在英語(yǔ)中,after是個(gè)常見(jiàn)詞,也是個(gè)簡(jiǎn)單詞,同學(xué)們都知道它是“之后”的意思,但往往忽略它的各種用法。事實(shí)上,after既可以表示時(shí)間意義上的“在……之后”,也可以表示空間意義上的“在……后面”。 在單項(xiàng)選擇題和完形填空題中,經(jīng)??疾閍fter作為介詞、連詞、形容詞、副詞以及其所構(gòu)成的介詞短語(yǔ)和習(xí)語(yǔ)的用法,這個(gè)簡(jiǎn)單詞其實(shí)并不簡(jiǎn)單。
一、after和 in
after和in 都可以表示時(shí)間意義上的“在……之后”,作為介詞使用。
1.當(dāng)after表示“一段時(shí)間(a period of time)以后”,表示已經(jīng)發(fā)生的事實(shí),動(dòng)詞要用過(guò)去時(shí)態(tài)。
可以說(shuō)He arrived after four weeks,表示“他在四個(gè)星期后到達(dá)了”,但不可以說(shuō)He will (would) arrive after four weeks。
2.表示將來(lái),或以現(xiàn)在為起點(diǎn)的一段時(shí)間以后,不能用after,應(yīng)該用in。所以上句改為:
He will (would) arrive in four weeks.他將于四周后到達(dá)。
或者改為:
He will arrive four weeks from now.
He would arrive four weeks from then.
3.如果是說(shuō)“某個(gè)時(shí)刻(point of time)或日期或事件以后”,可以用after。例如:
He will (would) arrive after four o?蒺clock.他將在四點(diǎn)后到達(dá)。
He will (would) arrive after 5 July.他將于7月5日后到達(dá)。
He will (would) arrive after the ceremony.他將在典禮儀式后到達(dá)。
二、after和 since
1.after用作介詞時(shí),表示“某時(shí)或某事之后”,但要表示“從過(guò)去的某時(shí)或某事開始,一直持續(xù)到現(xiàn)在”,就不能用after,要用since。
After his graduation he went abroad.他畢業(yè)后就出國(guó)了。
After his graduation he will go abroad.他畢業(yè)后就會(huì)出國(guó)。
但不可以說(shuō):After his graduation he has been abroad。
應(yīng)改為:He has been abroad since his graduation.他畢業(yè)之后就出國(guó)了。
2.after用作連詞時(shí),只能表示“某時(shí)或某事之后”,不用于表示從過(guò)去持續(xù)到現(xiàn)在的狀態(tài)。
He went abroad after he graduated.他畢業(yè)之后出國(guó)了。
但不可以說(shuō):He has been abroad after he graduated.
應(yīng)改為:He has been abroad since he graduated.
三、after和 past
after和past 都可以作介詞,表示“某時(shí)刻之后”,但美式英語(yǔ)中常用after,而英式英語(yǔ)中用past。
It?蒺s five minutes after eight.現(xiàn)在八點(diǎn)過(guò)五分。
It is now exactly twenty-eight minutes past eight.現(xiàn)在確切地說(shuō),是八點(diǎn)二十八分。
四、after和 behind
1.after 通常指時(shí)間先后的次序,behind 通常指位置。
August comes after July.七月之后是八月。
A garden lies behind the house.屋后是花園。
2.當(dāng)表示位置在某人之后時(shí),after 和behind 可以通用。
Please shut the door after (behind) you.請(qǐng)把你后面的門關(guān)起來(lái)。
He came in after (behind) you.他在你之后進(jìn)來(lái)的。
3.當(dāng)表示位置在某物之后時(shí),不用after,而用behind。
Don?蒺t stand behind the door.不要站在門后。
The cat is sitting behind the sofa.貓?jiān)谏嘲l(fā)后面坐著。
4.固定的禮貌用語(yǔ),表示請(qǐng)對(duì)方先行,用after you,不能用behind you。
After you,sir.您先請(qǐng),先生。
After you with the paper.報(bào)紙你看完了給我看。
五、after 和after all
1.after作介詞時(shí),可以與all 連接,帶有“盡管,雖然”的意思。這時(shí)不要誤把a(bǔ)fter all 當(dāng)作成語(yǔ)來(lái)看。
After all his advice,she still gambles.雖然他極力勸告,但她還是賭博。
After all my care,it was broken.盡管我精心照料,它還是碎了。
2.after 與all 連接時(shí),有“雖然這樣”的意思,因此所接的原因要符合邏輯。
In coming home we got caught in the rain and became wet through and through,after all I wish I hadn?蒺t joined in the outing.這句話前后矛盾,應(yīng)改為:
In coming home we got caught in the rain and became wet through and through,after all I don?蒺t mind as we had a fine time.回家時(shí)我們遇上大雨,渾身都濕透了。雖然這樣,但我一點(diǎn)兒也不在意,因?yàn)槲覀兺娴煤苡淇臁?/p>
3.after all為成語(yǔ),有“畢竟,到底,終究,最后”的意思,放在句中或句末使用。
What harm does it do after all? 這到底會(huì)造成什么危害?
So you did come after all.所以你最后還是來(lái)了。
六、after 和afterwards
after可以用作副詞,指時(shí)間上的“后來(lái),之后”。但在日??谡Z(yǔ)中,最好避免使用after 作副詞,用afterwards 或later 時(shí)更多。
Soon after (用afterwards 時(shí)更多),he went to live in London.之后不久,他就搬到倫敦了。
He fell ill on Monday and died three days after (用later 時(shí)更多).他周一病倒了,三天之后就去世了。
We had dinner and went home after.我們吃過(guò)晚飯后回家了。
七、after 用于介詞短語(yǔ)和成語(yǔ)中
1.after用作介詞時(shí),除指時(shí)間或空間意義上的“在……之后”或“在……后面”,還可以表示“照……的樣子,仿效,依照”的意思。
Will you please make a box after the model?你能照樣子做個(gè)盒子嗎?
Repeat the words after me,please.請(qǐng)跟我讀。
2.be after作“追求,尋求”解。
He is after you.他正找你。
He is always after me to teach him English.他老是要我教他英語(yǔ)。(注意after me 后面要用不定式)
She is after your money.她想得到你的錢。
3.after one?蒺s heart 合某人心意的
Mr.Smith is a man after my own heart.史密斯先生很合我的心意。
He likes basketball and good food; he is a man after my own heart.他喜歡籃球和美食,很合我的心意。
4.ask (inquire) after問(wèn)候
She asked after you.她問(wèn)候你。
Every afternoon he called to inquire after her.每天下午他都打電話向她表示問(wèn)候。
5.go after,hanker after,seek after 追逐;追求;設(shè)法得到
The dog went after the wounded deer.獵狗追逐受傷的鹿。
They hankered after the bourgeois way of life.他們追求小資的生活方式。
6.take after長(zhǎng)得像;性格上像
The boy takes after his father.這個(gè)男孩長(zhǎng)得像他的父親。
7.look after照顧;照看
Look after yourself!照顧自己!
She?蒺s been looking after the luggage.她正在照看行李。
8.after a fashion 介詞短語(yǔ),作狀語(yǔ),意為“多少,略微地”,與in a fashion 同義。
Donna can sing after a fashion.唐娜多少能唱一些歌曲。
9.one after another 一個(gè)接一個(gè)地
They rose one after another and walked out.他們一個(gè)接一個(gè)地起身離開。
Independence was proclaimed in one colony after another.殖民地一個(gè)接一個(gè)地宣布獨(dú)立。
八、after 用作形容詞時(shí),放在名詞前,表示“后來(lái)的,以后的”。還可以用來(lái)合成復(fù)合式名詞。
in after years 在以后的歲月中
aftercare(病人出院后的)護(hù)理或治療;(犯人出獄后的)安置
aftereffect(藥物的)后作用;(疾病的)后遺癥
afterglow(日落后的)余暉,晚霞
aftermath(戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)、事故的)后果,創(chuàng)傷
aftershock(地震后的)余震
【考例分析】
1.His grandmother died on the eve of the Spring Festival but he arrived home four weeks.
A.in B.after C.past D.behind
【解析】B??疾閍fter作介詞的用法,表示時(shí)間意義上的“在……之后”,注意after 與in 的區(qū)別。after表示“一段時(shí)間(a period of time)以后”,表示已經(jīng)發(fā)生的事實(shí),動(dòng)詞要用過(guò)去時(shí)態(tài);而in則表示以現(xiàn)在為起點(diǎn)的一段時(shí)間以后,動(dòng)詞用將來(lái)時(shí)態(tài),如He will (would) arrive in four weeks。他將于四周后到達(dá)。
2.I will leave after he back.
A.come B.came C.comes D.has come
【解析】C??疾閍fter用作連詞引導(dǎo)時(shí)間狀語(yǔ)從句。當(dāng)主句用將來(lái)時(shí)態(tài),則after引導(dǎo)的時(shí)間狀語(yǔ)從句要用一般現(xiàn)在時(shí)態(tài)表將來(lái)意義,而不能直接使用將來(lái)時(shí)態(tài)。
3. all we?蒺ve said,he still won?蒺t change his mind.
A.Beside B.Besides C.Before D.After
【解析】D??疾閍fter作介詞時(shí),可以與all連接,帶有“盡管,雖然”的意思。因此,這句話的意思是:盡管我們說(shuō)了那么多,他還是不肯改變主意。
注意這時(shí)不要誤把a(bǔ)fter all 當(dāng)作成語(yǔ)來(lái)看。
4.Of course he behaved awfully,but ,he is only six years old.
A.in fact B.so far C.after all D.on earth
【解析】C??疾閍fter all作為習(xí)語(yǔ)的用法,表示“畢竟,到底,終究,最后”。句意為:當(dāng)然他的表現(xiàn)糟糕透了,但不管怎么說(shuō),他畢竟只有六歲。
5.Do you know Joe painted Raphael?
A.behind B.for C.with D.after
【解析】D??疾閍fter用作介詞時(shí),除指時(shí)間或空間意義上的“在……之后”或“在……后面”,還可以表示“照……的樣子,效仿,依照”的意思。句意為:你知道喬的畫是仿效仿拉斐爾的嗎?
6.“You?蒺re not fond of work,are you?”
“No,I take you.”
A.behind B.for C.with D.after
【解析】D。考查take after 用作習(xí)語(yǔ),表示“長(zhǎng)得像,性格上像”。句意為:“你不喜歡工作,是嗎?”“是的,就像你?!?/p>
7.His pictures were eagerly .
A.asked after B.looked after C.sought after D.inquired after
【解析】C??疾閟eek after 用作習(xí)語(yǔ),表示“追逐,追求,設(shè)法得到”。句意為:人們千方百計(jì)要得到他的畫作。go after,hanker after等也表示同樣的意思。
8.Small businesses have been collapsing .
A.one by one B.hand in hand C.one after another D.all in all
【解析】C??疾閛ne after another 作為習(xí)語(yǔ),表示“一個(gè)接一個(gè)地”。句意為:小企業(yè)接二連三地倒閉了。one by one 強(qiáng)調(diào)一次一個(gè),一個(gè)一個(gè)地,例如:Write down your ideas one by one.(把你的想法逐一寫下來(lái)。) one after another 強(qiáng)調(diào)連續(xù)性,例如:Guests came one after another.(客人們陸續(xù)來(lái)了。)
9.The ceremony of signing had to be put off .
A.one by one B.day after day C.one after another D.the day after tomorrow
【解析】B??疾閐ay after day 作為習(xí)語(yǔ),表示“日復(fù)一日”。句意為:簽字儀式不得不日復(fù)一日地后延。同樣的表達(dá)還有:year after year,week after week,hour after hour等。