表示“要求”的动词辨异

徐　元

英语中表示“要求”的动词主要有： apply, demand, request, require和ask。

apply

不及物动词，指书面提出正式的“请求；申请”。常用于apply for sth.和apply to do sth.的结构。

例1Only one person applied for the post.只有一人申请这个职位。

例2They applied to return to China.他们申请回中国。

ask

意为向别人“要求”什么，语气上没有request正式。常用于 ask for sth., ask sb. for sth.和ask sb. to do sth.的结构。

例3Her son asked her for more money. 她儿子问她要更多的钱。

例4He asked me again and again to help him with English. 他再三请求我帮助他学英语。

request

表示礼貌地提出“要求”，语气上比ask正式，比demand更客气。常用于request sth. from sb. 和request sb. to do sth.的结构。

例5He requested permission to take photos in the art museum. 他请求被许可进入艺术博物馆拍照。

例6Can you request a loan from the bank? 你能请求银行给你贷款吗？

require

通常指根据规章、惯例或法律条款“要求”别人，带有强制、命令的色彩，也有上级对下级(如业主对雇员等)提出“要求”的含义，在语气上没有demand来得强。常用于require sb. to do sth.的结构。此外，require后接动名词的主动形式表示被动的含义。

例7A peoples court shall have the authority to require the parties to provide or supplement evidence. 人民法院有权要求当事人提供或者补充证据。

例8The floor requirs washing. 地板该洗了。

demand

通常指某人强制、命令式地“要求”别人服从，带有不容反驳的意味；也有非常迫切地、断然地“要求”某物的含义。常用于demand sth.和demand to do sth.的结构，但不能用于demand sb. to do sth.的句式。

例9Their job demands care and patience. 他们的工作需要细心和耐心。

例10She demanded to see the editor. 她强烈要求见编辑。

此外，如果ask, demand, request和require之后跟that从句，该从句应用虚拟语气，即“should +动词原形”的形式，其中should可以省略。

例11She asked that she (should) be allowed to the rescue team. 她要求被准许参加救援队。

【练习题】

1. When he was a middle school student, he _____ to join the Party.

A. asked B. requested

C. required D. applied

2. She had to _____ permission to film at the White House.

A. request B. require

C. ask D. demand

3. The policeman _____ the traveler to unlock his suitcase.

A. applied B. requested

C. required D. demanded

4. When they were visiting our factory, we _____ the visitors not to take any photos.

A. demanded B. applied

C. required D. requested

5. Martin Luther King _____ equal rights for blacks.

A. asked B. demanded

C. required D. applied

6. Miss Brown _____ for the job as an English teacher in Hangzhou.

A. applied B. requested

C. demanded D. required

7. If you are unable to make a satisfying plan for the program, you can ______ me for advice.

A. demand B. ask

C. request D. require

8. The walls of this old house ______ repairing.

A. ask B. apply

C. demand D. require