评论
打印
Today we answer a question from Alex.
今天我们将回答来自亚历克斯的提问。
Our reader Alex writes, "I want to know about the difference between divide and separate. Thank you!"
我们的读者亚历克斯写道：“我想知道‘divide’和‘separate’的区别，谢谢！”
Dear Alex, Thank you for asking such a good question!
亲爱的亚历克斯：感谢你提出这么好的问题！
The words divide and separate are similar, but also have differences, depending on how each is used.
单词“divide”和“separate”意思相近，但也有不同，这取决于怎么用它们。
Let us take one word at a time.
让我们分别谈这两个单词。
Divide can be used as a verb or a noun.
“divide”既可作动词也可作名词。
Merriam Webster's Learner's Dictionary defines the verb divide this way: "to separate (something) into two or more parts or pieces."
《韦氏学习词典》将动词“divide”定义为：“将（某物）分成两部分或几部分”。
Did you notice the word "separate" is part of the definition for divide?
注意到单词“separate”也在“divide”的定义里了吗？
The verb divide is often followed by the word "into," as you will note in this example:
动词“divide”后面通常跟着单词“into”，你会在（下面）这个例子中有所注意：
The class is divided into four groups.
该班分为四组。
Now, divide also can be used as a noun.
“divide”也可以用作名词。
In the United States, it can be an actual, physical line, as in this example:
在美国，它可以指真实的物理的线，如下例所示：
"The Continental Divide in North America is a line of hills or mountains from which rivers empty."
“北美洲的大陆分水岭（The Continental Divide）是一系列山峰，河流从这里流出。”
As a noun, divide can be a line that one cannot see, such as a line between two or more groups of people with different opinions or beliefs.
作为名词，“divide”可以指人们看不到的线，比如两个或多个具有不同的观点或信仰的人群之间的界线。
For example, you could use it when talking about a political dispute.
例如，可以在谈论一个政治争端时使用“divide”一词。
"We must bridge the divide between Democrats and Republicans."
“我们必须弥合民主党人和共和党人之间的分歧。”
So how is separate different from divide?
那么如何区分“separate”和“divide”呢？
Here is one difference; you pronounce separate differently depending on how you use it.
区别之一就是：“separate”的使用方式不同，发音也就不同。
When used as a verb, separate is defined this way: to cause (two or more people or things) to stop being together, joined, or connected.
“separate”用作动词时，其定义为：使（两个或多个人或事）不继续在一起、合作或相连。
Here is an example:
比如：
"She stepped in to separate the two men who were fighting."
“她走上前去，将正在打架的两人分开。”
It is pronounced like this: sep-puh-rate.
它的发音是：sep-puh-rate。
When separate is an adjective, pronounce the last syllable of the word as "ret."
“separate”用作形容词时，单词的最后一个音节发音为“ret”。
In the following sentence, separate is used as an adjective:
在下面的句子中，“separate”用作形容词：
"The boys and girls have separate rooms."
“男孩和女孩有单独的房间。”
And That's Ask a Teacher!
以上就是本期《名师答疑》的全部内容！
I'm Anne Ball.
我是安妮·鲍尔。
