Lindbergh visited the so-called moon man and was quickly convinced of the great importance of Goddard's rocket research. (American Men of Science and Invention, p. 95)
[原译]林白拜访了所谓“月球上的人”戈达德，并很快被戈达德火箭研究的巨大意义所说服。（《美国科学家与发明家》）
请问 be convinced of 在这里是“被……所说服”的意思吗？
英语里有许多形容词与现在分词或过去分词具有完全相同的形式。例如, amusing, boring, convincing, changing, interesting, striking, surprising, terrifying, astonished, broken, delighted, disappointed, satisfied, tired, worried 等等。一般说来, 这些同形的形容词和分词在语义上并没有什么明显的区别。但是, 有时候形容词跟相对应的分词在语义上是有很大差别的。例如:
They were very relieved to find her at home. 他们看到她在家里而感到宽慰。
(relieved 为形容词)
They were soon relieved by the next group of sentries. (Leech) 不久下一班哨兵接替了他们。(relieved 为过去分词)
原文中的 be convinced of 是用来描写人的精神状态或态度(a state or attitude of mind)的，它的意思是“认识”“相信”。其用法相当于 be sure of/that, be certain of/that。上例中的 convinced 是形容词，而不是过去分词，因而 was convinced 是系表结构，而不是被动态。下面举几个类似的例子：
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He was convinced of his error. 他认识了错误。
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They were convinced 他们相信他们会成功的。
[试译]……很快就认识到戈达德火箭研究的重大意义。
(参见 bored/boring, agree/be agreed)