形近动词辨析

英语中有许多动词词形相似,而其意义有的差别很大,有的非常容易混淆,因此需要特别注意.下面是历年四级考试中经常出现的几组形近动词,笔者对其进行了简要分析并配以例句,希望能对读者有所帮助.

1. assure, ensure, insure

1) assure表示"保证,使放心",常用作"assure sb. that..." 或 "assure sb. of sth. ".例如:

He assured me that he would come. 他向我保证他一定会来.

I can assure you of the reliability of the news. 我可以向你保证这消息是可靠的.

2)ensure表示"确保,保证",常用作"ensure that..." 或 "ensure sb. sth. ".例如:

We can ensure that the work shall be done in the right way. 我们可以保证把工作做好.

A good sleep ensures you quicker recovery.充足睡眠保证你早日康复.

3)insure表示"保险,投保"(常与against连用).例如:

It is advisable to insure your life against accident. 最好参加人寿保险,以防意外.

2. conserve, deserve, preserve, reserve

1)conserve表示"保护;保存".例如:

People have to learn to conserve water anytime, especially during the drought. 大家必须学会节约用水,特别是在干旱期间.

2)deserve(常与to 连用)表示"值得;应受;应该得到".例如:

These people deserve our help.这些人值得我们帮助.(这些人应该得到我们的帮助.)

3)preserve表示"维护;维持(秩序、和平等);防腐".例如:

The town council spent a lot of money to preserve the old castle and other places of historic interest. 该市政会花了很多钱来维修那座古城堡和其它古迹.

You can preserve meat or fish in salt. 你可以用盐保存肉或鱼.

4)reserve表示"保留;预订,预约".例如:

I have reserved a room for you at the hotel. 我已在旅馆为你预订了一个房间.

3. require, request, inquire, acquire

1)require常用被动语态,正式用语,表示"需要,要求,命令";常用结构为: require doing sth.,require that..., require sth. of sb. 或 require sb. to do sth. .例如:

The floor requires washing. 地板该擦了.

I require two children to help me. 我需要两个孩子来帮我的忙.

2)request(语气委婉)表示"请求,恳求,邀请";常用结构为: request sth. from/of sb. , request sb. to do sth. 例如:

I requested him to use his influence on my behalf. 我请求他为我使用他的影响力.

We request the honour of your company at dinner. 谨备便酌,敬请光临.

3)inquire与of, about连用表示"问,询问";与into连用表示"调查".例如:

I'll inquire about the flights. 我要打听有关航班的情况.

We inquired into his story, and found it was true. 我们调查了他所讲的事情,发现属实.

4)acquire表示"获得,取得".例如:

She acquired a knowledge of English by careful study. 她认真学习而精通英语.

4. attribute, contribute, distribute

1)attribute与to连用表示"归因于......;被认为是......写的".例如:

David attributed his company's success to the unity of all the staff and their persevering hard work. 大卫说他们公司的成功归功于全体员工的团结和坚持不懈的努力工作.

This tune is usually attributed to Chopin. 这个曲子通常被认为是肖邦写的.

2)contribute常与to连用,表示"捐献,贡献";引申为"有助于......,促成......".例如:

People tried their best to contribute food and clothing to the poor. 人们尽力捐助食品和衣物救济贫民.

Heavy drinking contributed to his ruin. 酗酒造成他的毁灭.

3)distribute常与to/among连用,表示"分发, 分配, 分布".例如:

The company distributed its profits among its workers. 该公司把利润分给工人.

5. transplant, transform, transport, transmit, transfer

1)transplant表示"移植(植物);移植(器官)".例如:

Some seedlings do not transplant well. 有些幼苗不适宜移植.

2)transform表示"使变形,使改观;转变,改造".常用作"transform sth. into sth. else".例如:

Success and wealth transformed his character. 成功和财富改变了他的性格.

3)transport表示"运输,运送".例如:

The goods were transported by train. 货物是用火车来运输的.

4)transmit表示"传输, 发射;遗传, 传播".常用作"transmit sth. to sb. /sth.".例如:

Parents transmit some of their characteristics to their children. 父母把一些特征遗传给子女.

5)transfer表示"迁移,调动,转移,换车".常用作"transfer sb. /sth. from ...to ...".例如:

He has been transferred from the Shanghai branch to the Beijing branch.他已经从上海分公司调到北京分公司了.

6. involve, evolve, resolve, revolve

1)involve常与in/with连用,表示"牵涉;拖累,使陷入;涉及".例如:

Don't involve other people in your trouble.别把别人牵涉到你的麻烦中去.

This lesson involves a lot of work.这一课需要做的工作有很多.

2)evolve常与from连用,表示"(使)发展, (使)进化".例如:

The developmental history of the society tells us that man has evolved from the ape.社会发展史告诉我们,人是从类人猿进化来的.

3)resolve与into连用,表示"分解";与that.../to do...连用,表示"下决心(做)......".例如:

This mixture resolves into two substances.这种混合物会分解成两种物质.

It was resolved that a new city hall (should) be built.已经决定了要建新的市政厅.

4)revolve常与around/round/about连用,表示"转动,旋转;考虑,细想".例如:

The wheel is revolving around its axis.轮子在轴上转动.

He revolved the main points in his mind.他在心里思索要点.