表示“描述”,通常只用作及物動詞,用法注意:
1. 除接名詞作賓語外,還通常接 wh-從句。如:
Words can’t describe her beauty. 言語無法形容她的美麗。
It’s difficult to describe how I feel. 很難描述我的感受。
Please describe exactly what happened. 發生了什么事,請原原本本說出來。
2. 不接雙賓語。若語義需要,可用介詞 to/for 引出間接賓語。如:
你能將你所見到的情況描述給我聽聽嗎?
誤:Can you describe me what you saw?
正:Can you describe what you saw to me?
正:Can you describe to me what you saw?
3. 表示“把……形容為(說成是)……”,通常與 as 連用。如:
She described him as shy. 她說他很害羞。
He describes himself as an aritist. 他自稱是藝術家。
He was described as (being) very clever. 據說他很聰明。
4. 在現代英語中,其后可接動名詞。如:
He described going downstairs and finding his motherlying on the floor. 他描述了他走下樓梯,發現他母親躺在地板上。