govern

/ˈɡʌvn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɡʌvərn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈgə-vərn/ (ame, mw)

govern — verb

  • governpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • governshe / she / it
  • governedpast simple
  • governing-ing form

1. to hold the official power to make laws and manage public services for a country

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to hold the official power to make laws and manage public services for a country, state, or other organized group of people.

例句

Hugo's party has governed the country for the past twelve years.

present perfect: has governed [place] for [time]

The city is governed by an elected council that meets once a week.

passive: be governed by [institution]

同義詞
  • rule

    broader term; can apply to any kind of authority, including absolute monarchy, while 'govern' implies a system of laws

  • administer

    more about managing operations and policies than political authority

  • lead

    less formal; focuses on guiding a group rather than exercising institutional power

反義詞
  • obey

    what citizens do in response to government authority

  • rebel

    to resist or fight against governing authority

文法句型

govern + noun phrase (country, state, city, institution)

用法筆記

The subject is usually a political party, elected body, monarch, or other authority. The object is typically a country, state, province, city, or territory — not a person or small group.

常見錯誤

❌The principal governed the school strictly.
✅The principal ran the school strictly.
💡'govern' is used for countries and large political units; for smaller organizations like schools, use 'run' or 'manage.'
❌The king governed the kingdom for forty years.
✅The king ruled the kingdom for forty years.
💡'rule' is more natural for a monarch; 'govern' usually implies a system of laws or a constitution.

2. to have a strong effect on how something works or how people behave — for exampl

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to have a strong effect on how something works or how people behave — for example, rules that govern a competition, or values that govern a person's choices.

例句

Strict safety rules govern how laboratories handle dangerous chemicals and waste.

collocation: rules/laws govern [activity]

Market forces govern the price of almost everything we buy at the store.

同義詞
  • determine

    emphasizes the outcome; stronger sense of cause and effect

  • regulate

    suggests official rules that control how something operates

  • shape

    less formal; suggests influence without complete control

反義詞
  • follow

    to comply with rules rather than set them

  • ignore

    to disregard the rules or forces that should govern

文法句型

be governed by + noun phrase

govern + noun phrase (rules, factors, principles)

用法筆記

Frequently passive ('be governed by') when describing what controls a process or decision. The subject is typically an abstract force — rules, principles, factors, emotions — not a person.

常見錯誤

❌The teacher governed the students' behaviour.
✅The teacher controlled the students' behaviour.
💡'govern' is used for rules and abstract forces, not for a person directly controlling others.
❌My feelings are governed by my heart.
✅My feelings are governed by a mix of emotion and reason.
💡the subject of 'govern' in this sense should be specific rules, factors, or principles, not vague body parts.