後接動名詞或不定詞的動詞 (意思不同)

dreadMary dreaded going back to work. (瑪麗害怕回去工作)
Dread 通常後接動名詞。
I dread to think of the consequences of these actions. (我不敢想這些行動的後果)
Dread 有時跟 think 或 consider 的不定詞連用,意為「不敢想」,經常用於口語中。
forgetI forgot taking my medicine. (我忘了已吃過藥)
Forget 後接動名詞時意為「忘記做過某事」。
I forgot to take my medicine. (我忘了吃藥)
Forget 後接不定詞時意為「忘了去做某事」。
needThis fence needs fixing. (這個柵欄需要修理)
Need 後接動名詞時帶有被動的意思。上句亦可寫成 “This fence needs to be fixed.”。
I need to buy a coffee. (我需要買杯咖啡)
I need him to buy a coffee. (我需要他去買杯咖啡)
Need 通常後接不定詞或受詞 + 不定詞。
regretI deeply regretted losing my temper. (我為自己發了脾氣而深感後悔)
Regret 通常後接動名詞,意為「對已做過的事 (感到) 遺憾、後悔」。
We regret to inform you that your contract will not be renewed. (我們很遺憾地通知你,你的合約將不能續簽)
Regret 有時跟 inform, tell, say 等動詞的不定詞連用,即 regret to inform/tell/say,表示遺憾地通知/告訴/說 (壞消息),亦即對要做 (而尚未做) 的事遺憾。
rememberI vividly remember meeting her in Taipei once. (我清楚地記得曾在台北見過她一次)
Remember 後接動名詞時意為「記得做過某事」。
Paul remembered to turn off the lights and close the windows before he left. (保羅記得離開之前關燈和關窗戶)
Remember 後接不定詞時意為「記得去做某事」。
stopI stopped smoking for health reasons. (我基於健康因素戒菸了)
Stop 通常後接動名詞,意為「停止做某事」。
I stopped to smoke. (我停下來去抽菸)
Stop 後接不定詞時意為「停下來去做某事」。上句意為我停下手邊任何工作而去抽菸。
tryI’m going to try growing my own vegetables. (我將嘗試自己種蔬菜吃)
Try 後接動名詞時意為「嘗試、試著做某事 (看看會有什麼效果或結果);做某事試試 (看看會有什麼效果或結果)」。
Amy tried eating the frog soup. (艾美嘗試吃青蛙湯)
上句相當於 She ate the frog soup, but she really didn’t like it or didn’t want to eat it again. (艾美吃了青蛙湯,但她真的不喜歡或不想再吃這種湯)
I’m going to try to grow my own vegetables. (我將設法自己種蔬菜吃)
Try 後接不定詞時意為「努力、設法或試圖做某事)」。
當 “try to do” 用於過去式時,係表示做某事沒有成功。
Amy tried to eat the frog soup. (艾美試圖吃青蛙湯)
上句相當於 She tried to eat the frog soup, but she couldn’t. (艾美試圖吃青蛙湯,但她沒有吃)

後接受詞 + 不定詞的動詞

動詞 + 受詞 + 不定詞的句型有兩種情況,第一種情況為受詞 (名詞或受格代名詞) 是必要的,而第二種情況為受詞是選擇性的,可有可無。就第一種情況的動詞 + 受詞 + 不定詞句型而言,動詞部分包括亦可接動名詞當受詞的 advise, allow, encourage, permit, require, urge 等。


受詞為必要的動詞 + 受詞 + 不定詞句型

advise

I advised John to study abroad. (我建議約翰出國唸書)

allow

The manager doesn’t allow us to speak aloud. (經理不允許我們講話太大聲)

cause

The divorce caused him to begin abusing alcohol. (離婚使他開始酗酒)

convince

I convinced him to marry his daughter to my son. (我說服他把他女兒嫁給我兒子)

enable

Money from his father-in-law enabled Jason to buy the house. (岳父給傑森的錢使他有能力買下這棟房子)

encourage

Amy encouraged me to study abroad. (艾美鼓勵我出國留學)

force

I force myself to do exercise every day. (我強迫自己每天做運動)

get (使役動詞)

I couldn’t get them to understand what I was saying. (我沒辦法讓他們理解我說的事情)

hire

Paul hired a private detective to trace his wife. (保羅雇用一名私家偵探跟蹤他太太)

invite

Cindy invited all of us to take part in her birthday party. (辛蒂邀請我們所有人參加她的生日派對)

order

The police ordered the suspect to put his hands in the air. (警察命令嫌犯舉起雙手)

permit

Sarah won’t probably permit you to stay overnight at her house. (莎拉大概不會允許你在她家過夜)

remind

The professor reminded us to hand in our reports on time. (教授提醒我們準時交報告)

require

The agreement requires all parties to renounce the war of words. (協議要求所有黨派放棄口水戰)

tell

The teacher told us to shut up. (老師叫我們閉嘴)

urge

The mayor urges the citizens to recycle bottles and paper. (市長呼籲市民回收瓶子和廢紙)

warn

Richard warned his wife not to eat too much. (理查告誡他太太別吃太多)

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動名詞與不定詞 – 高級篇

13. 若干動詞後面可接動名詞或不定詞,但意思不同。

例句:

  • Charlotte remembered getting divorced. (夏洛特記得已經離婚) - remember 接動名詞表示記得做過某事 (事情已做過)。
  • Vincent remembered to prepare dinner. (文森特記得要準備晚餐) - remember 接不定詞表示記得去做某事 (事情還未做)。

14. 若干動詞後面可接動名詞或不定詞,意思並無太大差異或意思相似。

例句:

  • Iris likes swimming. (愛麗絲喜歡游泳)
  • Iris likes to swim. (愛麗絲喜歡游泳)

雖然這些特定動詞接動名詞和不定詞的意思差異甚小,而且動名詞和不定詞往往可以互換使用,但含意仍有不同。使用動名詞係表示你是指實際的活動或經驗,而使用不定詞係表示你談的是潛在或可能的活動或經驗。由於這項含意上的小差異,動名詞和不定詞並非每次都可以互換,如下面的例句所示。

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動名詞與不定詞 – 中級篇

7. 動名詞可以用且經常用 your, his, her, its, our, their, John’s, Mary’s, the computer’s 等所有格來修飾,這可更明確地指出動作的執行者。

例句:

  • I enjoyed their dancing. (我喜歡他們的舞蹈 - 是他們在跳舞)
  • Amanda understood Lance’s saying no to the offer. (阿曼達理解蘭斯拒絕這項提議 - 是蘭斯拒絕提議)
  • Mr. Wang complained about Maria’s coming to class late. (王老師抱怨瑪麗亞上課遲到 - 是瑪麗亞上課遲到)
  • Simon resented our coming late to the dinner. (賽蒙不滿我們晚餐遲到 - 是我們遲到)
  • They discussed the computer’s being broken. (他們討論了電腦被弄壞的事情 - 是電腦被弄壞)

然而,在非正式情況中,吾人往往使用受格而不用所有格。例如:

  • Mr. Wang complained about Maria coming to class late.
  • Simon resented us coming late to the dinner.

此外,以 Mr. Wang complained about Maria’s coming to class late. 這句為例,由於 coming to class late 發生在 Mr. Wang complained 之前,所以亦可使用完成式動名詞 (perfect gerund):Mr. Wang complained about Maria’s having come to class late.

8. 若干動詞後接名詞 + 不定詞。在某些情況中,名詞是必要的,但在其他情況中,則是選擇性的,可有可無。

例句:

  • The platoon commander ordered his soldiers to fire. (排長下令士兵開火) - 名詞是必要的。
  • The teacher asked to leave the classroom. (老師要求離開教室) - 名詞可有可無。
  • The teacher asked Gary to leave the classroom. (老師要求蓋瑞離開教室) - 名詞可有可無。

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動名詞與不定詞 – 初級篇

1. 動名詞 (gerund) 是由動詞加 “-ing” 所形成的名詞。動詞 eat 的動名詞為 eating。動名詞在句子中可用作主詞、受詞或補語。動名詞當主詞時,接單數動詞。

例句:

  • Smoking damages your lungs. (抽菸會破壞你的肺) - 主詞。
  • You should quit smoking. (你應該戒菸) - 受詞。
  • Her favorite hobby is smoking. (她最喜歡的嗜好是抽菸) - 補語。

動名詞可以在其前加上 not 來變成否定。

例句:

  • I enjoy not working in cold weather. (我喜歡天冷不用上班)
  • The best thing for your health is not smoking. (對你健康最有益的事就是不抽菸)

2. 不定詞 (infinitive) 是帶 “to” 的動詞。動詞 read 的不定詞為 to read。不定詞在句子中也可用作主詞、受詞或補語。不定詞當主詞時,也是接單數動詞。

例句:

  • To read helps you learn English. (閱讀有助於你學習英文) - 主詞。
  • John wants to read. (約翰想要閱讀) - 受詞。
  • The most important learning method is to read. (最重要的學習方法就是閱讀) - 補語。

不定詞可以在其前加上 not 來變成否定。

例句:

  • Helen decided not to marry. (海倫決定不結婚了)
  • The most important thing is not to eat too much. (最重要的事就是別吃太多)

3. 雖然動名詞和不定詞在句中皆可用作主詞或補語,但在口語中,動名詞聽起來會比較正常、自然,而不定詞聽起來則比較抽象。在下面的例句中,動名詞聽起來比較自然,所以在日常生活中比較常用或常見。不定詞強調的是某事的可能性,聽起來比較抽象。如果讀者一時之間還搞不太懂上面的說明,那也沒關係,只要記住一件事就好:90% 的場合或時機都是使用動名詞當主詞或補語。

例句:

  • Reading is important. (閱讀很重要) - 正常的主詞。
  • To read is important. (閱讀很重要) - 抽象的主詞,比較少用或少見。
  • The most important learning method is reading. (最重要的學習方法就是閱讀) - 正常的補語。
  • The most important learning method is to read. (最重要的學習方法就是閱讀) - 抽象的補語,比較少用或少見。

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Kid credentialing

跟歐美學生申請大學一樣,在台灣,現今如果你想在未來甄試時獲得加分,以提高進入理想學校的機會,那麼在甄試前最好參加一些活動或比賽,或是參加英檢或其他檢定,多拿一些證書,要不然就是當短期志工,累積經驗與經歷,也是不錯的方法。當然了,如果你很會唸書,學測可以考得很好,那你大可不必去理會這些煩死人的枝枝節節。

這種甄試制度其實並不公平,甚至會使原本就不平等的學校教育變得更加惡化,因為許多時候,參加校外活動或比賽是需要花錢的,甚至花大錢,就連參加英檢或其他檢定,同樣所費不貲。這對有錢人的子弟當然比較有利。這些有錢的父母親挾其財力優勢,安排、鼓勵或強迫他們子女參加各式各樣的校外活動,「經驗」與「經歷」自是高人一等,弱勢學生根本沒得比。不過,弱勢父母還是不能因此自暴自棄,起碼也要盡人事聽天命,這就是為什麼筆者在一年多前聽說在捐血活動上當志工亦能拿證書後,積極鼓勵剛上高中的小女兒要把握機會參加的原因,只是這個機會迄今都還沒出現,看來前途堪慮。

事實上,筆者早已對社會諸多不公平現象「無感」,因為己力單薄,再大聲亦是狗吠火車,無啥路用,何必跟自己過不去呢?今天之所以再次抒發上述的不平之鳴,完全是為了配合本文標題的需要,因為 kid credentialing 的意思就是「(父母親) 叫子女參加各種活動、比賽、課程或研習拿證書,以累積將來申請大學或大學甄試時加分的本錢」。簡短的兩個英文字就能表達這個複雜的過程或者中文落落長的說法,真是不亦快哉!下面為兩段摘錄自國外新聞媒體的相關文章,提供大家參考。

The goal made or missed at eight years old might not matter, but the skills acquired by engaging in competition do matter to elite schools and employers—emphasizing the real connection between the achievement gap and this accepted system of kid credentialing. (The Atlantic, November 13, 2013)

Middle-class parents are understandably anxious to give their kids the best chance possible in life. That’s why they are willing to invest more in “kid credentialling” than ever. That’s why the word “parent” has turned from a noun into a verb. (The Globe and Mail, November 16, 2013)

Credential 這個字可當名詞和動詞用,當名詞時須拼成複數型,即 credentials,意為「資歷;證書;證件;(大使遞交派駐國的) 到任國書」,如 The new ambassador presented his credentials to the president. (這位新大使向總統呈遞到任國書);當動詞時意為「給予或授予證書」(to grant credentials to; to supply with credentials)。本文標題中的 credentialing 為動名詞。

Being 和 been 的差異

Being 是 BE 動詞的現在分詞,而 Been 是 BE 動詞的過去分詞。有些人還是三不五時會被這兩個看似簡單的分詞所搞混。這裡提供一個規則讓大家參考,been 一定用在 have (及其他 have 形式,如 has, had, will have 等) 之後,而 being 絕不會用在 have 之後。Being 是用在 BE 動詞之後 (及其他 be 形式,如 are, were, is, was 等)。例如:

  • She is being very clever today. (她今天表現得很聰明) (正)
  • She has being very clever today. (誤)
  • They have been busy. (他們一直很忙) (正)
  • They are been busy. (誤)
  • Sophia has being working at that big company. (蘇菲亞一直在那家大公司工作) (誤) - being 不可位在 have 或 has 的後面。

Being 可用作名詞。例如:

  • A human being (人;人類)
  • A strange being stepped out of the spaceship. (一個奇怪的人步出了太空船)

Being 亦可用作動名詞 (動名詞也是名詞類,用法與名詞相同)。例如:

  • Do you like being so careless? (你喜歡這麼粗心大意嗎?)
  • The accident was caused by his being so clumsy. (這起事故肇因於他太笨手笨腳了)
  • I live in terror of not being misunderstood. (我活在不被誤解的恐懼中)。這句話語出英國大文豪王爾德 (Oscar Wilde) - 竟然有人希望被誤解,以被誤解為榮。

一般而言,現在分詞和過去分詞都可以當形容詞來修飾名詞,但 being 和 been 不行。例如:

  • Broken vase (破碎的花瓶) (正)
  • Deleted file (刪除的檔案) (正)
  • Cooking oil (烹飪油) (正)
  • Jogging girl (慢跑的少女) (正)
  • The been car (無意義) (誤)
  • The being flower (無意義) (誤)

低頭族

英文:phubber (n.)

說明:這個字 (u 的發音與 but 或 cut 之 u 的發音相同) 是由 phone (手機) + snubber (冷落他人者) 組合而成。其動詞為 phub,意為「在社交場合只顧著低頭玩手機而冷落朋友」,而 phubbing 為現在分詞或動名詞,意為「在社交場合只顧著低頭玩手機而冷落朋友的行徑」。這幾個新字目前都還未被字典所收錄,但已被全球各大英文新聞媒體廣泛採用。

例句:

  • The number of phubbers has risen dramatically in recent years. (最近幾年低頭族的人數急遽增加)
  • Phubbing is a growing modern social scourge. (低頭玩手機不理會他人的行徑,是現代社交一項越來越嚴重的禍害)

Allow, permit (vv.)

Allow 意為「准許;允許;容許」,而 permit 意為「准許;允許」,兩者都有准許和允許的意思,但含意卻有不同。譬如說,在 Schools do not _____ smoking. 這句中,吾人只能使用 permit,不可用 allow,原因請看下面的說明。

Allow 通常指不反對,含有聽任或默許之意,著重於消極的不反對,如 Swimming is not allowed at this beach. (這個海灘禁止游泳);Walking on the grass is not allowed. (不准踐踏草地);His father allowed him to smoke. (他父親不反對 (聽任或默許) 他抽菸)。

Permit 通常指當局、規定或法令等的「准許,允許 (某人做某事)」,強調正式的允許、許可,如 The use of mobile phones is not permitted inside the aircraft. (航空器內禁止使用手機);The rules of the club do not permit smoking. (這個俱樂部規定不准吸煙);You are not permitted access to the confidential data. (你不准接近機密資料)。

必須注意的是,allow 和 permit 都可接動名詞當受詞,但不可直接接不定詞,須先接受詞才能接不定詞,如 Her parents won’t allow him to study abroad. (她的父母不會讓他出國唸書);The judge permitted the suspect to be released on bail. (法官允許嫌犯交保獲釋)。現在將這兩個字放在同一句中來凸顯它們的之間的差異,如 The nurse allowed Tony to remain in the hospital,though it was not permitted. (護士讓東尼留在醫院,但按規定那是不許可的)。

再者,allow 和 permit 也都可接雙受詞,如 I allow my daughter five hundred dollars for books. (我給我女兒五百塊買書);We are only allowed a day off every year. (我們只准每年休一天假) / The company only allowed employees a day off every year. (這家公司只准員工每年休一天假 - 這措施顯然違法,不可能是公司的正式規定);We are not permitted access to the scene during the investigation. (調查期間我們不允許進入現場) / The authorities did not permit us access to the scene during the investigation. (調查期間當局不允許我們進入現場)。

Begin, start, commence (vv.)

這三個動詞均意為「開始」,幾乎可視為同義詞,因為其含意僅 begin 和 start 之間有細微的差異。Begin 是最常用或最廣泛使用的字,但它僅表示某個動作、程序或過程的開始 (to set some action, process, or course in motion),如 Work on the new gym will begin next month. (建造新體育館的工作將於下月開始);My troubles began the moment I met Linda. (我的麻煩從我邂逅琳達那一刻就開始了)。

Start 在大多數情況中都可與 begin 互換,但 start 比較「明確」,凡是有身體動作或者動作、程序或過程有起點,一般都使用 start 來表示,如 The World Championships start in two weeks’ time. (世界錦標賽將在兩週後開始);They started a journey. (他們開始旅行了);We start work at 8.30 every morning. (我們每天早上八點半開始工作)。

Commence 的含意與 begin 完全相同,但前者是個正式用字,大多用在正式書面文件、正式儀式或其他正式場合中,或用來表示某種正式行動的「開始」,如 The lawyers are preparing for the trial, which commences in 30 days. (律師正在為這場將於 30 天後開始的審判進行準備);If everyone has arrived, the meeting may now commence. (如果人都到齊了,會議現在就可開始了)。

值得一提的是,begin, start 和 commence 當及物動詞時後面皆可接動名詞或不定詞。例如:

  • When did you begin learning/begin to learn English? (你何時開始學英文?)
  • When did you start to learn/start learning English? (你何時開始學英文?)
  • She commenced to cry/commenced crying. (她開始哭了起來)

然而,當 begin, start 或 commence 本身為進行式時,其後只能接不定詞,不可接動名詞。例如:

  • The buds were just beginning to open. (花蕾剛剛開始綻放)(正)
  • The buds were just beginning opening. (誤)