for one thing用法的八卦，YOUTUBE和Yahoo名人娛樂都在討論

《流利英文的秘密》

叔叔：由今個星期開始，蕭叔叔的明報專欄由biweekly改為weekly，逢星期一刊出，今次大檸樂。

【明報專訊】蕭叔叔成日同學生講：Conquer the small words, and you’ll conquer the language. 學英文，最難學的，係 is am are was were，of for in at with 這類小字，而不是望落去高深，又長又難讀的字。小字通常有連接意念的作用。好多人學講英文，唔係識字唔夠多，而係唔識將意念串連起來，流暢地表達。

譬如我想講：今日要同大家講我最鍾意嘅課題－正確學習 small words 的重要性。英文唔流利嘅人，可能重點字眼都講得足，就係聽落去唔流利，broken，disjointed。錯誤示範：

Today I talk about something I love. It is important to learn small words

這句就是怪，而且不像說英文的人說話。這句蕭叔叔會怎樣說？假如不怕長氣，場合又唔太formal的話（說話不同書寫，說話假如太少廢字，聽落去反而唔自然）。蕭叔叔示範：

Today it’s a bit of a lovely one for me in that I’m talking about the importance of learning small words, and how it’s gonna contribute to your fluency. It’s something that I’ve been obsessed with since I started teaching English.

唔係話咁樣講先叫做好，因為好多人會認為廢話太多，語氣又不夠肯定（如 a bit of a），and this is only one of the countless number of ways to say the same thing，BUT，咁樣講，的確是正常，自然，流利嘅 informal 英文口語。要聽蕭叔叔開口示範，請 follow the link below：

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hP4FNDKO6hI&feature=youtu.be

分析一下。A bit of a 是日常口語常用 expression，尤其英國人愛用。In that 意思大概就是「因為」。留意 how it’s gonna contribute to your fluency，這是個 noun phrase，通常用正常詞序，而不用問句的詞序（how is it going to）。留意其中 it’s，a，bit，of，a，one，for， in，that，I’m，about，the，and， how，gonna，to，something，with，since，就是我所謂的 small words。要英文說得流利自然，一定要 conquer 這些小字的用法，反而長字，深字，content字，不難學。

再給大家一個例子。英國首相，保守黨的 David Cameron 最近拍了段短片，講英國新的稅務政策。一開首佢咁講：

Today is called Money Back Monday, and the reason for that is that some of the most important tax and pension changes come into place today in the new financial year. And there’re two that I think are particularly important.

又係時候學 small words。大家知道要留意的字啦？is called，and the reasons for that is that，some of the most，come into place，in the，and there’re，that I think are particularly。這些，才是學習的重點。Again，要聽蕭叔叔示範，follow the link below：

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hP4FNDKO6hI&feature=youtu.be

那，small words 怎樣學？多聽多講就可以了嗎？錯。假如身不在全英文的環境，只靠多聽多講，不會進步。聽之餘還要動動腦筋，用腦分析，思考，點解呢句說話要咁講，點解呢度要放呢個字。唔好再只看深字長字啦，remember：Conquer the small words, and you’ll conquer the language。蕭叔叔話嘅。

文︰蕭愷一

作者簡介

蕭愷一，aka蕭叔叔。夢想做男神、現實是大叔的英文教學狂熱分子，law grad，哲學碩士dropout，語言學愛好者，以speak English like an educated native為教與學的終極目標。

蕭叔叔的Facebook專頁《蕭叔叔的英文學會》 ：https://www.facebook.com/unclesiu

毋忘五大訴求　公民抗命有理
—10‧20九龍遊行陳情書
（案件編號：DCCC 535/2020）

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「毋忘初衷，活在愛和真實之中」
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胡法官雅文閣下：

　　2012年，我第一次站在法庭上承認違反「公安惡法」，述說對普選的盼望，批評公安惡法不義，並因公民抗命的緣故，甘心樂意接受刑罰。當年我說，如果小圈子選舉沒有被廢除，惡法沒有消失，我依然會一如故我，公民抗命，並且我相信將會有更多學生和市民加入這個行列。想不到時至今日，普選仍然遙遙無期，我亦再次被帶到法庭接受審判，但只是短短７年，已經有數十萬計的群眾公民抗命，反對暴政。今日，我承認違反「未經批准的政府」所訂立「未經批准的惡法」之下的「未經批准集結」罪，我不打算尋求法庭的憐憫，但請容許我佔用法庭些微時間陳情，讓法庭在判刑前有全面考慮。

暴力之濫觴

　　在整個反修例運動如火如荼之際，我正承擔另一宗公民抗命案件的刑責。雖然身在獄中，但仍然心繫手足。我在獄中電視機前見證6月9日、6月16日及8月18日三次百萬港人大遊行，幾多熱愛和平的港人冒天雨冒彈雨走上街頭，抗議不義惡法，今日關於10月20日的案件，亦是如此。可能有人會問，政府已在6月暫緩修例，更在9月正式撤回修例，我等仍然繼續示威，豈非無理取鬧？我相信法官閣下肯定聽過「遲來的正義並非正義」（Justice delayed is justice denied）這句格言。當過百萬群眾走上街頭，和平表達不滿的時候，林鄭政府沒有理睬，反而獨行獨斷，粗暴踐踏港人的意願，結果製造出後來連綿不絕的爭拗，甚至你死我活的對抗。經歷眾多衝突痛苦之後，所謂暫緩撤回，已經微不足道，我們只是更加清楚：沒有民主，就連基本人權都不會擁有！

　　在本案之中，雖然我們都沒有鼓動或作出暴力行為，但根據早前8‧18及10‧1兩宗案件，相信在控方及法庭眼中，案發當日的暴力事件仍然可以算在我們頭上，如此，我有必要問：如果香港有一個公平正義的普及選舉，人民可以在立法會直接否決他們不認可的法律，試問2019年的暴力衝突可以從何而來呢？如果我們眼見的暴力是如此十惡不赦，那麼我們又如何看待百萬人遊行後仍然堅持推行惡法的制度暴力呢？如果我們不能接受人民暴力反抗，那麼我們是否更加不能對更巨大更壓逼的制度暴力沈默不言？真正且經常發生的暴力，是漠視人民訴求的暴力，是踐踏人民意見的暴力，是剝奪人民表達權利的暴力。真正憎恨暴力，痛恨暴力的人，不可能一方面指摘暴力反抗，又容忍制度暴力。如果我需要承擔和平遊行引發出來的暴力事件的刑責，那麼誰應該承擔施政失敗所引發出來的社會騷亂的罪責呢？

社會之病根

　　對於法庭而言，可能2019年所發生的事情只是一場社會騷亂，務必追究違法者個人責任。然而，治亂治其本源，醫病醫其病根，我雖然公民抗命，刻意違法，控方把我帶上法庭，但我卻不應被理解為一個「犯罪個體」。2019年所發生的事情，並不是我一個人或我們這幾位被告可以促成，社會問題的癥結不是「犯罪份子」本身，而是「犯罪原因」。我明白「治亂世用重典」的道理，但如果「殺雞儆猴」是解決方法，就不會在2016年發生旺角騷亂及2017年上訴庭對示威者施以重刑後，2019年仍然會爆發出更大規模的暴力反抗。

如果不希望社會動亂，就必須正本清源，逐步落實「五大訴求」，從根本上改革，挽回民心。2019年反修例運動，其實只是2014年雨傘運動的延續而已，縱使法庭可能認為兩個運動皆是「一股歪風」所引起，但我必須澄清，兩個運動的核心就是追求民主普選，人民當家作主。在2019年11月24日區議會選舉這個最類近全民普選的選舉中，接近300萬人投票，民主派大勝，奪得17個區議會主導權，這就是整個反修例運動的民意，民意就是反對政府決策，反對制度暴力，反對推行惡法，不容爭辯，不辯自明。我們作為礦場裡的金絲雀，多次提醒政府撤回修法，並從根本上改革制度，而在10月20日的九龍遊行當然是反映民意的平台契機。如今，法庭對我們施加重刑，其實只不過是懲罰民意，將金絲雀困在鳥籠之內，甚至扼殺於鼓掌之中，窒礙表達自由。

堅持之重要

　　大運動過後的大鎮壓，使我們失去《蘋果日報》，失去教協，失去民陣，不少民主派領袖以及曾為運動付出的手足戰友都囚於獄中，不少曾經熱情投入運動的朋友亦因《國安法》的威脅轉為低調，新聞自由示威自由日漸萎縮，公民社會受到沈重打擊，我亦失去不少摯友，有感傷孤獨的時候，但我仍然相信，2019年香港人的信念，以及所展現人類的光輝持久未變。我不會忘記百萬人民冒雨捱熱抗拒暴政，抵制惡法，展現我們眾志成城；我不會忘記人潮紅海，讓道救護車，展現我們文明精神；我不會忘記年青志士直接行動反對苛政，捨身成仁，展現我們膽色勇氣；我不會忘記銀髮一族走上街頭保護年青人，展現我們彼此關懷；我不會忘記「五大訴求」，不會忘記2019年區議會選舉，展現我們有理有節。

　　法官閣下，我對於當日的所作所為，不感羞恥，毫無悔意。我能夠在出獄後與群眾同行一路，與戰友同繫一獄，實是莫大榮幸。若法治失去民主基石，將使法庭無奈地接受專制政權所訂立解釋的法律限制，隨時變成政治工具掃除異見，因此爭取民主普選，建設真正法治，追求公平正義，仍然是我的理想。在這條路上，如有必要，我仍然會公民抗命，正如終審法院海外非常任法官賀輔明（Lord Hoffmann）所言，發自良知的公民抗命有悠久及光榮的傳統，歷史將證明我們是正確的。我期望，曾與我一起遊行抗命的手足戰友要堅持信念，在艱難歲月裡毋忘初衷，活在愛和真實之中。

　　最後，如9年前一樣，我想借用美國民權領袖馬丁路德金牧師的一番話對我們的反對者說：「我們將以自己忍受苦難的能力，來較量你們製造苦難的能力。我們將用我們靈魂的力量，來抵禦你們物質的暴力。對我們做你們想做的事吧，我們仍然愛你們。我們不能憑良心服從你們不公正的法律，因為拒惡與為善一樣是道德責任。將我們送入監獄吧，我們仍然愛你們。」（We shall match your capacity to inflict suffering by our capacity to endure suffering. We shall meet your physical force with soul force. Do to us what you will, and we shall continue to love you. We cannot in all good conscience obey your unjust laws because noncooperation with evil is as much a moral obligation as is cooperation with good. Throw us in jail and we shall still love you.）

　　願慈愛的主耶穌賜我們平安，與我和我一家同在，與法官閣下同在，與香港人同在。沒有暴徒，只有暴政；五大訴求，缺一不可！願榮耀歸上帝，榮光歸人民！

第五被告
黃浩銘
二零二一年八月十九日

Lest we forget the five demands: civil disobedience is morally justified
- Statement on 10‧20 Kowloon Rally
(Case No.: DCCC 535/2020)

Your Honour Judge Woodcock

In 2012, I stood before the court and admitted to violating the "Public Security Evil Law". I expressed my hope for universal suffrage, criticized the evil law as unjust, and willingly accepted the penalty for civil disobedience. Back then, I said that if the small-circle election had not been abolished and the draconian law had not disappeared, I would still be as determined as I was, and I believe that more students and citizens would join this movement. Today, universal suffrage is still a long way off, and I have been brought before the court again for trial. But in just seven years, hundreds of thousands of people have already risen up in civil disobedience against tyranny. Today, I plead guilty to "unauthorised assembly" under an unapproved evil law enacted by an unauthorised government. I do not intend to seek the court's mercy, but please allow me to take up a little time in court to present my case so that the court can consider all aspects before sentencing me.

The roots of violence

At the time when the whole anti-extradition law movement was in full-swing, I was taking responsibility for another civil disobedience case. Although I was in prison, my heart was still with the people. I witnessed the three million-person rallies on 9 June, 16 June and 18 August on television in prison, when many peace-loving people took to the streets despite the rain and bullets, to protest against unjust laws. Some people may ask, "The Government has already suspended the legislative amendments in June and formally withdrew the bill in September, but we are still demonstrating, are we not being unreasonable?" I am sure your Honour has heard of the adage "Justice delayed is justice denied". When more than a million people took to the streets to express their discontent peacefully, the Lam administration ignored them and instead acted arbitrarily, brutally trampling on the wishes of the people of Hong Kong, resulting in endless arguments and even confrontations. After so many conflicts and painful experiences, the so-called moratorium is no longer meaningful. We only know better: without democracy, we cannot even have basic human rights!

In this case, although we did not instigate or commit acts of violence, I believe that in the eyes of the prosecution and the court, the violence on the day of the incident can still be counted against us, based on the August 18 and October 1 case. And now I must ask - If Hong Kong had a fair and just universal election, and the public could directly veto laws they did not approve of at the Legislative Council, then how could the violent clashes of 2019 have come about? If the violence we see is so heinous, how do we feel about the institutional violence that insists on the imposition of draconian laws even after millions of people have taken to the streets? If we cannot accept violent rebellion, how can we remain silent in the face of even greater and more oppressive institutional violence? The true and frequent violence is the kind of violence that ignores people's demands, that tramples on their opinions, that deprives them of their right to express themselves. People who truly hate violence and abhor it cannot accuse violent resistance on the one hand and tolerate institutional violence on the other. If I have to bear the criminal responsibility for the violence caused by the peaceful demonstration, then who should bear the criminal responsibility for the social unrest caused by failed administration?

The roots of society's problems

From a court's point of view, it may be that what happened in 2019 was just a series of social unrest, and that those who broke the law must be held personally accountable. What happened in 2019 was not something that I alone or the defendants could have made possible, and the crux of the social problem was not the 'criminals' but the 'causes of crime'. I understand the concept of " applying severe punishment to a troubled world", but if "decimation" was really the solution, there would not have been more violent rebellions in 2019 after the Mongkok "riot" in 2016 and the heavy sentences handed down to protesters by the Court of Appeal in 2017.

If we do not want social unrest, we must get to the root of the problem and implement the "five demands" step by step, so as to achieve fundamental reforms and win back the hearts of the people. 2019's anti-revision movement is indeed a continuation of 2014's Umbrella Movement, and even though the court may think that both movements are caused by a "perverse wind", I must clarify that the core of both movements is the pursuit of democracy and universal suffrage, and the people being the masters of their own house. In the District Council election on 24 November 2019, which is the closest thing to universal suffrage, nearly 3 million people voted, and the democratic camp won a huge victory, winning majority in 17 District Councils. As canaries in the monetary coal mine, we have repeatedly reminded the government to withdraw the extradition bill and fundamentally reform the system, and the march in Kowloon on 20 October was certainly an opportunity to reflect public opinion. Now, by imposing heavy penalties on us, the court is only punishing public opinion, trapping the canaries in a birdcage, or even stifling them in the palm of their hands, suffocating the freedom of expression.

The importance of persistence

As a result of the crackdown after the mass movement, we lost Apple Daily, the Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union, and the Civil Human Rights Front. Many of our democratic leaders and comrades who had contributed to the movement were imprisoned, and many of our friends who had been passionately involved in the movement had been forced to lay low under the threat of the National Security Law. I still believe that the faith of Hong Kong people and the glory of humanity seen in 2019 will remain unchanged. I will never forget the millions of people who braved the rain and the heat to resist tyranny and evil laws, demonstrating our unity of purpose; I will never forget the crowds of people who gave way to ambulances, demonstrating our civility; I will never forget the young people who sacrificed their lives, demonstrating our courage and bravery; I will never forget the silver-haired who took to the streets to protect the youth, demonstrating our care for each other; I will never forget the "five demands" and the 2019 District Council election, demonstrating our rationality and decency.

Your Honour, I have nothing to be ashamed of and no remorse for what I did on that day. It is my great honour to be in prison with my comrades and to be able to walk with the public after my release. If the rule of law were to lose its democratic foundation, the courts would have no choice but to accept the legal restrictions set by the autocratic regime and become a political tool to eliminate dissent at any time. As Lord Hoffmann, a non-permanent overseas judge of the Court of Final Appeal, said, civil disobedience from the conscience has a long and honourable tradition, and history will prove us right. I hope that my comrades in arms who walked with me in protests will keep their faith and live in love and truth in the midst of this difficult time.

Finally, as I did nine years ago, I would like to say something to those who oppose us, borrowing the words of American civil rights leader Reverend Martin Luther King: "We shall match your capacity to inflict suffering by our capacity to endure suffering. We shall meet your physical force with soul force. Do to us what you will, and we shall continue to love you. We cannot in all good conscience obey your unjust laws because noncooperation with evil is as much a moral obligation as is cooperation with good. Throw us in jail and we shall still love you."

Peace be with me and my family, with Your Honour, and with the people of Hong Kong. There are no thugs, only tyranny; five demands, not one less! To god be the glory and to people be the glory!

The Fifth Defendant
Wong Ho Ming
19 August 2021

[詞彙區別] rather than 與 instead of 的用法區別

1. instead of 是介係詞，意思為「代替; 寧願」，instead of 需搭配名詞或動名詞 (ving )。

He chose tea instead of coffee.
他選擇了茶，而不是咖啡。

Instead of punishing George,* his father praised him for his honesty.
George的爸爸不但沒有處罰他，反而還稱讚了George的誠實。

*instead of 放在句首時，記得要打逗號，以區分主句和 instead of 片語。

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2. rather than 當連接詞時意為「是…而不是…」

We use “rather than” to give more importance to one thing when two alternatives or preferences are being compared.

當句子中針對2個選項在進行比較的時候，我們常會運用 rather than 這個連結詞去加強其中一件事情本身相對較高的重要性。其前後所連接的兩個字在詞性和結構上必須相稱。

He was happy (adj.) rather than sad (adj.).
他是快樂而非難過的。

She ate her meal slowly (adv.) rather than quickly (adv.).
她慢條斯理地而不是快速地用餐。

Can we come over in the morning (prep. phrase) rather than at night (prep. phrase)?
我們可以早上而不要晚上過去嗎 ?

She wants to be a professor (n.) rather than a high school teacher (n.).
她想要成為的是一位教授，而非一位高中老師。

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3. 另一個常見的用法是would rather...than...，指「寧可…而不願….」，此處的rather than也是被當成連接詞作使用，其後接原形動詞。「寧願…而不願…」句型中的rather than通常不會被放在句首，常用的表達方式如下：

I would rather stay home than go out tonight.
我寧願待在家也不要和你出去。

She would rather play the drums than sing.
比起唱歌，她寧願打鼓。

I would rather sing a song than dance on stage.
我寧可唱首歌也不要上台跳舞。

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4. rather than 可作「介系詞」用，表「而不是…」之意，其句型為：rather than ( = instead of ) + n / v-ing*

Sometimes John drinks orange juice rather than ( = instead of ) milk.
John 有時候會喝柳橙汁，而不是牛奶。

Tina went to bed early rather than ( = instead of ) staying up late.
Tina 早就上床睡覺了，而沒有熬夜。

*有一些人會認為 rather than 後面接動名詞是非正式用法，請看以下的說明。

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※注意

A. 當 rather than 連接兩個字詞做為句子的主詞時，其動詞單複數變化須以第一個字詞為主。

The teacher (subject) rather than the students is (verb) to blame.
該受責備的是老師而不是學生。

B. 當主要子句有動詞，不定詞 (to v.) 時 to 在 rather than 後通常省略，rather than 後直接搭配原形動詞 (此時 rather than 被當成對等連接詞，其前後所連接的兩個字在詞性和結構上必須相稱) 。

He prefers to walk (to v.) rather than (to) run (v.).
他想要用走的，而不是跑的。

C. 當主要子句有動詞，rather than 後可接動詞。此時 rather than 視為連接詞。

He walks (v.) rather than runs (v.) to school every day.
他走路，而不是每天跑到學校的。

主要的動詞是過去式或是過去分詞時，rather than 後可接動名詞 v-ing（此時 rather than 被當成介系詞)。原因是有些人覺得對稱構句如果被應用在這裡並不適當，而另一方面，連接動名詞 (v-ing) 也可有加強敘述事件內容的含義。

The American Heritage Book of English Usage: A Practical and Authoritative Guide to Contemporary English: http://goo.gl/BF3VZa

Rather than ending the controversy, the results of the study added to it.
Rather than paying the taxi fare, he walked home.
Why didn't you ask for help, rather than trying to do it on your own?
She made students think for themselves, rather than telling them what to think.
Rather than studying Chemistry we decided to study Anatomy

rather than 後可接動名詞 (v-ing)
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/rather
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/rather?q=rather+than&searchDictCode=all
http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/rather_1
http://blog.cybertranslator.idv.tw/archives/2847

E. 有些人會認定說 rather than 只能被當成連結詞去做使用，不太會被當成介系詞。但其實在日常生活的應用上並沒有甚麼區別。

我的建議是:當你在考試的時候，如果將 rather than 當成連接詞的話，就必須要確認其前後所連接的兩個詞彙，它們在詞性和結構上必須要相稱；那另一方面，把 instead of 和動名詞及名詞片語搭配使用。當然，你最好還是要能夠去區分這兩種用法在詞意上實際的差異，所以，前述的建議是要幫助各位同學在面對考試的過程中，穩扎穩打，不輕易失分。

F. Rather than 和 instead of 在被當成介系詞使用時，還會有另一項差異: rather than 常被用來表達人物對於句子中，rather than 前方選項的偏好；而 instead of 則是以替代性質的詞意為主。

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Sources:
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/would-rather-would-sooner
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/rather?q=rather+than&searchDictCode=all
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rather%20than
www.azargrammar.com/GerundsInfinsImpRules.pdf
http://josecarilloforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=6136.0
http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/ratherthan.html
http://blog.cybertranslator.idv.tw/archives/2847
http://www.learnerhall.org/2012/11/insteadinstead-ofrather-than.html

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詞彙區別: http://goo.gl/xnhtQg

我這個外國人沒想過住台灣我也可以做一件事。。。 學英文！
雖然教英文超過十年，講英文更久，來到台灣我才學到這五個英文單字
有的是因為不是美國的用詞有的是因為用這些詞的頻率很低，有的可能只有台灣在用。
來看看你平常講英文會不會用到這些讓外國人對你”哈???“ 的英文單字！

有經常在用嗎？ 留言跟我說～
可以想到別的嗎？ 留言跟我說～
覺得我講的不太對？ 可以走開。。。 開玩笑啦！ 留言跟我說～

很歡迎任何一種反應! 謝謝！！！

***English closed captions on video to come***

I never thought that coming to Taiwan I could do one thing... LEARN ENGLISH!

Even though I've taught English for over 10 years, and spoken it for even longer, I only learned these 5 English vocabulary words after moving to Taiwan.

Some of them I didn't know because they're not used in American English. Some of them I didn't know because we use them VERY rarely in the United States. Some of them may just be used in Taiwan.

Come see if you use these English words that may make a foreigner look at you and go, "Huh???"

Do you use these words often? Comment and tell me!
Do you know any other words like these? Comment and tell me!
Do you think I said something that's not quite correct? Go away... JUST KIDDING! Comment and tell me!

All feedback and opinions are welcome~ Thanks!!!

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