I provide aservice that people can do without when they’reconcerned aboutsaving some dollars.
这句话如何理解呢?好难懂,我总是分析不清楚!
"I'm a good economic indicator," she says, "I provide a service that people can do without when they're concerned about saving some dollars."
【参考译文】
她说:“我就像个精确的经济晴雨表。我这档子服务在人们考虑攒钱时就会变得可有可无。”
【参考解析】
1.that引导一个定语从句,先行词为service, that 在从句中做介词 without 的宾语。
2.do without = go without 是个常见的习语,这里意思是“没有....也得/也能/也可将就/生活/工作/应对等”
两个难点:
(1) do / go 意思相同,同为不及物动词 = live / work / survive / endure...
(2) Without 既可以做介词也可以做副词,简单地说就是有无宾语皆可。
【经典例句】
We can't do without the help of your organisation...我们不能没有你们机构的帮助。(without为介词)
We've had a bit more money and that, and the baby doesn't do without.我们还有一点钱什么的,婴儿没有这些不行。(without为副词)