"year by year"是一个副词短语,表示“逐年;一年一年地”,强调时间上的渐进过程和变化的积累(即每一年都有细微或明显的变化,整体呈现逐步发展的趋势)。
作为副词短语,它主要用来修饰动词、形容词或整个句子,说明动作或状态是“逐年发生/变化”的。位置灵活,可放在句首、句中或句尾。
Year by year, the small village has turned into a modern town.
(逐年,这个小村庄变成了一座现代化城镇。)
She has been improving her English year by year through consistent practice.
(通过持续练习,她的英语一年一年地在进步。)
The average temperature of the earth is rising year by year.
(地球的平均气温正在逐年上升。)
两者都和“年”相关,但侧重点完全不同:
year by year:侧重“变化”(每一年都有新的进展或不同);
year after year:侧重“重复”(每年都做同样的事或保持同样的状态,无变化)。
例子对比:① Year by year, his painting skills became more sophisticated.
(一年一年地,他的绘画技巧变得更精湛了。)→ 强调“进步(变化)”
② Year after year, they celebrate Christmas with the same tradition.
(年复一年,他们用同样的传统庆祝圣诞节。)→ 强调“重复(无变化)”
"year by year"常与表示“变化、增长、改善”的动词连用,比如:
change(变化)、grow(成长/增长)、improve(改善)、increase(增加)、decline(下降)等。
总结:"year by year"是描述“渐进变化过程”的高频短语,只要语境涉及“每一年都有发展/改变”,就可以用它来强调时间的积累效应~