表示“要求”的動詞辨異

徐　元

英語中表示“要求”的動詞主要有： apply, demand, request, require和ask。

apply

不及物動詞，指書面提出正式的“請求；申請”。常用于apply for sth.和apply to do sth.的結構。

例1Only one person applied for the post.只有一人申請這個職位。

例2They applied to return to China.他們申請回中國。

ask

意為向別人“要求”什么，語氣上沒有request正式。常用于 ask for sth., ask sb. for sth.和ask sb. to do sth.的結構。

例3Her son asked her for more money. 她兒子問她要更多的錢。

例4He asked me again and again to help him with English. 他再三請求我幫助他學英語。

request

表示禮貌地提出“要求”，語氣上比ask正式，比demand更客氣。常用于request sth. from sb. 和request sb. to do sth.的結構。

例5He requested permission to take photos in the art museum. 他請求被許可進入藝術博物館拍照。

例6Can you request a loan from the bank? 你能請求銀行給你貸款嗎？

require

通常指根據規章、慣例或法律條款“要求”別人，帶有強制、命令的色彩，也有上級對下級(如業主對雇員等)提出“要求”的含義，在語氣上沒有demand來得強。常用于require sb. to do sth.的結構。此外，require后接動名詞的主動形式表示被動的含義。

例7A peoples court shall have the authority to require the parties to provide or supplement evidence. 人民法院有權要求當事人提供或者補充證據。

例8The floor requirs washing. 地板該洗了。

demand

通常指某人強制、命令式地“要求”別人服從，帶有不容反駁的意味；也有非常迫切地、斷然地“要求”某物的含義。常用于demand sth.和demand to do sth.的結構，但不能用于demand sb. to do sth.的句式。

例9Their job demands care and patience. 他們的工作需要細心和耐心。

例10She demanded to see the editor. 她強烈要求見編輯。

此外，如果ask, demand, request和require之后跟that從句，該從句應用虛擬語氣，即“should +動詞原形”的形式，其中should可以省略。

例11She asked that she (should) be allowed to the rescue team. 她要求被準許參加救援隊。

【練習題】

1. When he was a middle school student, he _____ to join the Party.

A. asked B. requested

C. required D. applied

2. She had to _____ permission to film at the White House.

A. request B. require

C. ask D. demand

3. The policeman _____ the traveler to unlock his suitcase.

A. applied B. requested

C. required D. demanded

4. When they were visiting our factory, we _____ the visitors not to take any photos.

A. demanded B. applied

C. required D. requested

5. Martin Luther King _____ equal rights for blacks.

A. asked B. demanded

C. required D. applied

6. Miss Brown _____ for the job as an English teacher in Hangzhou.

A. applied B. requested

C. demanded D. required

7. If you are unable to make a satisfying plan for the program, you can ______ me for advice.

A. demand B. ask

C. request D. require

8. The walls of this old house ______ repairing.

A. ask B. apply

C. demand D. require