anxious与eager的用法辨析

anxious与eager的用法辨析

1. 表示“担心的”“焦虑的”这一意义时，只能用 anxious，不用 eager；表示“为……担心”，一般后接介词 about, for。如：

an anxious mother 焦虑不安的母亲

He is anxious about [for] her safety. 他担心她的安全。

I’m not in the slightest anxious about it. 我一点儿也不为它担心。

He was anxious about the safety of his children. 他为孩子们的安全担忧。

This news made her anxious for the safety of her son who was working in the flood area. 这消息使她为儿子的安全而焦虑不安，因为他正在洪灾地区工作。

2. 表示“热切的”“渴望的”这一意义时，两者都可用，但有以下几点需注意：

①anxious 之后一般用介词 for，而 eager 之后可接介词 for, after, about 等。如：

She has been anxious about your return. 她一直盼望你回来。

He was eager for a quick cure. 他急于赶快治好。

He’s eager for [after] knowledge. 他求知心切。

He was eager for a quick cure. 他急于赶快治好。

He is eager for [after, about] success. 他渴望成功。

②两者之后均可接“(for sb)＋不定式”，表示“渴望或想要(某人)做某事”。如：

He is always eager to win. 他总是求胜心切。

They all rushed over, eager to help. 他们都跑了过来急于帮助。

She is always anxious to please. 她老是极力想讨好人。

She’s eager for us to see her work. 她热切希望我们看到她的活儿。

We are eager for you to come to the party. 我们很希望你来参加晚会。

Being anxious to please him, I bought him a nice present. 因为我想讨好他，我给他买了一件好礼物。

She’s anxious for her daughter to win the competition. 她盼望她女儿赢得比赛。

③两者之后均可接 that 从句，且从句谓语一般都用“should＋动词原形”这样的虚拟语气。如：

He’s eager that they (should) come to see him. 他很希望他们来看他。

We are eager that he should help us. 我们希望他能帮我们一把。

They were anxious that aid should be sent promptly. 他们盼望援助物品迅速送到。

有时也用 shall。如：

We are anxious that he shall be given a chance to try it out. 我们热切希望能给他机会试一试。