1. 請注意下列習(xí)語中word單復(fù)數(shù)的使用：

(1) have a word with sb. 同某人說句話或談?wù)?/p>

have words with sb. 同某人爭吵

May I have a word with you? 我可以同你談?wù)剢?

I had words with my girlfriend last night. 昨晚我同女朋友少嘴了。

(2) in a (或one) word 一句話，總而言之

in other words 換句話說，也就是說

In a word, we must do our best to do it. 一句話，我們必須盡力去做。

You say you took the book without his permission. In other words, you stole it.

你說你未經(jīng)他允話拿了那本書，也就是說，你偷了那本書。

2. 在下列習(xí)語中，word 表示“諾言”、“消息”等意義，一般只用單數(shù)：keep one’s word(守諾), break one’s word(失諾), give one’s word (許諾), leave word(留言), send word(捎信)等。如：

They failed to keep their word. 他們沒能守諾。

He sent word that he would he late. 他通知說他將遲來。

Please leave word (for me) with my child if I’m not at home. 如果我不在家，請留個信叫我孩子轉(zhuǎn)達(dá)。

注：word 表示“消息”，還通常用于“word came of +名詞”或“word came that+從句”等結(jié)構(gòu)，意為“有消息說”、“據(jù)說”。注意這里的 word 只用單數(shù)，前面一般不用定冠詞(但偶爾也有人用)。如：

Word came of his success abroad. 有消息說他在國外發(fā)跡了。

Word (或The word) came that he could not come. 消息傳來說他不能來了。

3. eat one’s words 常被直擇為“食言”，其實(shí)它的準(zhǔn)確含義是“收回前言”、“承認(rèn)錯誤”(= take back one’s words)。