Avoid mixing up the usage of “below” and “following”

Distinguish between using “below” and “following” 區分「below」和「following」的運用

T  : Thomas.  M :  May

M : Hi Thomas! Great to bump into you here. So crowded here!

T : I guess it’s a kind of flea market. Let’s move over there.

M : Sure. But before we do that, can you answer a question for me? I saw just now a couple of signs over there, right by the entrance, and I somehow found the English not quite in order. I took a shot of these. Take a look.

T  : Hmm…(taking a glance of the photo)"Please read the below terms and conditions before using the mobile charging services"

M : What do you think?

T  : Well…we can’t use the word “below” like this, because “below” is a preposition and can function as an adverb, but not as an adjective. So, for this sentence the word “following”, which functions like an adjective, should have been used, or the sentence could be rewritten, for example: “Please read the terms and conditions as indicated below…”

M : Thank you, Teacher! You explained so well.

T  : Time to move over there through the crowd. Are you ready?

M : 嗨，Thomas！很高興在這裡碰見你，這裡很熱鬧 !

T  : 我想這裡應該是跳蚤市場。我們不如入內逛逛。

M : 好的。不過，我們入內之前，我想請教一下，我剛才在那邊入口，看到一些指示，有些英文句子好像有些不妥。我拍了照片，請你看看。

T  : 嗯⋯⋯（瞥了照片）"Please read the below terms and conditions before using the mobile charging services "

M : 你覺得怎樣？

T  : 其實⋯⋯這情況我們不能使用「below」，因為按英文文法，「below」屬介詞，充當副詞的作用，它不是形容詞。因此，這句應該改用具有形容詞作用的 「following」，或者改寫句子， 例如：「Please read the terms and conditions as indicated below⋯⋯」

M : 謝謝謝老師！你解釋得很好。

T  : 是時候越過人群入內逛逛，你準備好好了沒有﹖