"acknowledge doing" 是英语中常用的动宾搭配,意为“承认做过某事”(强调对“已发生的动作/行为”的正式或不情愿的承认)。
其中:
acknowledge 是及物动词,基本义为“承认;认可;致谢”,此处侧重“(勉强/正式地)承认”;
doing 是动名词,代表“已经完成的动作”(因为“承认”的必然是过去发生的事)。
(动名词的逻辑主语就是句子的主语,即“承认自己做了某事”)
动名词必须表“已发生”的动作:因为“承认”的是过去的行为(若表“将要做”,不能用acknowledge doing,需换其他表达,如“promise to do”);
相比更口语化的 admit doing(承认做某事),"acknowledge doing" 更正式,常带有“不情愿、被迫或正式公开”的意味(比如承认错误、罪行等)。
1、 The politician finally acknowledged taking bribes.
(那位政客最终承认收了贿赂。)
2、 She reluctantly acknowledged breaking the expensive vase.
(她不情愿地承认打破了那个昂贵的花瓶。)
3、 The company acknowledged making a mistake in its product labeling.
(公司承认在产品标签上犯了错误。)
4、 I must acknowledge being wrong about the project’s timeline.
(我必须承认对项目的时间表判断错误。)
为避免混淆,需区分"acknowledge"的其他常用结构:
acknowledge sb/sth:认可/承认某人/某物(存在/身份)
例:The university acknowledged her as a distinguished alumna.(学校认可她为杰出校友。)
acknowledge that...:承认(某个事实/情况)
例:He acknowledged that he had failed the exam.(他承认考试不及格。)
acknowledge sb for doing:因某事感谢某人(注意:此结构中"acknowledge"是“致谢”义,非“承认”)
例:We acknowledged her for organizing the event.(我们感谢她组织了这次活动。)
❌ 错误:He acknowledged to break the window.
✅ 正确:He acknowledged breaking the window.
("acknowledge"后接动名词,不接不定式“to do”!)
总结:"acknowledge doing" 是“承认做过某事”的正式表达,核心是“承认自己的过往行为”,需用动名词作宾语。