matter用法

一、matter作可数名词，意为"事情；问题；情况"。作不可数名词，意为"物质；材料；东西"。例如： 

Let's leave that for the moment. We have more important matters to think about. 
让我们先把那事搁一边吧。我们还有更重要的事情需要考虑呢。 

The universe is made up of matter. 宇宙是由物质组成的。 

I have nothing to do now. Could you offer me some reading matter? 
我现在无事可做。你能给我点儿可读的东西吗？ 

二、matter作动词，意为"有关系；要紧"。通常用于否定句和疑问句，句中常常含有what, who, where, if等词，一般以it作主语。例如： 

It doesn't matter if I miss the train, because there's another later. 
我要是误了这趟火车也不要紧，因为晚些时候还有一趟车呢。 

Does it matter a great deal to her whether they come or not？
他们是否来，这与她有很大关系吗？ 

三、由matter构成的常用短语。 

1. no matter 

①不要紧；无关紧要。此短语可单独用，也可接that, whether引导的从句。例如： 

-I can't repair the mobile phone. 
我不会修手机。 

-No matter. I'll do it myself. 
没关系。我自己来。 

There is no matter whether he has worked abroad. 
他有没有在国外工作过都没关系。 

②no matter+特殊疑问词；意为"无论......"，用来引导状语从句。例如： 

No matter where you go, please let me know. 无论你去哪里，请告诉我一声。 

2. the matter意为"有问题；出毛病；麻烦事"，常常同不定代词anything, something, nothing等连用，意为"有点儿什么问题"或"没有什么问题"等。例如： 

-Is there anything the matter? 
有什么问题吗？ 

-Of course, there's something the matter.
当然，有问题。 

-I heard he fell off the truck. Anything the matter with him at present? 
我听说他从卡车上摔下来了。他现在怎么样了？ 

-Nothing the matter. Thank you. 
没事了。谢谢你。 

3. as a matter of fact
事实上(用来加强语气)。例如： 

As a matter of fact, I know nothing about the matter. 
事实上，我对此事一无所知。 

4. for that matter
都一样（用于指出所说的两件事物中，后说的与先说的性质一样）。例如： 

Don't talk like that to the elder, or to anyone else for that matter. 
不要跟长辈那样说话，其实跟谁也不要那样。 

5. (be) a matter of (doing) sth. 
取决于某事。例如： 

Success in business is simply a matter of knowing when to take a chance. 
商业上的成功就在于懂得对时机的把握