根据辞典上的解释, for long(很久,很长时间)在语义上等于 for a long time。但能否说 I can stay for long. 呢?
按照标准英语,是不能这么说的。因为 for long 虽然在语义上等于 for a long time, 但它们的用法是不一样的。前者一般只能用于否定句和疑问句,而后者既可用于肯定句,也可用于否定句:
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They can't stay (for) long. 他们不能停留很长时间。
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They didn't work for long. 他们没有干很长时间。
3 I can stay (for) a long time. 我可以停留很长时间。
- I can't stay for long. 我不能停留很长时间。
I've been waiting for a long time. 我已经等了很长时间。
He didn't work for a long time. 他很长时间没有工作了。
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They didn't wait for long. (CGEL) 他们没有等很长时间。
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These shoes probably won't last for long. (CGEL) 这些鞋也许不会穿很长时间。
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Though he managed to take a number of brilliant photographs, he could not stay near the volcano for very long. (New Concept English, Book 2, L.67) 虽然他设法拍摄了大量令人赞赏的照片，但是他不能在火山附近久停。
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Were you there for long? (LDCE) 你在那里很长时间了吗？
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Are you home for long? (Maugham) 你要回家待很长时间吗？请做下面的英语试题：
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“I’m going on a trip to Spain.” “Will you be there ____?”
A. long time B. for some long time C. for long D. longer(TOEFL)
- "Your English is about as perfect as it can be." "Thanks. I've been ____ time."
A. to study long B. studying for a long C. studying hard D. study hard(TOEFL)