英语陷阱(14) 

"When do you expect them?" 
"I expect them this afternoon." 
"你想他们什么时候会来?" 
"我想他们今天下午会来." 
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   这两句不能译作:"你什么时候等你们?"--"我今天下午等他们." 
   一般的英汉词典大都将expect译作"期待"和"等待",实际上, 在某些场合下, 
expect的真正涵义是"现在认为(或相信)某一事将会发生", 相当于英语的
to believe or think that something will happen. 因此, 
上面两句中的expect不能译作:"期待"或"等待",这两个句子相当于: 
   When do you expect them to come? 
   I expect them to come this afternoon. 

   现在请注意下列句子的汉译: 
   Do you expect him at Kowloon City Pier? 
   你想他会在九龙城码头吗? 
   I expect to see your brother there. 
   我预料会在那里见到你的兄弟. 
   You are expected tomorrow. 
   希望你明天来. 
   They arrived before I expect. 
   我没料到他们会到得这么早. 
   I didn't expect you till five o'clock. 
   我知道你要到五点钟才会来. 
    
   在另一些场合下, expect强调客观的可能性, 不涉及到主观愿望. 例如: 
   Everybody must expect to grow old. 
   每一个人都要变老的. 
    
   在口语里, expect还可以作"想像","认为"解, 相当于suppose或think.例如: 
   Who did it? --I expect it was Hsiao Li. 
   这是谁干的? -- 我想是小李干的. 
   Is there any lobsters in Jumbo today? --I expect so. 
   今天"珍宝"酒家有龙虾吗? --我想会有的. 
   Do you think they will object?-- I expect they will, though I wish they wouldn't. 
   照你看他们会反对吗? -- 依我看, 他们会反对的, 虽然我希望他们不反对.