find，find out，look for与discover

      find，find out，look for与discover都与“找”有关，但侧重点不同。请观察下面的例句。

【例句】

1. I’m looking for my pen.

2. He can’t find his watch.

3. I find it difficult to learn English well.

4. Please find out the answer to the question.

5. Do you find out why Tom was late?

6. Scientists around the world are working to discover a cure for AIDS.

【用法】

◆look for意为“寻找”，强调找的动作，是延续性动词，如句1。

◆find意为“找到、发现、感到”，强调找的结果，是非延续性动词，如句2和句3。

◆find out意为“查明、发现、了解”，指经过认真观察、调查或研究把某事、某物查出来、搞清楚，多用于复杂而不容易直接查出的情况，如句4和句5。

◆discover意为“发现、发觉”，指发现某种情况或发现早已存在而未为人知的东西，如句6。

 

 

1. look for 意为“寻找”,强调过程或动作。如:

I’m looking for my pen.我正在寻找我的钢笔。

What were they looking for just now? 刚才他们在找什么?

What are you looking for? 你在找什么?

Why are the police looking for you?

为什么警察在四处找你?

Some birds are looking for food.有些鸟在寻找食物。

He walked the streets to look for his cat. 

他在大街上走来走去找他的猫。

We have to look for a parking space.

我们必须找一个停车空地。

We have to look for new water sources.

我们得想法寻找新水源。

 

2. find意为“找到,发现”,强调结果。如:

He can’t find his watch.　他找不到他的手表。

I find it difficult to learn English well. 我发现学好英语很难。

I have found the lost book.我已经找到丢失的书了。

He found that the method worked.他发现这方法行得通。

Please find Mary her bag.请替玛丽找到她的提包。

She said she would find an electrician for us.她说她要给我们找一个电工技师。

Did you find your glasses? I cannot find my gloves! 你找到了你的眼镜了吗。

You will find the information in sub - section 3 of section 47.

你将从第47条款第3小节中找到该信息。

I couldn't find that book in the stacks. Would you help me to find it? 我在书架上找不到那本书。请帮我找一下好吗？

 

3. find out 意为“查明、找出”,是指经过认真观察、调查和研究后才发现某事或某物。如:

Please find out the answer to the question.

请找出这个问题的答案。

Do you find out why Tom was late?

你查明汤姆迟到的原因了吗?

I hope nobody finds out.

我希望无人发现。

I'll find out about planes to New York.

我去打听一下飞纽约的班机。

The manager had found him out and was going to sack him.

经理发觉了他的不轨行为, 打算炒他鱿鱼。

We must find out the truth of the matter.

我们必须弄清楚事情的真相。

The traitor was finally found out and put in prison.

那个卖国贼终于被人发现并被监禁了起来。

I have found out how to make the cake.

我已经发现怎么做蛋糕。

We soon found out that he was a secret agent.

我们很快就查明他是个间谍。

It was found out that certain herbal medicines had curative effect on AIDS.

经研究发现有些草药对艾滋病有疗效。

Find out where he is going.

弄清楚他要到哪儿去。

Please find out when the train starts.

请你查一下火车什么时候开。

4. discover意为“发现”，表示“偶然”或“经过努力”发现客观存在的事物、真理或错误，即指发现原来客观存在但不为人所知的事物，也可表示发现已为人所知的事物的新的性质或用途。

　　Columbus discovered America in1492．哥伦布1492年发现了美洲。

　　We soon discovered the truth． 我们很快就弄清了真相。
I discovered (that) she was a good cook. 我发现她是个烹饪好手/她很会烧菜。 

 

一．请根据所给汉语意思，完成下列英语句子，每空词数不限。

1. 最后，我在床底下找到了那本书。

I ________________ under the bed in the end.

2. 我爸爸正到处找他的护照。

My father ________________ his passport everywhere.

3. 我们必须查明真相。

We must ________________. 

4. 你知道哥伦布什么时候发现了美洲吗？

Do you know when Columbus ________________ America?

 

 

Key:1. found that book     2. is looking for

      3. find out the truth    4. discovered

二．

　　1．Edison ＿＿＿＿ the electric lamp．

　　2．I lost my necklace last night．I haven’t ＿＿＿＿ it．

　　3．Who ＿＿＿＿ America first？

　　4．Can you ＿＿＿＿ what time the train leaves？

　　

 

ANSWER: 1．invented  2．found  3．discovered  4．find out