What does “for by ”mean？[Image]

Question

Answer

The young man was amply provided for.
How?
By the fortune of his mother.

For goes with provided.
By goes with the fortune of his mother.

This is passive voice. It means that the fortune of his mother amply provided for the young man

Answer

原文句子是一个被动语态，转化为主动语态结构是:
M （主语）+  provides for （谓语“动词短语”）+ someone （宾语）。这儿的主语M 不表示是人，而是物品，礼品（当时也可以是钱财），其实猛一下看不懂就是因为这是一个类似固定习语的“短语动词“， （就像 look after 意思是“看管照应…”一样, look after 不能分开，相当于一个动词意义， provide for 这儿也是一个动词短语，provide for 也不能分开）
主语(物品) +  provide for + sb 表示“ 某种东西提供给某人”→汉语有被动意义，主语却用主动形式，例如:  
The  money has  provided for Tom.
这笔钱已经给了汤姆。主，谓，宾→The  money ， has  provided for，  Tom.
所以变成被动语态:
Tom has been provided for by the money.
按照这种“原理”（语法）计算，如果依然采用主动形式造句（用过去时态）:
The fortune provided for the man.
(这笔钱提供给了那个男人）
增加主谓宾各自的修饰成分→

the fortune of his mother amply provided for the young man.
主语:   
the fortune of his mother。
谓语: (amply）provided for.
宾语: the young man.
 把上个句子变成被动语态→
The young man was amply provided for by the fortune of his mother.
（即原文）
遇到这种别扭句子要把它变成主动语态进行翻译理解: 
The young man was amply provided for by the fortune of his mother.→主动语态→

the fortune of his mother amply provided for the young man.
译文: 母亲的财产大部分都给了他的年轻儿子。
（这儿的his 指代 后面的the young man, 严格说是不能后指的，因为代词通常前指（代词指代前面的名词），但是逻辑清晰时也可以前指）

Answer

His mother's fortune provided _for_ him.

He was provided for by his mother's fortune.

Answers · 4

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