convince 用法 (convince/ be convinced)
問：Lindbergh visited the so-called moon man and was quickly convinced of the great importance of Goddard’s rocket research. (American Men of Science and Invention, p.95)
[原譯] 林白拜訪了所謂“ 月球上的人”戈達德, 並很快被戈達德火箭研究的巨大意義所說服。(《美國科學家與發明家》)
請問be convinced of 在這裡是“被⋯⋯ 所說服”的意思嗎?
答：英語裡有許多形容詞與現在分詞或過去分詞具有完全相同的形式。例如, Amusing, boring, convincing, changing, interesting, striking, surprising, terrifying, astonished, broken, delighted, disappointed, satisfied, tired, worried 等等。一般說來, 這些同形的形容詞和分詞(如convince 用法)在語意上並沒有什麼明顯的區別。但是, 有時候形容詞跟相對應的分詞在語意上是有很大差別的。例如:
They were very relieved to find her at home.
他們看到她在家裡而感到寬慰。(relieved 為形容詞)
They were soon relived by next group of sentries.
不久下一班哨兵接替了他們。(relieved 為過去分詞)
原文中的be convinced of 是用來描寫人的精神狀態或態度(a state or attitude of mind) 的, 它的意思是“認識”、“相信”。其用法相當於be sure of/ that, be certain of/ that。上例中的convinced 是形容詞, 而不是過去分詞, 因而was convinced 是系表結構, 而不是被動態。下面舉幾個類似的例子:
- He was convinced of his error.
他認識了錯誤。 - They were convinced of their success (that they would succeed).
他們相信他們會成功的。
[試譯] ⋯⋯ 很快就認識到戈達德火箭研究的重大意義。
(參見bored/ boring, agree/ be agreed)
convince 用法 (convince sb. of/ convince sb.to do)
問：Longman Dictionary of Common Errors 說: convinced (that) + 子句, 不接to-V。這種有關convince 用法的說法是否符合英語的實際情況?
答：這種說法是符合英式英語的實際使用情況的。例如, CGE L 只提到了convince sb. of sth.或convince sb. that + 子句(或b e convinced that + 子句) 這些用法, 而沒有提到convince sb. to do sth.。
但是, 這裡應當補充一句: 在美式英語中, 確實有convince sb. to do sth.的用法。例如:
- We convinced Anne to go by train rather than plane.
我們說服了安妮坐火車而不乘飛機。 - What convinced you to vote for them?
究竟是什麼使得你投了他們的票?