"a master of the violin" "one of the old masters"
"the chief aim of living" "the main doors were of solid glass" "the principal rivers of America" "the principal example" "policemen were primary targets" "the master bedroom" "a master switch"
"She mastered Japanese in less than two years"
"He overcame his shyness"
"Her pain completely mastered her" "The methods can master the problems"
"Do you control these data?"
误 As students of English, we must master the language very well.
正 As students of English, we must master the language.
正 As students of English, we must gain the mastery of the language.
正 As students of English, we must have a good command of the language.
析master已含“精通”的意思,不必加very well,可以改用gain the mastery of 或 have a good command of等惯用语。但其中的介词 of不能换用in。
这位熟练工人教我们怎样掌握机器。误 The advanced worker taught us how to master the machine.
正 The advanced worker taught us how to operate the machine.
析master一般指“精通”,是对知识而言,而没有具体地“操纵”“掌握机器”的意思。可以说master a language; 但不可说master a machine〔tractor〕等,应改为operate。