"constrain sb. to do" 意为“强迫/迫使/约束某人做某事”,强调某人因外部压力、规则、环境或道德约束而“不得不”采取行动,带有“被限制、被束缚”的隐含逻辑(区别于更直接的“force sb. to do”,后者更侧重“物理/暴力强迫”)。
主语(施加约束的一方,如法律、合同、责任、环境等)+ constrain + 宾语(某人)+ to do sth.(不定式作宾语补足语)
强调“外部约束”:约束源通常是客观规则(法律、合同)、道德责任或环境压力,而非个人主观意愿;
正式语境:多用于法律、商务、学术等正式场合;
不定式搭配:to后面必须接动词原形(不能接doing)。
The law constrains employers to provide minimum wage to all workers.
(法律强制雇主向所有员工支付最低工资。)
Financial difficulties constrained them to sell their house.
(经济困难迫使他们卖掉房子。)
The contract constrains us to deliver the goods by the end of the month.
(合同约束我们在月底前交货。)
He was constrained to admit his mistake after the evidence was presented.
(证据出示后,他被迫承认错误。)
She felt constrained to accept the job offer because she needed money.
(因为需要钱,她不得不接受这份工作邀请。)
constrain sb. to do vs force sb. to do
constrain:侧重“规则/环境的约束”(如法律、合同、道德),更正式;
force:侧重“直接的物理/暴力强迫”(如威胁、武力),更口语化。
例:
The teacher forced the student to stand in the corner.(老师强迫学生站在角落——直接行为)
School rules constrain students to wear uniforms.(校规约束学生穿校服——规则限制)
constrain sb. into doing sth.:与"constrain sb. to do"同义(into后接动名词),更强调“被推入某种行为”;
例:The situation constrained him into agreeing to the deal.(形势迫使他同意这笔交易。)
under constraint:副词短语,意为“被迫地”;
例:She spoke under constraint.(她是被迫发言的。)
总结:"constrain sb. to do"是正式场合下表达“规则/压力迫使某人行动”的常用短语,核心是“外部约束”,需注意不定式的正确搭配。