affect
affect — verb
1. to make someone or something change, or to be the reason that change happens — f
to make someone or something change, or to be the reason that change happens — for example, hot weather can affect how plants grow, and bad news can affect how a person feels.
The drought severely affected rice farmers across central Taiwan last summer.
subject is an event/condition, object is people/things impacted
Loud noise from the construction site is affecting Mei-ling's sleep.
present continuous shows ongoing impact
Her grandfather's death deeply affected Ines for many months.
Rising fuel prices will affect the cost of almost everything we buy.
Drinking too much coffee can affect your heart rate.
文法句型
affect + noun phrase
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (PRETEND): only sense 1 takes a thing or condition as subject (rain, news, decisions). Subjects in sense 2 are always people putting on a fake feeling.
常見錯誤
2. to put on an emotion, attitude, or way of speaking that you do not really have,
to put on an emotion, attitude, or way of speaking that you do not really have, in order to fool other people — for example, smiling as if you are pleased when you are actually angry.
Una affected surprise when her sister announced her engagement, though she had already guessed.
affect + emotion noun (surprise / shock / interest)
The young actor affected a British accent during the whole interview.
affect + accent / manner of speaking
Priya affected indifference, but her shaking hands gave her away.
Tomás affected to be busy whenever his cousin asked for help with the children.
文法句型
affect + noun (emotion/manner)
affect + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Mostly literary or formal. In everyday Taiwan English classrooms, learners should recognise this sense in reading but use 'pretend' or 'fake' when speaking.
常見錯誤
3. to wear a piece of clothing or take up a habit on purpose, hoping that it will m
to wear a piece of clothing or take up a habit on purpose, hoping that it will make other people see you as stylish, clever, or important.
The young professor affected a tweed jacket and round glasses to look older.
affect + item of clothing
Daniel affected a slow, thoughtful way of speaking during faculty meetings.
affect + a manner of behaviour
Eleanor affected a passion for opera that none of her old friends recognised.
The new manager affected a thick walking stick, even though he had no trouble walking.
文法句型
affect + noun (clothing/style/habit)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: sense 2 fakes an internal feeling; sense 3 cultivates an outward style or habit for show. Sense 3 objects are usually clothes, accessories, manners, or claimed tastes.
affect — noun
1. in psychology, a feeling someone is experiencing inside, together with the outwa
in psychology, a feeling someone is experiencing inside, together with the outward signs of that feeling — facial expression, voice, and body movement — that other people can observe.
The patient showed a flat affect throughout the entire interview.
fixed term: flat affect = little visible emotion
Doctor Diego noted a sudden change in the boy's affect after the news.
affect + change for emotional shift
Researchers measured positive affect in the children before and after the music class.
Her blunted affect made it hard for the nurse to judge her real pain.
文法句型
flat affect
blunted affect
用法筆記
Stress is on the first syllable for the noun (AF-fect), but on the second syllable for the verb (af-FECT). Used almost only in psychology, psychiatry, and clinical writing; everyday speech uses 'feeling' or 'mood' instead.