1. 這是個(gè)什么詞荒典?
詞:constitute
英英釋義:to be considered to be something
例句:Failing to complete the work on time constitutes a breach of the labor contract.
2. 為什么選這個(gè)詞裙盾?
“constitute”是及物動(dòng)詞赵颅,除了有大家比較熟悉的“組成、構(gòu)成”的意思外筹麸,還可以作“算是炕泳、可以被視為”棵癣。這種用法比較正式一點(diǎn),出現(xiàn)的頻次也很高藐守。在有的語境中可以用它替換 amount to 或 be equivalent of 等詞挪丢。下面來看幾個(gè)例子。
沒有按時(shí)完成工作可以被視為違反勞動(dòng)合同卢厂,可以說:
Failing to complete the work on time constitutes a breach of the labor contract.
未經(jīng)患者同意而對其進(jìn)行檢查被視為違反職業(yè)操守并觸犯法律吃靠,可以說:
Testing patients without their consent would constitute a professional and legal offense.
雖然這家公司中標(biāo)了,但利潤不大足淆,但很難被視為是真正的勝利巢块,就可以說:
Although the company won the bid, it could hardly constitute a victory.
《經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)人》一篇關(guān)于新加坡家庭和人口增長的文章中用到了 constitute:
Another problem is the government’s narrow view of what constitutes a family, says Jean Yeung Wei-Jun of the National University of Singapore: two heterosexual parents with a male breadwinner. Many regulations support this definition.(這句中的 constitute 意思就是“算是”)
最近《經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)人》在一篇關(guān)于蘋果公司的文文章中也用到了 constitute:
America’s Supreme Court gave the go-ahead for iPhone users to sue Apple. The case centres on whether Apple’s App Store, which takes a 30% cut of all sales, constitutes an unfair monopoly. Unlike Android-based rivals, Apple’s phones are designed to prevent users from installing apps from other sources.(這里 constitute 可以理解為“算是、可以稱得上是”)
《經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)人》在寫美國阿拉巴馬州的墮胎法案時(shí)巧号,再一次用到了 constitute:
On May 14th the state’s Senate passed a bill that would, in effect, ban abortion outright. Signed into law by the governor the following day, it constitutes the harshest abortion legislation passed in America in half a century.(這里的 constitue 和 is 同義族奢,不過相比來說 is 更加絕對,而 constitute 表示“可以算是”丹鸿,更留有余地越走。)
3. 怎樣學(xué)會使用這個(gè)詞?
1)翻譯下面的句子:
這位父親去年一年都沒參加家長會,可以被視作是不負(fù)責(zé)任廊敌。
(參考翻譯:That the father did not attend any of the parents' meetings last year constitutes irresponsibility. 或 The father failed to attend parents' meetings last year, constituting irresponsibility.)
作業(yè):
1.這位父親去年一年都沒參加家長會铜跑,可以被視作是不負(fù)責(zé)任。
The father failed to attend parents' meetings last year, constituting irresponsibility.
2.What he said was not done,costituting irresponsibility.