1. 后接动词时,该动词要用动名词,不能用不定式,并且该动名词习惯上要用主动形式表示被动意义,不能直接使用被动式,如可说:
The film isn’t worth seeing. 但不能说:
The film is worth being seen. 注意,虽然be worth后接动词要用动名词,但在It’s worth (one’s) while后却可接动名词也可接不定式。
2. 在现代英语中,在be worth前使用形式主语it被认为是合习惯的:
It isn’t worth repairing the car. 这辆汽车不值得修了。
Is it worth visiting the city? 这个城市值得去看吗?但是,若不用形式主语it而直接用动名词作主语则是错误的,如不能说:
Repairing the car is worth.
3. 在be worth doing结构中,除非句首用了形式主语it,句子主语总应是其后动名词的逻辑宾语;若其中的动词不及物,应考虑加上适当的介词:
Nothing he said was worth listening to. 他说的话没有一句值得听。
She’s not worth getting angry with. 犯不上跟她生气。
4. 若要加强其语气,可在其前使用well, really, very much等修饰语,但习惯上不用very:
It was well worth waiting for. 这件事倒是很值得等待。
The book is really worth reading. 这本书确实值得一看。
He has something very much worth saying. 他有些话很值得讲。
【谚语】An hour in the morning is worth two in the evening. 一日之计在于晨。