Among 和Between,这两个词都是介词,表示“在……之间”,但在用法上却有很多差异。现归纳如下:
一、among一般用于三者或三者以上的“在……中间”,其宾语通常是一个表示笼统数量或具有复数意义的名词或代词。
The animals usually hide among the trees during the daytime.
野兽白天通常都藏在树林里。
She sat among the children.
她坐在孩子们中间。
二、between一般指两者之间,或者是由and连接的两个具体的人(物)。
There was a fight between the two men .
这两个男人间发生了一场格斗。
You can sit between him and me.
你可以坐在他和我之间。
三、把两者以上的为数不多的人或事物单独地看待,用and连接时,要用between;把两者以上的人或事物看成一群、一堆或一组而不是个体时,要用among。
Switzerland lies between France,Italy,Austria and Germany.
瑞士位于法国、意大利、奥地利和德国之间。
The little boy's house lies among the trees.
这个小男孩的房子在树林中。
四、三者以上表示具体数目的人或物,常常要用between。
The small village lies between the three mountains.
小村庄位于三座大山之间。
五、涉及人或事物之间的区别以及人或事物之间的关系时,一般要用between。这时三个和三个以上人或物( 特别是出现difference吗,relation)也用between。
We must find out the difference between the three firms.
我们必须查清这三家公司之间的区别。
The relations between various countries are very important.
各国之间的关系是很重要的。
六、表示“由于……合作的结果”时,要用between。
Between them they landed the fish.
他们协力把鱼拖上了岸。
Between the five companies the bridge was soon completed.
在五家公司的齐心协力下,这座大桥不久就完成了。
七、在divide,share等表示“分享”之类的动词之后。若接一个表示三者或三者以上的复数名词时,用among或between均可。
The father divided his money among/between his three sons。
父亲把钱分给了三个儿子。
The bed-room is shared between/among the six students.
卧室由六个学生共同享用。
八、between ourselves意为“只限于咱俩之间(不得外传)”,be-tween the lines意为“字里行间”,far between意为“稀少”,in be-tween意为“在中间、每间隔”,between two fires意为“进退维谷、左右为难”。
Just between ourselves,I think his pen is better than yours.
咱们私下里说,我觉得他的笔比你的好。
You should read between the lines.
你应该了解字里行间的言外之意。
This kind of birds is far between in this area.
这种鸟在这个地区极为罕见
You can see the trees planted with the space of 20 meters in be-tween.
你可以看到这些树木每隔二十米就种一棵。
Leave or stay?He is between two fires.
去或留?他左右为难。
九、from among意为“从……中”,one among a thousand 意为“千里挑一的人、罕见,优秀的人”,among the first/last或最高级形容词时,意为“one of…”。
The general manager will be chosen from among its members.
总经理将从员工中选出。
He is one among a thousand in the field of painting.
他是绘画界罕见的优秀人才。
China is among the largest countries in the world.
中国是世界上最大的国家之一。