I was asked to do it at very short notice. 我被要求一接到通知就马上去做。
I can’t give a speech at such short notice. 一接到通知就马上要我演讲,我做不到。
这两个句子,一个用的是 at such short notice,一个用的是 at very short notice,两者的意思好像差不多,但一个用的是 such,一个用的是 very。那难不是说 such 有时也可以等于 very?
陈老师:
▲虽然在你的句子中 at such short notice 与 at very short notice 意思差不多,但绝不能说两者中的 such 和 very 相等。
从修饰关系上看,such 为限定词,在此用于修饰名词词组 short notice;very 为副词,用于修饰形容词 short,然后 very short一起修饰名词 notice。
从意思上看,短语中的 notice 在此表示“提前通知的时间”,所以 at such short notice 的意思是“提前通知的时间如此之短”;at very short notice 的意思是“提前通知的时间非常短”。——很显然,两者意思非常相近。
▲补充例句(供进一步理解和体会,在没有上下文的情况句子翻译具有较强的灵活性):
——at very short notice
The doctor came at very short notice. 医生已接到通知马上就来了。
tours may becancelled at very short notice. 旅行可能会临时通知取消。
In this job you have to be able to work weekends at short notice. 干这份工作你必须能够随时准备在周末工作。
——at such short notice
I hate to spring this on you at such short notice. 我不想如此突然地让你知道这件事。
I must apologize for cancelling our meeting at such short notice. 临时取消我们的会面,我非常抱歉。
I didn’t know if I would get an appointment at such short notice. 我不知道在这么短的时间我能否得到约见。