again的用法

 

1. 一般说来，它不与那些已含有 again 意义的动词连用，以免构成用词重复。如：

请再说一遍。

正：Please repeat it. / Please say it again.

误：Please repeat it again.

但是有时为了强调，again 本身却可以叠用。如：

He made the same mistake again and again. 他反复犯同样的错误。

有时也可见 again 与 repeat 之类的词连用，但那表示的是第3次而不是第2次。如：

He had to repeat it again. 他只好又重复了一遍。（即连同原来的第一遍和第二遍共计3遍）

2. 注意以下含有again的表达，不要误解其意思：

(1) then again 再说，另一方面。用于引出相对照的事实或看法。如：

He’s clumsy and untidy but then again he’s always willing to help. 他笨手笨脚的又邋遢；可是话说回来，他总是乐于助人。

有时也说there again。

(2) 以下各例用于“as + adj. + again”结构中的again表示“增加”：

My uncle is as old again as I am. 我叔叔的年龄比我大一倍。

I’d like the photograph enlarged so that it’s half as big again. 我想把这张照片放大一半。

这类结构尤其见于as many again, as much again这两个结构。如：

I’d like as many [much] again. 我愿再增加一倍。

The cost is about half as much again as it was two years ago. 现在的价格比两年前提高约一半。

There aren’t enough chairs for the meeting—we need half as many again. 供开会用的椅子数量不够——需要再增加一半。