between 既可以作介词,也可以作副词,而 among 只能作介词,它们作介词时意思相近,具体的区别如下:
一、between 和 and 组合成并列连词,常用于连接两个事物,例如:
They’re building a new road between Manchester and Sheffield.
他们正在曼彻斯特和谢菲尔德之间修建一条新路。
between 有时也可以用于连接超过两项的事物,例如:
Our house is between the wood, the river and the village.
我们的房子在树林、河流和村庄之间。
当连接超过两项的事物时,用 between 清楚地列出每个独立的项,例如:
I’m trying to decide between the athletic shoes, boots, and high heels.
我想在运动鞋、靴子和高跟鞋之间做出决定。
There has been a marked increase in trade between France, Germany and Italy.
法国、德国和意大利之间的贸易明显增加。
用 between 连接时间或数字,例如:
A child develops rapidly between the ages of 13 and 16.
孩子在13到16岁之间发育迅速。
Most wines contain between 10% and 15% alcohol.
大多数葡萄酒含有10%到15%的酒精。
二、among 常用于连接三个事物或更多,例如:
That old temple is hidden among trees.
那座古庙藏在树林里。
当一组里有或是超过三个事物,且所指事物是该组里面的一部分或没有特指时,用 among,例如:
She began rummaging among the books on her desk.
她开始在桌上的书中翻来翻去。
The secret was spread among the crowd.
这个秘密在人群中传播开来。
三、讨论物理位置
1、当讨论物理位置时, between 用来描述处于具体某条路径或某个点的东西,例如:
Bolivia lies between Chile, Peru, Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay.
玻利维亚位于智利、秘鲁、巴西、阿根廷和巴拉圭之间。
I walk between the trees and the house.
我走在树和房子之间。
2、当讨论物理位置时,among 用来描述处于很多事物中间的东西,没有具体的某条路径或是某个点,例如:
She lives in that house among the trees.
她住在树丛中的那所房子里。
Mary is popular among the students.
玛丽在学生中很受欢迎。
四、常跟 between 或 among 连接的短语
1、between
A、difference between 意为“…之间的不同”,例如:
There is a striking difference between Jane and Mary.
简和玛丽有显著的不同。
B、between you and me,不用 between you and I,通常用于你想要某人和你一起保密,例如:
Between you and me, I don’t think she has a chance of getting that promotion.
在你和我之间,我认为她没有机会得到提升。
2、among
A、distribute among 在…中分配,例如:
The reward money was to be distributed among the poor.
奖金将分配给穷人。
B、among others / among other things 意为“除…之外,还”,例如:
They among others, would gather intelligence on enemy strengths and fortifications.
除此之外,他们还将收集有关敌人力量和防御工事的情报。
Among other things, the group hopes to put an Internet connection and a printer in every village.
除此之外,该组织还希望在每个村庄建立互联网连接和打印机。