在英語中used to…, be used to…, be used to do…, be used as/for…等用法容易混淆,為了幫同學們弄清它們的用法,現總結如下:
一、used to do sth.
used to中的 to是不定式符號,后加動詞原形,表示“過去常常做某事(而現在已不做)”,其時態形式不變。
1. 肯定句
He used to get up early.他過去常常早起。
The river used to be clean. 這條河過去很干凈。
2. 否定句用didn’t use to, used not to或usedn’t to
He didn’t use to get up early.他過去常常不早起。
The river usedn’t to be clean.這條河過去不干凈。
3. 疑問句常用Did… use to…?或 Used… to…?
Did you use to be a teacher?= Used you to be a teacher?你過去是個老師嗎?4. 反意疑問句
She used to live in the country, didn’t/usedn’t she?
There used to be a big tree here, didn’t/usedn’t there?
注意used to與 would的區別:
1. used to表示過去習慣性的動作,現在已不如此了,would則表示過去和現在均可能有的習慣性動作。兩者意思基本相同,但used to較為口語化;used to常不需要表示時間的副詞短語或從句,而would則需要。例如:
He used to get up early.他過去起床很早(現在起床不早了)。
He would get up late when he was young, but he is used to getting up early.他年輕時經常晚起,但現在習慣于早起了。
2. used to既表動作,又表狀態,而would只用于表動作。如:“他過去身體很好。”只能譯成He used to be very healthy. 不能譯成He would be very healthy.
二、be used to sth./doing sth., get/become/grow used to
be used to中to是介詞,后面加名詞或動名詞,其中be有各種時態的變化形式,表示“習慣于……”,強調狀態。get/become/grow used to強調“變得習慣于……”。例如:
She is used to living in the country.她習慣于住在農村。
He is used to hard work (working hard).他習慣于努力地工作。
I am not used to being spoken to in that rude way.我不習慣別人以那種粗魯的方式和我說話。
You’ll soon be/get/become / grow used to our way of living.你會漸漸習慣我們的生活方式。
I have been used to rice (eating rice).我已習慣了吃米飯。
三、use sth. to do sth.(主動形式:用……干某事) , sth. be used to do sth.(被動形式:……被用來干某事)
I use a knife to cut bread. (主動形式)
→A knife is used to cut bread. (被動形式)
They use coal to keep warm. (主動形式)
→Coal is used to keep warm.(被動形式)
四、be used for sth./doing sth.
be used for中for為介詞,后加名詞或動名詞,表示“……被用來干某事”,與be used to do sth. 同義。例如:
—What do you use this tool for?你用這個工具干什么?
—It is used for cutting/to cut hair. 它被用來剪頭發。
五、be used as/for(被用作……用)
1. During the war the castle was used as a prison/for keeping prisoners in.戰爭期間這城堡被用來作監獄。
2. A burnt stick can be used as a pencil. 燒焦的樹枝可當作筆用。