"Happy Thanksgiving"

We know their backgrounds, their beginnings, and how they have changed over time.

我們知道它們的背景、起源以及它們如何隨時間演變。

Happy is, and always has been, a positive word.

快樂一詞過去一直是，現在也仍然是個正面的字。

The online etymology dictionary says the word dates to the thirteen hundreds, at the time it meant lucky, favored by fortune, prosperous, as well as very glad.

線上詞源字典指出，該詞可追溯至十三世紀，當時其意為幸運、受命運眷顧、繁榮昌盛，以及非常喜悅。

Soon after, it came to mean greatly pleased and content.

不久之後，它開始表示非常滿意和滿足。

The dictionary also tells us that the majority of the words for happy in European languages first meant lucky.

該字典還告訴我們，歐洲語言中大多數表示快樂的字最初都意指幸運。

From the word happy, we also have a noun form, happiness.

從快樂這個字，我們也衍生出名詞形式：幸福。

When we compare the adjective happy with the noun happiness, we find that English speakers use happy much more often.

當我們將形容詞快樂與名詞幸福比較時，發現英語使用者使用快樂的頻率遠高於幸福。

That information comes from Google's Ngram Viewer, an online database that examines thousands of books.

這些資料來自谷歌的Ngram Viewer，這是一個檢視數千本書籍的線上資料庫。

We have learned a little about the history of the adjective happy, so how do English speakers use it in modern times?

我們已對形容詞快樂的歷史有了一些了解，那麼英語使用者在現代如何使用它呢？

Perhaps the most common usage is after linking verbs.

也許最常見的用法是在系動詞之後。

These are verbs that link their subjects with their predicates.

這些是連接主語與謂語的動詞。

Adjectives are commonly used after linking verbs to describe the subject.

形容詞常用於系動詞之後來描述主語。

Google's ngram viewer says some of the most common structures involve the verb be.

谷歌的Ngram Viewer指出，一些最常見的結構涉及動詞be。

For example, you are very likely to hear or read, "I am happy," or "He was happy."

例如，你很可能會聽到或看到「我很快樂」或「他過去很快樂」。

We also use happy with other kinds of linking verbs, feel, seem, and others.

我們也將快樂與其他類型的系動詞搭配使用，如feel、seem等。

Happy is also used with intensifiers, words that make an adjective stronger.

快樂也常與強調詞連用，這些詞能讓形容詞更強烈。

Two of the most common, Google's Ngram Viewer tells us, are so and very.

谷歌的Ngram Viewer告訴我們，其中最常見的兩個是so和very。

These intensifiers are then used along with linking verbs.

接著，這些強調詞會與系動詞一起使用。

Consider these examples: You look so happy.

請看以下範例：你看起來如此快樂。

We are very happy.

我們非常快樂。

They seem so happy.

他們看起來如此快樂。

In all of these examples, the structure is linking verb plus intensifier plus happy.

在所有這些範例中，結構都是系動詞加上強調詞再加上快樂。

A few final words on the modern usage of happy.

關於快樂的現代用法，最後再談幾點。

You are also likely to hear the adjective happy used to express kind wishes around some holidays, Thanksgiving for one.

你也可能會聽到用形容詞快樂來表達某些節日的祝福，感恩節就是其中之一。

In America, you will often hear statements such as this: "Happy Thanksgiving."

在美國，你經常會聽到這樣的說法：「感恩節快樂」。

These statements are a kind of sentence fragment, or an incomplete sentence.

這些說法是一種句子片段，或不完整的句子。

There is no subject.

沒有主語。

The subject and main verb are understood between the speakers.

主語和主要動詞是說話者之間心照不宣的。

A complete sentence would be "I wish you a happy Thanksgiving," or "I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving."

完整的句子應該是「我祝你有個快樂的感恩節」或「我希望你度過一個快樂的感恩節」。

We shorten these sentences because the first part is understood.

我們縮短這些句子是因為前半部分已被理解。

That is how we arrive at happy Thanksgiving.

這就是我們得出「快樂感恩節」的方式。

In today's report, we explored one word, happy.

在今日的報導中，我們探討了一個字：快樂。

You learned about its history and common usages with linking verbs and intensifiers, as well as holiday wishes.

你學習了它的歷史和與系動詞及強調詞的常見用法，以及節日祝福。

You may or may not celebrate Thanksgiving where you live, but we can end this lesson by wishing you a very happy day.

你可能或不會在你居住的地方慶祝感恩節，但我們可以透過祝你度過愉快的一天來結束這堂課。

I'm John Russell.

我是約翰·羅素。