"liable to"是英语中常用的短语,核心含义是"容易遭受(不利情况);有...的倾向;可能会(发生或做某事)",通常涉及负面或不希望发生的结果。以下是详细的用法解析及例子:
强调"潜在的不利可能性",即主语(人/物)"容易陷入某种麻烦、遭受某种损失,或不自觉地做出负面行为"。
"liable to"的常见结构有两种:后接名词/代词 或 后接动词原形(不定式),有时也用于法律语境表示"可能被处罚"。
表示"容易遭受...;有...的倾向"(名词多为负面事物,如疾病、伤害、罚款等)。
She is liable to headaches when she stays up late.(她熬夜时容易头痛。)
The old bridge is liable to collapse in an earthquake.(这座老桥在地震中容易坍塌。)
Drivers who run red lights are liable to heavy fines.(闯红灯的司机可能被处以重罚。)
表示"可能会做...;易于做..."(动作多为不自觉或负面的)。
I'm liable to forget important dates if I don't use a calendar.(如果不用日历,我容易忘记重要日期。)
You're liable to get into trouble if you lie to your parents.(如果你对父母撒谎,可能会惹麻烦。)
Children are liable to misbehave when they're bored.(孩子无聊时容易调皮。)
表示"可能被判处/处罚..."(后跟名词或不定式被动形式)。
The defendant is liable to 10 years in prison for theft.(被告因盗窃可能被判处10年监禁。)
Anyone caught smoking in public is liable to be fined up to $500.(在公共场所吸烟的人可能被罚款高达500美元。)(不定式被动:be fined)
"liable for"强调责任("对...负责"),而"liable to"强调可能性("可能遭受/做"),不可混淆:
He is liable for the damage he caused.(他要对自己造成的损害负责。)(责任)
He is liable to cause damage if he's not careful.(如果不小心,他可能会造成损害。)(可能性)
"liable to"通常用于不希望发生的事情,而"likely to"更中性(可用于正面/负面):
中性:It's likely to rain tomorrow.(明天可能下雨。)(无褒贬)
负面:It's liable to rain tomorrow—let's cancel the picnic.(明天可能下雨,我们取消野餐吧。)(强调下雨的麻烦)
当表示"被...影响/处罚"时,不定式需用被动(be + 过去分词):
You are liable to be arrested if you break the law.(违法可能会被逮捕。)
be liable to illness(容易生病)
be liable to accidents(容易发生意外)
be liable to forget(容易忘记)
be liable to be fined(可能被罚款)
be liable to imprisonment(可能被监禁)
通过以上解析,"liable to"的用法可以总结为:描述主语"容易陷入负面情况或做出负面行为的潜在可能性",需结合语境判断具体含义。