worth, worthy?与?worthwhile三者均可表示“值得的”,其区别如下:
1.?从句法功能上看,worth?通常只用作表语,不用于名词前作定语;worthy?和?worthwhile?可用作表语和定语。如:
It isn’t worth the trouble.?不值得费那个事。
He is a worthy gentleman.?他是位值得尊敬的绅士。
His behaviour is worthy of great praise.?他的行为值得高度赞扬。
They achieved a very worthwhile result.?他们取得了很有价值的成果。
We had a long wait, but it was worthwhile because we got the tickets.?我们等了很久,但还算值得,因为我们把票买到了。
2.?从所使用的修饰语来看,worth?习惯上不用?very?修饰(要表示类似意思可用?well),而?worthy?和?worthwhile?则可以用副词修饰。如:
That is very worthy of our attention.?那件事很值得我们注意。
Nursing is a very worthwhile career.?护理工作是很值得干的职业。
但习惯上不说:The work is very worth doing. (very?应改为?well)
3.?从结构搭配来看:
(1) be worth?后可直接跟名词、代词、动名词(该动名词用主动形式表示被动意义),但不能后接不定式。如:
The picture is worth $ 500.?这幅画值?500?美元。
The book is worth reading. / It’s worth reading the book.?这本书值得读。
注意不说:The book is worth to read. / The book is worth being read.
(2) be worthy?后不能直接跟名词、代词或动名词,若要接,应借助介词?of,也可后接不定式。如:
Their efforts are worthy of your support.?他们的努力应得到你的支持。
He is worthy to receive such honour.?他应该得到这种荣誉。
This suggestion is?worthy?to be considered.?这个建议值得考虑。(注意:此句中的不定式要用被动形式表示被动意义)
(3) be worthwhile?后接动名词或不定式均可。如:
It is?worthwhile?buying the dictionary.?这本词典值得买。(其中的?worthwhile?也可换成?worth)
It is worthwhile to discuss the plan again.?这个计划值得再讨论一次。(其中的?worthwhile?不能换成?worth,因为其后接用了不定式)
4.?在很多情况下,同一个意思可用几种不同的形式表达。如:
那个地方值得一去。
正:The place is worth a visit.
正:The place is worthy of a visit.
正:The place is worth visiting.
正:It is?worth?visiting the place.
正:The place is worthy of being visited.
正:The place is worthy to be visited.
正:It is worthwhile visiting the place.
正:It is?worthwhile?to visit the place.