A:問題中所述的文法觀念,可用下面的句型來解說:
「cut, hit, pat, punch, strike 等動詞 + someone (身體部位的所有人) + in/on + the + 身體部位」。
從這個句型可以看出,cut 等動詞後面要接人當受詞,然後再接由 in 或 on 所構成的介系詞片語。所以,當句子不是以這種型態出現時,身體部位前面要使用所有格,而非定冠詞。這就是 He cut his chin. 正確,而 He cut the chin. 錯誤的原因。一般而言,這些介系詞片語通常使用定冠詞,尤其是在被動結構以及當身體部位的所有人是做為動詞的受詞而非主詞時。所以,若 He cut the chin. 改為 He cut himself on the chin. 就正確了。試比較下面兩句:
- He cut himself on his chin. (誤) — 這句的意思應是說「他刮鬍鬚時割到了下巴」。
- He cut himself on the chin. (正)
= He cut his chin.
根據上述規則,再舉兩例來證明:
- He was cut on his chin. (誤)
- He was cut on the chin. (正)
- He hit me on my chin. (誤)
- He hit me on the chin. (正)
至於身體部位前面的介系詞要使用 in 還是 on 的問題,在此提供一個粗略的規則給大家做為判斷之用。一般而言,堅硬、突出的部位通常使用 on,如 on the back/head/should/nose,而柔軟、凹陷的部位則使用 in,如 in the eye/face/chest/stomach。在舉例說明之前,有一點必須指出,那就是 chest 一般都用 in the chest,而非問題中的 on the chest:
- If you give me $50, you can kick me in the stomach. (如果你給我50元,你就可以踢我的肚子)
- Last night a guy grabbed a bat and beat me in the face. (昨晚有個傢伙手持球棒毆打我的臉)
- He punched the man on the nose. (他揮拳重擊那名男子的鼻樑)
- The woman walked up to him and slapped him in the face twice. (那位婦女走上前去打了他兩記耳光)
= The woman walked up to him and slapped his face twice. - You shouldn’t criticize your husband so much. Why don’t you pat him on the back occasionally? (你不該老是責備你先生,何不偶爾也誇獎他一下呢?) — 句中的 “pat someone on the back” 是個成語,意為「讚揚,誇獎」。