對一個英文句子的文法不清楚,望大大解答

Question

They're organic molecules with a chemical structure like that of alcohol – except instead of oxygen atoms, there's a sulfur atom in its place – and that sulfur is what accounts for mercaptans' characteristic stench

1.上句中'' with a chemical structure''為何不用''with chemical structures''
　呢?是否用''with''是強調''有著....結構''故要用單數形來表示呢?

2.like that of alcohol的''that''是否指 ''a chemical structure ''呢?

3.''except instead of oxygen atoms''這句是指什麼呢?

Kevin兄,抱歉再請問你一下
1.故用''with chemical structures''在此是錯的嗎?

2.''除了oxygen atoms之外,那裡還存在著sulfur atom ''這樣翻對嗎?

3'' Instead of John, I want you to do the job.''我若寫成
'' I want you to do the job Instead of John.''是否可以呢?

Answer 1

1. 指該種分子的特定結構, 故用單數
2. 是的
3. 把原句寫成這樣:
... ; except (that) there's a sulfur atom replacing the original oxygen atom; ...
是否比較清楚?
* Instead of John, I want you to do the job.
= I want you instead of John to do the job.
我希望由你來做這工作, 而不是由約翰(來做).


2007-01-17 21:28:20 補充：
1.故用''with chemical structures''在此是錯的嗎?

應該說"不恰當".

2.''除了oxygen atoms之外,那裡還存在著sulfur atom ''這樣翻對嗎?

"唯一不同的就是硫原子取代了原本氧原子的位置"

2007-01-17 21:28:34 補充：
3'' Instead of John, I want you to do the job.''我若寫成
'' I want you to do the job Instead of John.''是否可以呢?

這樣寫會造成誤會:
"我是要你做這件工作, 不是把約翰做掉." ^_^
instead of 連接的兩個對等物件不要離太遠.