await，wait

這兩個(gè)詞都是動(dòng)詞，又都有“期待”、“等候”之意，但用法有所不同，它們的區(qū)別如下：

(一)await是及物動(dòng)詞，后面直接接賓語(yǔ);wait雖然也可用作及物動(dòng)詞，但在現(xiàn)代英語(yǔ)中，一般作不及物動(dòng)詞用，與for，to，till，until等詞連用。

(二)await的賓語(yǔ)大都是抽象名詞，如：decision，reply，arrival，announcement，return等;wait for的賓語(yǔ)一般是人或事物。

The judge awaits the coroner’s inquest before giving a verdict.

法官在作裁決前等待驗(yàn)尸官的調(diào)查。

I have been waiting for her for an hour at the bus stop.

我在公共車站等候她已一小時(shí)了。

(三)await之后接動(dòng)名詞;wait之后接動(dòng)詞不定式。例如：

We shall await hearing further from them.

We shall wait to hear further from them.

我們?cè)陟o候他們進(jìn)一步的消息。

(四)await多用于書面語(yǔ);wait 多用于口語(yǔ)。如：

This plan awaits the approval of the board of directors.

這項(xiàng)計(jì)劃有待董事局批準(zhǔn)。

I have been waiting here for a long time.

我已在這里等了好久了。

(五)wait 除作動(dòng)詞外，還可用作名詞。例：

I had a long wait for the train.

我等火車等了好久。

They pursue a policy of wait and see.

他們采取等待和觀望的政策。

如上所述，wait在特定情況下也可以用作及物動(dòng)詞，例如：to wait your turn;to wait one’s opportunity.

請(qǐng)注意下列句子中await和wait的使用場(chǎng)合：

We await (or wait for)your reply.

We wait for(不能用await)you to reply.

I shall wait to bring her home.(不能用await)

I await (or wait for)your ruling on the matter with some impatience.

當(dāng)await的主語(yǔ)是沒有生命的事物而賓語(yǔ)是人時(shí)，await表示 be in store或lie in wait for之意。如：

On arriving at the guest house，he found a telegram awaiting him.

Little did he realize what a surprise awaited him at home.

A hearty welcome will await you.

請(qǐng)注意，Time and tide wait(s)for no man(歲月不待人)的wait既可以加s，亦可不加s.