台灣國中英文老師教的規則：「兩者用 between、三者以上用 among。」——這個規則只對一半。寫 IELTS 寫到 Task 1 比較圖表時，幾乎所有人都該用 between——即使有十個項目。

真實的規則

| 用法 | 用 | 範例 | |------|-----|------| | 個別物件之間的關係 (不論幾個) | between | the difference between Taiwan, Japan and Korea | | 群體中混雜、不分個體 | among | the virus spread among students |

關鍵不是數量，是有沒有把對象當作可區分的個體。

為什麼是 Taiwanese 特有錯誤

中文「之間」一個詞涵蓋兩種——再加上老師教的「兩 vs 三」簡化版，台灣考生在 Task 1 寫 the gap among the three countries 是常態錯誤。

6 個 ❌ vs ✅ 對比

| ❌ Wrong | ✅ Correct | 為什麼 | |---------|-----------|--------| | The difference among Taiwan, Japan and Korea | The difference between Taiwan, Japan and Korea | 三個被列舉的個體 | | Sit between the audience. | Sit among the audience. | 群眾中沒個別性 | | The agreement among the two countries | The agreement between the two countries | 標準兩者 | | Cooperation between all member states | Cooperation among all member states | 強調整體成員 | | The dog ran between the trees. | The dog ran among the trees. | 一群樹、不分個體 | | Between five candidates, only one was selected. | Among five candidates, only one was selected. | 整體中挑出一個 |

Task 1 圖表描述：用 between

當你比較多個列出的國家、年份、類別時——即使十個——用 between：

The largest gap between the four countries was in 2010, when Germany consumed twice as much energy as Spain.

Spending between 2000 and 2020 rose steadily. ✓ (兩個年份)

The difference between men and women in part-time employment narrowed significantly. ✓

Quick Drill — 填入 among 或 between

  1. The sum was divided _____ the three winners.
  2. There is fierce competition _____ the candidates.
  3. The illness spread quickly _____ the children.
  4. The trade agreement _____ China and the EU was signed.
  5. _____ many factors, climate change is the most urgent.
  6. The bird flew _____ the branches.
  7. The relationship _____ the brothers improved.
  8. The gap _____ rich and poor has widened.
  9. Trust _____ team members is essential.
  10. _____ the four candidates, only one had teaching experience.

Answer Key

| # | 答案 | 為什麼 | |---|------|--------| | 1 | between | 三個被列出的個體 | | 2 | among | 一群候選人，不分個體 | | 3 | among | 群體中擴散 | | 4 | between | 兩個個體 | | 5 | Among | 多項因素中 | | 6 | among | 一群樹枝 | | 7 | between | 兩個個體（兄弟） | | 8 | between | 兩組個體（富人/窮人） | | 9 | among | 群體成員間 | | 10 | Among | 從一群中挑 |

記住這一條

有沒有列舉出來 是關鍵。between A, B and C 合法。the difference between 永遠合法。寫 among 時心裡想「群體中、不分個別」。

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