to sleep

IPA/tə slˈiːp/
IPA/tə slˈiːp/

to sleep — 慣用語

1. used after a verb like sing, read, rock, or cry to show that the action brings a

1.慣用語B1
釋義

入睡

動作持續到睡著為止

used after a verb like sing, read, rock, or cry to show that the action brings a person into sleep and continues until they are asleep

例句

Jessica sang her baby daughter to sleep with a soft lullaby.

Jessica 用輕柔的搖籃曲哄女兒入睡。

sing + someone + to sleep

The gentle motion of the boat rocked Mira to sleep within minutes.

輕微的船身晃動讓 Mira 幾分鐘內就睡著了。

rock + someone + to sleep (passive subject)

文法句型

verb + someone + to sleep

verb + oneself + to sleep

用法筆記

Always follows another verb (sing, read, rock, cry, lull, bore, etc.). The person who falls asleep comes before 'to sleep.'

常見錯誤

❌She sang to sleep.
✅She sang the baby to sleep.
💡the person falling asleep must come between the verb and 'to sleep.'
❌I read to sleep my son.
✅I read my son to sleep.
💡the object always comes before 'to sleep,' never after.