區(qū)別1
兩者均表示“獨(dú)自”、“單獨(dú)”,有時(shí)可互換。如:
He likes living alone (或by himself). 他喜歡獨(dú)居。
區(qū)別2
兩者均不可用very 修飾,但可用all 修飾。如;
Can you finish the work all alone? 你一個(gè)人能完成這工作嗎?
He went to see the film all by himself. 他獨(dú)自一人去看了電影。
區(qū)別3
在表示人數(shù)方面,alone (側(cè)重指沒(méi)有外人)不如by oneself(指絕對(duì)一人)那樣絕對(duì)。如:
誤:I want to be by myself with Mary.
正:I want to be alone with Mary. 我想單獨(dú)與瑪麗在一起。
區(qū)別4
alone 還可放在名詞或代詞之后,表示“僅僅”、“只有”(與only 同義,但only 放在名詞或代詞之前),by oneself 不能這樣用。如:
He alone can do it . ( = Only he can do it. ) 只有他才做得了。