本文立足于LongmanDictionary of Contemporary English、《英汉大词典》、MacmillanEnglish Dictionary、《现代英语用法词典》、OxfordAdvanced Learner’s Dictionary上的释义与示例,对ANXIOUS相关用法的出现频率进行评级(出现在一本词典上就算一星,最高等级为五星)。除了以上的五本词典,本文还参考了其他词典、语法书以及包括网络词典在内的网络资源,以期对重点、难点内容能够获得更深的理解。
本文首先根据释义将ANXIOUS的意思分为两大类,第一大类(中心概念词为worry)又分为两小类,分别与worried和worrying相关,第二大类则与eager相关。在各条释义下,又根据ANXIOUS所作的句子成分进行分类——形容词主要作表语和定语。最后根据ANXIOUS的搭配用法进行举例,兼做部分对比和注解。
一:焦虑的/令人焦虑的
1.焦虑的≈ worried
1)表语(即主语补语)
A. beanxious +介词
a. be anxious + about★★★★★
He was a bit anxiousabout the safety of the machinery.
Her parents were anxiousabout her poor health.
Mother felt anxiousabout the children who had been gone one hour toolong.
She was anxious abouther daughter being out so late at night.
对比:beworried + about ★★★★★
Doctors are worriedabout the possible spread of the disease.
I’m really worried aboutmy brother.
I told him I was worriedabout Mrs. Smith’s not being back.
b. be anxious + for★★★★★
We were anxious foryou.
He is anxious for hersafety.
注:此时,beanxious about与beanxious for几乎没有区别,都可以接人或物。
对比:beworried + for
I’mworried for those people who have nowhere to sleeptonight.(《英语搭配大辞典》)
c. beanxious + at★★
They became anxious ather delay/non-arrival.
注:beanxious at后似乎接的是具体的事件。
对比:beworried + at
They wereworried at the announcement.(《英语搭配大辞典》)
B. beanxious + that-clause★/lest-clause★
She was anxious that itmight be cancer.
He was anxious lest heshould lose the money.
对比:beworried + that-clause ★★★★★
I was worried wewouldn’t have enough money.
2)定语★★★★★
She gave me an anxiouslook.
对比:worried★★★★★
She gave me a worriedlook.
注:《英汉大词典》有这样一个较为特殊的例子,aworried day(提心吊胆的一天)。
2.令人焦虑的≈worrying
1)定语★★★★★
We had an anxious coupleof weeks waiting for the test results.
对比:worrying★★★★
It’s been a worrying fewweeks for us all.
This is a worryingdevelopment for small businesses.
注:worrying修饰的名词范围似乎要大得多。
2)表语★
The period of hisillness was anxious for us all.
对比:worrying★★★★
The situation isextremely worrying.
注:遗憾的是,《现代英语用法词典》未列出worrying词条。
二:急切的≈eager
——表语(即主语补语)
A. be anxious + for★★★★★
We were all anxious fornews.
对比:beeager for ★★★★★
She is eager for herparents’ approval.
B. beanxious +不定式
a. beanxious + to do★★★★★
The company is anxiousto improve its image.
对比:beeager + to do ★★★★★
I was eager to get backto work as soon as possible.
b. beanxious + for sb + todo★★★★
Why was she so anxiousfor me to stay?
对比:beeager + for sb + to do★★
I’m eager for you tomeet my new friends.
C. beanxious + that-clause★★★★★
Both sides were anxiousthat the agreement should be signed as quickly aspossible.
注:此处that从句是should引起的虚拟语气句型。
对比:beeager + that-clause★
I’m eager that youshould give up smoking.