seated是一个比较特别的过去分词,说它特殊一是因为它的词性尚有不确定性——它有时是过去分词,有时又具有形容词的性质,像是一个形容词;二是因为这样一个很少引人注意的过去分词,在近几年的高考英语考题中经常“露脸”,一下子变成了一个热点词汇。下面我们先来看几道高考题:
1. Please remain __________ until the plane has come to a complete stop. (山东卷)
A. to seat B. to be seated C. seating D. seated
2. Please remain __________; the winner of the prize will be announced soon. (辽宁卷)
A. seating B. seated C. to seat D. to be seated
3. Can those _________ at the back of the classroom hear me? (福建卷)
A. seat B. sit C. seated D. sat
对于seated的用法,首先要从动词seat说起。同学们可能只知道seat的名词用法,即只知道它表示“座位”。其实,seat还可用作动词,且是一个典型的及物动词,其意为“使……坐”或“能容纳……”。如:
Seat the boy next to his brother. 让那个孩子坐在他哥哥旁边。
We can seat 300 in the auditorium. 我们这个礼堂可容纳300人。
由于seat只用作及物动词,所以其后总应有宾语,或用过去分词。如:
他在窗户边坐下。
误:He seated near the window.
正:He seated himself near the window.
说明:若将误句中的seated改为sat则是对的,因为动词sit为不及物动词。
使她吃惊的是,她发现她丈夫坐在一个美丽姑娘的旁边。
误:To her surprise, she found her husband seating next to a beautiful girl.
正:To her surprise, she found her husband seated next to a beautiful girl.
说明:若将误句中的seating改为sitting则也是正确的。
下面请看几个含有seated的句子,注意体会其用法:
Please stay [remain] seated. 请不要站起来。
He seated himself at the writing table. 他在写字台前坐下。
Please be seated, ladies and gentlemen. 女士们、先生们,请就座。
He lifted the child and seated her on the wall. 他把小孩举起来,让她坐在墙上。
下面我们再来分析一下本文前面的三道高考题:
第1题答案选D。由于seat用作动词时总是及物的,所以它的后面必须要用宾语,或用被动语态或过去分词,据此可排除选项A和C。由于不定式to be seated表示将来意义,所以也不能选,故只能选D。
第2题答案选B。remain seated意为“坐着不动”。又如:Please remain seated. 请不要站起来。Passengers are requested to remain seated till the aircraft stops. 在飞机停稳前请乘客不要离开座位。
第3题答案选C。seated在此用作后置定语,seated at the back…可视为who are seated at the back…的省略形式。