lonely 的意思应该是“感到寂寞的”,如:
Without friends, he felt lonely in a new city. 在一个新的城市里,他没有朋友,感到孤独。
但是它可表示“令人寂寞的”吗?比如,可以这样说吗?
It was a bit lonely being an only child. 独生子女有点寂寞。
这个句子是我在网上看到的,这里的lonely用得对吗?
我的理解是,在It was a bit lonely being an only child 中,it 为形式主语,真正的主语是动名词短语 being an only child,所以句子的意思就是:成为独生子女(being an only child)这件事让人感到寂寞。
换句话说,我认为 being an only child 与 an only child 在意义上是有区别的,前得指一件事,后者才指人。
类例:Being a teacher is not easy. 当老师不容易。(而不是“老师不容易”)
类似地还有:
Being a hospital Sister had its uses. 在医院当护士有它的好处。
Being a soldier can involve getting killed. 当兵就有可能牺牲。
Being a foreigner was not a handicap. 身为外国人并不是一个障碍。
Being a wife and mother doesn’t really fulfill me. 做贤妻良母并不能真正使我满足。
只是个人看法,愿与大家共同探讨,不妥之处,请大家指正!