B2 verb #43 最常用 2分钟阅读

article

To sign a formal contract to work or train for someone for a specific time.

Explanation at your level:

This is a hard word. It means to sign a paper to work for someone for a long time.

You use this when someone signs a contract to learn a job from a master.

It describes a formal agreement. It is often used in history when talking about apprentices.

In law, it means to list items formally. It is a very formal verb, not used in daily talk.

The verb 'article' implies a legal commitment. It is distinct from 'hiring' because it implies a structured, often long-term, apprenticeship.

Etymologically, it connects to 'joint'. It denotes the formalization of duties into distinct sections. Rarely used outside of legal history.

30秒词汇

  • Rare verb
  • Means to bind by contract
  • Legal/Historical context
  • Passive voice usage

When we use article as a verb, we are stepping into the world of formal agreements. It describes the process of binding someone by a written contract, which was historically common for apprentices learning a trade.

Think of it as a formal indenture. You aren't just starting a job; you are legally tethered to a master for a fixed period. In legal settings, it also means to break down a long list into specific, numbered points or charges.

The word stems from the Latin articulus, meaning a 'small joint' or 'part.' Over time, it evolved to describe individual items in a document, eventually becoming the 'articles' of a contract.

By the Middle Ages, it was used to describe the indentures signed by apprentices. It is fascinating how a word for a 'joint' in the body became a word for a 'joint' in a legal document!

You will rarely hear this as a verb in casual conversation. It is almost exclusively used in legal or historical contexts. You might see it in a sentence like 'The clerk was articled to the solicitor.'

Commonly, it appears in the passive voice. It is a very formal register, so avoid using it in everyday emails or chats.

While the verb form is specific, it relates to the noun 'article'. 1. Article of faith: A firm belief. 2. A tough article: A difficult person. 3. The genuine article: The real thing. 4. In the article of death: At the point of dying. 5. Articles of war: Military regulations.

As a verb, it follows regular patterns: article, articled, articled, articling. Pronunciation is ˈɑːrtɪkəl. Stress is on the first syllable. It rhymes with 'particle' and 'barbicle'.

Fun Fact

It once referred to the joints in a finger.

Pronunciation Guide

UK ˈɑːrtɪkəl

Clear 'ar' sound.

US ˈɑrtɪkəl

R-colored vowel.

Common Errors

  • Pronouncing it like 'artic-le'
  • Missing the middle syllable
  • Stress on second syllable

Rhymes With

particle barbicle tarticle

Difficulty Rating

阅读 4/5

Formal

Writing 4/5

Formal

Speaking 5/5

Archaic

听力 4/5

Formal

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

Contract Bind

Learn Next

Indenture Apprentice

高级

Solicitor

Grammar to Know

Passive Voice

He was articled.

Examples by Level

1

He was articled to a baker.

He signed a contract to learn baking.

Passive voice.

1

The law student was articled to a firm.

1

He served his time as an articled clerk.

1

The prosecutor articled the charges against the defendant.

1

The apprentice was articled for seven years.

1

The solicitor articled his son to the senior partner.

常见搭配

articled clerk
articled to a firm
articled for a period

Idioms & Expressions

"The genuine article"

The real thing

This watch is the genuine article.

casual

"A tough article"

A difficult person

Don't argue with him; he's a tough article.

casual

Easily Confused

article vs Articulate

Similar root

Articulate means to speak clearly.

He is articulate.

article vs Article (noun)

Same spelling

Noun is an object/writing.

Read the article.

Sentence Patterns

B2

Subject + was + articled + to + Person/Firm

He was articled to the firm.

词族

Nouns

article A specific item or object

Verbs

articulate To speak clearly

Adjectives

articulate Clear in speech

相关

articulation noun form of the verb

How to Use It

frequency

2

Formality Scale

Legal/Archaic Formal Neutral Casual

常见错误

Using article as a verb in casual talk Use 'hired' or 'signed'
It sounds too legal/archaic.
Confusing it with the noun Check context
The verb is very rare.

Tips

💡

Passive Voice

It is almost always used in the passive.

💡

Read History

Find it in old books.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Art-i-cle: Art (skill) + i (I) + cle (clear). I learn a clear skill.

Visual Association

A quill pen signing a long scroll.

Word Web

Contract Apprentice Legal Indenture

挑战

Write a historical sentence using the word.

词源

Latin

Original meaning: Small joint

文化背景

None

Associated with Victorian-era legal practices.

Dickensian literature Historical legal dramas

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Legal History

  • Articled clerk
  • Under articles

Apprenticeship

  • Bound by articles

Conversation Starters

"Have you ever heard of an articled clerk?"

"Do you know the history of apprenticeships?"

Journal Prompts

Write a story about an apprentice in the 1800s.

常见问题

8 个问题

Yes, but it is rare.

No, usually for apprenticeships.

The noun is, but the verb is different.

Yes, very.

Yes, 'articled'.

It would sound very strange.

Latin 'articulus'.

Rarely, mostly in historical contexts.

自我测试

fill blank A1

He was ___ to the law firm.

正确! 不太对。 正确答案: articled

Passive voice requires past participle.

multiple choice A2

What does it mean to article someone?

正确! 不太对。 正确答案: To bind by contract

It refers to a binding contract.

true false B1

The verb 'article' is common in casual speech.

正确! 不太对。 正确答案: 错误

It is very formal.

match pairs B1

Word

意思

All matched!

Matches definition.

sentence order B2

点击下方的词语来组成句子
正确! 不太对。 正确答案:

Standard passive structure.

得分: /5

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