Q:also, as well 和 too 之間有何不同呢?

A:Also, as well 和 too 都是副詞,也都意為「也」,而 also 還有「此外」的意思。

Also 常用於書寫中 (亦即比較正式),在講話時比較不常用,它可以放在句中不同的位置。首先來看 also 意為「此外」的情況,此時它位在句首,其後須有逗點,是用來強調後面的句子或提供前一句的補充資料或提出新的論點或主題。例如:

  • Rose is a beautiful girl. Also, she is very kind-hearted. (蘿絲是個漂亮的女孩。此外,她有好心腸 - 人美心也美)
  • OK, I’ll call you tomorrow and we can discuss it then. Also, we need to buy a new computer. (好,我明天會打電話給你,屆時我們可以討論這件事。此外,我們需要買一部新電腦)

當 also 意為「也」時,它跟一般副詞一樣,通常位在句子的中間,亦即位在主詞和主動詞之間 (即普通動詞之前),或位在語氣助動詞或第一個助動詞之後,或位在當主動詞的 BE 動詞之後。例如:

  • I also like tennis. (我也喜歡打網球)
  • This word can also be used as an adjective. (這個字也可用作形容詞)
  • She was also a famous singer about three years ago. (大約三年前她還是個名歌手)

在句末,使用 also 並沒有錯,但通常不這麼用,而是使用 as well 或 too 來代替 also,尤其是在講話時。例如:

  • John called/contacted his wife at work/in the office but she didn’t answer the phone. Her mobile phone was silent as well. (約翰打電話到他太太辦公室,但她沒有接電話。她的手機也沒人接) - 注意:別把這裡的 silent 跟「靜音 (模式)」的 silent (mode) 搞混了。「把手機調為靜音/振動 (模式)」的英文是 to have/put the mobile (phone) on silent/vibrate (mode)。
  • John called/contacted his wife at work/in the office but she didn’t answer the phone. Her mobile phone was silent too.

As well 用於口說的頻率比用於書寫或寫作高出許多,且比 also 更常用於講話中,它幾乎都位在句末位置。例如:

  • I’m going to Taipei and my brother’s going as well. (我要去台北,我妹妹也會去)
  • We’ll need a new computer as well. (我們還需要一部新電腦)

As well 不可放在句首。例如:

  • I must buy a new smartphone as well. (我也要買一支新的智慧型手機) (正)
  • As well I must buy a new smartphone. (誤)

Too 通常位在句末位置,其前有無逗點皆可。例如:

  • Mrs. Lee is kind, but she’s strict too. (李太太人很好,但也很嚴厲)
  • My wife can speak Tagalog, too. (我太太也會講菲語)

Too 也可直接放在主詞之後來修飾主詞,它的前後有時可加上逗點,但它不可放在語氣助動詞或助動詞之後。例如:

  • I too thought she was a decent sort of woman. (我也認為她是好女人)
  • They, too, have been to Thailand. (他們也去過泰國)
  • They have too been to Thailand. (誤)

在祈使句中,as well 或 too 通常優於 also。例如:

  • Give me a bowl of braised pork rice and a bowl of clam soup too/as well then please. (請給我一碗滷肉飯,然後也給我一碗蛤蜊湯)

然而,意思為「也」的 too 只能用在肯定句;若為否定句,則須使用 either。同樣地,either 通常位在句末位置,其前有無逗點皆可。例如:

  • He is a teacher, and I am (a teacher), too. (他是老師,我也是 (老師))
  • She can dance; she can sing too. (她會跳舞,也會唱歌)
  • Cindy: I like that metrosexual. (辛蒂:我喜歡那位型男)
    Judy: Me too. (茱蒂:我也是)
  • She can’t dance; she can’t sing either. (她不會跳舞,也不會唱歌)
  • Jack’s not here. I don’t think Tom is (here), either. (傑克不在這裡。我認為湯姆也不在 (這裡))
  • They tried another method, but that didn’t work either. (他們試了另一種方法,但也沒有用)
  • They tried another method, but that didn’t work also/as well/too. (誤)
  • A: I can’t sleep. (我睡不著)
    B: Me neither/Me either. (= I can’t, either) (我也睡不著)

在上面最後一句中,Me neither 是正規的標準英語,也是英式英語認為唯一正確的講法,考試時也應據此作答,否則肯定會被認為錯誤。然而,在美國口語中,許多人使用 Me either 來表示 Me neither 的意思。

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