乍然看来,这两个词都是表示“决定的”意思,似乎无甚区别可言,其实不然。
Decided是个被动(passive)意义的词,它可用于人,也可用于事物;decisive是个主动(active)意味的词,不能用于人,只能用于事物。在词义上,这两个词也有差异。decided表示“决定了的”、“坚定不渝”之意;decisive则表示“有决定性的”、“坚决果断的”涵义。例:
He was quite decided in the matter and no one could stop him.
在这件事上,他异常坚决,谁也拦不住他。
They are quite decided about it.
他们对此事的态度十分坚决。
Please give us a decided answer.
请给我们一个确实的答复。
在上面第一和第二个例句中,decided用于人;在第三个例句中,decided用于事物。
下面是decisive的例句:
The battle of Stalin grad is a decisive one in the Second World War.
斯大林格勒战役是第二次世界大战中富有决定性的战役。
General Patton was known for his decisive manner.
巴顿将军以果敢著称。
He has a decisive character.
他具有果断的性格。
Public opinion is decisive on this question.
公众的意见对这个问题起了决定性的作用。
Decided的名词是 decidedness;decisive的名词是decisiveness;它们的副词都是在词尾加-ly。
Decided在某些场合下还可以表示“明确的”、“显著的”涵义。例如:
There is a decided difference between them.(它们之间有着明显的差别)。