be entitled to do something
英 /bi ɪnˈtaɪtld tu du ˈsʌmθɪŋ/美 /bi ɪnˈtaɪtəld tu du ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
phr. 固定搭配
有权做某事;有资格做某事
含义详解
该搭配的核心含义是“有权利或资格做某事”。其本义源于“entitle”一词,意为“给……权利或资格”,当用于被动结构“be entitled to”时,强调某人因法律、合同、身份或条件而获得做某事的正当性。引申义可指因付出努力或符合条件而“理应得到”某种待遇或机会,例如“be entitled to a refund”(有权获得退款)。在不同语境中,该短语可表示法律权利(如“be entitled to vote”)、合同权利(如“be entitled to a bonus”)或道义上的资格(如“be entitled to respect”)。其核心逻辑是“外部赋予的正当性”,而非个人主观愿望。
词根溯源
“entitle”源自中古英语“entitlen”,进一步来自古法语“entituler”,最终源于晚期拉丁语“intitulare”,由前缀“in-”(在内)和“titulus”(标题、头衔)构成。原义为“给……加标题”,后引申为“赋予头衔或权利”。被动结构“be entitled to”直译为“被赋予权利去做”,体现了权利由外部授予的语义。记忆时可联想“title”(头衔)——拥有头衔者自然有权行使相应职责,因此“entitle”即“给头衔”,进而“be entitled to”即“有资格做”。
常见语境
该搭配广泛用于正式及半正式场合。在法律文本中,常表述法定权利,如“citizens are entitled to free education”(公民有权享受免费教育),语气严谨。在商务邮件中,用于告知权益,如“you are entitled to a full refund”(您有权获得全额退款),语气正式且礼貌。在新闻报道中,用于客观陈述权利,如“workers are entitled to overtime pay”(工人有权获得加班费),强调事实。在日常口语中,使用频率较低,但也可用于表达资格,如“you're entitled to your opinion”(你有权保留你的观点),语气较正式。在学术写作中,用于论述权利赋予,如“participants are entitled to withdraw at any time”(参与者有权随时退出)。总体而言,该短语语域偏正式,口语中常被“have the right to”替代。
语法要点
“be entitled to”后接动词原形构成不定式,也可接名词或动名词,如“be entitled to a break”或“be entitled to receiving compensation”(但后者较少见,更常见的是接名词)。注意“entitle”是及物动词,常用被动语态,主语为人或组织。常见句型包括:主语 + be + entitled + to + 动词原形/名词。易错点:①漏掉“to”——“be entitled to do”中的“to”不可省略,且后接动词时用原形;②误用主动语态,如“I entitle to...”应为“I am entitled to...”;③混淆“entitled”和“titled”,前者表权利,后者表标题。
同义词区别
与“be entitled to”近义的短语有“have the right to”和“be qualified to”。“have the right to”更口语化,强调法律或道德上的权利,如“you have the right to remain silent”,而“be entitled to”更正式,强调资格或应得。例如,员工“are entitled to”年假,因为合同规定;而“have the right to”表达更宽泛的权利。“be qualified to”则强调能力或资质,如“she is qualified to teach”,而“be entitled to”强调外在赋予的资格,不涉及能力。因此,当指法律或合同赋予的权利时,用“be entitled to”更准确;当指个人能力时,用“be qualified to”。
常见误区
该搭配语域偏正式,在口语中可能显得生硬,日常交流可用“have the right to”替代。其褒贬色彩中性,但若用于描述某人自认为有资格而实际不符,可能带有讽刺意味,如“he thinks he's entitled to everything”(他觉得自己什么都该得)。常见误用包括:①将“entitled”误用为“titled”;②在“be entitled to”后误接动名词而非不定式,虽然接名词时“to”是介词,但接动词时必须用原形;③忽略“be”动词的时态变化,应根据语境使用“am/is/are/was/were”。此外,在美式英语中常省略“to”后的动词,如“you are entitled to a discount”,但后接动词时“to”不可省。
高频搭配
| be entitled to a refund | 有权获得退款 |
| be entitled to benefits | 有权享受福利 |
| be entitled to compensation | 有权获得赔偿 |
| be entitled to a discount | 有权享受折扣 |
| be entitled to vote | 有权投票 |
| be entitled to access | 有权访问 |
| be entitled to a trial | 有权接受审判 |
| be entitled to privacy | 有权享有隐私 |
句子示例
| Employees are entitled to a paid vacation of two weeks per year. | 员工每年有权享受两周带薪假期。 |
| You are entitled to a full refund if the product is defective. | 如果产品有缺陷,您有权获得全额退款。 |
| As a member, you are entitled to access the exclusive lounge. | 作为会员,您有权进入专属休息室。 |
| Every citizen is entitled to vote in the general election. | 每个公民都有权在大选中投票。 |
| She felt she was entitled to a promotion after all her hard work. | 她觉得在付出那么多努力后,理应得到晋升。 |
| You are not entitled to complain if you don't follow the rules. | 如果你不遵守规则,就没有资格抱怨。 |