●kind of和sort of 最常见的含义是：“种类”。除此之外，它们还有副词性的用法，意思相当于to some extent,in a certain way,rather(有几分，有点儿，相当)等含义。一般情况下，sort of和kind of 可以相互替换，现就其用法进行分类说明。一、kind of和sort of 修饰名词 1.a) kind of和sort of后通常用单数名词，意为“种类”。eg. What kind of / sort of tree is that? b)口语和非正式用语中后也有跟可数名词复数的eg.I 've met this kind of /sort of tourists 2.口语中kind of和 sort of还可指某人或某事物的情况说不准。eg.I had a kind of/ sort of holiday but Icouldn't really relax(我算是放了假了，但却未能真正信息)He gave a kind of /sort of smile and left the room(他像是笑了一下就离开了房间) 3. 用于be+kind/ sort of+名词的结构中.eg. He was kind of a fool.I won't tell you; it is sort of a secret.(我不告诉你，这有点是秘密) 二．Kind of和 sort of副词性用法1.修饰动词eg.I kind of thought you might forget(我有点认为你可能忘了) I sort of brushed my hair back with my hand(我随便用手把头发往后一掠) 2.修饰形容词eg. The minute I went in ,I was sort of sorry I'd come.(我一进去就有点后悔不该来) I feel kind of queasy.['kwi:zi] (我感到有点恶心)3.修饰副词 eg. He spoke sort of proudly(他说话带几分傲气)He has been acting sort of strangely lately(他近来行为有点古里古怪) 4.修饰动名词和分词 eg.What about you and me sort of stepping out?(我和你出去走走好吗？) After I got across the road ,I felt as if I was kind of disappearing(我穿过马路后，觉得自己好像失踪了似的)She was sort of mucked-mouthed(她可以说是个花嘴姑娘) 5.修饰不定式（只要出现在分裂不定式和不带to的不定式作表语的结构里）eg. I was beginning to sort of hate him(我开始有点恨他了) His job is kind of to nose others' privacy(他的工作有点像打探别人的隐私) 6. 修饰介词短语 eg. A guinea pig looks kind of like a rabit,but it has short ears（豚鼠有点像兔子，只是耳朵短些） 三．Kind /sort of还可后置，前面用逗号或破折号与句子隔开，作为对前面内容的补充eg. It looks like Shakespeare's play——sort of (它像是莎士比亚的戏剧——有那么几分像) 四．Kind of 和sort of在句子中的位置和一般副词一样，kind of /sort of的位置是：助动词、情态动词和系动词后，实义动词前eg. I was feeling sort of tired from the trip to New York and all (我去纽约一趟回来，觉得有点累) kind of/sort of的以上用法，大多数词典都把它注明为“俗语”,“口语”，“非正式用语”，“主要用于美国英语”等。但现在这种用法已为越来越多的人，包括英国人及许多受过高等教育的人所接受。这也充分显示了这两个短语在语言中生命力的强大。●type比kind和sort客观而正式，通常指同种类内部事物，或相同物体的不同型号。它表示的分类一般都是客观的甚至是科学的，有一定数据的标准，常译为“品种”、“类型”、“型号”。例如： (1) blood types 血型，some types of insects 几种昆虫 (2) He has bought a new type of computer. 他买了一台新型电脑。 (3) There are two types of rocks in this area. 该地区有两种不同类型的岩石。 (4) It's not my type of dress. 那不是我喜欢的服装样式。 type也可以用来指根据主观标准将人或物分成不同类型，但这种分法能使人信服，且内涵外延比较明确。此时，type与kind和sort可以互换使用。例如： (5) This type / kind / sort of wine is only made in China. 这种酒只在中国制造。
