「keep from」的核心含义是“使……远离”或“阻止……发生”。其本义是物理上的“使……不接触”,如“keep the child from the fire”(让孩子远离火)。由此引申出“防止”或“避免”的含义,如“keep from making mistakes”(避免犯错)。进一步引申为“隐瞒”或“不告诉”,如“keep the truth from someone”(对某人隐瞒真相)。最后,它还可以表示“克制自己不做某事”,如“keep from laughing”(忍住不笑)。这些义项都围绕“保持距离”或“阻止”这一中心概念展开。
「keep from」在多种语境中都有使用。在日常口语中,常表示“忍住”或“避免”,如“I can't keep from eating sweets.”(我忍不住吃甜食)。在正式场合,如学术写作或新闻报道中,常用于表示“防止”或“阻止”,如“The vaccine can keep people from getting the flu.”(疫苗能防止人们得流感)。在法律文本中,可能用于“keep from harm”(免受伤害)等表达。在文学作品中,它可能带有情感色彩,如“keep from tears”(忍住眼泪)。整体而言,该短语在口语和书面语中均常见,语气中性。
语法要点
「keep from」是及物动词短语,后接名词、代词或动名词。常见句型为:keep + 宾语 + from + doing something,例如“The rain kept us from going out.”(雨使我们无法外出)。也可用于被动语态,如“The secret was kept from me.”(这个秘密对我隐瞒了)。注意,当表示“克制自己”时,主语常为人,且后接反身代词,如“He kept himself from crying.”(他忍住不哭)。易错点:不要与“keep doing”混淆,后者表示“持续做某事”。
近义辨析
「keep from」与“prevent”和“stop”意思相近,但略有不同。“prevent”更正式,强调预防措施,如“prevent accidents”(预防事故)。“stop”则强调使已开始的动作或行为终止,如“stop him from leaving”(阻止他离开)。“keep from”则更侧重于维持一种状态,即一直保持避免。例如,“keep from smoking”强调持续不吸烟,“stop smoking”则强调停止吸烟。此外,“avoid”也有类似含义,但更常用于主观上避开,如“avoid trouble”(避免麻烦)。
需要留意
「keep from」是一个中性偏正式的短语,但也可用于口语。没有明显的褒贬色彩,但常用于积极语境,如“keep from harm”(免受伤害)。常见误用包括:将“keep from”与“keep away from”混淆,后者强调物理距离,如“keep away from the edge”(远离边缘)。另外,在否定句中,如“can't keep from”,表示“忍不住”,此时语气较为强烈。使用时应确保宾语正确,避免漏掉“from”。
常用组合
keep from doing
阻止做某事
keep sb from sth
使某人远离某物
keep from harm
免受伤害
keep from crying
忍住不哭
keep from laughing
忍住不笑
keep from eating
忍住不吃
keep the truth from
对……隐瞒真相
双语例句
Please keep the dog from jumping on the sofa.
请别让狗跳到沙发上。
She couldn't keep from smiling when she heard the news.
听到这个消息,她忍不住笑了。
The heavy rain kept us from attending the concert.
大雨使我们无法参加音乐会。
He kept the truth from his parents to avoid worrying them.
他对父母隐瞒了真相,以免他们担心。
The new safety measures are designed to keep workers from injury.
新的安全措施旨在防止工人受伤。
I tried to keep myself from eating too much at the party.