mere vs. simple vs. plain vs. простой

Дата публикации: Sep 23, 2014 10:46:38 AM

mere vs. simple vs. plain vs. простой

Вопросы и задания:

1. Какие антонимы можно подобрать к синонимам:

mere

simple

plain

?

2. Какой из синонимов mere/simple/plain лучше заполнит пропуск? Почему?

I am a … human - I can't fly like a bird.

I like cooking … but nutritious food.

He's so … that he believes everything.

Моя версия:

1. отталкиваясь от примеров

mere vs. well-armed/well-equipped/smart/cute

simple vs. incredulous/critical/doubting/skeptical/suspicious/cynical

plain vs. dainty/gourmet/fancy

2.

I am a mere human - I can't fly like a bird.

I like cooking plain but nutritious food.

He's so simple that he believes everything.

Translation

I am a mere human - I can't fly like a bird. Я всего лишь (голый) человек (на голой скамье земле), у меня нет крыльев.

I like cooking plain but nutritious food. Я готовлю незатейливо/без изысков, но сытно.

He's so simple that he believes everything. Он такой наивный/доверчивый/инфантильный, всему верит.

mere BrE /mɪə(r)/ ; NAmE /mɪr/ [only before noun](merest, )

1. used when you want to emphasize how small, unimportant, etc. somebody/something is

It took her a mere 20 minutes to win.

A mere 2% of their budget has been spent on publicity.

He seemed so young, a mere boy.

You've got the job. The interview will be a mere formality.

2. used when you are saying that the fact that a particular thing is present in a situation is enough to have an influence on that situation

His mere presence (= just the fact that he was there) made her feel afraid.

The mere fact that they were prepared to talk was encouraging.

The mere thought of eating made him feel sick.

The merest (= the slightest) hint of smoke is enough to make her feel ill.