die
1.die是不及物动词，不可用在被动语态。但died有时用作形容词，如George Bernard Shaw, died 1950和John Milton, born 1608 and died 1674或John Milton, born 1608, died 1674。
2.have died（完成时态）当然不错，但英美人除了对于死了不久的人以外，不用这语。如某人死了一天或一星期，可以说He has died。假使某人死了一年或十年，习惯说He is dead。He has died着重在“他现在已经死了而不像不久以前活着。”He is dead着重在“他是死了的而不是活着的。”即使对于死了不久的人，He has died也不及He is dead普通。
不但这样，说“某人在某日因某病死去”也往往用was dead代died。例如：Mr F. G. Nelson was dead of cancer on Monday.
3.died是一时的动作，所以不可说He has died for a week。说“他死了一星期”。该说He has been dead for a week或It is a week since he died。He died a week ago着重在死的日期而不着重在死了以后到现在的时期。
4.die用在进行时态作“渐渐死去”解，如He is dying是“他渐渐死了”。也就是“他快要死了”。He has been dying for a week是“他濒于死境已有一星期”。
但dying用在独立结构里有时是“渐渐死去”，有时是“死去”，比较下面两句：
- The old man dying（渐渐死去）, his sons shed tears silently.
- He was twice married, his first wife dying（死去）during his absence abroad.
5.说“因为…而死”通常用die of。例如：What did he die of? He died of cancer. He died of hunger. 和He died of old age. 在病名的前面有时用from。例如：He died from cancer.
6.die后面接形容词或名词，作“在死的时候是…”解。例如：He died rich. He died young. He died a hero. 和He died a martyr.
7.die（骰子）的复数形式是dice，习惯上“一粒骰子”说one of the dice而不说a die。也有人说a dice。
