Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we will answer a question from Ester, a reader, about the uses of “even.”

大家好! 本周《名师答疑》，我们回答读者埃斯特提出的有关even的用法的问题F35%,CZ#1LrYlv~。

Could you please tell me how to use “even?” Ester.

你能告诉我怎么用even吗？埃斯特F_@l4w|)].,]Dsz,v。

Dear Ester, thank you for your question.

亲爱的埃斯特，谢谢你的提问#t|Jc|aDVv)B3ut。

There are several ways to use the word “even” in American English.

在美式英语中，even一词有这几种用法PxgLm9Ll15Nz4,+&r)。

We will start with the use of “even” as an adjective to describe nouns.

我们先讲even用作形容词描述名词的情况E&G,I_*.-htY*~。

One use of “even” as an adjective can mean smooth or not rough.

even作为形容词的一种用法是表示光滑或不粗糙z441o46_D9[x=inrW0*V。

The table has an even surface that is good for table tennis.

这张桌子表面平整，适合打乒乓球ZISUZ2yM@t2^x3aA8。

Here, the top of the table is smooth. It is not rough.

在这个例句中，桌子的表面是平滑的，并不粗糙-g+rbcOC(Y。

We can use “even” as an adjective to describe something as normal or regular.

也可以把even用作形容词，来描述普通或正常的事物Jw695Z*7eA(HC。

For example: The doctor listened to her patient’s even heartbeat.

医生听了病人平稳的心跳-F^vM*p#!R-+lx@.X。

This statement means that the patient’s heart was beating at a regular speed.

这句话的意思是病人的心脏在以正常的速度跳动w@AAIoGXYvkh6。

Our last example of “even” as an adjective can be seen in the example below, meaning equal or balanced.

下面这个例句说明了even作为形容词的最后一个意思，表示均等或平衡W[LpY]9FI3z%。

I cut the cake into eight even pieces.

我把蛋糕切成均匀的八块h#cKf=1QEodh3I。

In this final adjective example, the cake is divided into eight equal parts.

在形容词的最后这个例句中，蛋糕被分成八个相等的部分jNS|EjliatYTwdD。

“Even” can also be used as an adverb to mean that the information is surprising in either a good way or a bad way.

even也可以用作副词，表示某个信息好得令人惊讶或坏得令人惊讶vn,=D-|0zknQn^9Hz!D。

Compare these examples:

比较一下这些例句：

I did not even know that she was arriving this weekend!

我甚至不知道她这个周末到达！

He even bought me flowers on our first date.

我们第一次约会时，他甚至给我买了花1Ybb8[%D5opALov5jseS。

Both examples show surprise or disbelief to something that was earlier not thought possible.

这两个例句都表示对早先认为不可能发生的事情感到惊讶或难以置信Bp)nywWf)PfO!rVR。

And finally, we can use “even” with other adjectives and adverbs to make a statement stronger.

最后，可以将even与其他形容词和副词连用，从而加强语气fWAFc2%I74[。

This summer could be even hotter because of climate change.

由于气候变化，今年夏天甚至可能会更热WCX2s1zZWPPr。

In this sentence “even” is a comparative adverb making hotter have a more intense meaning.

在这个句子中，even是一个比较级副词，使hotter的语义更强烈j0b=!naDXQPZAd&E58。

Please let us know if these examples have helped you, Ester!

请告诉我们这些例句是否对你有帮助，埃斯特！

And that’s Ask a Teacher. I’m Faith Pirlo.

以上就是本期《名师答疑》G^i)^SOInj[9。我是费思·皮尔洛.jy~HJjlf)1Q4*a。