"be caught" 是catch的被动语态(catch→caught→caught),字面核心是“被抓住/捕获”,但常引申为“陷入、遭遇、被发现(做某事)”等,具体意思随搭配的介词或语境变化。
强调“动作正在进行时被当场抓住”,常指违规、犯罪或不恰当的行为。
He was caught stealing a wallet in the supermarket.(他在超市偷钱包时被抓住了。)
The student was caught cheating in the exam.(那个学生考试作弊时被发现了。)
后接具体的不利情况(如风暴、堵车、雨淋、麻烦等),表示“被动卷入”。
We were caught in a heavy rain on the way home.(我们回家路上遭遇了暴雨。)
The car was caught in a traffic jam for two hours.(车陷在交通堵塞里两个小时。)
Don’t get caught in their argument—stay out of it.(别卷入他们的争论,别掺和。)
表示“无法在两个选项中选择,陷入矛盾”。
She’s caught between her job and her family—she can’t balance both.(她在工作和家庭之间两难,无法兼顾。)
The company is caught between cutting costs and improving quality.(公司在削减成本和提升质量之间进退两难。)
指“因意外而没有防备”。
The team was caught off guard by the opponent’s new strategy.(球队对对手的新战术毫无准备,被打了个措手不及。)
I was caught off guard when she suddenly asked me to give a speech.(她突然让我演讲,我完全没准备。)
被动语态的本质:主语是“catch”动作的承受者(如“被抓的人/物”“陷入困境的主体”)。
介词的重要性:不同介词(in/doing/between/off)决定了具体语境,需结合搭配记忆。
简单总结:"be caught" 从“被物理抓住”延伸到“被抽象困住”,核心是“被动处于不利/意外的状态”。通过搭配不同的介词或结构,能表达多种生活场景中的“被动情况”。