相似英語詞彙辨析135：shoot, shoot at
135 shoot, shoot at
To shoot a lion和 to shoot at a lion的涵義並不相同。前者是“射中（或射死）一頭獅子”，shoot是及物動詞，lion是它的賓語；後者是“對準一頭獅子射擊”，shoot是不及物動詞，lion是介詞at的賓語。
由此可見，to shoot用於表示射擊行動已獲得預期結果的場合； to shoot at僅表示對準目的物射擊，與結果無關，是否命中或有否打死，不得而知。
試對比下列的例句：
The spy was shot through the heart．
該間諜被擊穿心臟。
He shot himself yesterday.
昨日他吞槍自殺。
I shot at thd bird but it flew away.
我舉槍向鳥射擊，可是它飛走了。
She shot at that target but missed it.
她向靶射擊，但沒有命中。
與之類似的詞語有：
hit—hit at
grab—grab at
to catch the ball—to catch at the ball
to snatch the book—to snatch at the book
to grasp the straw—to grasp at the straw
