內容簡介

一位姓趙的聽眾想知道 “rank、rate、class” 和 “grade” 作動詞時的區別。這四個詞都可以表示 “分級”，它們用來談論哪種 “分級” 方式？表示一個人的排名情況時，常用哪個詞表示此人 “屬于特定的級別”？短語 “rate someone as” 是什么意思？用 “class” 表示 “分類” 時，分類標準只能是個人意見嗎？用 “grade” 表示 “給…分級” 時，后接哪個介詞來引出分級的標準？聽節目，學習區分這四個近義詞的用法。

歡迎你加入并和我們一起討論英語學習的方方面面。請通過微博 “BBC英語教學” 或郵件與我們取得聯系。我們的郵箱地址是 questions.chinaelt@bbc.co.uk

文字稿

（關于臺詞的備注: 請注意這不是廣播節目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能沒有體現錄制、編輯過程中對節目做出的改變。）

Jiaying
大家好，歡迎收聽 BBC英語教學的 “你問我答” 節目。I'm Jiaying.

Sam
And I'm Sam. Hello, everyone!

Jiaying
本期節目的問題來自一位姓趙的聽眾，問題由我來代讀。

Question
您好，我想請教一下：“rank、rate、class” 和 “grade” 作動詞時都有 “分級” 的意思，它們之間有什么區別呢？謝謝。

Sam
Yet again, we have received a really interesting question from one of our listeners. Thank you! For the purposes of this programme, we are only going to talk about these four words as verbs, and only in the context of position or value or quality or belonging to a particular group.

Jiaying
在不同的語境中，這四個詞的含義不同，而且有不同的詞性。在本期節目中，我們來講一講 “rank、rate、class” 和 “grade” 作動詞、談論 “人或事物的地位、價值、質量、特性屬于某一類別” 時有哪些區別。

Sam
We'll look at each of them in turn, and give you lots of examples to help you notice the differences. Let's start with 'rank'. Jiaying?

Jiaying
OK! 我們先來看動詞 “rank”。“Rank” 的意思是 “具有…的地位或等級”。

Sam
The key word in the definition of 'rank' is 'position'. Thinking about an athlete competing in a race or a student competing in a school test might help with this idea. If we asked the athlete or the student 'Where did you rank?', it would be like asking them 'What was your position?'

Jiaying
原來動詞 “rank” 具體可以用來談論運動員比賽或學生考試的排名情況。我們用 “Where did you rank?” 或者 “What was your position?” 來表示 “你第幾名？”

動詞 “rank” 的后面接 “first、second” 或者 “third” 等序數詞的時候，可以表示 “排第一、第二” 或 “第三”；“rank” 的后面還常常接介詞 “in” 或者 “among”，引出所描述的人或物所屬的群體或類別。聽兩個使用了動詞 “rank” 的例句。

Examples
After an excellent performance in the tennis tournament, she now ranks third in the world.
（在網球錦標賽中的出色表現后，她現在排名世界第三。）

Many say he ranks among the best pianists of all time.
（許多人說他是有史以來最優秀的鋼琴家之一。）

Sam
Let's look at 'rate' now. This verb is similar to 'judge' and is more subjective than 'rank'. It's more about your opinion. And we might assign numbers when rating something – for example, we might rate something from one to ten. What more can you tell us, Jiaying?

Jiaying
動詞 “rate” 的確切定義是 “評估、評價人或物的價值或特征”。與 “rank” 相比，“rate” 則更多地用來談論對所評價的人或事物的主觀看法。比如，我們可以說：“rate something from one to ten（用1到10之間的數字給某物打分）”。

Sam
So, if someone asks you 'How do you rate him as a singer?', it's the same as if they asked you 'What do you think of him as a singer?' or 'What's your opinion of him as a singer?'

Jiaying
How do you rate him as a singer?（你覺得他作為一名歌手，水平如何？）Sam 在這里使用了 “as”：“rate someone as” 的意思是 “評價某人作為…的水平、實力、價值或表現”。聽兩個使用了動詞 “rate” 的例句。

Examples
How do you rate her as a tennis player?
（你如何評價她作為一名網球運動員的表現？）

The company have a very good reputation. They are rated highly by their clients.
（這家公司聲譽頗佳。客戶對他們的評價很高。）

Sam
It's time to look at 'class' now. With 'class', we're not judging something or someone, we're saying that they belong to a particular group, aren't we?

Jiaying
是的，動詞 “class” 的意思是 “按特性為人或物歸類或分類”，而不是去評判這個人或事物。“Class” 所描述的 “分類” 標準可以是個人的意見，也可能更官方。比如，按人的年齡為其分類，或按動物的物種對其分類。

Sam
Here are some examples, and notice that we use 'as' and 'among' with 'class' as well.

Examples
In many countries, you are classed as an adult when you turn 18.
（在許多國家，年滿18歲時就被歸為成年人。）

I class her among the best teachers I've ever had.
（我把她列為教過我的最 好的老師之一。）

Sam
And, finally, let's look at 'grade'. This involves separating things or people. Jiaying, please tell us more.

Jiaying
動詞 “grade” 的意思是 “按質量、大小或重要性給…分級”，這些級別通常有高低之分。

Sam
It's a little more common to use 'grade' with things than with people simply because it can be a little rude to 'grade' a person by their size, for example!

Jiaying
That's true. 用 “grade” 表示 “給…分級” 時，應該用 “by” 來引出分級的標準。聽兩個使用了 “grade” 的例句。

Examples
The vegetables are graded by weight and size.
（蔬菜按重量和大小分級。）

The books in this section are graded by language level. What level are you looking for?
（這個區域的書是按語言難度分級的。你在找什么級別的書？）

Jiaying
注意不要把 “grade” 的這個用法與它的另一個用法混淆了：老師會 “grade someone's work”，這里 “grade” 的意思是 “給學生的作業、作品或表現評分”。

希望我們的講解讓大家對 “rank、rate、class” 和 “grade” 的用法有了更深的理解。

Sam
Remember that if you have a question you'd like us to answer, you can email us too. Our email address is: questions.chinaelt@bbc.co.uk

Jiaying
你也可以通過微博向我們提問。我們的微博賬號是 “BBC英語教學”。Bye, everyone.

Sam
Bye-bye!