英语短语 "exert oneself to do sth." 的核心含义是 “尽力/努力去做某事”,强调通过主动付出精力、努力来完成某件事(比普通的"try"更正式,更突出“竭尽全力”的程度)。
exert:动词,本义是“运用、施加(力量/精力)”;
oneself:反身代词(需与主语一致,如myself/yourself/himself等),强调“自身”的努力;
to do sth.:不定式作目的状语,说明“努力的目标”。
(反身代词必须与主语对应,否则语法错误)
不能省略oneself:比如不能说 He exerted to finish the work(错误),必须说 He exerted himself to finish the work(正确)。
反身代词要匹配主语:
I → myself;you → yourself/yourselves;he/she/it → himself/herself/itself;we → ourselves;they → themselves。
I exerted myself to pass the final exam.
我尽力通过了期末考试。(强调“我自己付出了努力”)
She exerted herself to learn French well before moving to Paris.
她在搬去巴黎前努力学好了法语。
We need to exert ourselves to meet the deadline.
我们需要尽力赶上截止日期。
They exerted themselves to help the homeless during the winter.
冬天时,他们尽力帮助无家可归的人。
try one's best to do sth.(更口语)
make an effort to do sth.(中性)
strive to do sth.(更正式,强调“奋斗”)
常用于正式语境(如书面语、工作/学习场景),或需要强调“主动、全力投入”的情况。例如:
职场:The team exerted themselves to complete the project ahead of schedule.(团队尽力提前完成了项目。)
学习:Students should exert themselves to improve their writing skills.(学生应努力提高写作能力。)
总结:exert oneself to do sth. 是表达“主动、尽力做某事”的正式短语,核心是“自身付出精力”,需注意反身代词与主语的一致性。