该短语是“主语 + 谓语 + 宾语”结构,核心是“对某人/某物表达正面评价”,具体注意以下几点:
主动形式:sb. speak(s) well of sb./sth.(某人称赞某人/某物)
(根据主语人称和时态,“speak”需变化:三单现用“speaks”,过去时用“spoke”,完成时用“has/had spoken”等)
被动形式:sb./sth. be spoken well of (by sb.)(某人/某物受到某人的称赞)
一般现在时:Everyone speaks well of her patience.(大家都称赞她的耐心。)
一般过去时:He spoke well of his former classmate at the party.(他在聚会上称赞了以前的同学。)
现在完成时:I have always spoken well of your work ethic.(我一直称赞你的工作态度。)
当强调“被称赞的对象”时,常用被动:
The new movie is spoken well of by critics.(这部新电影受到评论家的称赞。)
Her design was spoken well of by the client.(她的设计得到了客户的好评。)
在“speak”前加否定词(don’t/doesn’t/didn’t等),表示“不说…的好话、批评”:
She doesn’t speak well of her ex-colleague.(她不说前同事的好话。)
They didn’t speak well of the hotel’s service.(他们对酒店的服务评价不高。)
不能将“well”换成“good”:“well”是副词,修饰动词“speak”;“good”是形容词,无法修饰动词(× speak good of,√ speak well of)。
是及物短语,后面必须接宾语(人或物),不能单独使用。
1、 My grandma often speaks well of her childhood friend.(我奶奶常称赞她的童年好友。)
2、 The chef’s signature dish is spoken well of by all the guests.(主厨的招牌菜受到所有客人的好评。)
3、 We should speak well of people behind their backs, not ill.(我们应该在背后说人好话,而不是坏话。)
4、 The boss spoke well of our team’s effort in the project.(老板称赞了我们团队在项目中的努力。)
speak highly of:高度赞扬(更强调“程度深”)
praise:动词,直接表示“赞扬”(She praised his courage.)
commend:正式用词,“表扬、推荐”(The teacher commended her for her hard work.)
综上,speak well of 是日常和正式场合都常用的短语,核心是“对人/物表达正面评价”,掌握其主动、被动和时态变化即可灵活运用。