"be content to"是一个形容词短语,表示满足于做某事;愿意做某事;甘于做某事。强调主语对某一行为或状态没有不满,觉得“足够、可以接受”,甚至带有“不奢求更多”的心态。
(注:"to"是不定式符号,后接动词原形,不能接名词/代词。)
主语通常是人:因为"content"描述的是人的“满足感”或“意愿”。
可用于肯定/否定/疑问:否定式"not be content to"表示“不满足于做某事”。
常搭配程度副词:如perfectly(完全)、quite(很)、simply(仅仅)等,加强语气。
通过具体例子理解用法:
1、 肯定句(满足于/愿意)
She is content to stay at home and cook for her family.
(她满足于待在家里给家人做饭。)
He was content to work as a part-time tutor while studying.
(他读书时愿意做兼职家教。)
They are perfectly content to live in a small village.
(他们完全满足于住在小村庄里。)
2、 否定句(不满足于)
I am not content to just pass the exam—I want to excel.
(我不满足于只是通过考试——我想考得优秀。)
She isn’t content to be a secretary forever; she wants a promotion.
(她不满足于永远做秘书;她想晋升。)
3、 疑问句
Are you content to spend the weekend alone?
(你愿意一个人过周末吗?)
容易混淆的另一个短语是be content with(后接名词/代词,表示“对……满意”),而"be content to"后接动作(动词原形),对比:
I am content with my current job. (我对现在的工作满意。)→ 对“事物”满意
I am content to stay in my current job. (我满足于留在现在的工作岗位。)→ 对“动作/状态”满意
"be content to do sth." 本质是用“满足感”表达对某一行为的接受度,核心是“不抱怨、愿意做”。记住结构(后接动词原形)和与"be content with"的区别,就能准确使用啦!