“be compelled to do”是一个常用的英语被动短语,核心含义是“被迫做某事;不得不做某事”,强调行为并非主动选择,而是受外部压力、法律约束、客观情况或内心强烈动机所驱使。
“compel”作为动词,本义是“强迫、迫使”(to make someone do something they do not want to do, usually by using force or threats, or by making it necessary)。因此“be compelled to do”是其被动语态,突出主语是“被强制/被迫的对象”。
“be compelled to do”的核心结构是:
时态变化:
现在时:am/is/are compelled to do(如:She is compelled to work overtime.)
过去时:was/were compelled to do(如:They were compelled to cancel the trip.)
将来时:will be compelled to do(如:We will be compelled to raise prices.)
完成时:have/has been compelled to do(如:He has been compelled to resign.)
“be compelled to do”的使用场景可分为两类:
外部压力(法律、规则、困境、他人要求等):
法律/规定:The company was compelled to recall defective products by the authorities.(公司被当局强制召回缺陷产品。)
经济困境:Due to debt, he was compelled to sell his car.(因债务问题,他被迫卖车。)
他人要求:The witness was compelled to testify in court.(证人被迫出庭作证。)
内心驱使(责任感、道德感、强烈欲望等,表“不得不做”的主观冲动):
I felt compelled to help the lost child find her parents.(我觉得必须帮迷路的孩子找父母。)
She was compelled to apologize after realizing her mistake.(意识到错误后,她不得不道歉。)
与“have to do”“must do”“be forced to do”相比,“be compelled to do”更正式,且强调“非主动的驱动力”:
be forced to do:侧重“武力/暴力强迫”(如:He was forced to sign the contract at gunpoint. 他被枪指着签合同。)
have to do:口语化,强调“客观需要”(如:I have to go to work tomorrow. 我明天得上班。)
must do:主观义务(如:You must finish your homework. 你必须完成作业。)
be compelled to do:可指“外部强制”或“内心道德/责任驱使”,更正式(如:The law compels us to pay taxes. 法律强制我们纳税。)
“be not compelled to do”表示“不被迫做某事;没有义务做某事”:
You are not compelled to answer this question.(你没有必要回答这个问题。)
Employees are not compelled to work on weekends.(员工没有义务周末工作。)
compulsion(名词):强迫;强制力(如:a sense of compulsion 强迫感)
compulsive(形容词):强迫性的;难以自制的(如:compulsive shopping 强迫性购物)
“be compelled to do”是正式且强调“被动/非主动”的短语,适用于描述“因外部压力或内心驱动而不得不做的事”。掌握其结构和场景,能更精准地表达“被迫”或“必须”的含义。