worthy
1.下面四句意思相同:
- This is worthy to be done.
- This is worthy of being done.
- This is worthy being done.
- This is worth doing.
下面几点该注意:
(1)第一句里的to be done不可改作to do。
(2)第二句里的of being done不可改作of doing。
(3)第三句里的being done不可改作doing。
(4)第四句里的doing不可改作being done。参见worth 2
(5)第一句不很自然。第三句现在远不及第二句普通。假使动名词改作名词,也是这样,如This is worthy consideration现在远不及This is worthy of consideration普通。
(6)第四句最普通。
(7)worthy后面的不定式不一定属于被动语态,比较下面两句:
This question is worthy to be considered. (这问题是值得被考虑的。)
He is worthy to consider this question. (他是值得考虑这问题的[他有考虑这问题的能力]。)
(8)说“值得被某人…的”通常用第一句,不用第二句或第三句,不可用第四句。参见worth 7
2.下面两句意思不同:
- This task is not worthy of him. (这件工作配不上他[太简易,配不上有像他这样本领、经验等的人]。)
- He is not worthy of this task. (他配不上这件工作[他的本领、经验等太差,配不上这件工作]。)
3.worthy不可单独用作表语,如不可说He is worthy或The reward is worthy,该改作He is a worthy man和This is a worthy reward。worthy man和man of worth略有不同。worthy man里的worthy往往含有“还算不坏”、“殊堪嘉尚”等不很尊敬的意思,man of worth是“德才兼备的人”。