Question

英语语法问题

1、There is major difference between dialects in pronunciation yet a minor difference in vocabulary and grammar.
这句话里的between是什么作用
2、there has been a declining number of people speaking dialects in recent years
这句话里的speak为什么要加ing呢

Answer 1

between是个介词表两者之间。如we divided the money between us.我们两人把钱分了。there is not much difference between American English and British English.
speaking 是现在分词短语，修饰people 作定语，相当who引导定语从句。

Answer 2

1、There is major difference between dialects in pronunciation yet a minor difference in vocabulary and grammar.
between表示将两者进行对比，也就是将dialect A和dialect B两种方言进行对比
与between类似的词是among，表示的三者或三者以上
句意是：两种方言里，主要区别是发音，而词汇和语法的区别很小。
2、There has been a declining number of people speaking dialects in recent years.
speaking是现在分词作后置定语，修饰people，people speaking dialects意思是讲方言的人
句意是：近年来，讲方言的人数持续减少。