“as an answer to”是一个常用的英语介词短语,核心含义是“作为对……的回答/回应”,强调用某事物(如话语、行动、物品等)来回应某个问题、请求、邀请或情况。
“as”在这里表示“作为;当作”,“answer to”则指向“针对……的回应”,整体短语用来明确回应的对象(即“针对什么而给出的回答/回应”)。
该短语的关键结构是:as an answer to + 名词/代词/动名词(因为“to”是介词,后接名词性成分)。
它通常在句中作状语(修饰整个句子或谓语动词),说明回应的“针对性”,可放在句首、句中或句尾。
1、 接名词(最常见)
As an answer to your email, I’m writing to confirm the meeting time.
(作为对你邮件的回应,我写信确认会议时间。)
She gave a nod as an answer to his proposal.
(她点头作为对他提议的回应。)
The company issued a statement as an answer to the public’s concerns.
(公司发表声明回应公众的担忧。)
2、 接代词
I brought this gift as an answer to hers.
(我带这份礼物作为对她礼物的回礼。)
As an answer to it, we need to take immediate action.
(作为对这件事的回应,我们需要立即行动。)
3、 接动名词(介词“to”后接动词需用-ing形式)
He laughed as an answer to being teased.
(他笑了笑,作为对被调侃的回应。)
As an answer to asking about his health, he showed us his medical report.
(作为对被询问健康状况的回应,他给我们看了医疗报告。)
in answer to:也表示“作为对……的回应”,但更强调“为了回应……”(带有目的感),而“as an answer to”更强调“将某事物当作回应的具体形式”。
例:He came in answer to my call.(他应我的召唤而来。)→ 强调“回应召唤”的目的;
He brought flowers as an answer to my call.(他带花作为对我召唤的回应。)→ 强调“用花作为回应的形式”。
“as an answer to”的核心是“用X作为对Y的回应”,重点突出“回应的具体内容/形式”与“回应对象”的关联,适用于正式或日常语境,用来明确回应的针对性。