英语中有许多
心理状态的动词,它们都是及物动词,大都含有“使……”的意思。常见的有:amaze使惊奇, amuse使快乐、使好笑, astonish使惊奇,
annoy使烦恼, bore使厌烦, irritate使恼怒, worry使担忧, delight使高兴, disappoint使失望,
discourage使沮丧, dumbfound使目瞪口呆,move使感动, encourage使受鼓舞, excite使兴奋,
frighten使害怕, inspire使受鼓舞, interest使感兴趣, please使高兴,fascinate使着迷,
puzzle使迷惑, relax使放松, satisfy使满意, surprise使惊奇, terrify使害怕, tire使疲劳,
trouble使麻烦, upset使不安, confuse使混乱, bewilder使迷惑, depress使沮丧,
disgust使厌恶。这些动词的用法有以下特点:
1. 这些动词作谓语时,其宾语只能是表示人的名词或代词;主语大多为表示引起某种感情的事或物的名词。如:
the good service here satisfied the tourists. 这儿的良好服务使游客感到满意。
his speech inspired us all a great deal. 他的演讲使我们大家倍受鼓舞。
2. 这些动词的现在分词常与物连用,在句中既可作定语又可作表语。如:
this is a boring report. 这是一个令人厌烦的报告。
the situation was more puzzling than ever before. 局势变得更加捉摸不定。
3. 这些动词的过去分词常与人连用,在句中作表语或定语。如:
the excited children couldn’t go to sleep all night long.
这些兴奋的孩子整个晚上无法入睡。
we were disappointed at his words. 听了他的话,我们很失望。
4. 有时也可见到这些动词的现在分词和人连用,过去分词与物连用的现象,但有时在意思上有所不同。如:
she is an amusing girl. 她是一个讨人喜欢的女孩。
there was puzzled expression on his face. 他脸上流露出迷惑不解的表情。
比较:
there was a puzzling expression on his face. 他的脸上流露出令人不解的表情。
5. 这些动词的被动形式表示主动意思,其后面引起心理反应的人或物,常用by, with, at引导。如:
she is bored with his flatteries. 她听腻了他的奉承话。
we were surprised about his lucky success. 我们对他的侥幸成功感到惊奇。
6. 这些动词的名词形式有些可以构成“to
one's + 名词”短语,意为“使某人……的是”。如:to one's surprise使惊奇的是, to one's
satisfaction使某人满意的是, to one's disappointment使某人失望的是, to one's
astonishment使某人震惊的是, to one's amusement使某人好笑的是, to one's
interest使某人感兴趣的是,等等。