文本来源：佛山英语培训机构 爱德华国际英语

 

What’s it mean, in English, when native speakers use the word “change” by itself?

当英语母语者在单独使用“change”的时候，到底是什么意思呢？

 

Let’s take, for example, “It’s time to change.” Change what?

我们来看一个例子，“是时候要做出改变了。” 那么到底要改变什么呢？

 

 We all know the meaning of change by now. It’s to make or become different (改变), or to replace or exchange (交换). 我们都知道“change”的意思。使事物变得不一样，或者替代，交换的意思。

But in this simple phrase, “You need to change,” for example, it’s not very clear. I could mean to change my mind, change my seat, change my position, change my behavior, change my underwear, change money, change buses, change history, and so on.

但是，以“你需要做出改变”这个简单地句子为例，表达的意思并没有很明确。可以指改变主意，交换位置，改变姿势，改变我的行为，把我的内裤换掉，兑换货币，换乘公交，改变历史... 等等。 具体分析

 

It’s the context that's important. Let’s give this sentence some context:

其实最终要的要看上下文。我们来给这个句子一些上下文吧：

 

 Malloy: You don’t treat Ethel very well, Woodie. You need to change before she leaves you.

马洛伊：伍迪，你对埃塞尔不是很好。在她离开你之前，你需要做出改变了。

 

Change what? Well, looking at context, he means the way Woodie treats Ethel – his behavior (obviously not change Ethel!)

改变什么？看看上下文，马洛伊指的是伍迪对待埃塞尔的方式——他的行为（当然不是去改变埃塞尔！）

 

 Sometimes the reason might not be so clear, and you will have to look deeper. For example:

有时候，原因可能不会很清晰，这时候你需要深入探究。比如：

 

Ethel: Can you remind me of the steps during the wedding ceremony again?

 埃塞尔：你可以再重复一次婚礼的步骤吗？

 

Denzel: For sure. Step 1 is walk down the aisle until you reach the groom. Step 2 is the preacher will announce you husband and wife. Step 3 is change for the wedding banquet.

丹泽尔：当然。第一步，走上红毯，直到你到达新郎身边。第二步，牧师会宣布你们结成合法夫妻。第三步，换衣服，移步到婚宴上。

 

 What does “change” mean here? Native speakers and well-versed English students should know what it means right away. Do you?

 这里的“change”是什么意思呢？英语母语者和精通英语的学生们，一看就知道是什么意思。你看出来了吗？

 

If you guessed it means “to change clothes,” 换衣服, then you guessed right! We can see by the context that there are two events: a wedding and a banquet.

如果你刚刚猜是“换衣服”的意思，那你猜对了！我们从上下文中可以得知，这里有两个事件：一个是婚礼，一个是婚宴。

 

Also, after “change” is the preposition “for.” This preposition usually indicates a reason. In this example, the reason “to change” is a banquet. 并且，“change”后面跟了介词“for”。

这个介词通常后面跟原因。在这个例子中，之所以要“change”是因为婚宴。

 

Logic should tell us “change” is referring to clothes, because it’s the only thing she can do between events… and … well… what else could it possibly mean? Change husbands??? Of course not, don’t be silly!

逻辑关系告诉我们，“change”与衣服相关，因为这是她在两个事件中唯一能换的... 要不然还能是换什么呢？难不成换老公吗？？？肯定不可能，别傻了！ 一些例子

 

Fortunately, if you ever hear a single sentence or phrase, and the context doesn’t give you any clues, you can probably guess it will mean to change clothes. Here are some single examples (NOT a conversation):

幸运的是，如果你只听到一个单一的句子或短语，然而上下文并没有给你太多线索，你可以大胆地去猜是换衣服的意思。下面是一些单个的例子（并不是对话）：

 

I’m on the way; I just have to get changed first.

我准备出发了；我要先换衣服。

 

I’ll meet you after I change.

 我换衣服之后就去找你。

 

 She’s changing right now, can I have her call you back?

 她正在换衣服，我可以等会让她给你回电话吗？

 

 It’s a casual event, there’s no need to change.

那是个很普通的宴会，不需要换衣服。

 

 I’m exhausted, as soon as I get home, I’m going to change and go to bed.

我累死了，一回到家，我就去换衣服睡觉。

 

 文本来源：佛山英语培训机构 爱德华国际英语