字典解释
“commonplace”既是名词也是形容词,今天我们学习它作形容词表示“平常的” “不足为奇的”用法。我们可以用它来替换 not special,usual,在口语和写作中都很实用。
例句
美国总统特特朗普的推特中常有拼写错误,我们就可以说:
Spelling errors are commonplace in Donald Trump’s tweets.
这句话还可以用prone去改写:
Donald Trump’s tweets are prone to spelling errors.
我们在描述某个流行的现象是也可以用到commonplace。比如说中国移动支付系统已经非常普遍,我们就可以说:
Mobile payment systems are already commonplace across China.
《经济学人》的一篇特别报道中就用到了commonplace:
Households with just one child have become commonplace in Europe and the more prosperous parts of Asia, including China. That means each child has more time, money and energy invested in it, but misses out on the hustle and bustle of a larger household.
除了可以从这句话中学习 commonplace 的用法,我们还可以学习 “xx has become commonplace. That means…”这种简单实用表达结构,在雅思托福等考试中可以使用。
翻译练习
去国外度假已经变得越来越平常
Foreign vocation have become commonplace.
参考翻译:
Foreign vocations have become increasingly commonplace.
或
Holidaying abroad has become increasingly commonplace.