人教社出版的普通高中课程标准实验教科书《英语1(必修)》的第 5 页有这样一个句子:
What’s the weather in Beijing tomorrow?
但笔者认为此句似有不妥,似应在the weather 后加上介词 like,或将 what 改为 how,因为按英语习惯,询问天气时的两个常用句型是(意思相同,但表达不同):
What’s the weather like?(用what,其后有介词like)
How’s the weather?(用how,其后没有介词like)
请看有关实例:
◆《朗文英语语法》第13.34.2节:
What’s the weather like today? 今天天气如何?
◆《朗文当代高级英语词典》第4版 weather 词条:
What’s the weather like today? 今天天气怎样?
◆《朗文英语词汇用法手册》weather 词条:
What’s the weather like today? 今天天气怎样?
◆《张道真英语语法》第310页:
How is the weather today? 今天天气怎样?
◆《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》第四版 complain 词条:
“What was the weather like on your holiday?” “Oh, I can’t complain.” “你度假时天气怎么样?”“没说的(要多好有多好)。”
◆《英语常用词多用途词典》how 词条:
在询问天气时,以下两类句型同义 (注意what后连用了like):
How is the weather today?=What is the weather like today? 今天天气怎么样?
◆《外研社・建宏英汉多功能词典》weather 词条:
How will the weather be tomorrow?=What will the weather be like tomorrow? 明天的天气会怎样呢?
◆《中国人学英语想当然错误300例》第211页:
……
以下各例也要根据搭配不同而分别选用what 和how:
今天天气怎么样?
正:How is the weather today?
正:What is the weather like today?
这个用英语怎么说?
正:How do you say it in English?
正:What do you call it in English?