year after year与year by year的区别

■year after year可用作状语，有时也可用作主语或宾语，主要强调时间之长久（for many many years）。如：

They worked there year after year. 年复一年他们就工作在那儿。

It’s always the same, year after year. 年年总是如此。

He sent money year after year to help the poor. 他年年送钱帮助穷人。

The town remains the same year after year. 这座城镇年复一年仍是原样。

■year by year 通常用只作状语，含有逐渐（gradually）转变的意思。如：

Things are getting worse year by year. 情况一年年变糟。

Prices tend to rise year by year. 物价总是一年一年地往上涨。

Year by year their business grew. 他们的生意一年一年地发展了起来。