五、means 用法

n. 名词：“方式”、“方法”、“手段” (单复数同)

This means is not enough. 

Every means has been tried.

All possible means have been tried.

The quickest means of travel is by air. 

n. （交通）工具 A car is a means of transportation.

by all means 想尽一切办法，务必；当然行

by this means 用这种方法

by no means 决不

by means of 通过，凭借，依靠

the means of transport 交通工具

　1. 单复数同形(永远有词尾-s)。若用作主语，其谓语的数需根据句意来确定。
　　All possible means have been tried. 所有可能的办法都已经试过了。
　　Every possible means has been tried. 每种可能的办法都已经试过了。
　　有时用作主语其单复数意思不明，则谓语可用单数或复数。
　　Is [Are] there any other means of doing it? 做这事还有其它的什么办法吗?
　2. 表示做某事的方法，其后通常接“of＋(动)名词”。
　　There is no means of finding out what happened. 无法弄清发生了什么事情。
　　Taking a plane is the quickest means of getting there. 去那儿最快的办法是坐飞机。
　　注：有时也可后接不定式，但不如接 of doing sth 常见。另外有时也可后接 for doing sth, 也不如用 of doing sth 常见。
　3. 表示以某种方式、方法或手段，通常用介词 by。
　　This money wasn’t earned by honest means. 这笔钱不是通过正当手段得来的(＝这笔钱来路不正)。
　　He explained to us the means by which he persuaded her to come. 他给我们说明了他是如何说服她来的。
　　注：与介词 by 连用的常用词组：
　　(1) by means of  “依靠”、“通过”。
　　He made a fortune by means of industry. 他靠勤劳致富。
　　He got into the house by means of an open window. 他从一扇开着的窗户爬进屋去。
　　(2) by all means  “一定要”、“当然可以”。
　　A：Can I have a look at it? 我可以看看吗?
　　B：By all means. 当然可以。
　　(3) by no means 意为“绝不”、“一点也不”(用于句首，句子要倒装)。
　　I’m by no means happy about his work. 我对他的工作一点也不满意。
　　By no means should he be left alone. 绝不能把他单独留下。

 4. method / means / way / approach / manner

   用这种方式（法）：with the method / by the means / in this way / in this manner

Ø  method 着重系统的、有条理的“方法”，常与介词with 连用。 

  指做某事的具体步骤或程序，也可以指抽象概念的“条理”，它比way更正式。

  teaching method

 with this method

 the method to do / the method of doing

Can you work out the problem with this method?

Ø  means 着重指“手段”，单复数同形，常与介词by 连用。不仅用于具体的东西，也可以用于抽象的概念。

This money wasn’t earned by honest means.

Is there any means(指单数) of contacting him?

by this means

the means for doing  Let’s try the means for doing it.

the means to sth. This is a means to an end. 这是一个达到目的的手段。

Ø  way 最普通用词，指“方式，办法”，常与介词in 连用。in this way

最常用，但最不正式的词，可以用来代替上述任何一词。在不少含有way的词组中，在理论上讲使用means 或method可能表达得更准确，但是那样却损害的生动性。 He always has his own way. 他总是随心所欲。

by this way

 the way to do / the way of doing

 the way to sp.

She spoke in a kindly way.

I’m not happy with this way of working.

Ø  approach 指待人接物或思考问题的“方式，方法；态度”，常与介词to连用。

approach 方法，途径，步骤，后接介词to

the approach to sp.

an approach to discipline

The school has decided to adopt a different approach to discipline. 学校决定采取另外一种方式解决纪律问题。

Ø  manner 方法，方式，多指行动的特殊方式或独特方法

in this manner, in a/an + adj. + manner 以……的态度/方法 

He did it in a practical manner. 以一种实用的方法

She answered in a businesslike manner. 她回答时显出一副公事公办的样子。

Do you all behave in a serious and polite manner?

注：manners 礼貌，规矩

It’s good/bad manners to do sth. 做某事是有/没有礼貌的。

  It’s bad manners to talk with your mouth full.

  He has no manners at all.

5. 练习

(1) At the meeting they discuss three different _______ to the study of mathematics.

    A. approaches  B. means  C. methods  D. ways  

(2) Swimming is my favourite sport. There is ______ like swimming as a means of keeping fit.

A. something  B. anything  C. nothing  D. everything

(3) The teachers in our school often go abroad to learn the new teaching _______ to improve the teaching level.

    A. manners  B. methods  C. ways  D. means

  (4) Only ____ can you do the job well.  A. in this method  B. in this manner  C. with this way  D. by this mean

(5) The quickest _____ of travel _____ by air.  A. mean, is  B. means, is  C. mean, are  D. means, are

(6) In many places in China, ______ bicycle is still ______ popular means of transportation.

A. a, the  B. /, a  C. the, a  D. the, the   

(7) Every possible means ______ to prevent the air pollution, but the sky is still not clear.

A. are being used  B. have been used  C. has been used  D. had been used

(8) All possible means _____ to save the patient.  A. have tried  B. have been tried  C. has tried  D. has been tried

(9) – Ouch! You hurt me!  -- I am sorry. But I _____ any harm. I _____ to drive a rat out.

A. didn’t mean, tried  B. don’t mean, am trying  C. haven’t meant, tried  D. didn’t mean, was trying

(10) Its streets were never _______ for heavy traffic.  A. tested  B. meant  C. kept  D. used

 解析：

（1）an approach to … 一个……的方法，与to连用

（2）nothing like   “没有什么能比得上……”、“ 没有比……更……的”， 多用于 there is nothing like......句式中，表示否定比较概念。

（3）系统的，有条理的方法，如teaching method

（4）in this manner 多指以特殊方式或独特的方法。by this means, in this way, with this method

（5）means 方式、方法，单复数相同，作主语时谓语动词视具体含义确定。

（6）the bicycle和a bicycle 都可表示一类，a means of … 一种……方法

（7）every possible means 每一种可能的方法（means单复数相同）

（10）be meant for 打算做……用的

 

六、meaning / sense

meaning n. 意思；意图；意义。指任何方式表达的意思。

What’s the meaning of the word?

Have I made my meaning clear?

Can you tell me the subtle difference between the words “require” and “request”? I sometimes get puzzled by their meanings.

sense 意思，意义。指字词所表达的意思。

This word can be used in several senses. 这个单词可以有几个意思（解释）。

The baby feels a sense of security in her mom’s arms. 安全感 a sense of humour 幽默感

have meaning to 对……有意义

be meant for 打算给……用，（计划）是要给……的

Yan Liwei’s flight in space has great meaning to China.

Its streets were never meant for heavy traffic.

l  Mr. Li’s life has lost its _______ (mean) since his wife died.  meaning 意义

l  What’s the meaning ______ the world?   the meaning of … ……的意思

l  Even the date – September 11, 2001 – has meaning ______ most Americans.  have meaning to 对……有意义

l  What do you ______ by doing that?      mean

= What does your doing that ______?    mean

= What’s the ______ of your doing that?  meaning

 

七、meanwhile adv. 同时；在此期间

在此期间

They’ll be here soon. Meanwhile, let’s have coffee. 在些期间

Meanwhile, they should encourage those among us who cannot swim five yards before they are gasping for air.
从眼前来说,他们对我们中间有些游不到5码便急着想换气的人来说,总该是个鼓励吧.
同时
Meanwhile, my tongue was busy searching out the hole where the tooth had been.
与此同时,我的舌头忙于寻找被拔牙齿的伤口.
Meanwhile, two other actors had carried two large food baskets to a shady spot under some trees.
与此同时,另外两位演员把两个盛着食物的大篮子拿到树下荫凉的地方.
Jane was writing a letter and meanwhile Pat was watching T.V..简在写信,而在此同时帕特在看电视.

He is a good husband. Meanwhile he is also a good father. 他是一个好丈夫,同时也是一个好父亲
He is a good husband while not a good father. 他是一个好丈夫,却不是一个好父亲.

  注：meanwhile用法

She is due to arrive on Monday. Meanwhile, what do we do? 用句号与前句分开《牛津高级英语汉双解辞典》

I went to college. Meanwhile, all my friends got well-paid jobs.

They’ll be here soon. Meanwhile, let’s have coffee.  《朗文当代高级英语辞典》 用句号分开

Eve was cutting the grass, (and) meanwhile Adam was planting roses.虽然是用逗号与前句隔开但与其所在的句子之间没有用逗号隔开，而是连成一体。朗文当代高级英语辞典》

Jack ran for a doctor; meanwhile we stayed with the patient. 张道真《实用英语语法》分号隔开