habit的意思是“習慣”,指某人有規律地經常做某事,如咬指甲、抽煙等,由于這種動作反復地做,久而久之形成習慣或習性,做時不用思索。有時也可指動植物的“習性”。既可用作可數名詞,也可用作不可數名詞。

habit有時也可表示“婦女的騎裝,教士、修女等的服裝”,在美國口語里還有“毒癮”的意思。

habit后的定語可用“of v -ing”形式,但不可用to- v 。注意當句中有it充當形式主語或賓語,而以動詞不定式作真正的主語或賓語時,該動詞不定式可以置于補語habit之后。

常見句型

用作名詞 (n.)

Some of the things we do scarcely give a thought to; we just do them from habit.

我們做某些事并非深思熟慮,而僅僅出于習慣。

After a few weeks of firm control, the teacher was able to relax his grip on the class, who continued to obey him out of habit.

幾周的嚴格管理后,這位老師終于放松了對這個班學生的控制,因為他們已習慣于服從他的管教了。

The habit is easily acquired but broken up with difficulty.

這種習慣養成容易,摒棄難。

The habit carries over from my childhood.

這一習慣從我小時候起就一直保持下來。

Now, not enough is being done to educate smokers about the benefits of stopping the habit.

在教育吸煙者懂得戒煙的好處方面目前還做得不夠。

Relatives should try to persuade smokers to kick the habit.

親屬們應設法說服吸煙者戒煙。

Since theft has become his habit, he should be confined.

偷盜既然成了他的習慣,就該把他關起來。

～+of n./v -ing

The habit of obedience was burned into me as a child.

我從小就養成了順從的習慣。

We can't expect one to change the habits of a lifetime in a short time.

我們不能期望一個人一輩子養成的習慣短時期就能改變。

In a new job, one should fling off old habits of thought.

干一項新的工作就應該擺脫舊的思維習慣。

He has laid aside the habit of smoking.

他已戒除抽煙的習慣。