await,wait
這兩個(gè)詞都是動(dòng)詞,又都有“期待”、“等候”之意,但用法有所不同,它們的區(qū)別如下：
（一）await是及物動(dòng)詞,后面直接接賓語；wait雖然也可用作及物動(dòng)詞,但在現(xiàn)代英語中,一般作不及物動(dòng)詞用,與for,to,till,until等詞連用.
（二）await的賓語大都是抽象名詞,如：decision,reply,arrival,announcement,return等；wait for的賓語一般是人或事物.
The judge awaits the coroner's inquest before giving a verdict．
法官在作裁決前等待驗(yàn)尸官的調(diào)查.
I have been waiting for her for an hour at the bus stop．
我在公共車站等候她已一小時(shí)了.
（三）await之后接動(dòng)名詞；wait之后接動(dòng)詞不定式.例如：
We shall await hearing further from them．
We shall wait to hear further from them．
我們?cè)陟o候他們進(jìn)一步的消息.
（四）await多用于書面語；wait 多用于口語.如：
This plan awaits the approval of the board of directors．
這項(xiàng)計(jì)劃有待董事局批準(zhǔn).
I have been waiting here for a long time．
我已在這里等了好久了.
（五）wait 除作動(dòng)詞外,還可用作名詞.例：
I had a long wait for the train．
我等火車等了好久.
They pursue a policy of wait and see．
他們采取等待和觀望的政策.
如上所述,wait在特定情況下也可以用作及物動(dòng)詞,例如：to wait your turn；to wait one's opportunity.
請(qǐng)注意下列句子中await和wait的使用場(chǎng)合：
We await （or wait for）your reply．
We wait for（不能用await）you to reply．
I shall wait to bring her home．（不能用await）
I await （or wait for）your ruling on the matter with some impatience．
當(dāng)await的主語是沒有生命的事物而賓語是人時(shí),await表示 be in store或lie in wait for之意.如：
On arriving at the guest house,he found a telegram awaiting him．
Little did he realize what a surprise awaited him at home．
A hearty welcome will await you．
請(qǐng)注意,Time and tide wait（s）for no man（歲月不待人）的wait既可以加s,亦可不加s.