absent-minded 的意思是“心不在焉的”,按理说,只有人才会“心不在焉”,对不对?不能说某事“心不在焉”吧!但是,看到有这样一个句子,absent-minded 是用来说明事物了:
I don’t like him doing absent-minded things. 我不喜欢他做事心不在焉。
请问这个句子对吗?请专家老师指点!谢谢!
刘老师:
合成形容词absent-minded,指人“漫不经心的;心不在焉的;健忘的”。
▲ 我查阅了多部国内外英语词典,absent-minded 都是形容人的。
《剑桥高级英语词典》absent-minded:describes someone who often forgets things or does not pay attention to what is happening near them because they are thinking about other things.
《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》absent-minded:Someone who is absent-minded forgets things or does not pay attention to what they are doing, often because they are thinking about something else.
《朗文高级英语词典》absent-minded:likely to forget things, especially because you are thinking about something else. (= forgetful)
《麦克米伦英语词典》absent-minded:likely to forget things or to think about something different from what you should be thinking about.
《牛津高阶英语词典》(第8版)absent-minded:tending to forget things, perhaps because you are not thinking about what is around you, but about something else.
例句也都是修饰人的(在此略)。
▲ 从构词法来看,minded 常用来构成复合词,指人“具有…头脑的;有…心的;有…思想的;有…观念的;对…有兴趣的;关心…的;…意识强的”。
以下复合形容词都是修饰人的。原则上,作定语时加连字符,作表语时可加可不加。
broad minded 胸襟开阔的
narrow minded 心胸狭窄的
open minded 思想开明的
simple minded 头脑简单的 (一心一意的)
feeble minded 意志薄弱的(无决断的)
practically minded 有实际经验的
tender minded 空想的(脱离实际的)
right minded 正直的(见解正确的)
double minded 三心二意的(反复无常的)
able minded 能干的
evil minded 狠心的,心肠狠毒的
even minded 沉着的(泰然自若的))
liberaliberal minded 思想解放的
eye minded 视觉记忆的
socialist minded 有社会主义觉悟的
pure minded 清心的,清净的
like minded 志同道合的
▲尽管各种词典都把absent-minded 解释为修饰人的,但我也确实见到过修饰“物”的例句。
I often do absent-minded things, particularly when I'm worried. 我常做些心不在焉的事,尤其是在我焦虑不安时。(《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》在particularly 条目下的例句)
Josie looked up at Paul, her expression absent-minded. 乔茜抬头看着保罗,她的表情心不在焉。(NEWYORKER)
此外,我见到过absent-minded 修饰表方式的way 和manner,例如:
He had an absent-minded manner. 他表现出心不在焉的样子。
She starts to eat in an absent-minded way, and continues with her tale. 她开始心不在焉的吃了起来,并继续给我讲她的传奇生涯。