in bed和on the bed都有“在床上”的意思,但含义有不同:in bed往往指某人“躺在床上”: on the bed往往指某物“放在床上”。试比较下列两句:
John is reading in bed. Thereare a lot of picture-books on thebed.
约翰正躺在床上看书,床上放着许多图画书。又如:
(1) Don't readin bed. It will hurtyour eyes.
不要躺在床上看书,这会伤害你的眼睛。
(2) She sees a new red boxon her bed.
她看见床上一个新的红盒子。
这里还要注意一点,汉语说,“在……上”,英语往往用介词on,但也有用in 。例如:在街上:in the street;在早上:in the morning;在床上:in bed;在报纸上:in the newspaper;在树上:in the tree.
·石零·