① answer for通常表示兩種含義。
(1)表示"對(duì)......負(fù)責(zé),擔(dān)保",相當(dāng)于be responsible for。
We can't answer for her actions. 我們不能對(duì)她的行為負(fù)責(zé)。
I can't answer for his experience,but I can answer for his honesty. 我不能擔(dān)保他有經(jīng)驗(yàn),但我能擔(dān)保他誠(chéng)實(shí)。
(2)表示"為......吃苦頭,受報(bào)應(yīng)",相當(dāng)于suffer as a result of。
You will answer for your carelessness some day. 總有一天你會(huì)為粗心大意而吃苦頭的。
He will have to answer for his crime. 他會(huì)因其罪行而受懲罰的。
② answer to通常表示"和......一致,對(duì)......作出響應(yīng)"。
His action does not answer to his words. 他做的和說(shuō)的不一樣。
She answered to her mother's call by coming downstairs. 她聽(tīng)到母親的喊聲就下樓了。
③ answer to還可表示"對(duì)......負(fù)責(zé)",這時(shí)它可以同answer for換用。
You'll have to answer to me if any harm comes to this child. 如果這孩子受到任何傷害,你得對(duì)我負(fù)責(zé)。
"in answer to+名詞"為慣用短語(yǔ),意為"響應(yīng),回答",在句中作狀語(yǔ)。
She came in answer to the telephone call. 她接到電話就來(lái)了。
In answer to her shouts,people ran to help. 聽(tīng)到她的呼叫聲,人們就跑去救她。