我们不知不觉进入中年。误 We reach the middle age before we know it.
正 We reach middle age before we know it.
析 old age(老年)和middle age(中年)之前均不用冠词。
我在那个年龄经常放学后去打乒乓球。误 I used to play table tennis after school when I was in that age.
正 I used to play table tennis after school when I was that age.
析 that age作“那个年龄”讲,可以直接作表语或定语,不必加任何介词。
他年老背驼。误 His back is bent with ages.
正 His back is bent with age.
析 age在作“年老”解时是抽象名词,即是不可数名词,因此不能用复数形式。
我十六岁。误 I am at the age of sixteen.
误 I am sixteen of age.
正 My age is sixteen years.
析 at the age of在句中一般不可用作表语。
我们的老师是个年轻人。误 Our teacher is a young-aged man.
正 Our teacher is a young man.
析 “年轻人”和“老年人”应说a young〔old〕 man,只有“中年人”才可说a middle-aged man.
我儿子5岁。误 My son's age is five years old.
正 My son is five years old.
析 age与old是同义词,不可在一个句子中同时出现。