標籤: 不及物動詞

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Canvas (n.), canvass (n., v.)

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這兩個字發音相同，拼字僅一個字母之差，有時不免搞混，尤其是名詞複數時，一為 canvases，另一為 canvasses，稍一不慎就會把「馮京」看作「馬涼」。所幸，這兩個字的意思截然不同。

Canvas 僅當名詞用，意為「帆布；油畫布；帆布畫；油畫」，如 a canvas bag (帆布袋)；We spent two months living under canvas. (我們在帳篷裡住了兩個月) － under canvas 為一英式英語片語，意為「在帳篷裡」(= in a tent)；He bought the canvas for one thousand dollars. (他以一千美元買下這幅油畫)；The artist showed us her canvases. (那位畫家給我們看了她的油畫)。

Canvass 可當動詞和名詞用。當動詞時，這個字可以是及物或不及物，意為「(向…) 遊說；(為…) 拉票」，如 The president has spent the day canvassing in Kaohsiung. (總統在高雄遊說了一天)；He canvassed the district for votes. (他在選區裡拉票)；Party supporters were called on to help canvass for their candidate. (該黨的支持者被動員來為候選人拉票)；The justice minister has been canvassing support for his new crime bill. (法務部長一直在為新的刑事法案尋求支持)。

除上述外，當動詞用的 canvass 還意為「(廣泛) 徵詢 (意見)；詳細或徹底地討論」，如 I’ve been canvassing the views of our members about the suggestions. (我一直在廣泛徵詢會員們對建議的看法)；Various possibilities have been canvassed. (各種可能性都有討論)。至於當名詞用的 canvass，意為「遊說；拉票；討論」，如 door-to-door (or house-to-house) canvasses (挨家挨戶的拉票活動)。

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Q：I worry about you. 和 I am worried about you. 這兩句的意思一樣嗎? 含意有沒有不同呢?

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A：雖然這兩句的結構不同，I worry about you. 中的 worry 為不及物動詞，而 I am worried about you. 中的 worried 為分詞形容詞，但它們的意思幾無不同，皆為「我擔心你」或「我為你擔憂」；此外，它們的文法都正確。

然而，它們的含意並不相同。I worry about you. 是一般性或普遍性的陳述，是指說話者一直以來或大多數時間都為此人擔憂，是一種長期或持久性的擔憂，而 I am worried about you. 則有一項「現在」的元素存在，表示說話者對說話當時所見所聞或最近所發生的某一特殊情況的憂慮、擔心。為了讓讀者瞭解它們之間的語意差異，茲將這兩句加以延伸如下：

  1. I worry about you because I’m your mother. (我擔心你，因為我是你母親)
  2. I’m worried about you; you’re looking very thin. (我為你擔憂；你看起來好瘦哦)

母親向來都為子女操心，所以在第 1 句中，母親為子女擔憂是一種普遍性的情況，不是特殊情況。第 2 句為特殊情況，因為你平常可能體重很正常，但此時此景你看起來瘦巴巴的，所以我為你擔心。

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Planking

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澳洲 20 歲青年艾克頓．畢爾 (Acton Beale) 仆街，不慎從 7 樓陽台墜地摔死事件，成為各國媒體報導的焦點，因為這是全球首見的仆街死亡事件。

這種被英文媒體稱為 internet craze, web craze 或 online craze 的網路風潮，藉助於臉書等社群網站快速地向全世界蔓延、擴散，許多國家的仆街粉絲團紛紛成立，但截至目前以澳洲的人數最多，該國的臉書仆街粉絲團甚至訂 5 月 25 日為「仆街日」。不過，中國的「飄浮姐」、日本的「漂浮少女」和台灣的「仆街女孩」亦吸引了不少追隨者。

仆街的英文就是本文的標題 planking。這個字每本字典都可查得到，但沒有一本有「仆街」的意思，可謂英文舊字新義的代表作之一，它的原義為「地板的板材」(planks used for making a floor)。仆街之所以叫做 planking，乃因仆街者全身筆直，面朝下，「仆倒」在著名景點、甚至匪夷所思的地方，身體僵硬如 (厚) 木板 (plank)。當然啦，仆街之後還要拍照並將照片上傳到網路與粉絲分享才算完成整個仆街過程。

仆街的人或仆街客叫做 planker，而仆街的動詞則是 plank。To plank 似乎僅當不及物動詞用 (筆者在撰寫本文之前已閱讀多篇 planking 的文章和報導，還未見到及物動詞的用法，故做此推斷)，如 A man is planking on a motorcycle. (一名男子正仆街在機車上)；Three women planked in the tree. (三名女子在樹上仆街)。

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Q：在英文報紙上看到 Winter is come! 這樣的句子。我想這個句子應該是對的，不然他們不會這麼寫。不過，我還是不懂，為什麼一個句子中可以把兩個動詞放在一起呢? 不是要寫成 Winter is coming. 嗎?

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A：無論是 Winter is come. 還是 Winter is coming.，都是正確的句子，但意思不同。首先來看 Winter is coming.，其意為「冬天即將來臨」，這是用現在進行式來表示不久即將發生的事情。至於 Winter is come.，句中的 come 是過去分詞，當主詞補語，而不是現在式 (come 的動詞三態是：come, came, come)，所以這句的意思是「冬天已來臨」或「冬天來了」。

有一個文法觀念必須建立，那就是：不管及物或是不及物動詞，它們的過去分詞都可以作形容詞用，當主詞補語。由於不及物動詞不能有被動態，所以就不及物動詞而言，「BE + P.P.」就相當於「have + P.P.」的主動完成式結構，意為「已經…」；至於及物動詞，由於「BE + P.P.」就是被動態，所以它相當於「have + been + P.P.」的被動完成式結構，意為「已經被…」。請看下面的例句：

  • Winter is come. (冬天來了)
    = Winter has come.
  • You can watch TV when your homework is completed. (作業做完後，你可以看電視)
    = You can watch TV when your homework has been completed.
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Q：The criminal possessed three guns. 為何不能改成被動態的 Three guns were possessed by the criminal. 呢?

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A：大家都知道，英文的被動語態是由 BE + 及物動詞的過去分詞所構成，換言之，不及物動詞是沒有被動態的。因此，有人便以為所有及物動詞都可用於被動態。其實不然，有些及物動詞並沒有相應的被動態。問題中的 possess 就是這樣一個沒有相應被動態的及物動詞。茲將一些比較常見的沒有被動態的及物動詞臚列如下，供大家參考。

1. 意為「擁有」、「容納」、「缺少」、「由… 組成，構成」的及物動詞，如 possess, hold, lack, comprise 等，不能用於被動態。例如：

  • Bill Gates possesses great wealth. (比爾蓋茲擁有大量財富)
    Great wealth is possessed by Bill Gates. (誤 — 因為 possess 不能用於被動態。以下錯誤的句子亦適用這項說明)
  • The cinema holds about 500. (這家電影院能容納約 500 人)
    About 500 are held by the cinema. (誤)
  • Mr. Wang usually lacks confidence. (王先生經常缺乏信心)
    Confidence is usually lacked by Mr. Wang. (誤)
  • The country comprises 26 provinces. (這國家有 26 個省/這國家由 26 個省所組成)
    Twenty-six provinces are comprised by the country. (誤)

2. 意為「適合」的及物動詞，如 become, fit, suit 等，不能用於被動態。例如：

  • This sort of behavior hardly becomes a person in your position. (這種行為與一個有你這樣地位的人簡直不相稱)
    A person in your position is hardly become by this sort of behavior. (誤)
  • That color really suits her. (那種顏色跟她真的很相配)
    She is really suited by that color. (誤)
  • This dress fits me very well. (這件衣服非常合我的身)
    I am fitted very well by this dress. (誤)

3. 意為「意味，意思是；相似，相像」的及物動詞，如 mean, resemble 等，不能用於被動態。例如：

  • The red light means “Stop”. (紅燈意味「停」)
    “Stop” is meant by the red light. (誤)
  • She resembles her sister in appearance but not in character. (她的外表像她姊姊，但個性不像)
    Her sister is resembled by her in appearance but not in character. (誤)

4. 意為「明白，理解，領會」的及物動詞，如 catch, get, take 等，不能用於被動態。例如：

  • I didn’t quite catch your last point. (我不太明白你說的最後一點)
    Your last point wasn’t quite caught by me. (誤)
  • She took me wrong. (她誤解了我的意思)
    I was taken wrong by her. (錯誤)

5. 意為「有、吃、接受、度過、經歷」等的及物動詞 have，不能用於被動態。例如：

  • I have three sons and two daughters. (我有三兒二女)
    Three sons and two daughters are had by me. (誤)
  • I have already had dinner. (我已吃過晚餐)
    Dinner has already been had by me. (誤)
  • We will have a good Spring Festival. (我們將會過一個愉快的春節)
    A good Spring Festival will be had by us. (誤)

6. 意為「維持，夠用」的及物動詞 last，不能用於被動態。例如：

  • This food will only last them three days. (這些食物只夠他們吃三天)
    They will only be lasted three days by this food. (誤)
  • This dress has lasted me three years. (這件衣服我已穿了三年)
    I have been lasted three years by this dress. (誤)

7. 意為「價值，花費」的及物動詞 cost，不能用於被動態。例如：

  • The house cost me a lot of money. (這棟房子花了我很多錢)
    I was cost a lot of money by the house. (誤)

8. 意為「(不幸事件) 發生於，降臨在」的及物動詞 befall，不能用於被動態。例如：

  • Some misfortune must have befallen them. (某種災禍必定已降臨在他們頭上)
    They must have been befallen by some misfortune. (誤)
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Q：He wanted to find a companion to travel. 這句對嗎?

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A：不對! 這牽涉到不定詞放在名詞之後當後置修飾語的問題。當不定詞放在名詞之後作形容詞用時，若該不定詞為不及物動詞，則它的後面需有適當或必要的介系詞。就問題的句子而言，由於 companion 是 travel 的受詞，而 travel 是不及物動詞，當不及物動詞要接受詞時，其後須有介系詞，所以這句若改為 He wanted to find a companion to travel with. (他想找個旅行的同伴) 或改為意思稍微不同的 He wanted to travel with a companion. (他想要和同伴去旅行) 就對了。

由於有不少人在寫英文時往往會漏掉這麼一個重要的介系詞，因此有必要再多舉幾個例子來做說明：

  • He has a big house to live. (他有一棟大房子可住) (誤)
  • He has a big house to live in. (正)
    = He has a big house which/that he can live in.
    = He has a big house in which he can live.
    (由於 live 是不及物動詞，所以要接受詞 house 時，其後須有介系詞 in — to live a big house 是錯的，必須寫成 to live in a big house)
  • I need a friend to talk. (我需要找個朋友來談一談) (誤)
  • I need a friend to talk with. (正)
    (由於 talk 是不及物動詞，所以要接受詞 friend 時，其後須有介系詞 with — to talk a friend 是錯的，必須寫成 to talk with a friend)

同樣地，下面例句的不定詞也需要介系詞，否則就錯了：

  • They have no children to take care of. (他們沒有小孩要照顧)
  • She wanted to have a chair to sit on. (她想要有張椅子來坐下)

當不定詞的動詞為及物時，它們就不需要介系詞了。例如：

  • I have a lot of homework to do. (我有許多家庭作業要做) (do 是及物動詞，直接接受詞，無需介系詞 — to do a lot of homework)
  • Give me something to eat. (給我食物)
  • Would you like something to drink? (你想要喝東西嗎?)
  • I need a book to read. (我需要找本書來讀一讀)
  • Do you have anything more to say? (你還有其他事情要說嗎?)

當不定詞的動詞可為及物或不及物時，必須根據句意來判斷是否需要介系詞或需要什麼介系詞。請看下面的例句：

  • I have nothing to write. (這句的 write 是及物動詞，直接接 nothing 當受詞，所以這裡的 nothing 是表示「沒有要書寫的內容」)
  • I have nothing to write with. May I use your pen? (這句的 write 是不及物動詞，是說我有東西要寫，但沒有筆可寫 — with 後面接書寫工具，也就是筆，所以這裡的 nothing 是表示「沒有筆」)
  • I have nothing to write on. Please give me a piece of paper. (這句的 write 也是不及物動詞，是說我有東西要寫，但沒有紙讓我寫在上面，所以這裡的 nothing 是表示「沒有紙」)
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Replace, substitute (vv.)

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Replace 意為「取代，代替；更換，替換」，而 substitute 意為「取代；代替」，但這兩者並非同義詞，因為它們的用法並不相同。replace 僅當及物動詞用，而 substitute 則可當及物和不及物動詞，如 He’ll have to replace those tires; they’re badly worn. (他必須更換那些輪胎；它們磨損得太厲害了)；George has replaced John as captain of the team. (喬治接替約翰當了隊長)；Susan is ill and Laura is to substitute her. (蘇珊病了，羅拉將代替她)；George has substituted as captain of the team. (喬治代任隊長)。

這兩個動詞最大的差異在於其後所接的介系詞，replace 後面可接 with 或 by (尤其是在被動態中)，而 substitute 都是接 for，如 We’ve replaced old calculators with/by computers. (我們已用電腦取代了舊式的計算機)；Her photograph was replaced by his painting. (她的照片被他的畫取代了)；Home-made parts are being substituted for imported ones. (國產零件取代進口零件)。

必須注意的是，許多人搞不清楚這兩個字在上下文中的替代關係：to replace A with/by B 意為「用 B 來替換 A」，亦即 A 被 B 所取代，而 to substitute A for B (or A be substituted for B) 意為「用 A 來替換 B」，亦即 B 被 A 所取代。例如：

I replaced her photograph with/by his painting. (我用他的畫代替她的照片)。
= I substituted his painting for her photograph.
= Her photograph was replaced by his painting.
= His painting replaced her photograph.
= His painting was substituted for her photograph.

儘管目前 substitute 被用來代替 replace 的情況有越來越多的趨勢，但謹慎的人士仍堅守並維持它們之間的不同。

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Divide, divide up (vv.)

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Divide 可當及物和不及物動詞用，經常與介系詞 into 和 in 連用 (divide sth into pairs/groups/parts 等等)，意為「分；分成；劃分；分割」，如 The teacher divided the class into three groups. (老師把全班分成三個小組)；The film divides into two distinct halves. (影片分成明顯不同的兩半)；He divided his students in half. (他將他的學生分成兩半)。這動詞亦常與 among 和 between 連用 (divide sth between/among sb)，意為「分配；分發；分享」，如 The children divided the candy between/among themselves. (孩子們把糖果分吃了)；After his death his property was divided between/among his children. (他死後，他的財產由他的孩子們平分)；The chamber was nearly equally divided between conservative and liberal deputies. (議會中保守派和自由派議員的人數幾乎各半)；The prize money will be equally divided between/among the three winners. (獎金將由三名優勝者均分)。

Divide 亦不時與 from 連用 (divide sth from sth)，意為「使分開；使隔開」，如 A low wall divides our garden from theirs. (一道矮牆把我們的花園和他們的隔開)；The railway divides his family’s land from the plains below. (鐵路把他家的土地與下面的平原隔開)。這動詞還可跟 over, on 和 upon 連用來表示「分裂；意見分歧」的意思，如 The Board of Directors divided on [upon, over] the new project. (董事會對這個新計劃意見分歧)；My family divided on [upon, over] almost every political issue. (我家人對幾乎每個政治議題都各持己見)。此外，divide 與 with 連用的情況亦所在多有，其句型與 divide sth between/among sb 等量齊觀，即 divide sth with sb，意思同樣為「分配；分發；分享」，如 Work out how you would like to divide the money with us. (商量一下，你打算如何跟我們分這筆錢)；You have to divide the cake with your sister. (你必須跟你妹妹分吃這塊蛋糕)。

Divide 也是數學上不可或缺的用字，其後接 by (divide sth by sth)，意為「除以」，若接 into (divide sth into sth)，則意為「除」，如 10 divided by 2 is/equals 5. (10 除以 2 等於 5)；Divide 10 by 2 (10 除以 2 或用 2 除 10)；2 divides into 10 5 times./Two divides into ten 5 times. (2 除 10 得 5)；Divide 2 into 10 (2 除 10)。divide by 除了「除以」的意思外，還有一個比較普遍化的意思，那就是「使分歧；使分裂」，如 The ruling class was divided by internal conflicts. (統治階級因內部衝突而分裂)；We are divided by our nationalities, our languages, and our religions. (我們因國籍、語言和宗教信仰的不同而分歧)。

至於 divide up，這片語與 divide 完全同義，意為「分成；分開；分割；分配；分發；分享」，如 The prize money will be equally divided up between/among the three winners. (獎金將由三名優勝者均分)；The teacher divided the class up into three groups. (老師把全班分成三個小組)；a secret Soviet-German pack for dividing/dividing up Europe in 1940 (1940 年瓜分歐洲的蘇德秘密條約)。職是之故，divide up 跟 break up, think up 及其它與 up 組成的片語一樣，在某些情況中會被視為贅詞，因為 up 被認為是多餘的。然而，divide 和 divide up 都是正規英語。這些 up 組成的片語動詞有些是慣用語 (break 和 break up 並非相同的動作 — break 可意為「打破」或「打碎」，而 break up 一定是「打碎」)，有些是用來加強語氣或基於文體的需要。當 up 可省略時，保守派人士通常選擇省略 up 以求文體的簡潔。

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Awake, awaken, wake, waken (vv.)

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這四個動詞大致上可視為同義詞，它們皆可當及物和不及物動詞用，也都有字面和比喻的意思，前者意為「喚醒；弄醒；(使) 醒來」，後者意為「喚起；激起；使認識到；使意識到」。

Awake 的過去式可以是 awaked 或 awoke，而過去分詞可以是 awaked 或 awoken，但通常使用 awoke 和 awoken：The thunder awoke me. (雷聲把我驚醒了)；He awoke to the sound of birds chirping. (他被啁啾的鳥叫聲叫醒了)；I awoke to find myself alone. (我一覺醒來發現只有自己一個人)；His father tried to awake him to a sense of duty. (他父親試圖使他認識到自己的責任)；We must awake to our responsibilities. (我們一定要認識到自己的職責)。awaken 是個規則動詞 (awaken, awakened, awakened)：I was awakened by their shouts. (我被他們的喊叫聲吵醒)；He awakened her at six. (他在六點時叫醒她)；He has awakened to new challenges. (他已意識到新的挑戰)；She awakened at six. (她六點鐘醒來)。

Wake 的過去式可以是 waked 或 woke，而過去分詞可以是 waked 或 woken，但通常使用 woke 和 woken：She usually wakes (up) early. (她通常早起)；John woke to a quiet knocking on his door. (約翰被一陣輕輕的敲門聲給叫醒了)；The bad news finally woke the country to the danger of war. (壞消息傳來，終於使國人意識到即將發生戰爭的危險)。wake 後面經常接介系詞 up，是一個相當常用的片語動詞：I woke up at six this morning. (今天早晨我六點鐘醒來)；Please wake me up at 7:00. (請在七點鐘叫醒我)。waken是個規則動詞 (waken, wakened, wakened)：He wakened early that morning. (那天早晨他很早就醒了)；I was wakened by their shouts. (我被他們的喊叫聲吵醒)；All this wakened the local government to the need for safety precautions. (所有這些使當地政府認識到必須採取安全預防措施)。

一般而言，awake 和 awaken 用在比喻意思的情況比較多，而 wake 和 waken 用在字面意思的情況比較多。就使用頻率而言，awaken 比 awake 常用，而 wake 比 waken 常用。

除做動詞外，這四個字當中的 awake 還可當形容詞用，而 wake 還可當名詞用。awake 用做形容詞時意為「醒著的；認識到的，意識到的」，但不可用在名詞之前：I managed to stay awake long enough to watch the video. (我強忍著不睡看完了錄影帶)；I was already wide awake before the alarm went off. (鬧鐘還沒停，我就已完全醒了)；We are fully awake to the dangers of the situation. (我們充分意識到局勢的危險)。在上面的例句中，stay awake 意為「保持醒著的」，而 wide awake 意為「完全醒著的；頭腦清醒的」，它們都是頗為常見的片語。wake 用做名詞時意為「守夜；守靈；(船航行時留下的) 航跡，尾波，尾流」，通常用在 in the wake of 或 in sb’s/sth’s wake 中 — 這兩個片語意為「尾隨，緊跟在…後面；隨著…而來，作為…的結果」：The car left clouds of dust in its wake. (車子後面揚起一片塵土)；An inquiry has been set up in the wake of the crash. (墜機發生後，調查隨之展開)。