governed

IPA/ˈɡʌv.ən/
KK[ɡˈʌvɚnd]IPA/ˈɡʌv.ɚn/

governed — verb

  • governedpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • governeds3rd person singular
  • governeding-ing form
  • governededpast simple

1. to officially control a country, state, or region and make decisions about how i

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to officially control a country, state, or region and make decisions about how it is run, especially through a system of government

例句

For twelve years, Burma was governed by a military council that banned all opposition parties.

passive: be governed by [ruling body]

The city of Porto Alegre is governed by an elected mayor and a city council.

同義詞
  • rule

    stronger emphasis on authority and power, often associated with monarchs or dictators

  • administer

    more neutral and bureaucratic; focuses on the day-to-day running of things

  • manage

    used for smaller organizations or specific tasks; less formal than 'govern'

反義詞
  • be ruled by

    opposite direction of power; being controlled rather than controlling

文法句型

be governed by [person/institution]

govern + noun phrase

用法筆記

Common in passive constructions: the subject (the place being ruled) comes first, followed by 'be governed by' and the ruling body or system.

常見錯誤

❌The president governed the country since 2010.
✅The president has governed the country since 2010.
💡'since' requires the present perfect tense, not the simple past.
❌The CEO governs the company.
✅The CEO manages the company.' or 'The board governs the company.
💡'govern' is better suited to political or institutional bodies, not a single corporate leader.

2. to have a strong and controlling effect on the way something happens, is done, o

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to have a strong and controlling effect on the way something happens, is done, or is decided — for example, how rules affect a process, or how feelings affect someone's choices

例句

Every safety decision at the factory was governed by strict regulations from the health board.

passive: be governed by [rule/regulation]

The Watanabe family's daily routine was governed by the tides of the fishing season.

同義詞
  • determine

    stronger sense of a direct cause-and-effect relationship

  • control

    broader and more general; can apply to people, machines, or processes

  • regulate

    implies formal rules or standards; common in technical and legal contexts

反義詞
  • be free of

    not influenced or controlled by a particular factor

文法句型

be governed by [factor/rule]

govern + noun phrase

用法筆記

Subject is usually an abstract noun (rules, principles, forces, customs, feelings) rather than a person. The object is typically a process, decision, or area of life — not a concrete object.

常見錯誤

❌The manager governs the team's schedule.
✅The manager determines the team's schedule.' or 'The team's schedule is governed by company policy.
💡'govern' in this sense is best used for rules or forces, not people making routine decisions.