"what is worse" 是英语中常用的递进衔接短语,字面直译是“更糟糕的是”“更坏的是”,用于引出比前文所述情况更严重、更不利的后续内容,强化“情况雪上加霜”的逻辑。
它本质是插入语/独立成分,功能是连接前后两个“糟糕的事件”,突出后者的严重性。用法上需注意以下几点:
句首(引出后续糟糕情况):
What is worse, I lost my phone while waiting for the taxi.
(更糟糕的是,我在等出租车时丢了手机。)
句中(衔接两个糟糕事件):
I missed the last train, and what is worse, I had no money for a taxi.
(我没赶上末班车,更糟糕的是,我连打车钱都没有。)
日常对话中更简洁,含义完全一致:
I have a fever. What's worse, I have a meeting tomorrow.
(我发烧了。更糟的是,我明天还有个会。)
"what is worse" 本身不充当句子成分,后面必须接完整的陈述句,说明“更糟糕的具体内容”:
❌ 错误:What is worse, lost my key.(缺少主语)
✅ 正确:What is worse, I lost my key.(完整句子)
与 "to make matters worse"(“使情况更糟的是”)含义和用法几乎一致,可互换:
It rained heavily. To make matters worse / What's worse, the roof leaked.
(雨下得很大。更糟的是,屋顶漏雨了。)
含义:更糟糕的是;
功能:递进强调“情况更坏”;
用法:插入语,放句首/句中(逗号分隔),后接完整句子;
口语缩写:what's worse。
通过例子体会最直观,再练两句:
1、 She failed the exam. What is worse, she didn't even prepare for it.
(她考试挂科了。更糟的是,她根本没复习。)
2、 My car broke down on the highway. What's worse, there was no signal for help.
(我的车在高速上抛锚了。更糟的是,连求救信号都没有。)