有一读者问: 有这样一句话:
(1)Also when in Thailand avoid touching the head of an adult — It's just not done.
“It's just not done.”是什么意思?
代词 it 在此指代前面的动名词短语 touching the head of an adult (意即“摸成年人的头”)。过去分词 done 在此已变为形容词(常用在英国,为非正式英语),意谓“可为人所接受的 (socially acceptable)”或“妥当的,合乎礼仪的”。所以 It's just not done 的意思是“那样做可不行”。已变作形容词的 done 意谓“可为人所接受的”时常在否定结构中用作表语。再如:
(2)My dear, such things are just not done ?
(3)Smoking between courses simply isn't done .
done 亦可用作前置定语,如:
(4)That's not the done thing.
the done thing 已成为习语,它也可以用在肯定结构中,如:
(5)It's the done thing to serve champaigne at weddings.
(6)For most people it is still the done thing to get married.
done 在肯定结构中还常用于对话,表示同意,如:
(7)— I'll give you £ 5 for it.
— Done!
