一般说来,among用于三者或三者以上的“在……中间”,其宾语通常是一个表示笼统数量或具有复数(或集合)意义的名词或代词;而between主要指两者之间,其宾语往往是表示两者的名词或代词,或者是由and连接的两个人或物。
1. between 表示某人(物)在两个或者两个以上的为数不多的单独的人或物之间;among表示某人(物)在一群人/一组人/一堆人或物中间,通常是三者以上,是不被单独看待的。如:
She was standing between Alice and Mary.我站在Alice和Mary中间。
She was standing among a crowd of children.她站在一群小孩中间。
Our house is between the wood,the river and the viliage.我们的房子在树木,河流和小镇中间。
His house is hidden among the trees.他的房子隐藏在树林中间。
2. between也可以用在三者以上的事物中间,表示一物和数物之间的关系,如:
a little valley between high mountains.小村庄在大山中间。
I saw something between the wheels of the car.我看到某物在车轮中间。
3. divide……between,share ……between(在……之间分享) 可以用在单数名词前,当在复数名词前使用时,between/among都可以使用,如:
He divided his money between his wife,his daughter and his sister.他把钱分给了妻子,女儿和妹妹。
I shared the food between/among all my friends.我把食物跟我所有的朋友分享了。