Name: 【英文技巧】英文的書信你知道該怎麼寫嗎？跟著 Emma 學起來！(Writing Letters: formal & informal English)
Uploaded: 2024-07-24T21:01:10.000Z
Duration: 12 min 22 s

to 不定詞

Hello, my name is Emma, and in today's lesson, we are going to learn about writing.

哈囉，我叫艾瑪，今天的課我們要學習寫作。

What kind of writing? Writing letters. Okay? So this is important for people who work in business.

哪種寫作呢？書信寫作。瞭解嗎？這對在商業界工作的人十分重要。

It's also important for people who like to write letters to their friends maybe or to their grandparents in English.

這也對喜歡用英文寫信給朋友或他們祖父母的人而言很重要。

Also, it is very... It is a very useful video for anyone who is taking the general IELTS test.

同時，這是非常...這是對任何在準備非學術型雅思考試的人來說非常有用的影片。

So if you're taking not academic, but general, this is an important video.

所以如果你不是參加學術類考試，而是非學術類的，這就是個很重要的影片。

And also, if you plan to immigrate to Canada and you want to do the Canadian immigration test which is called: "the CELPIP", this video is also... It will also be useful and helpful to you. Okay?

而同時，如果你計畫要移民加拿大且你要參加加拿大移民測驗，名稱為"CELPIP"，這影片也是有用且對你有益的。明白嗎？

What do I mean by "formal" and "informal"?

你知道"正式"和"非正式"書信的差別嗎？

"Informal" means something you would write to your friends, something you would write to your parents - well, probably your parents unless you're afraid of your parents, then you might be more formal.

"非正式"書信意思是你寫給你的朋友或父母那些比較親近的人，內容比較輕鬆。嗯是的，也許會寫給你父母親，除非你很怕他們，那內容可能就會變得正式多了。

Your classmates, your coworkers. Okay? So this is... It means it's not formal; it's for people you know well.

還有你的同學和同事們。所以...這意思就是非正式 ; 寫給你很熟的人。

On the other hand, "formal" English we use with strangers, we use with our boss, in the workplace, we use it in these different ways.

另一方面，"正式的" 英文是我們對陌生人時使用，我們用在對我們的老闆，在工作場合上使用，我們會用在這幾種不同的場合中。

So it's the English you really have to think about, whereas informal is kind of the relaxed English. So relaxed, serious. Okay?

所以這種英文用法是你應該要好好深思細啄的，然而非正式的英文就是比較輕鬆的英文。所以這邊是輕鬆的，這邊是嚴肅的。

So, sometimes you will have to write a letter formally, maybe to your boss or your company.

所以，有時你會需要寫比較正式的書信，也許給你的老闆或者對公司內部。

Other times, maybe you're on holiday and you want to write a letter to your friend, you'll use informal English.

其他的時候可能你正好在度假，而你想要寫給你的朋友，你就會使用非正式的英文。

所以差異在哪呢？我們看下去。

Informal English uses contractions. What are contractions?

非正式的英文會使用縮寫。什麼是縮寫？

"Didn't", "wouldn't", "couldn't", "haven't", "hasn't".

"Didn't"，"wouldn't"，"couldn't"，"haven't"，"hasn't"。

So if you see a verb with an apostrophe and then a "t", that is a contraction. Okay?

如果你看到一個動詞接著一個單引號後面帶個"t"，就是一個縮寫形式。

It's very important to know this because in formal writing, you don't use contractions.

這點非常重要，因為在正式英文寫作當中，你不能使用縮寫。

"Didn't" would be: "Did not". I can write that for you. "Did not".

"Didn't"會寫成"Did not"。我可以寫下來給你看。"Did not"。

Couldn't: could not, haven't: have not, can't: cannot. Okay? So that's one major difference.

Couldn't : could not，haven't ：have not，can't：cannot。所以這是一個主要的差異。

Another major difference between formal and informal writing is the use of idioms; the use of certain expressions.

正式和非正式英文寫作的另一個主要的差別在於慣用語的使用，某種特定的表達方式。

If I'm writing to my friend, maybe I'll say: "Oh, you know, I've been very under the weather lately," meaning "I've been very sick."

如果我寫信給我的朋友，也許我會說：「喔，你知道嗎，最近『我都在天氣下面』。」意思是：我最近病的很重。

If I'm writing to my boss, I won't use idioms. If I'm writing a formal letter, I will not use idioms.

如果我寫給我的老闆，我就不會使用慣用語。如果我寫的是正式的書信，我就不該用慣用語。

Those aren't good to use in formal writing.

這些用語寫在正式的書信當中並不恰當。

Phrasal verbs; this is another thing we find in informal writing.

動詞片語，這是另一種我們會用在非正式寫作中的用語。

What is a phrasal verb? It's a verb that has a preposition. Okay?

什麼是動詞片語？就是動詞加上一個介係詞的組合。

So, for example: "find out", "find" is a verb, "out" is the preposition.

所以，舉例來說："find out"，"find"是動詞，"out"是介係詞。

"Go" is the verb, "up" is the preposition. So the preposition adds a different meaning to the verb.

"Go"是動詞，"up"是介係詞。所以..介係詞使得動詞多了一層不一樣的意思。

Phrasal verbs are very difficult to learn; we have so many of them in English.

動詞片語是很難學習的 ; 在英文當中有很多的動詞片語。

My students have told me phrasal verbs are one of the hardest parts of learning English, but it's possible, you can do it.

我的學生告訴我動詞片語是英文中最難學的其中之一個部分，但也不是不可能學不起來，你可以的。

So, in informal writing, we use phrasal verbs, whereas in formal writing: what do we use?

所以，在非正式的寫作當中，我們使用動詞片語，然而在正式的寫作：我們用些什麼詞呢？

We don't use phrasal verbs. We usually use longer words that mean the same thing.

我們不用動詞片語。而我們通常使用比較常的字來表達相同的含意。

Example: "find out": "discover". "Discover" is more formal.

例子："find out" 會改用 "discover"。"Discover"是較正式的用語。

"Go up", for example: "Prices have gone up.": "Prices have increased." "Increased" is more formal. Okay.

而"go up"，舉例來說 : 價格攀升，會改用 "increase"。"Increased" 為比較正式用語。

For more of these examples, there will be a list in the resource section of the engVid website.

想知道更多關於類似這種的例子，可以到 engVid 網站上的資源專區找，我們有整理一份清單出來。

我會在之後談到更多關於這種用法。

Imperatives are sentences that start with a verb.

祈使句就是以一個動詞開頭的句法。

"Don't talk to me that way.", "Help your mother more.", "Do your homework." Okay? Parents love to use imperatives and so do teachers.

「不要那樣跟我說話」、「多幫你媽一點忙」、「做你的功課」。父母們喜歡使用祈使句，老師們也一樣。

So, if you're writing to your friends, you can use imperatives.

所以，如果你寫信給你的朋友，你可以用祈使句。

"Send it soon!" Maybe your friend has to mail you a package, you write: "Send it soon! I want it, send it soon!"

「快點寄！』也許你的朋友應該要寄給你一個包裹，你會寫「快點寄！我想要，快點寄！」

In formal writing, we do not use imperatives; they're too strong.

在比較正式的寫作中，我們不會使用命令句 ; 這樣的句子顯得太過強硬。

We like to use more polite sentences: "You may send it at your earliest convenience."

我們喜歡用比較有禮貌的說法：「方便的話，請您盡可能早些寄出。」

Do you see how much longer the formal is than the informal?

你有看到正式的句子比非正式的長了多少嗎？

Formal writing is usually a lot longer than informal writing; it's not simple sentences, it's long complex sentences.

正式的寫作通常會比非正式寫作的篇幅要長出許多，因為那變成不是簡單的句子了，句子就增長且複雜了。

And you often see words like: "may", "could", "would" instead of: "want", "can".

而你常常會看到像是："may"，"could"，"would" 而不是："want"，"can"。

Okay. So this is one of the main differences.

All right, so what are some more examples?

For informal, words like: "very". "He's very cool.", "He's really great.", "He's totally hot." Okay, these are things you would never say in the workplace, but you might say to your friend.

以非正式的寫作來說，像 "very" 這樣的字就是。「他真的很酷」、「他真的很棒」、「他超帥的」。好這邊要談的是你絕對不會使用在工作場合的句子，但你可能會對你的朋友講的那種。

So if you see: "very", "really", "totally" - informal English. Okay?

所以如果你看到："very"，"really"，"totally" ，這些是非正式的英文。

It's... It's okay to use these in letter writing, but not when you're writing to a client, to your boss, in the workplace, on the IELTS if it says, you know: "A formal letter", don't use these words.

其實這用在書信寫作是沒問題的，但前提是你並不是寫給某個客戶，老闆，或在工作場合當中使用，或者是雅思考試中， 你也知道，如果題目說："一封正式書信"，就別用這些字。

"I strongly advise you to clean your room."

「我強烈建議妳去清理你的房間。」

You'd never write that to anyone, but that's an example of "strongly".

你絕對不會那樣寫給任何人，但這就只是一個要表達"強烈建議"的例句而已。

It gives emphasis just like "really", "very", and "totally" do. Okay?

這字用法強調語氣就像用"really"，"very"，和" totally"一樣。

So: "I strongly agree.", "We strongly recommend that you send in your order form as soon as possible." Okay?

所以：「我強烈同意」、「我強烈建議你儘快寄給我們你的訂單」。

So you might see the word "strongly" used in formal writing.

你可能會看到 "strongly" 這個字用在正式寫作當中。

Okay. Informal writing, you can use these as connectors. Okay?

好的，非正式寫作，你可以用這些字當做連接詞使用。

So if you're connecting one idea to another idea, one paragraph to another paragraph.

如果你要連接兩個想法的闡述，兩段文章篇幅時可以使用。

"To top it all off,", "On top of it all,".

「最糟糕的是」、「更有甚者」。

"To top it all off, my vacation was ruined because of a blizzard."

「最糟糕的是，我的假期因為暴風雪來襲而宣布報銷。」

"To top it all off, there was a fly in my salad."

「更糟的是，有隻蒼蠅飛進我的沙拉裡。」

"To top it all off, the actor in the movie was horrible." Okay?

「更糟的是，這部片的演員實在遭透了。」

"On top of it all," theis sort of mean like the last thing you say, the last word on something.

「最糟糕的是」，這有點像是你要收尾時會說的話，對某件事情的最後評論。

"On top of it all, she was very rude to me."

「最糟的是，她對我十分無禮。」

So these are informal expressions to connect ideas.

所以這是連接想法、說詞時的非正是表達法。

Here, we have some formal equivalents: "Furthermore,".

這裡，我們有一些正式的同義詞："furthermore（此外）。

"Furthermore, the actor was terrible." Okay?

「此外，那個演員實在糟透了。」

"Moreover," and all of these are another way to say: "and", so don't let these words scare you; it's just another way to say: "also", "and", you add another piece of information.

還有 "moreover（還有）" 而這些都是"and"的另一種說法，別讓這些字嚇著你了 ; 這就只是 "also" 和 "and" 的另一種說法而已，增加訊息給別人實用的連接詞。

Okay, next idea for what's informal use: "TV".

好的，下一個關於非正式用法的概念是："TV"。

"TV", what is "TV"? It's an abbreviation; it's the short form of a word. The full word is: "television". So what does this mean?

什麼是"TV"？這是一個簡寫，是一個較簡短的形式。全名叫做："television（電視）"。這是什麼意思？

Do not use abbreviations in formal writing. You can use "TV" in informal writing.

就是別用簡寫在正式寫作就對了。"TV" 可以用在非正式寫作中。

Don't use abbreviations in formal writing.

Next idea: "!". In informal writing, you can write: "!", it's okay.

下一個概念："驚嘆號語法"。在非正式寫作中，你可以使用驚嘆號 "!"，是沒問題的。

In formal writing - can you do this? No. So no "!".

在正式寫作中，你能這樣用嗎？不，驚嘆號是被禁止的。

Another difference: in informal writing, you can use the word: "a lot".

另一個差異：在非正式寫作中，你可以用 "a lot（很多）" 這個詞。

"I have a lot of friends.", "I have a lot of hobbies.", "I have a lot to say to you.", "I have a lot to teach you."

「我有很多的朋友」、「我有很多的興趣嗜好」、「我有好多話要跟你說」、「我有好多事情要教給你」。

In formal writing, the better thing to use is: "much/many".

在正式寫作中，最好是用："much/many"。

Okay, so if you write a letter in your company: "much/many"(are) better idea. They all mean "a lot".

如果你寫信給你的公司："much/many" 當然比較適合。它們全部都指很多的意思。

Finally, in informal writing, non-Latin words are common. Now, why do I say: "non-Latin"?

最後，在非正式寫作中，非拉丁文的字彙是很普遍的。什麼意思叫做；"非拉丁文"？

For those of you who speak Spanish, French, Italian, these are Latin-based languages.

對如果會說西班牙語、法語、義大利語的你們來說，這些語言都是拉丁文為基礎的語言。

For example: "intelligente" in French, the English word... The English equivalent: "intelligent".

舉個例子；在法語中的 "intelligente" ，英文叫做...英文中的同意自是："intelligent"。

So you can see that many words in English have a Latin root.

你可以看到英文當中有很多自有拉丁文字根。

Now, these words are usually more formal, so you don't want to use Latin words. You want to use common words. Okay?

這些字通常都更加正式，所以你不諱想要使用拉丁字的。你會想用普遍常用字彙。可以嗎？

So non-Latin words/common words, this is in informal writing, but you don't want to use it in formal writing.

所以非拉丁文/常用 字彙，也就是非正式寫作中會使用，但你不會用在正是寫作當中。

In formal writing: use Latin based words, use uncommon words. Okay? That's a characteristic.

在正式寫作中：要使用拉丁文字源的字彙，使用比較不常見的字彙。這就是其中的特色。

So I would use the word: "intelligent", I would use the word... Instead of "smart".

所以我會用這個字："intelligent"，我會用這個字...而不是用"smart"。

Maybe with my friends, I write: "smart"; here, I might use: "intelligent".

也許給我朋友，我會寫 "smart"，這堂課上，我可能會用 "intelligent"。

Okay, so for a full list of some of these words I'm talking about, - you know, another example would be: "kids", "children" -phrasal verbs, expressions to use in informal writing versus formal writing.

好，我討論的這些字的完整的清單，-你知道的，另一個例子就是 "kids"和"children" ，動詞片語，用在非正式寫作的表達法對上

For a longer list, you can come visit our website at www.engvid.com.

正式寫作的表達法，會是一個冗長的清單，你可以到我們的網站 www.engvid.com上來看。

You can also visit our website to do our quiz to see how much of this you remember.

你也可以來我們的網站做做測驗，看看到底你記得了多少。