英语中,有些形容词可以起强调作用。譬如说,形容词good和and结合起来使用(good and),可以组成一个强调结构,相当于一个程度副词,意为very,thoroughly(非常,完全),修饰and之后的形容词或副词。例如:
These apples are good and ripe.这些苹果完全成熟了。
It was good and dark.天完全黑了。
He drove good and fast.他开车相当快。
除good之外,形容词nice,fine,sweet, rare,lovely等词也可以与and连用,构成这种强调结构。例如:
The house stands nice and high.这所房子挺高。
The child was rare and hungry.这孩子非常饿。
It was lovely and cool in there.那儿非常凉爽。
另外,good置于名词或数词之前或之后,可以起到强调作用,意为not less than或 rather more than("不少于……的","足有","整整")。例如:
We waited for a good hour.我们等了整整一小时。
It is three miles good from the station.离车站足有三里路。
除good之外,cool,solid,clear等词也可以这样用,表示强调。例如:
This business man earns a cool thousand dollars a month.这个商人每月能挣足足一千美元。
She has been waiting for her husband a solid hour.她等她丈夫等了整整一个小时。
The floor measures twelve clear feet long.地板足有十二英尺长。