1、 后接“人”作宾语:直接询问某人的情况(常隐含“关心其健康/近况”)。
I met your sister yesterday, and she inquired after you.(我昨天遇到你妹妹了,她问起你 [的情况]。)
He called to inquire after his old teacher.(他打电话来问候他的老教师。)
2、 后接“某人的健康/近况”:明确提及关心的具体方面(如 health, well-being, condition 等)。
Could you inquire after my aunt's health when you see her?(你见到我姑姑时,能问问她的健康状况吗?)
We all inquired after the child's well-being after the accident.(事故后我们都询问了孩子的情况。)
3、 被动结构(较少见,但合理):表示“被问及/被问候”。
The patient was often inquired after by her neighbors during her illness.(这位病人生病期间常被邻居们问候。)
inquire after:聚焦“关心某人的情况”(情感上的关切);
inquire about:聚焦“询问关于某事/物的信息”(中性的信息查询)。
例:
I inquired about the train schedule.(我询问火车时刻表 [信息]。)
I inquired after the train conductor's health.(我询问列车员的健康状况 [关心]。)