anxious與eager的用法辨析

1. 表示“擔心的”“焦慮的”這一意義時，只能用 anxious，不用 eager；表示“為……擔心”，一般后接介詞 about, for。如：

an anxious mother 焦慮不安的母親

He is anxious about [for] her safety. 他擔心她的安全。

I’m not in the slightest anxious about it. 我一點兒也不為它擔心。

He was anxious about the safety of his children. 他為孩子們的安全擔憂。

This news made her anxious for the safety of her son who was working in the flood area. 這消息使她為兒子的安全而焦慮不安，因為他正在洪災地區工作。

2. 表示“熱切的”“渴望的”這一意義時，兩者都可用，但有以下幾點需注意：

①anxious 之后一般用介詞 for，而 eager 之后可接介詞 for, after, about 等。如：

She has been anxious about your return. 她一直盼望你回來。

He was eager for a quick cure. 他急于趕快治好。

He’s eager for [after] knowledge. 他求知心切。

He was eager for a quick cure. 他急于趕快治好。

He is eager for [after, about] success. 他渴望成功。

②兩者之后均可接“(for sb)＋不定式”，表示“渴望或想要(某人)做某事”。如：

He is always eager to win. 他總是求勝心切。

They all rushed over, eager to help. 他們都跑了過來急于幫助。

She is always anxious to please. 她老是極力想討好人。

She’s eager for us to see her work. 她熱切希望我們看到她的活兒。

We are eager for you to come to the party. 我們很希望你來參加晚會。

Being anxious to please him, I bought him a nice present. 因為我想討好他，我給他買了一件好禮物。

She’s anxious for her daughter to win the competition. 她盼望她女兒贏得比賽。

③兩者之后均可接 that 從句，且從句謂語一般都用“should＋動詞原形”這樣的虛擬語氣。如：

He’s eager that they (should) come to see him. 他很希望他們來看他。

We are eager that he should help us. 我們希望他能幫我們一把。

They were anxious that aid should be sent promptly. 他們盼望援助物品迅速送到。

有時也用 shall。如：

We are anxious that he shall be given a chance to try it out. 我們熱切希望能給他機會試一試。