由此可見,to shoot用于表示射擊行動已獲得預期結果的場合; to shoot at僅表示對準目的物射擊,與結果無關,是否命中或有否打死,不得而知。
試對比下列的例句:
The spy was shot through the heart.
該間諜被擊穿心臟。
He shot himself yesterday.
昨日他吞槍自殺。
I shot at thd bird but it flew away.
我舉槍向鳥射擊,可是它飛走了。
She shot at that target but missed it.
她向靶射擊,但沒有命中。
與之類似的詞語有:
hit—hit at
grab—grab at
to catch the ball—to catch at the ball
to snatch the book—to snatch at the book
to grasp the straw—to grasp at the straw