问英语
原书主词条 · 3 个连续词条

afraid

原书 PDF 第 96—97 页

afraid1

问

《现代英语用法指南》(p.2)说：“一部分以a为字首的词……跟在所修饰的词后面……这些形容词是:afraid, alike, alive, alone, ashamed, asleep 和 awake。

但是,我却在英语原著中看到过这类形容词用作前置定语的例子:a really alive student

(一个真正有生气的大学生)。这如何解释呢?

答

以 a 为词首的形容词(ablaze, afraid, alike, alive, alert, aloof, ashamed, awake, averse, aware)大都用作表语,其中只有很少几个词可以用作定语,但要后置:

  1. Who's the greatest man alive? (OSD) 谁是在世的最伟大的人物？

  2. He has been able to tell us more about active volcanoes than any man alive. (New Concept English, Book 2) 他能够比当今的任何人讲述更多的关于活火山的情况。

但是, aloof, alert 和 alone, aware 却是例外, 它们偶尔可以用作前置定语:

  1. He is an alert boy. (LDCE) 他是个很机敏的孩子。

  2. an aloof character(CGEL) 一个冷漠无情的人物

  3. an aloof church 一座孤零零的教堂

  4. Would an aware, thinking person say such foolish things? (ECD) 一个懂事而有头脑的人会说这类蠢话吗?

  5. 关于 alone 的例句, 见 alone 2^{2} 。

此外,虽然单个的以 a 为词首的形容词通常不能用作定语,但是当它们本身有修饰语的时候,却大都可以用作前置定语:

  1. a somewhat afraid soldier (CGEL) 有点害怕的战士

  2. the fast asleep children (CGEL) 熟睡的孩子们

  3. a politically aware young man(ECD) 一个有政治觉悟的年轻人

Markdown：英语常见问题解答大词典-1.md · 5709—5744 行PDF：第 96 页 · afraid 1

afraid2

问

  1. What's there to be afraid? Pluck up courage and face the critical situation. (大学生竞赛题)(应将 afraid 改为 afraid of)

  2. Will you be able to come to the meeting? ____ A. I'm afraid not. B. I'm sorry not. C. I'm not afraid so. D. I'm sorry that "no". (Nelson, 300A)

  3. Man: Well, I suppose I must take Introduction to Engineering. Woman: I'm afraid you must, but you needn't worry. It's only two hours per week. Third voice: What did the woman mean? A. She is afraid it's a waste of time. B. She thinks it's quite necessary. C. She thinks it will be all right. D. She is afraid he can't learn much. (EPT 教程)

我觉得上面三个句子中的afraid的用法是有区别的，但又说不清它们之间到底有什么区别。

答

第一句中的 afraid 必须通过介词 of 引出补足语。

  1. She is mortally afraid of snakes. (LDCE) 她非常怕蛇。

  2. What was there to be afraid of? (Wilde) 有什么可害怕的?

  3. She was afraid of what he might say. (Sinclair) 她很害怕他可能说出来的话。

在第二个句子里，I'm afraid 用于委婉地提出不同意见或拒绝对方要求。

  1. “Are we on time?” “I'm afraid not.” (LDCE) “我们准时吗?”“恐怕不是。”

  2. “Would you like a swim?” “I'm afraid I didn't bring a bathing suit.” “你想游泳吗？”“很遗憾，我没有带游泳衣。”

在第三个句子里，I'm afraid 用于使语气变得缓和、委婉，因为 you must 的语气太直、太强硬。

  1. “Are we late?” “I'm afraid so.” (LDCE) “我们迟到了吧?”“恐怕是这样。”

  2. I'm afraid you are wrong. (ECD) 恐怕是你错了。

Markdown：英语常见问题解答大词典-1.md · 5745—5780 行PDF：第 97 页 · afraid 2-3

afraid3

问

I'm very much afraid I have burned a hole in the rug. [原译] 我真害怕, 我在地毯上烧了一个洞。(书) afraid 在这里作“害怕”解吗?

答

表语形容词 afraid 除作“害怕(fearful, terrified)”解之外, 还可以作“抱歉”“遗憾”(regretful, sorry)解。

[试译]真对不起……

Markdown：英语常见问题解答大词典-1.md · 5781—5790 行PDF：第 97 页 · afraid 2-3