【 明 報 專 訊 】 The verb "to have" is an
unusual verb with special characteristics and different meanings and usage,
which many foreign students find confusing. To put it simply, the verb "to have" comprises basically the following words:
1. Have 2. Has 3. Had 4. Having
These words can have different meanings such as:
1. To show ownership 「 有 」 或 「 擁 有 」 的 意 思
2. When used with a verb "to be" or in an auxiliary capacity with any other verb, the verb "to have" serves the purpose of showing the "tense" of a verb for the completion of an action such as in a "perfect tense". 補 助 其 他 動 詞 來 完 成 其 動 詞 之 「 時 態 」 ， 例 如 「 完 成 式 」 帶 有 已 經 或 完 成 的 意 思
3. To show the subjunctive mood 假 定 式 語 氣
4. To show command or compulsion 「 一 定 要 」 或 「 必 定 」 的 意 思
The above broad categories are further explained in details below, seriatim ( 跟 以 上 次 序 )
1. Used as a main verb to show ownership or possession. （ 見 附 表 ）
2. Used as part of an auxiliary verb to help other verbs to form a tense. In some cases, the original "ownership" meaning of the verb is retained.
Examples:
1. I have paid my bills already. 我 已 付 清 帳 單 。
2. He did have some money before he lost it all in gambling. 沒 有 輸 光 錢 以 前 ， 他 是 有 些 錢 的 。
3. I shall have completed all my examinations by this time next year. 明 年 這 個 時 候 ， 我 應 已 完 成 所 有 考 試 了 。
4. What fun I am having now! 我 現 在 玩 得 好 開 心 呢 ﹗
3. To show the subjunctive mood.
Examples:
1. If only you had been rich, you could have married her. 假 如 你 過 去 有 錢 ， 你 便 已 娶 了 她 。
2. Alas, I wish I had been rich! 唉 ﹗ 我 以 前 有 錢 就 好 了 ﹗
4. To show command or compulsion.
Example:
1. We all have to abide by the law. 我 們 一 定 要 遵 守 法 律 。
Passage of the Week
A Gaffe (1)
"Let them eat cake!"
The above quote is attributed to (2) Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France upon hearing that the peasants in France were starving and had no bread.
Whether the above quote is authentic (3) I cannot say. However, if it had been true, the Queen would have been seen as frivolous and oblivious of (4) the real conditions of the poor peasants in France at the time.
Footnote
1. A gaffe 失 言
2. Attributed to 出 處
3. Authentic 真 實 的
4. Frivolous and oblivious of 輕 浮 地 忘 卻 了
文 ︰ 黃 錢 其 濂
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