英语中有一些惯用词组，它们貌似相同，但实际上意思却大相径庭。例如"by the sea"和"by sea"这一对词组中，前者意为"在海边"，后者意为"乘船"。虽然它们在句中都作状语，但"by the sea"为地点状语，"by sea"应看作是方式状语。因此，当我们遇到此类短语时一定要看清楚到底有"the"还是无"the"，否则就会出现错误。下面笔者就所搜集到的几组这样的短语做出分析、比较，并给出练习，以便读者在实践中掌握它们。
1．by the sea 在海边by sea 乘船
2．by the day 按天（算） by day 白天里
3．in the secret 知道这个秘密，参与此事
in secret 秘密地，暗自地，偷偷地
4．in the case of 就……而言in case of 以防，万一
5．in the care of 由……照看或管理in care of（信）由……转
6．in the issue 结果in issue 在争议中
7．in the charge of 由……管 in charge of 负责（某事）
8．out of the question不可能 out of question 毫无疑问
练习：
I．1．He traveled to New York ．
2．It is wonderfulto see the sun rise ．
a．by seab．by the sea
II．1．I prefer to travel rather than by night．
2．She is paid ．
a．by dayb．by the day
III．1．I was from the beginning．
2．The miser buried his gold and no one knew where it is．
a．in secret b．in the secret
IV．1．Poverty depresses most people；my father，it was otherwise．
2．The wall was built along the river floods．
a．in case of b．in the case of
V．1．Lanny sent his letter Johnness Robin．
2．My house was Mr．Li when I went back to my hometown．
a．in care ofb．in the care of
VI．1．That is not the point ．
2．The problem is settled ．
a．in issue b．in the issue
VII．1．I will be the whole factory next week when the director's away．
2．The girlwas safely a nurse．
a．in charge of b．in the charge of
VIII．1．Moore's return to the theatre is ．
2．He is the best player on the team．
a．out of questionb．out of the question
答案：
I．abII．ab Ⅲ．ba Ⅳ．ba
Ⅴ．ab Ⅵ．ab Ⅶ．ab Ⅷ．ba
- 考试辅导
