常考词的语法与用法55

◆debt n.

1. 表示具体意义的一笔欠款或债务等，是可数名词。如：

I owe him a debt of $100. 我欠他200美元。

If I pay all my debts I shall have no money left. 如果把所有的借款都还了，我就分文不剩了。

2. 表示抽象意义的欠款或债务，尤指无法偿还的债务或欠款的状态等，通常是不可数名词。如：

Out of debt, out of danger. 无债一身轻。

I was poor, but I avoided debt. 我穷是穷，但还不至于借债。

It’s much easier to get into debt than to get out of it. 借债容易还债难。

◆decide v.

1. 表示“决定做某事”，其后要接不定式，不能接动名词；若要接动名词，应先接介词 on（但不如用不定式结构常见）。如：

He decided to go abroad. /He decided on going abroad. 他决定出国。

注：decide on 之后还可接名词或代词，表示“对…作出决定”或“选定…”。如：

We have decided on Paris (=that we will go to Paris) for our next holiday. 我们已决定下次去巴黎度假。

2. 表示“决定不做某事”，可用 decide not to do 或 decide

against doing。如：

He decided not to do it. / He decided against doing it.

他决定不干这件事。

注：decide against 之后也可接名词或代词。如：

After talking the matter over, they decided against the plan. 经过反复讨论，他们决定不采用该计划。

◆defense n.

1. 表示“保卫”或“防御”，注意其后所用介词：后接入侵者或造成危害者用介词 against；若后接被保护者用介词 of。比较：

A thick coat is a good defense against the cold. 一件厚衣服足可以御寒。

People used to build strong walls round their towns as a defense against enemies. 人们从前在城镇四周修筑城墙来抵御敌人。

This fort was once the main defense of the island. 这座堡垒曾经是这个岛上的要主要防御设施。

2. 短语 in defense of, 意为“保卫……”、“为……辨护”。如：

They fought in defense of their country. 他们为保卫祖国而战。

Hundreds gave their lives in defense of freedom. 千百人为了自由献出了自己的生命。

◆defend v.

1. 表示“保卫”，通常为及物动词，其宾语就是被保卫的对象。如：

They fought to defend their country. 他们为保卫祖国而战斗。

When the dog attacked me, I defended myself with a stick. 那狗向我扑来时，我用棍子自卫。

2. 表示“保卫……免受或抵抗……”，用介词from, against。如：

The wall was built to defend the road from being was washed away by the sea. 建这座堤是为了保护这条路不被海水冲跨。

Our duty is to defend the country against the enemies. 我们的职责是保卫祖国不受敌人侵袭。（英语语法网）