Li Bai and Du Fu,
two of the greatest poets in Chinese history, formed a lasting friendship.
Stories of their firendship have come down to
this very day.
这是高中英语新教材必修1第3单元的一个句子(p41)。老师说,句子中的 to this day 意思是“直到今日”,加上 very 为了起强调作用。我的疑问是,这里的 this day 可以换成 today 吗?比如说成 to today(不考虑加强语气的问题,我估计这里的 today 是不能用 very 修饰的):
Li Bai and Du Fu, two of the greatest poets in Chinese history, formed a lasting friendship. Stories of their firendship have come down to today.
to this (very) day 是习语,不能换成 to today。又如下面的句子中的 to this (very) day也不能用 to today:
The controversy continues to this day. 这场争论直到今天仍在继续。
The buildings survive to this day. 这些建筑一直存在到今天。
I haven’t told her the truth to this day. 我至今也没有把事实真相告诉她。
But for the Party, I wouldn’t have lived to this day. 要不是党,我不会活到今天。
I still don’t know her name to this very day. 直到现在我还不知道她的姓名。