“介詞+反身代詞”的重要搭配

搭配一  among oneself

該搭配中的反身代詞通常為ourselves, themselves，且通常與動詞agree, argue, quarrel, decide, divide, talk 等搭配，表示“彼此”“互相”“……之間”之類的意思。如：

They were busy arguing among themselves. 他們忙著互相爭論。

We were always quarrelling among ourselves. 我們之間老是互相爭吵。

They talked among themselves while they waited. 他們一邊等著一邊互相談話。

Volunteers divided the different jobs among themselves. 志愿者們分擔各種不同的工作。

The trainees decide among themselves what programs to take. 受訓者自行選擇所學課程。

The trouble was they couldn’t agree among themselves. 麻煩的是他們自己不能取得一致的意見。

有時也與discussion, dispute等名詞搭配。如：

They had a heated discussion among themselves. 他們之間進行了熱烈的討論。

They tried to settle disputes among themselves. 他們試圖解決彼此之間的糾紛。

搭配二  between ourselves

該搭配為英語中的固定短語，意思是“勿與外人道私下說的話”“咱們私下說說（不足為外人道）”等，在具體語境中通常可以有比較靈活的翻譯。如：

All this is between ourselves. 這些我們只是私下說說。

Between ourselves, I think she’s a bit of a fool. 你可別對別人說啊，我覺得她有點兒傻。

Between ourselves, I don’t think he will live much longer. 咱們私下說說，他活不久了。

Between ourselves. I think Mr. Holmes had not quite got over his illness yet. 我們私下說說，我認為福爾摩斯先生病還沒完全好。

有時也說成between you and me，意思一樣。如：

Between you and me, I think he’s rather stupid. 這是我們私下里說的話，我認為他很笨。

搭配三  by oneself

該短語有以下三個意思：

一是表示“單獨地”“獨自地”，與alone同義。如：

I often like to spend time by myself. 我平常喜歡獨自消磨時間。

The dog was in the house by itself for several days. 狗在房子里單獨呆了幾天。

She is old enough to travel by herself. 她已經到了可以自己出門旅行的年齡了。

表示此義時有時還可用作表語。如：

My mother is by herself, so I must go home now. 我媽一個人在家，因此我得回家了。

二是表示“靠自己”“無他人幫助”，與without help同義。如：

I managed to do it by myself. 我是自己做成這件事的。

John managed to repair his car by himself. 約翰設法獨力修理自己的汽車。

There are many things one must do by oneself without depending on others. 有許多事情你必須自己去做，不能依靠別人。

三是表示“自動地”，主要用于 by itself，意思相當于automatically。如：

This is a machine that works by itself. 這是一臺自動工作的機器。

The door opens by itself as you approach it. 當你靠近時候門就會自動打開。

The machine will start by itself in a few seconds. 機器在幾秒鐘后會自動開啟。

搭配四  for oneself

該搭配主要有兩個方面的意思：

一是表示“自己”“親自”。如：

You can judge for yourself. 你可以自己做出判斷。

He has a fight to decide for himself. 他有權自己做決定。

He demanded the right to decide for himself. 他要求得到自己做決定的權力。

二是表示“為自己”“替自己”。如：

He made no complaint for himself. 他沒為自己訴苦。

He acted without thought for himself. 他那樣做的時候并沒考慮到自己。

She’s no shrinking violet—always ready to speak up for herself. 她可不膽小——任何場合都能為自己說話。

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