我先查词典：
do without (sb/sth)
(used esp with can and could 尤与can和could连用) manage without sb/sth 不用或没有某人[某事物]也行
He can't do without (the services of) a secretary.他不能没有秘书（的协助）.
If we can't afford a car,we'll just have to do without (one).我们要是买不起汽车,也就只好不用（汽车）了.
I could have done without being (ie I wish I hadn't been) woken up at 3 o'clock in the morning.其实用不着在清晨3点钟就把我叫醒吧.
.分割线.
do with sth
(a) (used with can and could to express a need or desire for sth 与can和could连用,表示需要或希望得到某事物)
You look as if you could do with (ie as if you need) a good night's sleep.你看来似乎需要好好睡上一夜.
I could do with a stiff drink!我想要一杯烈酒.
(b) (used in the negative with can and could 用於否定句中,与can和could配合使用) tolerate sth 忍受某事物
I can't do with his insolence.我忍受不了他那傲慢无礼的态度.
If there's one thing I can't do with,it's untidiness.假若说有什麽东西我无法忍受的话,那就是不整洁.
英语选择题.选哪个为什么?
If there was one thing John couldn't do __________ ,it was coffee
A without it B with it C with D without
答：此题有争议.参考答案很有可能是D,因为出题者很有可能是根据上面词典中的那个例句改写的题句.C也是通的,但就生活实际而言,咖啡不象芥末,很少有人受不了它的.
析：John...逗号为止为限制性定语从句,前面省略了在从句中作宾语的关系代词that,所以排除AB.
译：C：如果有什么东西约翰无法忍受的话,那就是咖啡.
D：如果有什么东西约翰不能没有的（少不了的）话,那就是咖啡.
