古今中外的名作家历来都十分重视在锤炼语言上下功。在英语语言中，英浯作家对动词的选择与运用也是十分重视的。特别是英语动词多义词多，正确选择和运用英语动词对写人、叙事乃至绘景都很有影响它可以使读者如见其景，如闻其声。

下面试举数例加以说明：

 

1.“走"的种种步态

由于外界条件及人的年龄、身体或心理状态等的不同，走路的步态也各有差异。各种各样的步态绝不是walk一个词所能表达的。请看以下例子：

a.At last we caught sight of him plodding up the road in the deep snow and looking very weary.

b.The boat had to stay a little way out from the shore，ao the fishermen had to wade through the water to us.

c.When he heard what we had done, he went stamping off down the corridor in a terrible temper.

d.His face withered. In the strenuousness of his concentration he paced fitfully up and down the room.

e.He hardly lifted his feet from the ground, but shuffled atong in a lazy fashion, scattering the leaves in every direction.

f.The horrible sense of his view of her so deadened her that she staggered，and he stepped forward，thinking she was going lo fall.

g. He opened the gate himself and sauntered slowly up, probably enjoying ihe lovely afternoon that breathed as soft as summer

h.No sooner had the bus arrived at the beach than the children got off and scampered away on the sand.

i.The fat lady, undermined by fever, could not swagger any more, but kept tottering about, until she finally collapsed on the chair.

 

这里有在冰天雪地里疲惫不堪、沉重缓慢的脚步（见例1):有在江边浅滩中的蹚水（见例2);有大发雷霆时的跺脚（见例3);有心乱如麻时的来回踱步（见例4); 有无精打釆的懒散脚步（见例5);有落脚不稳的蹒跚 (见例6);也有随心所欲的消遥闲逛（见例7);有蹦蹦跳跳（见例8);也有踉踉跄跄（见例9)。此外，还有swagger (昂首阔步）' hobble (跌跌撞撞）、stroll (溜达散心）、 tiptoe (蹑手蹑脚）、amble (从容不迫地走）、stride (大踏步地走）、trudge （步履艰难地走）、prance (昂首阔步地走）、clump (拖着沉重的脚步走）等，运用恰当，都可以表现不同年龄、性格、心情、神态等方面的特点，使各种步态跃然纸上。

 

2.各式各样的“动"

英语中表现“动”最普通的词是move,但具体说来可不那么简单。既有人类的“动”，也有动物的“动”；有自然界的“动”；也有机械的“动”；既有主动的“动”，也有被动的“动”。可谓“千姿百态”。下面略举数例加以说明：