I am writing to ask about a few questions concerning the use of ‘linger’. The questions are as below:
1. What is the difference between ‘linger’ and ‘linger on’? Is ‘linger on’ a phrasal verb?
2. If someone spends too much time thinking about something, can we say that this person ‘lingers on’ their thoughts?
Thank you very much.
Jiaying
谢谢 Tiffany 的问题。我请我的同事 Tom 来帮忙解答这个问题。Hi, Tom!
Tom
Hi, Jiaying, and hello to our audience!
Jiaying
我们来看一看问题中提到的基本动词 “linger”。动词 “linger” 的一个常见的用法是 “在某地多待一段时间，逗留”。Tom，你能举一个包含动词 “linger” 的例子吗？
Tom
Yes. So, some students may linger after a class has finished. This means they are avoiding leaving or leaving very slowly. And this might be because they’re waiting for their friends to finish class as well.
Jiaying
Thanks. 刚刚，Tom 举了一个例子，句子中的动词 “linger” 的意思是学生们放学后在校 “逗留，徘徊”。他们迟迟不回家的原因可能是在等朋友。
除了表示“ 逗留” 以外，我们还可以用动词 “linger” 描述 “事物持续存留，久久不散”。
Tom
Exactly! So, for example, I ate fish for lunch today. And the smell of fish lingered for hours!
Jiaying
Tom 说他午饭吃鱼了，过了好几个小时，鱼的味道还是在办公室里 “久久不散”。在英语里，我们可以用 “the smell lingered” 来描述 “气味持续存在，不消散” 的情况。
动词 “linger” 还可以表示 “想法和情感存留，无法忘怀”，是这样吗？
Tom
Yes. For example, I am embarrassed about my smelly lunch, and I will think about it all evening. So, I can say ‘the memory will linger in my mind’.
Jiaying
Tom “忘不了” 让办公室里一股鱼味的尴尬经历。这段记忆 “萦绕在他的脑海里”：The memory will linger in his mind.
Tom
I could also say ‘the memory will linger on’. ‘Linger on’ is a phrasal verb.
Jiaying
Correct! Tom 提到的这个短语和 Tiffany 的第二个问题有关：能不能在谈论记忆的语境中使用动词短语 “linger on”？答案是肯定的。
动词 “linger” 和动词短语 “linger on” 的含义相同。“Linger on” 不及物，也就是后面不需要加宾语。记住，动词短语通常暗示说话的语气是非正式的。
Tom
We can also use another preposition: ‘over’. For example, I like drinking coffee. And I love to linger over a nice coffee in a cafe. I enjoy taking my time.
Jiaying
没错，Tom 提到了另一个动词短语 “linger over”。如果某人 “linger over something”，意思就是此人 “慢慢地做某事”。Tom 举了一个和咖啡有关的例子：“linger over a nice coffee（细细品尝一杯醇香的咖啡）”。动词短语 “linger over” 及物，后面需要加宾语。
Tom
‘Linger over’ is a neutral expression and it can have a negative meaning. For example, we could linger over making a difficult decision, or we could linger over a painful memory.
Jiaying
注意，Tom 强调 “linger over something” 也有 “总想着某件事情” 的意思，因为人们可能会 “linger over making a difficult decision（对困难的事情犹豫不决）” 或者 “linger over a painful memory（留恋一段痛苦的回忆）”。
Tom
Yes. So, for example: Steve is still lingering over the memory of last year’s break-up with his girlfriend.
Jiaying
A good example! Tom，在英语中，“linger over something” 有没有更简短的形式呢？
Tom
Yes! So, ‘don’t linger over it’ is a common expression in British English. This means ‘don’t spend too much time worrying about something’.
Jiaying
英式英语说法 “don’t linger over it” 用来建议他人 “别总为某个问题牵肠挂肚”，人们也说 “don’t linger over it too much（别多想了）”。
Tom
So, thank you for this question, Tiffany! I hope our response means that you won’t linger over this question in future.
