(1) 当说某事物在两个以上的物体、人、国家等之间,而又把他/它周围的事物个别地看时(他(它)们不多,每一个又跟其他清楚地区分开来) 时,常用between。
- She was sitting between John and Tom.
她坐在约翰和汤姆中间。 - Switzerland lies between France, Italy, Austria and Germany.
瑞士位于法、意、奥、德四国之间。
(2) 用among可表示某事物在三个或三个以上个体(人或物) 组成的一个群体中间,并且不把这些人或物的集合体分开看。
- We must go among the masses.
我们必须到群众中去。
(3) 表示两边有一些或许多事物,通常用between。
- A little valley lies quiet between high mountains.
一个小山谷静静地躺在高山之间。
(4) 表示三个(或以上) 当中的每一个和其他的每一个的相互关系时,用between。
- A treaty was signed between three nations after four days' talks.
经过四天谈判,三国间签订了一项条约。
(5) divide和share之类的词,当后面使用几个单数名词时,用between;如用复数名词,between和among均可用。
- He shared his property between his wife, his daughter and his son.
他把财产分给了妻子、女儿和儿子。 - I divide my time between teaching, writing and lecturing.
我把时间分别用于教学、写作和讲演。 - He divided his money between/among his five sons.
他把钱分给了五个儿子。 - They divided the money among themselves.
他们把这笔钱给分了。
(6) 当谈及事物间的区别时,总是用between。
- What's the difference between a crow and a rook?
乌鸦和白嘴鸦之间有什么不同?
(7) among可用来指“……之一(one of)”,“一些(some of)”或“包括在内”。
- Among the first to arrive was the young girl.
先到的人当中就有这位年轻的姑娘。 - He has a number of criminals among his friends.
他的朋友当中有一些是罪犯。
(8) amid意为“在……中”(英式口语中多用amidst),强调处在障碍、困难、黑暗、危险等之中。这些事物是由一些不能分开或不能加以区别,甚至是浑然一体的事物组成的。
- We walked amid the snow all the morning.
我们在雪地里走了一上午。 - He was brave amid/amidst all dangers.
他身处危险时很勇敢。 - Amid/Amidst warm applause/the cheers the honored guests mounted the rostrum.
在热烈的掌声/欢呼声中贵宾们登上了主席台。