商务英语写作指南：不可小觑的consult

The verb “consult” has three different meanings and accordingly behaves in three different ways. It is important to ensure your grammar and sentence structure match the meaning you intend.

单词consult有三个不同的意思，相对应地也有三种不同的用法。在使用时，要确保每种用法的语法和句式结构都能对应的上，而且用的正确。

1. “Consult”usually means “to seek advice or information”. It is a transitive verb, which means it needs an object.

一.consult表示“寻求意见或信息”。这时，consult作及物动词，需要加宾语。

WRONG

错误用法：

Would the employer be obliged to consult before reducing pay?

雇主在减薪前需要先咨询吗?

RIGHT

正确用法：

Would the employer be obliged to consult the employee representatives before reducing pay?

雇主在减薪前需要先咨询员工代表吗?

You can also consult a dictionary, an encyclopedia, or any other written reference.

你也可以向字典、百科全书或者任何书面文献寻求信息。考生如果怕自己错过考试报名时间和考试时间的话，可以 免费预约短信提醒，届时会以短信的方式提醒大家报名和考试时间。

E.g.: If you don’t know how to spell a word, consult a dictionary.

例句：如果你不知道怎么拼写单词，你可以去查字典。

Always put the person or thing being consulted after the word “consult”:

consult作及物动词时，一定要在consult后加某人或某物。

WRONG

错误用法：

We recommend consulting the transaction with the works council.

我们建议向工会咨询交易事项。

RIGHT

正确用法：

We recommend consulting the works council about the transaction.

我们建议向工会咨询有关交易的事项。

In sentences like this, consult with is incorrect. Instead use about or for.

在consult后要加介词的话，用with是不正确的，可以用about或者for代替。

You consult somebody about …

你可以向某人咨询......

E.g.: The employer must consult the employee representatives about reducing pay.

例句：雇主必须向员工代表咨询减薪事宜。

You consult something for …

你可以向某物寻求信息......

E.g.: He consulted the company website for information on internships.

例句：他在该公司的网页上找实习工作的相关信息。

2. You can only use consult with when “consult”means “discuss something in order to make a decision”. In this case it is an intransitive verb, so you cannot write anything between the words “consult”and “with”:

二.当你用consult表示“讨论某事以便做决定”的意思时，你可以在consult后用介词with，因为这时consult是不及物动词，你可以在consult和with之间加任何内容。

E.g.: He consulted with his lawyer for 15 minutes before returning to the meeting.

例句：在他回去开会之前，他向律师咨询了15分钟。

3. “To consult”can also mean “to act as a consultant”. In this case it is also an intransitive verb. It may be followed by “for”:

三.“to consult”也可以表示“作为一名顾问”的意思。这种用法，consult也是不及物动词，后面可加介词for。

E.g.: He retired last year, but still consults for his old firm.

例句：他去年退休了，不过仍然在为老东家做顾问。

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