和bathe都是类名词，如不可说fond of bath或fond of bathe，该改作fond of taking baths（在浴盆里洗澡）和fond of bathing ［ˈbeɪðɪŋ］。

bathe

参见bath

battle

1.battle用作及物动词作“反抗”解是美国用法。例如：They tried hard to battle the cult.

2.line of battle指“军队或战舰的列阵”，跟“战线”（line或lines）不同。

battle(-)field

battle(-)field前面通常用on，不用in。

BC（或B. C.）

1.BC（=before Christ［在基督前］，纪元前）用在年份后面，如237 BC。

2.用了AD不可用in或in the year（参见AD 2），但用了BC可以用in或in the year，如in 237 BC和in the year 237 BC。

3.AD不可用于世纪（参见AD 3），但BC可以用于世纪，如the second century BC。

be（兼指am，is，are，was等）

1.be是系动词，如在He is a good man里，也是助动词，如在He is respected by all里。但一个词不该同时用作系动词和助动词，所以不可说He is a good man，and respected by all，这里and后面该加上is。

2.下面各句都用There开首：

There is a book on the desk.

There are two books on the desk.

There are a few books on the desk.

There are some books on the desk.

There are many books on the desk.

There are several books on the desk.

A book is on the desk, Two books are on the desk等都比较少见。

3.be＋及物动词的过去分词成为被动语态。例如：The book is read every day. 注意只有及物动词才有被动语态，be＋不及物动词的过去分词仍然属于主动语态，那过去分词有形容词性质，如He is come和He has come意思相仿，不过前者着重“已到了”的状态，后者着重“已到了”的动作罢了。可以跟be用在一起的不及物动词的过去分词现在有gone，come，arrived，returned，fallen，grown等。从前got和become也往往这样用，现在却不普通。

4.比较下面每组里的两句：

5.比较下面每组里的两句：

比较下面三句：

You are insulting him. （你正在侮辱他。）

You are insulting to him. （你对于他是侮辱的。）

You are being insulting to him. （你正在故意对他侮辱。）

6.be（这里只指be这个词）用在以if引导的从句里现在很不普通，通常改用陈述语气，如If it is...。但Though...be...现在仍然普通，这因为Though...is...和Though...be...在意思上略有区别：Though...is...是“…虽然…”，Though ...be...是“…即使…”（其实…未必…），如Though he is too weak to walk much, I will advise him to walk a little every day和Though he be too weak to walk much, I will advise him to walk a little every day。

7.It is recommended that the work not be started until all the necessary preparations have been made里的not be不可改作be not。

8.Are you happy? 不可改作Do you be happy? Aren't you happy? 也不可改作Don't you be happy? 比较下面每组里的两句：

9.Have you been to see him？是“你去看过他吗？”I have already been to see him是“我已经去看过他了。”

10.was或were后面接不定式完成体表示原来将怎样而不曾怎样。例如：He was to have married her. （他原来将跟她结婚［而不曾实行］。）

bean

bean不是物质名词，如该说beans and wheat。

bear

1.除了作“生（孩子）”解以外，bear的过去分词是borne，不是born。作“生（孩子）”解，bear的过去分词有两个，borne和born，但用法不同。下面几点该注意：

（1）用在主动语态，该用borne。例如：She has borne several children.

（2）用在被动语态而后面有by，也该用borne。例如：This is one of the three boys borne by his stepmother.

（3）用在被动语态而后面没有by，该用born。例如：

A son was born to him.

I was born in 1926.

注意第一句里用to。

2.说某次的生孩子通常不用bear，如“昨夜她生了一个男孩子”通常不说She bore a boy last night，却有下面四种说法：

She gave birth to a boy last night.

She was delivered of a boy last night.

She was brought to bed of a boy last night.

She had a boy last night.

注意第二句和第三句里都用of。

但She bore him a daughter a year after their marriage等句子里用bore是合乎习惯的。注意bore有双宾语。

3.下面三句的意思都是“他是天生的演说家”：

He was born an orator.

He is a born orator.

He is an orator born.

4.bear现在很少用作carry解，在口语里更少用。

5.bear可以用作“忍受”解，bear with也作“忍受”解，有下面几点该注意：

（1）对于人bear和bear with都可以用。例如：I cannot bear (with) him.

（2）对于情形bear和bear with也都可以用，但用bear普通些。例如：I cannot bear (with) such a situation.

（3）对于抽象的意思通常用bear。例如：I cannot bear that idea.

（4）只有bear后面可以接不定式和动名词，如I cannot bear to leave him alone和I cannot bear leaving him alone。也只有bear后面可以接宾语和不定式。例如：I cannot bear you to be left alone. 也有人说I cannot bear for you to be left alone。

6.I cannot bear leaving you alone里的leaving在形式和意思上都是主动的。These examples are perhaps too well known to bear being reprinted里的being reprinted在形式上和意思上都是被动的。但That won't bear thinking of（那是不堪一想的）里的thinking在形式上是主动的，在意思上却是被动的，这句跟That won't bear being thought of意思完全相同。His language（或story）won't（或doesn't）bear repeating是“他说的话（或他讲的事）不堪重述。”这句习惯上用repeating，不用being repeated。

7.bear（忍耐）后面有时接以that引导的从句。例如：She could not bear that her friends should laugh at her so much.

8.在把熊当作打猎的对象时通常用bear而不用bears。例如：They went out to hunt bear.

beard

1.beard指一个人的胡须，不指一根胡须，说一个人的胡须不用复数形式。beard指胡须的全体，不指胡须的物质，所以该说a long beard，不该说long beard。说多人的胡须该用复数形式beards。但有a growth of beard。

2.beard指面孔下部的胡须，通常不包括唇上的髭（moustache），有时也不包括颊上的胡须（whiskers）。

bearer

1.bearer是面交信件的人，就是“来人”，如The bearer is my brother和Allow me to introduce the bearer, Mr L. F. Marden。

2.在不很正式的信件里，往往在bearer前面不用the。例如：Please hand bearer the stick.

beat

by beat of drum（依照着击鼓声）中没有a或the。

beautiful

beautiful不该用在寻常美貌的男子。非常美貌的男子才可以说beautiful，但用beautiful称男子，便是说他没有大丈夫气概，所以最好不用。关于寻常美貌的男子只可说handsome或good-looking。

beauty

(and) the beauty of it is that...作“妙在…”解，是滑稽话。例如：

I wrote the letter with great care and addressed the envelope with great care. And the beauty of it was that when I thought I was posting the letter, I was posting only the envelope.

because

1.The reason is和The reason why...is后面最好用that，不用because（很多用because的）。

2.because比for、as或since语气重。在答复why的时候必须用because，不可用for、as或since。

3.because of通常引导状语短语，很少引导形容词短语，如通常说He stayed at home because of the rain，很少说His stay at home was because of the rain。但在He stayed at home, this was because of the rain里的because of是正常的，这this并不指任何名词，却指stayed at home的意思。

4.Because he is ill is the reason why he cannot come里的Because不算正当，最好改作That。

beckon

He beckoned（招手）me to follow him和He beckoned to me to follow him都可以说。

become

1.become后面不可接不定式，如不可说He became to like reading和She has become to be interested，该把第一句里的became改作began，第二句里的to be删去。

2.become（过去分词）可以用作形容词。例如：

They were looking at an invisible star suddenly become visible.

Mr Smith, now become a teacher, used to live here.

He is become a teacher.

I do not know what is become of him.

但第三句和第四句现在不很普通，通常用has become。

3.become是一时的动作，所以不可说He has become a teacher for five years，该说He became a teacher five years ago或It is five years since he became a teacher。

4.下面各句里的become都用得不错，但不及用be普通：

I want to become a doctor.

I wish to become a doctor.

I desire to become a doctor.

I have aspirations to become a doctor.

I am ambitious to become a doctor.

5.become不及get和grow通俗，尤其在属于比较级的形容词前面。下面各句里的got、grew、getting或growing如改成became或becoming，则句子比较不自然：

I soon got tired.

When it grew dark, we thought of coming back.

They are all getting older.

The sea is growing calmer.

6.become of作“发生于…”或“…成为”解。例如：What has become of him? （他成为怎样了？）这句子的主语总是what。

bed

1.in bed（躺在床上）是习语，不该作on bed，但说躺在某只床上，用on或in都可以，如on（或in）that bed和on（或in）the same bed。

2.go to bed（就寝）是习语，不该作go to the bed，go to my bed，go to this bed等。这里的bed并不一定指“床”，如一个人临时没有床，睡在地上，也可以说go to bed。take to bed，put to bed，get to bed，get into bed，lie in bed和out of bed等表达方式里也没有the。Jack is getting old, and bed is the only place for him一句里的bed前面也没有the。

bedchamber

1.除了说皇家的卧室以外，bedchamber现在很不普通，通常用bedroom。

bed-clothes

bed-clothes是被、褥、枕等，不是睡衣。“睡衣”是night-clothes。

bed(-)side

at his bed-side和by his bed-side都作“（守）在床边”解。

bedtime

bedtime是“就寝的时刻”，不是睡在床上的一段时间，如可以说My bedtime is ten o'clock，不可说My bedtime is from ten o'clock in the evening to six o'clock in the morning。

been

参见be 9

beer

a beer是“一客啤酒”或“一种啤酒”，beers是“多客啤酒”或“多种啤酒”。

before

1.从现在说到若干时间以前，不可用before，该用ago，下面两句里的ago都不可改作before：

I saw him only a few minutes ago.

He visited us five months ago.

从过去或未来的某时说到若干时间以前，该用before。例如：

I called at his office yesterday afternoon, but was told that he had gone home half an hour before.

When you call at his house tomorrow morning, you will probably be told that he has left for the country some days before.

说任何某时（不是现在、过去或将来的某时）的多少时间以前，也该用before。例如：He often tries to use a word or phrase that he has learnt only an hour or two before.

不过从现在说到以前，假使只说“以前”，并不说若干时间以前，便可以用before。例如：

We (have) met them many times before.

We (have) never met them before.

注意这两句里的动词属于完成时态或属于过去时态都可以。

2.下面两句的意思不同：

All day, as three days before, we planted trees. （我们全天种树，正像三天以前一样。）

All day, as for three days before, we planted trees. （我们全天种树，正像以前三天一样。）

3.比较下面每组里的两句：

4.three hours before里的before是副词，before three o'clock里的before是介词。注意three o'clock是一个时刻（point of time），不是一段时间。before不可在一段时间前面用作介词，所以不可说before a week，before ten years等。不可说I saw him before a week或I shall see him before a week，该改作I saw him a week ago和I shall see him within a week。不可说I shall not see him before a week，该改作I shall not see him for a week。I shall not see him within a week不合习惯。

before long（不久以后）这习语好像和这惯例不合，其实这习语里的before原来是连接词，before long等于before a long time has passed。

5.不可说before a few minutes of the accident或before ten years of his death，该改作a few minutes before the accident和ten years before his death。

注意下面第一句里没有the或for，第二句里有the，第三句里有for。参见after 2：

A few minutes before the accident she called on me.

During the few minutes before the accident she had a chat with me.

For a few minutes before the accident she had a chat with me.

6.在before用作连接词作“…以前”解的时候，它所引导的从句里的动词通常不属于将来时态，如通常不说He will arrive before she will start，而说He will arrive before she starts。但在表示长久以后才会发生的事时往往用将来时态，比较下面两句：

It will not be long before they come back.

It will be years before they will come back.

7.before very long（不久以后）比before long表示更长的时间。例如：I hope to hear from him again before long - anyhow, before very long.

8.严格地说，After reading the story, the boy felt, as many others have felt before and since, as if it had been told by himself该改作After reading the story, the boy felt, as many others had felt before and have felt since, as if it had been told by himself。但改后虽然在语法上完美了，读起来却不很自然。

beg

1.beg和beg for都作“请求“解，语气比ask和ask for重。对于boon，favour，leave，pardon，forgiveness和permission等词多用beg，少用beg for。对于施舍物也多用beg，少用beg for。说出了那被请求的人，该在指他（们）或她（们）的词的前面用of。例如：He begged a favour of us.

2.I begged him to help me和I begged of him to help me都可以说。说I begged (that) he would（偶尔用should）help me也可以。但不可说I begged him that he would help me。有时在以that引导的从句里用虚拟现在式。例如：I begged that he help me.

3.beg (leave) to announce，beg (leave) to state，beg (leave) to inform，beg (leave) to enclose等都是商业信函里的陈套语。在一般通信里该避免。

4.说“向…求乞”在beg后面接of或from。例如：He was too proud to beg of（或from）his friends.

beggar

习惯说beggar man，beggar girl等，不说man beggar，girl beggar等。

begin

1.begin后面的动词所表示的意思假使是有意志的，用不定式和动名词都普通，如He will soon begin to write a novel和He will soon begin writing a novel。begin后面的动词所表示的意思假使是没有意志的，通常用不定式，较少用动名词，如She began to like novels at twenty比She began liking novels at twenty普通得多。写作一本小说是有意志的，爱好小说是没有意志的。可是写作一本小说在那作者是有意志的，但在那小说的本身是没有意志的。所以通常说The novel began to be written last year，而不说The novel began being written last year。凡begin后面的动词属于被动语态的，这动词通常作不定式，很少作动名词。关于“有意志”和“没有意志”，再举几个例子在下面：

教英语是有意志的，懂英语是没有意志的；改正错误是有意志的，认识错误是没有意志的。

但注意下面两句：

A cold wind began to blow（或blowing）as we stood at the bus stop.

When Mary heard the report of a gun, her heart began to beat（或beating）furiously.

风和心脏当然都没有意志，但风的吹动或心脏的跳动都可能被当作有意志的动作一般，所以用动名词也很自然。

即使对于表示有意志的动作，在is beginning，was beginning等后面可以说总是用不定式，不用动名词，这显然为了避免...ing的重复。如He is beginning to teach English几乎不可改作He is beginning teaching English。

2.begin是“开始”，begin with是“以…开始”，如I shall begin this book today是“我今天将开始读这本书。”I shall begin with this book today是“我今天将先读这本书（然后读别的）”。

3.begin后面通常不接from，绝对不可接from...to...。通常不说：

The journey begins from Shanghai. （最好把from改作at）

The conference will begin from Monday. （最好把from改作on）

绝对不可说：

The journey begins from Shanghai to Beijing. （该改作The journey begins at Shanghai and ends at Beijing。）

The conference will begin from Monday to Thursday. （该改作The conference will begin on Monday and end on Thursday。）

不过begin at the beginning（从头开始）和begin from the beginning都普通。

4.把begin用在被动语态的时候，该注意勿犯双重被动的毛病，如He began to read the book last Sunday是对的，但The book was begun (by him) to be read last Sunday却不对。It was begun (by him) to read the book last Sunday在语法上不错，但不合习惯，像begin to...这种结构实际是不能成为被动语态的。The book began to be read (by him) last Sunday是可以说的，但这句里用began，是主动语态。

5.把begin用作被动语态，往往不及用作主动语态合乎习惯。例如：

The play begins（通常不用is begun）at eight o'clock.

The dinner began（通常不用was begun）as soon as all the guests arrived.

The argument began（通常不用was begun）over a small matter.

The discussion did not begin（通常不用was not begun）till late in the afternoon.

6.中国学生往往在该用begin的场合不用它。把表示持续动作的动词跟表示时刻（point of time）的词语用在一起是不合习惯的，如rain（下雨）是表示持续动作的动词，three o'clock是表示时刻的词语，所以不可说It rained at three o'clock。在这种场合该用begin。例如：It began to rain at three o'clock.

7.下面各句里的begin原来是美国用法，现在在英国也普通：

I felt I did not begin to understand him. （我觉得我一点也不了解他。）

Your suggestion dose not begin to meet the difficulty. （你的建议一点也不解决这个困难。）

Nothing has begun to interest her so much as folk music. （没有什么东西曾经像民间音乐一样引起她的兴趣。）

8.begin和commence意思相同，但begin普通得多，尤其在口语里极少用commence。19世纪英国小说家George Eliot在某书里有Things never began with Mr..., they always commenced这一句，是讥笑那位先生不肯用通俗的文字。commence只用在正式些的文字里，如commence hostilities和Hostilities commenced late that year。还有两点该注意：1.commence后面通常接动名词，很少接不定式。2.commence多用在有意志的事而很少用在没有意志的事。

9.begin有时用现在式指未来的事，如The show begins next week。

beginner

beginner后面接in，如a beginner in English和a beginner in the art of painting。

beginning

1.from the beginning是“从头便…”，at the beginning是“起初…”，如I was opposed to the plan from the beginning是“我从头便反对这个计划（并不是后来才反对的）”，I was opposed to the plan at the beginning是“我起初反对这计划（后来不反对了）”。

2.at the beginning和in the beginning没有一定的区别。in the beginning现在比at the beginning少用。但说世界的开端必须用in，如In the beginning there were no men nor animals nor plants。begin at the beginning里的at不可改作in。

begrudge

begrudge比grudge语气强些，现在也普通些。

behalf

1.on behalf of是“代表…”，如I am speaking on behalf of my friend。in behalf of是“为…的利益”，如We do it in behalf of the cause of peace。有时“代表…”便是“为…的利益”，所以用on behalf of或in behalf of没有大区别。但该注意在没有“利益”的意思的场合只可用on behalf of，不可用in behalf of。

2.注意on behalf of和in behalf of两种表达方式里都没有the。

behave

1.behave和behave yourself（或himself等）（都没有副词）都作“好好地行动”或“守规矩”解，如You must behave和You must behave yourself。这种用法多指儿童。

2.He is now better behaved里的behaved是不及物动词的过去分词用作形容词。

behaviour

1.behaviour前面通常没有a，也没有复数形式behaviours。

2.behaviour和conduct意思相仿。behaviour偏重在外表方面，conduct偏重在道德方面。如在众人面前守规矩而在暗中不规矩的人，有好的behaviour，却有不好的conduct。指儿童通常用behaviour。

behind

1.behind time作“过了时刻”解，是形容词短语或状语短语，如He is very seldom behind time和He very seldom comes behind time。behind the times（有the，times作复数形式）作“落在时代后面的”解，是形容词短语。例如：Many of the means of production in the country are very much behind the times.

2.参见after 8

being

1.for the time being是习语，作“暂时地”解，being是be的现在分词，用作形容词，作existing解。

2.I am sending you a cheque for ¥30.00, being the rent due on 15 May等句子里的being是商业文件里的习惯用法。不可用在其他文字里，如不可说I am sending you Mrs Gaskell's Cranford, being the book you asked to borrow the other day，该把being去掉，或把being the book改作which。

3.下面各句的开首都可以说省去了being：

Written in simple English, the book is easy to read.

Deeply interested in my work, he often gives me advice.

Asked where he was going, the boy said he was just taking a walk.

Curious, she tore the letter open.

Nearly seventy years old, the author is as busy as ever.

A skilled labourer, he is always ready to help others.

An industrious student, he finds plenty of time for study.

Unquestionably one of the greatest novels ever written, it is still widely read today.

4.下面两句里的being可有可无：

The task (being) completed, they went home.

Her children (being) away at school, she was alone at home.

但下面两句里的being通常不省去：

He being away, she was alone at home.

It being fine, we had a walk together in the park.

注意He和It都是代词。

下面两句里在gun和head后面没有being：

They started for the wood, gun in hand.

He jumped into the water head foremost.

注意gun和head前面都没有his。

5.关于be being typewritten等，参见be 4。关于He is being polite 等，参见be 5

belief

下面第一句里的beyond belief是状语短语，第二句里的beyond belief是形容词短语：

The boy's health has improved beyond belief.

Improvement beyond belief has been effected in the boy's health.

believe

1.I believe him是“我信他的说话不错”，I believe in him是“我信他做人可靠”，就是“我信任他”，或者是“我相信他将来有所成就”。

2.下面三句意思相同：

I believe (that) he is honest.

I believe him to be honest.

I believe him honest.

第二句比较不普通，在口语里更不普通。假使那动词不是be，通常不用不定式而用从句，如通常说As early as 1960 I believed (that) he belonged to a certain clan，不说As early as 1960 I believed him to belong to a certain clan。

但在believe用作被动语态的时候，后面接不定式很普通，例如He is believed to be honest和He was believed to belong to a certain clan。

3.I do not believe (that) he can do it和I believe (that) he cannot do it意思相同，但第二句不很自然。

4.I believe I told you, but I am not sure里的believe作suppose解。Mr Brown, I believe? 是“我想你就是Brown先生，是不是？”

5.make believe是习语，作“假做”解，如He made believe to be ill和He made believe (that) he was ill。这里的believe是不定式，因为前面是make，所以省去to。make没有宾语，是不带特定宾语的用法。

believer

believer后面接in，如a believer in morning exercise。

bellows

bellows是复数形式，没有单数形式。通常用a pair of bellows指“手动吹风器”，bellows或the bellows指“风箱”用作单数或复数都可以，如The bellows is being mended里的is改作are也可以。但也往往用a bellows，把它看作单数。说两个或两个以上的风箱用bellows或pairs of bellows都可以。

belly

belly是“肚”，指内部或外部都可以，如“肚里痛”和“肚上痛”两种表达方式里的“肚”都是belly。abdomen似乎只指内部，通常是科学上的名称。有些人嫌belly太俗气，又嫌abdomen不通俗，却用stomach指“肚”（兼指内外），其实stomach是“胃”不是“肚”，这种用法是不妥的。

belong

1.belong to不可成为被动语态，如The house belongs to my sister不可成为My sister is belonged to by the house，也不可说The club is very much belonged to。

2.belong不可用在进行时态，如不可说He is belonging to the Society for Foreign Languages，该把is belonging改作belongs。

3.belong后面通常接to，但有时也接among，in，on，under，with等，在美国更流行。

beloved

beloved后面接by或of都可以，现在多接by。

below

below, beneath, under和underneath四个介词略有区别，有下面几点该注意：

（1）under最普通，不论指实质上的上下或精神上的上下都可以用。

（2）below跟above相反，指“比…低下”，under跟over相反，指“在…的下面”。如在飞机上看来，地上的一切都是below，但只有那飞机垂直下面的地方是under。又如those below him是“职位比他低的人们”，those under him是“受他管理的人们”。

（3）a man below twenty（一个20岁以下的男人）里的below改作under也可以，an income below ¥100里的below改作under也可以。

（4）beneath除了在下面各句里的用法以外，现在很少用。

In old days, when a gentleman's daughter married a peasant, a worker, or a shop assistant, people would say that she married beneath her (同比她身份低的人结婚).

You must not consider it beneath you (有失你的身份) to ask his help.

He used to regard such matters as beneath his notice (不值得被他注意).

A lazybones is beneath contempt (不值得轻视，极可鄙).

A captain is beneath a major (比陆军少校级别低).

（5）underneath只指实质上的上下，语气比under重些，如under the bed是“在床下“，underneath the bed有“被压在床下”或“被覆在床下”的意思。

beneath

参见below

benefit

benefit用作及物动词是“有益于…”，用作不及物动词是“得益”。说“得益于…”通常用benefit by...或benefit from...，比较少用be（或is, are等）benefited by...。

bent

bent（bend的过去分词）往往用作形容词，作“专心的”解，后面接on或upon和动名词或名词，不接不定式，如可以说He is bent (up)on going to college和He is bent (up)on linguistic studies，不可说He is bent to go to college或He is bent to study languages。

bereave

bereave极少用在主动语态。它有两个过去分词，bereaved 和bereft。对于家人的丧亡通常用bereaved，对于无形的东西的丧失只可用bereft，如He was bereaved（或bereft，但不很普通）of his wife和He was now bereft（不可用bereaved）of hope。注意两句里都用of。the bereaved husband（丧了妻的人），the bereaved father（丧了子或女的父亲），the bereaved（丧了家人的一个或多个人）等表达方式里的bereaved不可改作bereft。

beset

They were beset=They were beset with difficulties (或troubles等).

beside(s)

1.在现代英语里，beside只用作介词，作“在…的旁边”或“跟…没有关系”解。例如：The pioneer is sitting beside the mayor和That is beside the question。besides可以用作介词，作“加在…以上”解，也用作副词，作“而且”解，如There are five members besides Mr and Mrs Winston和I am very tired, besides, I have a cold。把beside和besides混用，不好算错误，但总是不好。

2.besides后面偶尔接没有to的不定式。例如：That afternoon I had nothing to do besides answer letters.

3.besides后面偶尔接以that引导的从句。例如：Besides that he explained the theory, he gave us several examples.（他不但解释那理论，而且给了我们好几个例子。）

best

1.at best和at the best意思相同，都作“就最乐观的一方面看”或“充其量”解。例如：At (the) best, the sick old man will live another year or two. at his best, at her best等表达方式作“在他（或她）的最佳状态”解。例如：He is at his best in writing short essays.

2.不可说a best book, a best boy等。

3.had best跟had better同义，但不很普通。

4.get（有时用have）the best of（胜过，占…的上风）是美国英语，相当于英国英语get the better of。

5.best seller指“畅销书”，有时指这种书的著作人，有时指畅销的唱片等。

6.It is best that he (should) read the book once more里的should可有可无。

betray

betray（显露）后面可以接以that引导的从句。例如：The mistakes betray that he does not know grammar.

betroth

betroth现在很不普通，通常用engage。

better

1.better往往作“病好了些”解，是“比较不unwell些”，不是“更well些”。例如：I am better today, but not well yet. 假使原来没有病，身体逐渐强壮，通常不用better。

2.I am better today是对的。My cold is better today也有人说，但不很普通。

3.had better是习语，必须要用had，不可用have，后面用没有to的不定式，如You had better go at once和You had better have gone already。第一句是“你最好立刻去”，第二句是“假使你已经去了便好，可惜事实上你并不曾去”。注意第二句里的have决不可省。

4.注意下面两句里都用had better：

I think I had better go.

I thought I had better go.

也注意下面两句里都用had better have：

I think I had better have gone already.

I thought I had better have gone already.

5.不可说It had better to stay here，该说One had better stay here或It is better to stay here。

6.You had better go at once是正常的英语。You better go at once主要是美国口语。

7.Better go at once.=You（或I, He等）had better go at once.是口语。Better to go at once.=It is better to go at once.主要是口语。

8.不可说If you had better go at once, you may do so。该在If后面加上you think。

9.You would better go at once.=You had better go at once.这用法现在比较少用，在英国尤其少用。You'd better go at once里的You'd当作You had或You would都可以。

10.You had better go是“你最好去”，You had better not go是“你最好不去”。You hadn't better go.=You had better not go.这用法不合理。

11.关于better himself和improve himself的区别，参见improve 3

between

1.可以说between two persons，也可以说between one person and another，但不可说between each person或between every person。理由是很明显的，不过这种错误很多。between this person or that当然也不对，该说between this person and that。

2.一般说来，between用在两个人或物前面，不用在三个或三个以上人或物前面。但假使说到三个或三个以上人或物中间的每两个的关系，就可以用between。例如：

The speaker referred to the relations between the three countries.

Switzerland lies between France, Germany, Austria, and Italy.

3.in between里的in是副词，between有时是副词，有时是介词。如She visited them in between（在中间的时间里）和She visited them in between her maternal duties（在她尽母亲责任［照顾子女］的闲暇时间里）。

beverage

beverage远不及drink通俗。

bewail

下面两句意思相同：

She sat bewailing her daughter.

She sat bewailing the death of her daughter.

beware

1.beware现在只用在可用be＋ware的句子里。如可以说I will beware和You need to beware，但不可说I beware或You beware。可以说Beware of thieves，但不可说They beware of thieves。bewaring和bewared都不该用。

2.Beware of thieves等句子里的of有时省去。

3.可以说Beware how you speak to them和Beware what you say before them等。

bewilder(ed)

关于a bewildered frown（一个困惑的蹙额）等，参见much 3 (5) E

Bible

Bible前面有the。a Bible是“一本圣经”。

bicycle

不可说ride bicycle或ride on bicycle，该说ride (on) a bicycle和ride (on) bicycles。

bid

说“叫他去”现在很少说Bid him go或Bid him to go，通常说Tell him to go。

big

big, great和large三个单词并没有绝对的区别，但下面几点可以参考：

（1）big比large通俗些，都指实质上的大，如big dog和large dog。great指精神上的大，如great scholar。large family指“众多的子女们”，great family指“有声望的人家”，但都不指所谓“大家庭”。

（2）说到无形的东西，用great，如great care, great happiness和great learning。不可说large care, large happiness或large learning，也不可说big care, big happiness或big learning。但对于表示大小或分量的词，也可以用large或big，如large（或big）size, large（或big）quantity和large（或big）amount，不过往往用great好些。

（3）big有时也指精神上的大，如big man是“大人物”，不是“大块头”，big fool是“大呆子”，不是“大块头的呆子”。

（4）great有时也指实质上的大，如great dog。但这样用的great有“多么大啊！”，“大得可怕”等意思，如说“我有一只大狗和一只小狗”只可用big或large，但说“我见了那只大狗吃了一惊”便可以用great。也有人用great big，如a great big dog。

（5）“大”的反面便是“小”，说“大”普通有big, large和great三个单词，说“小”普通有little和small两个单词。把“大”和“小”连在一起说，可以说：

great and little, great and small, big and little, large and small

但通常不说large and little和big and small。

bill

bill用作“钞票”解是美国英语。

billiard(s)

1.说“弹子戏”用复数形式billiards，但通常当作单数。例如：Billiards is not exclusively a men's game.

2.billiard ball, billiard room, billiard table等表达方式里用单数形式。

billion

billion在英国指“万亿”（1,000,000,000,000），在美国指“十亿”（1,000,000,000）。在英国“十亿”叫milliard。

binding

说“…装订的书”在binding前面用in，不用of，如an old novel in artistic binding。

biographer

his biographer是“为他作传记的人”。

birth

比较下面三句：

The birth of two boys is reported.

Two boys' birth is reported.

Two births are reported.

复数形式births指两个或两个以上孩子的出生。但在of前面或在物主代词后面用单数形式而不用复数形式。

birthday

birthday现在通常不用来指“出生的日子”，如假定你在1950年8月20日出生，通常不说My birthday was 20 August, 1950。该把birthday改作birthdate或date of birth。但在譬喻的用法里便可以。例如：The birthday of the People's Republic of China was 1 October, 1949.假定你在1950年8月20日出生，你的first birthday是1951年8月20日。

biscuit

1.统指“饼干”用biscuit或biscuits都可以。例如：I like biscuit (或biscuits).

2.biscuit在英国是“饼干”，就是在美国所说的cracker。在美国所说的biscuit是一种趁热吃的软饼，跟英国的scone或muffin相仿。统指这种软饼用biscuit或biscuits都可以。

bit

1.a bit, a little和a little bit意思相同，都是“一些（地）”。但not a bit和not a little bit是“一点也不”，not a little是“很”。比较下面三句：

He was not a bit sorry.（他一点也不抱歉。）

Hs was not a little bit sorry.（他一点也不抱歉。）

He was not a little sorry.（他很抱歉。）

not a bit和not a little bit两种表达方式里的not可以分开，如He did not feel a bit sorry和He did not feel a little bit sorry。not a little里的not不可分开，如不可说He did not feel a little sorry，该说He felt not a little sorry。

bitter(ly)

bitterly cold和bitter cold都可以说。

black(en)

black用作动词作“弄黑”解，但跟blacken不同。black是“有意地使变黑”，如说用黑漆涂在墙上，该用black。blacken是“无意地使变黑”，如说浓烟弄黑了墙，该用blacken。blacken转作“败坏（名誉）”解。例如：Nothing but his own doings blackened his reputation.

blame

1.blame在一般词典里大都注作“责备”、“责怪”等，其实blame him并不就是“责备他”，也不是“向他非难”，不过“在心上怪他”罢了，如你觉得某人有不是的地方，你便是在blame他，但他自己却未必知道。

2.说“某人有过失”或“某人该受责备”，通常说to blame，比较少说to be blamed，如She is certainly to blame比She is certainly to be blamed普通。总说I am to blame，不说I am to be blamed。

3.blame it on him作blame him for it解，有人把这种结构看作不正当。

blank

blank在美国通常是“空白表格”，相当于英国的form，如telegraph blank=telegraph form（电报纸）。

blend

blend together里的together是多余的。

blessed

bless的过去式通常是blessed，很少用blest。过去分词两种形式都用，但在主动语态里通常用blessed，如Nature has blessed him with good health和He is blessed（或blest）with good health。定语形容词通常是blessed，如blessed ignorance和What a blessed thing it is to live and study with you!表语形容词通常是blest。例如：I am indeed blest in having you as my constant companion.

注意He is blessed with good health里blessed跟What a blessed thing it is to live and study with you!里的blessed意思不同。第二句里的blessed作“带幸福来的”解，却不可改作blessing，实际也是“被赐给幸福的”，既然被赐给幸福，就有幸福带给人了。

blessing

1.blessing和bliss意思相仿，但blessing是类名词，bliss是抽象名词。例如：What a blessing it is to live and work in this city!（必须有a）和What bliss it is to live and work in this city!（不可有a）

2.说“不幸中的大幸”只可用blessing，不可用bliss，如What a blessing it is that you were only slightly hurt in the accident里的a blessing不可改作bliss。

blest

参见blessed

blind

1.blind of an eye, blind of one eye和blind in one eye都可以说，blind in an eye未见过。blind in the right eye和blind in the left eye都可以说，blind of the right eye和blind of the left eye未见过。

2.blind的反义词是sighted。

bliss

参见blessing

block

block在英国指高大的房子，便是所谓的“大厦”或“大楼”。在美国指四面有街的一块地，这地上通常有房子，但也许没有房子，也指这样的一个block的每一边，便是两条平行街道之间的一段街。

blood

circulation of the blood等表达方式里的the不可省去。

bloom

不论用作名词或动词，严格地说，bloom和blossom通常有下面所说的区别：bloom指“观赏植物的花”，blossom指“果树的花”。如菊花是bloom，说开花用bloom，梅花是blossom，说开花用blossom，菊花开花是in bloom，梅树开花是in blossom。对于小的果树（如杨梅）通常不用bloom或blossom，也不用in bloom或in blossom，却用flower和in flower。

blossom

参见bloom

blown

1.a rose-bud fresh blown里的blown是不及物动词的过去分词用作形容词。

2.His cap was blown into the brook和His cap blew into the brook意思相同。

blue

in blue是“穿着蓝色衣服”，in the blue通常是“在蓝色的天空里”，有时是“在蓝色的海里”，in the blues是“闷闷不乐”。

board

1.on board of the steamer和on board the steamer都可以说。on board of the ship, on board the ship和on board ship都可以说。注意不可说on board of ship。

2.on board在英国通常指“上船”或“在船上”，在美国往往指“上车”或“在车上”，“上飞机”或“在飞机上”。

boast

1.boast和boast of略有不同。boast是“自夸…”，它的宾语是具体的东西。例如：The village boasts an old tower。boasts of是“因…而自夸”，它的宾语往往是抽象的东西。例如：He boasts of his scholarship. boast of用作“自夸…”解也可以，但不及boast普通。

2.注意He boasts himself more clever than his brother里在more前面没有as。有时有to be。

3.boast后面可接以that引导的从句。例如：He boasts that he is more clever than his brother.

boat

boat通常是小划船、小帆船或小轮船。但旅客们有时也用它指大轮船。例如：We caught the boat at Qingdao.

body

1.body有时用作“人”解，但除了在anybody, everybody, nobody和somebody四个复合词里以外，很不普通。I see a body there和There are some bodies here等句都不该说，假使说I see his body，那便是说“我看见他的肉体”（那个人裸着体）或“我看见他的尸体”了。

2.body指人的身体，但注重在体格，并不注重在健康，如说某人体格强壮，可说He has a strong body，但说某人身体健康，便不该用body。

3.anybody, everybody, nobody和somebody都不可分开，如不可写作any body。every other body主要用在苏格兰，最好不用，改用everybody else。

body(-)guard

body(-)guard可以作“卫队”解，也可以作“卫队中的一员”解，但这第二解不很普通。

boil(ing)

1.boil有时有双宾语。例如：Please boil me an egg.（请替我煮一个蛋。）

2.at boiling point（在沸点）中没有a或the。

book

1.除了在必须说明所读的是“书”而不是其他东西的场合以外，用read便够了，不该说read books。

2.说“账册”用复数形式books。

3.long book是“篇幅长的书”，short book是“篇幅短的书”，不关书的版本的大小。

book(-)maker

1.book(-)maker是利用他人的材料而编书的人，往往含有“只为了赚钱”的意思，不指创作家。

book(-)making

参见book(-)maker

bookshelf

bookshelf是“书架”，“图书馆等中的多层书架”该用bookstack。

bookworm

bookworm是“专心读书的人”，并没有“书呆子”所含的轻视的意思，当面称人bookworm并不是侮辱或取笑他。

boon

1.Cheap editions are a great boon to students里的a great boon不可改作great boons。

2.下面三句意思相同，但第三句不很普通：

This dictionary is a great boon to students of English.

This dictionary is a great boon to the student of English.

This dictionary is a great boon to the study of English.

boot(s)

在美国boot往往指长统靴，就是在英国所说的high boot或Wellington（或wellington）。在英国所说的boot（短统靴），在美国往往叫做shoe。

但“以擦皮鞋为业的人”在美国反而叫bootblack，在英国反而叫shoeblack。英国旅馆里的擦皮鞋仆人却叫boots（是单数形式，如a boots）。近几年来美国用shoeshine, shoeshine boy或shoeshine man。

bore(d)

关于a bored sigh（一声厌倦的叹气）等，参见much 3 (5) E

born(e)

参见bear 1

borrow

1.I wish to borrow some books from him里的from改作of也可以，但现在不及用from普通。

2.单用borrow通常指借钱。

botanic(al)

botanical比botanic普通得多。相当于这两种形式的副词只有一个，就是botanically。

both

1.下面四句意思相同：

Both sisters are here. Both the sisters are here.（比较不普通）

Both of the sisters are here. The sisters are both here.

the both sisters和the both of the sisters也有人说，但都不算正当。

2.Both sisters（或Both the sisters，或Both of the sisters）are not here或The sisters are not both here是“姐妹两人并不都在这里”，就是说“一个在这里，一个不在这里”，并不是“姐妹两人都不在这里”。Neither sister（或Neither of the sisters）is here才是“姐妹两人都不在这里”。

3.both ... and ...是习语，如both boys and girls。论理似乎只能指两项，但事实上并没有这种限制，如尽可说both boys and grils and men and women。

4.both ... and ...里的两个“…”最好是同性质的，如可以说both boys and girls，也可以说both with boys and with girls和with both boys and girls，但最好不说both with boys and girls。同样地，下面各种表达方式都最好不说：

both the dog and cat (该说both the dog and the cat或both dog and cat),

both his hands and feet (该说both his hands and his feet),

both in China and the Soviet Union (该说both in China and in the Soviet Union或in both China and the Soviet Union),

both because of ill health and the cold weather (该说both because of ill health and because of the cold weather, because both of ill health and of the cold weather或because of both ill health and the cold weather)

5.He knows both English and German比He knows English and German both普通。

6.both ... as well as ...是错误的，绝对不可用。

7.下面各句里的both该去掉：

The two boys are both alike.

The two boys are both equally good.

The two boys are both together.

bother

1.下面六句都作“别费心去答复这封信”解：

Don't bother to answer this.

Don't bother about answering this.

Don't bother answering this.

Don't bother yourself to answer this.

Don't bother yourself about answering this.

Don't bother yourself answering this.

第三句和第六句里的answering是现在分词。

2.I didn't have much bother (in) getting him to go with me里的in可有可无。

bound

bound后面接不定式从前在英国作“将不得不…”解，在美国作“决意…”解，如He is bound to come在英国是“他将不得不来”，在美国是“他决意来”。但现在似乎在英美通常都作“一定将…”解，如It is bound to rain是“肯定会下雨”。

bourgeois(e)

bourgeois的单数形式和复数形式为同一形式，兼指男女。bourgeoise是女性形式，极少用。

bourgeoisie

bourgeoisie（资产阶级）前面有the。

boxful

参见-ful

Boxing-day（或Boxing Day）

1.Boxing-day（指12月26日［圣诞节的次日］，假使那天是星期日，便指12月27日）前面没有the。

boy

messenger boy和office boy是正常的英语。boy单独用指所谓“仆欧”或“西崽”，不是正常的英语，是殖民者对于殖民地或半殖民地人民的侮辱名称。

boycott

the boycott of such goods和the boycott against such goods都可以说。

boyhood

boyhood有时指childhood以后的一段时期，如in childhood and early boyhood。

brain

1.说“脑”用brain，说“脑髓”用brains，说“智力”用brain或brains都可以。注意下面几个习语：

suck（或pick）his（或your等）brain(s)（剽窃他［或你等］的脑力劳动成果，用brain或brains都可以），

have no brain(s)（没有智力，用brains普通些），

cudgel my（或your等）brains（绞脑汁，该用brains），

rack my（或your等）brain(s)（绞脑汁，用brain或brains都可以），

have on the brain（痴想，该用brain），

turn his（或your等）brain（使他［或你等］失态，该用brain）

2.much brains（许多智力）和little brains不可改作many brains和few brains。

3.注意He has a marvellous brain等句子里有a。可以说Two brains（两个人的智力）are better than one。

brand

下面各种表达方式都可以说：

a new brand of cigarette, a new brand of cigarettes（比较少见），

some new brands of cigarette, some new brands of cigarettes

brandy

a brandy是“一客白兰地酒”或“一种白兰地酒”，brandies是“多客白兰地酒”或“多种白兰地酒”。

bread

bread是“面包”，不是“一块（loaf）面包”，也不是“一片（slice）面包”。a bread是“一客面包”，breads是“多客面包”。

break

1.说“扯破（衣服）”不该用break，该用tear。

2.下面三句意思相同：

You ought to break this habit.

You ought to break off this habit.

You ought to break yourself of this habit.

3.Her self-control was strained to the breaking point里的the有时省去。

breakfast

breakfast有时指“早餐那件事”，有时指“早餐吃的东西”，不论作哪一个解，都有时指可数的事物，有时指不可数的事物。例如：

I had a quick breakfast this morning.

I took a walk before breakfast this morning.

I had enough money to buy a breakfast.

I ate a few biscuits for breakfast.

breath(e)

下面两句里的breathe和take breath不可对调：

We breathe (呼吸) in order to live.

We paused to take breath (透一口气，休息一下).

breeze

a breeze是“一阵微风”，breezes是“多阵微风”，不可说I should like to have breeze on such a hot day，该在breeze前加上a。但偶尔也有There was not enough breeze that evening等句子。

brethren

参见brother 3

bribe(ry)

bribe是“行贿物”，是可数名词，如many bribes。bribery是“行贿或受贿的行为”，有时统指这种行为（不可数），有时指这种行为的一次（可数），如guilty of bribery和guilty of several briberies。

brick

brick有时是“一块砖”，有时是“制砖材料”，如a house built of bricks和a house built of brick。

bridesman

bridesman（男傧相）现在不普通，说“男傧相”通常用best man。

bring

1.bring是“拿来”，不是“拿去”，如可以说Bring the book to me，不可说Bring the book to him。说“拿去”该用take。不过也得注意，说“拿到对方（例如收信人）”也用bring，因为在对方看来是“拿来”。例如：The young man who brings you this letter is my brother.

2.He took a great interest in his work though he was well aware that it would not bring him in much money里有双宾语，那in是副词，不是介词。

3.注意He was brought up to his father's trade里用to。

bristle

bristle不是物质名词。a bristle是“一根猪鬃”，bristles是“多根猪鬃”。

Britain

Britain是Great Britain的简称，包括England, Wales和Scotland。Great Britain和Northern Ireland合成the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland，简称the United Kingdom。有时也用Great Britain指the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland。Greater（不是Great）Britain指United Kingdom和一切属地，但这名称是非正式的。

Britannia

Britannia, Britannic和Britannica三个单词不可混用。Britannia是(Great) Britain的别名，主要用在诗歌里。Britannic是形容词，作“关于(Great) Britain的”解，现在只用在Her（或His）Britannic Majesty（英［女］王陛下）中。Britannica用在The Encyclopaedia Britannica（大英百科全书）等里。

Britannic

参见Britannia

Britannica

参见Britannia

Briticism

Briticism（只用在英国而不用在美国）是美国英语，相当于英国的Britishism。也有人用Britannicism，但不及Britishism普通。

Britisher

Britisher是“英国人”，通常是Great Britain的人。该词是美国英语，在英国本来不用，现在在美国也几乎不用。

Briton

Briton是Great Britain的人，尤其指Englishman。现在不很通用。英国人通常说I am a British subject，不说I am a Briton。美国人也几乎不用。

broad

1.broad和wide没有绝对的区别，但broad似乎着重在面积的广，wide似乎着重在距离的远。如broad street和wide street都是“宽阔的街道”，但broad street着重在街面的宽大（车马可以自由往来），wide street着重在两边的距离（穿过不便）。又如broad river着重在河面的广阔（有“水光接天”的景色），wide river着重在两岸的远离（渡河费时而费力）。形容人的肩、背和胸都可以用broad而不可用wide，眼和嘴都可以用wide而不可broad。

2.broad discussion是畅所欲言的自由讨论。wide discussion是项目繁多的广泛讨论。

broadcast

broadcast（用无线电广播）的过去式通常是broadcasted，但过去分词通常是broadcast。

broadness

broadness现在只用作“粗俗”解，不用作“广阔”解。说“广阔”该用breadth。

Bronx

Bronx是New York City的五个行政区（borough）中的一个，前面有the。

brother

1.brother指“兄”或“弟”都可以，区别起来，“兄”是elder brother，“弟”是younger brother。但除了在必须分明的时候以外，习惯上不论说“兄”或“弟”只说brother。在美国往往不说elder brother而说older brother，参见elder

2.brother只指同父母、同父或同母的弟兄，不指堂弟兄。

3.brother的复数形式brethren现在只用来指同一教会的教徒或同一会社的成员。

4.the Johnson brothers比the brothers Johnson普通。在招牌上通常用第一种形式而省略the，如Johnson Brothers。

brother-in-law

1.brother-in-law用作“连襟”解很勉强，用作“丈夫的姐姐或妹妹的丈夫”解更勉强。

2.brother-in-law不可用在信的称呼里。该用对方的名字。

brush

You ought to brush up your English（你该温习英语）等句子里的brush up是习语，作“重新研习…，使不荒疏”解，brush是及物动词。在美国往往在up后面加上on，使brush成为不及物动词。

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace（白金汉宫）前面没有the。

Buddha

Buddha（佛陀、佛）在指释迦牟尼（Sakyamuni）的时候前面可以有the，也可以没有the。

buffalo

buffalo的复数形式作buffaloes、buffalos和buffalo都可以。

buffet

We lunched buffet together里的buffet用作副词，作“自助”解。

bug

bug在英国是“臭虫”，在美国指任何小昆虫。“臭虫”在美国通常叫做bed(-)bug。英国人把bug看作“粗俗”的词，很少用它。

build

1.build有时带有双宾语。例如：It is thoughtful of the government to build so many bridges across the river.

2.a man of powerful build（体格）等表达方式里的...build前面习惯没有a。

building

the ... Building用作“…大厦（分租作事务所的）”解是美国英语，相当于英国英语...House（没有the）。

bureau

1.bureau在英国指“写字台”，在美国指“（通常装着镜子的）衣橱”。

2.政府的组织各“部”有若干“司”，“部”在英国叫做ministry，在美国叫做department，“司”在英国叫做department，在美国叫做bureau。说我国政府的“部”和“司”，通常依照英国习惯。

3.我国往往用bureau来译“局”，如“劳动局”译作bureau of labour。这是美国用法，在英国通常用office。

burglar

burglar在一般词典里注作“夜贼”或“夜盗”，其实不一定“夜”，也不一定“贼”或“盗”，“夜贼”或“夜盗”也不一定是burglar。burglar可以有两个意思：“夜里侵入房屋意图犯罪者”和“侵入房屋意图偷窃者”。注意必须“侵入房屋”才是burglar。这词现在不很普通。

burst

burst into tears（忽然哭出来）比burst out crying普通，但burst out laughing（忽然笑出来）比burst into laughter普通。注意不可说burst into crying或burst into laughing。偶尔用burst out into tears, burst out into crying等。

bus

1.bus比omnibus普通得多。

2.美国的bus boy和bus girl是餐馆或公共食堂里打杂的人，职位比waiter和waitress低，跟公共汽车没有关系。

business

1.business原来是busy＋ness，是相当于busy的抽象名词，但现在有busyness是相当于busy的抽象名词。

2.in business是“在经营商业”，是形容词短语或状语短语。on business是“因事或因公（不是玩耍）”，是状语短语。如He is in business, He is engaged in business和He wants to see you on business。比较下面两句：

He is in business there.

He is there on business.

3.go to business是“到办事处去”，go into business是“开始经商”，如He goes to business by bus和He went into business at twenty。

4.Mind your own business的意思是“别管他人的闲事”，就是“（我）不用你干涉”，不是“别让他人管你的事”。

busy

1.现在busy后面直接接动名词，不加任何介词（那动名词成了现在分词）。例如：He is busy writing a report.

2.busy后面只可接动名词，不可接不定式，如可以说He is busy writing a report，不可说He is busy to write a report。

3.busy指人的忙，不指工作的忙，如不可说busy work, busy task, busy matter, busy affair等。

4.busy at work和busily at work都可以说。第一种表达方式里的at work是状语短语，修饰busy。第二种表达方式里的at work是形容词短语，被busily修饰着。

busybody

busybody是“管闲事的人”，不是“忙人”。

but

1.许多修辞学书里说句首不可用but，其实句首用but很普通。即使用在一段文字的开首也可以。

2.though ... but ...和although ... but ...都是错误的，该把but改作yet或删去。

3.but ... however不该用，如不该说But that, however, is quite different，该改作But that is quite different或That, however, is quite different。

4.No man but I saw him和No man but me saw him都可以说，意思也相同，现在在文字里用I普通些，在口语里用me普通些。第一句里的but是连接词，第二句里的but是介词。

5.not ... but ...是习语。例如：It is not black, but white.但该注意这习语很容易用错，如说It is not black, but it is white便大错了。

6.not ... but ...是习语，not so much ... as ...也是习语，not so much ... but ...是错误的（英美人往往有这种错误），如I admire him not so much for his learning as for his character（我羡慕他，与其说为了他的学问，不如说为了他的品格）里的as不可改作but。

7.can but和cannot but意思略有不同。can but作“只能”解，如I can but wait是说“我只能等着（没有别的事可以做）”，有时有“至多不过…”的意思，如I can but lose that money是说“我至多失了那笔款子，并不会有其他不幸的事情发生”。cannot but作“不得不”或“不禁”解，如I cannot but think so是说“我不得不这样想”。

can but和cannot but都是比较正式的短语，在口语里通常不用can but而用can only，不用cannot but而用cannot help ...ing或cannot help but。

8.do nothing but或do anything but后面接没有to的不定式，如I could do nothing but wait和I could not do anything but wait。

9.all but perfect是“几乎完美的”，anything but perfect是“极不完美的”。

10.下面每组里的四句意思相同：

每组里的第一句和第二句里的but是关系代词，第三句和第四句里的but是连接词。

buttock(s)

buttock是臀部的一半，说整个臀部该用buttocks, rump或posterior(s)。

buy

1.buy和purchase意思相同，可以用purchase的场合虽然都可以用buy，但可以用buy的场合却未必可以用purchase。buy指一般的“买”，说买菜、买肉、买书、买珠宝、买房子，都可以用。purchase该用在比较贵重些的东西，如可以用来说买珠宝或买房子，却不可用来说买菜或买肉，可以用来说买一部名贵的古书，却不可用来说买一册教科书。

2.buy有时有双宾语。例如：I bought him a pen.（我买了一枝笔给他。）

3.I hope to buy it of him里的of改作from或off都可以。

4.buy back是“（在卖出去以后）买回来”。例如：He sold his house and later bought it back.

by

1.catch him by the ear, lead her by the hand等表达方式里的the照习惯不可改作his或her。

2.下面两句意思相同：

Books came in by the hundred.

Books came in by hundreds.

注意不可说by the hundreds。

They are paid by the month和Sugar is sold by the catty等句子里的by the month和by the catty等不可改作by months和by catties等。

3.by and by作“不久以后”解，不作“渐渐地”解。