"for company"是英语中常用的介词短语,核心含义是"作伴;为了陪伴",用于说明做某事的目的是获得陪伴,或某人/某物作为陪伴者。
"company"在此处是不可数名词,意为"陪伴;作伴"(≠ 可数名词"公司")。"for company"本质是目的状语,回答"为什么做这件事"——即"为了有个伴"。
"for company"通常与表示"带、拿、有、邀请、来/去"等动作的动词搭配,说明"做该动作的目的是陪伴"。以下是具体场景和例句:
与动词 bring/take 搭配,强调"携带某人/某物的目的是作伴"。
I brought my dog for company on the hike.(我带狗去徒步作伴。)
She took a book for company on the train.(她带了本书在火车上作伴。)
与动词 get/have 搭配,强调"获取某人/某物来陪伴自己"。
The elderly man got a cat for company after his wife passed away.(妻子去世后,老人养了只猫作伴。)
I like to have a cup of coffee for company while working.(我工作时喜欢有杯咖啡作伴。)
与动词 invite/ask 搭配,强调"邀请某人的目的是一起作伴"。
Can I ask you to come for company? I don’t want to go alone.(我能请你一起来作伴吗?我不想独自去。)
She invited her friend for company to the movie.(她邀请朋友一起去看电影作伴。)
与动词 come/go (along) 搭配,强调"来/去某地的目的是陪伴他人"。
I’ll come with you for company—don’t walk alone at night.(我陪你一起去——晚上别独自走。)
He went along for company when his sister shopped.(妹妹购物时,他跟着作伴。)
与日常动作动词(如 listen to, read 等)搭配,强调"做这件事是为了缓解孤独"。
She listens to music for company when she’s home alone.(她独自在家时听音乐作伴。)
I read magazines for company during lunch breaks.(我午休时看杂志作伴。)
keep company with sb.:意为"与某人交往/恋爱"(强调关系),而非"作伴"。
例:She’s been keeping company with a lawyer.(她在和一个律师谈恋爱。)
for company:强调"目的"(为了有伴),而keep sb. company 是"陪伴某人"(强调动作)。
例:Can you keep me company tonight?(你今晚能陪我吗?)
例:I brought a friend to keep me company.(我带了个朋友来陪我。)
"for company"的核心是"为了陪伴",用在动词后说明动作的目的,可搭配人或物(如宠物、书、音乐等)。记住它是目的状语,回答"为什么做这件事"即可!
小测试:用"for company"翻译句子——"我带了瓶水去跑步作伴。"(答案:I brought a bottle of water for company on the run.)