float ♦︎ hang ♦︎ drift ♦︎ hoverThese words all mean to move slowly or remain still on water or in the air.这些词均表示漂浮或悬浮。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆to float / hang / drift / hover over sth◆to float / hang / hover above / overhead / in the air / in the sky◆a boat floats / drifts◆clouds float / hang / drift / hover◆a smell floats / hangs / drifts◆smoke hangs / drifts◆to float / drift slowly / gently■float [intransitive] to move slowly on water or in the air; to stay on or near the surface of a liquid and not sink浮动;漂流;飘动;漂浮◆A group of swans floated by.一群天鹅缓缓游过。◆We tried to make a raft but it wouldn't float.我们设法做了一只筏子,但它浮不起来。ⓘ When it means 'to move on water or in the air', float is always used with an adverb or preposition.表示“在水中或空中浮动、飘动”之义时,float总是与副词或介词连用。OPPsinkⓘ To sink is to go below the surface or towards the bottom of a liquid or soft substance, especially when this is an accident. * sink指下沉、下陷,尤指沉没事故◆The Titanic sank about 400 miles south of Newfoundland in 1912.泰坦尼克号客轮1912年在纽芬兰以南约400英里处沉没。■hang(hung, hung) [intransitive] (always used with an adverb or preposition总是与副词或介词连用) to stay in the air, especially for a long time(尤指长时间)悬浮(在空中)◆Smoke hung in the air above the city.城市上空烟雾弥漫。◆The smell of burning plastic hung in the air.空气里弥漫着烧塑料的气味。◆The question seemed to hang in the space between them.问题仿佛悬在两人之间。ⓘ You usually use hang when you are talking about clouds, mist, smoke, dust and smells. You can also use hang to describe the moon, sun or stars. * hang的主语通常是cloud、mist、smoke、dust和smell,亦可是moon、sun和star。■drift [intransitive] (usually used with an adverb or preposition通常与副词或介词连用) to move along smoothly and slowly in water or air漂流;漂移;飘◆The boat drifted out to sea.船向海上漂去。◆White clouds drifted across the sky.朵朵白云在空中飘过。NOTE辨析 Float or drift?In many cases you can use either word. Float places slightly more emphasis on the idea of sth being supported on the surface of the water or in the air. Drift places more emphasis on the fact that sth is moving slowly in a particular direction, often without any control.在许多情况下这两个词可以通用。float略微强调某物受水面或空气支撑,drift更多强调不受控制地朝某一方向缓慢移动。■hoverˈhɒvə(r); NAmEˈhʌvər [intransitive] (usually used with an adverb or preposition通常与副词或介词连用) to stay in the air in one place翱翔;盘旋◆The hawk hovered in the air and then plunged to the ground.鹰在空中盘旋,然后向地面俯冲。◆A police helicopter hovered overhead.一架警用直升机在头上方盘旋。ⓘ Birds, insects and helicopters hover, but not planes. * hover的主语可以是鸟、昆虫和直升机,但不能是飞机。