Lost in English

Memories too often die with their owner, and time too often surprises us by running out. (On Writing Well by William Zinsser)

太多時候回憶隨著主人的逝去而消散，太多時候光陰因為已然用罄而讓我們心驚。

箇中奧妙

對仗作為一種修辭的手段，中英皆然。從文法的角度來說，全句由以對等連接詞and串起的二個子句組成，對仗的核心部分too often作為副詞，分別修飾二個子句當中的動詞die與surprises。依循往例，我們可以試著改寫原句，作為一種文法練習:

Memories too often die with their owner. Time too often surprises us by running out.

Too often memories die with their owner and (too often) time surprises us by running out.

關鍵字詞

1. memory: 這個意為記憶、懷念的名詞，以可數或不可數的形態出現均可，相關的單字包括動詞memorize(記住、背下來)，remember(記得)，名詞memorandum或memo(備忘錄)，名詞memoir(回憶錄)，形容詞memorable(值得懷念的)，形容詞與名詞memorial(紀念性的、紀念物)。

     Memory loss is a common symptom of aging.

     A good memory is quite helpful in poker games.

     Try to memorize the main points of the article. That is, commit to memory its key points.

     I did not remember it that well. I was only six years old then.

     The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding on widening cooperation to other areas as well.

     A memo that summarizes what the new policy is all about is being distributed.

     Historians consider it a pity that Madame Chiang Kai-shek did not leave behind any memoir.

     The past three days must be a quite memorable experience for most of us.

     The National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is also a tourist attraction in Taipei.

     The tablet is intended as a memorial to a brave man who gave his life in saving many others.

2. surprise: 詞性是及物動詞，意思是使人驚訝。同義字包括astonish, amaze, astound，dumbfound與flabbergast則更進一步表達令人吃驚到了啞口無言與目瞪口呆的地步。另外，surprise也可作可數或不可數名詞。

     We were astonished by the sudden appearance of an enormous crowd of city folks at this quiet village.

     The housewife’s talent as an untrained soprano has amazed audiences worldwide.

     The beauty of the landscape is simply astounding.

     A silence fell over the room as everyone was dumbfounded.

     He rushed out of the hall, leaving behind a flabbergasted audience.

     That he had not called it off earlier was a surprise to me.

     Life is full of surprises.

3. run out: 這個片語動詞意為用完、耗盡時，以不及物的形態出現，通常要再加上介詞of才能導出受詞，run out若用作及物動詞，則是驅趕之意。run out on也是慣用語(及物形態的片語動詞)，意為遺棄。

     Our supplies are running out=We are running out of supplies.

     They ran the stranger out (of town).

     Tom could never forget his father for running out on the family when he was only four.