这是一个新闻常用的单词。新闻报道发生了某件事时,如果不是记者目睹或是经过证实的,为了慎重起见,往往使用这个单词,表示“据称”如何如何。这个单词的搭配用法如下:
(1)整件事情用alleged来概括。【例如】It is alleged that they mistreated the prisoners.据称他们虐待囚犯。否定时单独否定从句即可:It is alleged that they did not mistreat the prisoners.
(2)alleged这个单词落在作为主语的某个人身上,但是alleged的内容实际上落在“主语 + to inf.”这件事情上。例如:They are alleged to have mistreated the prisoners. 但是这用法不适合否定句,例如不惯说:*They are not alleged to have mistreated the prisoners. 也不惯说:*They are alleged not to have mistreated the prisoners. 此时就最好用上面(1)或下面(3)的句型,改为否定句。
(3)将alleged加上后缀-ly成为副词allegedly,对句子加以限定,例如:They allegedly mistreated the prisoners. 否定时可以说:They allegedly did not mistreat the prisoners.
(4)形容词alleged可以作为前置定语,所修饰的名词可以是事情,也可以是人。【例如】his alleged innocence他的自称清白 / the alleged identity theft据称的冒名顶替行为 / the alleged murderer据称的谋杀犯 / the alleged victim据称的受害人。
与alleged类似的,还有reported, supposed等词,搭配用法差不多相同,但意义有些细微差别。alleged往往是“有人指称”的,reported则是“有人报道”的,supposed则可能是说话或写报道者自己猜测的。