inflect

IPA/ɪnˈflekt/
IPA/ɪnˈflekt/

inflect — 動詞

  • inflectpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • inflectshe / she / it
  • inflectedpast simple
  • inflecting-ing form

1. to alter a word's ending or spelling so it shows its grammatical role in a sente

1.動詞及物 / 不及物C1
釋義

詞形變化

依語法功能改變單字形態

to alter a word's ending or spelling so it shows its grammatical role in a sentence, such as marking tense, number, or case; or to undergo such a change when used in different grammatical positions.

例句

Folake explained that English nouns usually inflect for plural by adding -s or -es.

Folake 解釋，英文名詞通常透過加上 -s 或 -es 來表示複數的字形變化。

inflect for [grammatical feature]

Latin verbs inflect heavily, taking different endings for person, number, and tense.

拉丁文動詞詞形變化非常豐富，會依人稱、單複數和時態使用不同的字尾。

subject + inflect — intransitive use of a language's words

常見搭配
  • inflect for number
  • inflect for case
  • inflect for tense
  • inflect irregularly
  • heavily inflected language
同義詞
  • conjugate

    specifically for verbs across person, number, tense

  • decline

    specifically for nouns, pronouns, and adjectives across case and number

文法句型

inflect + noun (a word)

[word] + inflects

用法筆記

Subject is usually a word, a part of speech, or a language. Frequently followed by 'for' + the grammatical feature being marked (number, case, tense, person). Distinguish from sense 2 (influence) — this sense is restricted to formal grammar contexts.

常見錯誤

The teacher inflected the new students about the rules.
The teacher informed the new students about the rules.
'inflect' is not a synonym for 'inform' or 'instruct'; it only describes grammatical change of word forms.
Chinese nouns inflect for plural.
Chinese nouns do not inflect for plural; speakers add a separate word like 們 instead.
Chinese is famously a non-inflecting language, so the positive claim is factually wrong.

2. to gently colour or shape something — usually a person's view, tone, or work — b

2.動詞及物C2
釋義

略帶色彩

在風格或語氣中留下淡淡痕跡

to gently colour or shape something — usually a person's view, tone, or work — by leaving a faint trace of an outside influence on it.

例句

Vivek's paintings are subtly inflected by the years he spent in Kyoto studying ink brushwork.

Vivek 的畫作微微透露出他在京都學習水墨技法那幾年的痕跡。

be inflected by — passive showing source of influence

The novelist's later work is inflected with a quiet sadness after her brother's death.

這位小說家弟弟過世之後，後期作品中浮現出一抹淡淡的哀傷。

inflected with [emotion/quality] — passive + 'with' for tone

常見搭配
  • inflected by
  • inflected with
  • subtly inflected
  • gently inflected
同義詞
  • tinge

    very close in meaning; even slighter trace

  • colour

    more general; can describe stronger as well as faint influence

文法句型

be inflected by [something]

inflect + noun

用法筆記

Almost always passive ('be inflected by/with'). Distinguish from sense 1 (grammatical change) — this sense is about subtle outside influence, never about word endings. Distinguish from sense 3 (change pitch in speech) — this sense affects content or tone broadly, not a single utterance's intonation.

常見錯誤

The film inflected the audience deeply.
The film moved the audience deeply.
'inflect' suggests a faint trace, not a strong direct effect; use 'influence', 'move', or 'affect' for stronger impact.

3. to raise or lower the pitch of your voice while speaking, often to show a feelin

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

變化語調

說話時上揚或下降聲音高低

to raise or lower the pitch of your voice while speaking, often to show a feeling such as a question, surprise, or warning.

例句

Élise inflected her voice upward at the end so the sentence sounded like a question.

Élise 在句尾把聲音上揚，讓那句話聽起來像個問句。

inflect [one's] voice upward/downward — direction adverb pattern

The actor was trained to inflect his voice so even the back row felt his anger.

這位演員受過訓練，能變化語調，連最後一排觀眾都能感受到他的怒意。

inflect [one's voice] + result clause

常見搭配
  • inflect one's voice
  • inflect [one's] tone
  • inflect upward
  • inflect downward
  • inflect softly
同義詞
  • modulate

    more formal; emphasises controlled adjustment across a range

  • intone

    specifically about giving words a particular musical or solemn quality

反義詞
  • monotone

    as a description: 'speak in a monotone' — the opposite of inflecting

文法句型

inflect + one's voice

用法筆記

Object is almost always 'voice', 'tone', or a possessive variant ('her voice', 'his tone'). Distinguish from sense 1 (word morphology) — this sense is about live speech pitch, not written word forms. Common in descriptions of acting, public speaking, and storytelling.

常見錯誤

Anna inflected the song beautifully.
Anna sang the song beautifully, inflecting her voice to match each character.
'inflect' takes 'voice' or 'tone' as its object, not the work being performed.

同根字

常見搭配

名詞搭配

副詞搭配

常用片語

  • heavily inflected language
  • inflect for number
  • inflect one's voice

介系詞搭配

  • for (a grammatical feature)
  • by
  • with