(1) ①wait一般用作不及物动词，常与for连用，表示等待的人或物。
- I'll wait here at the corner of the street until you come back.
我将在街道拐角处等你回
来。 - Who(m) are you waiting for ?
你在等谁? - I waited an hour but she didn't come.
我等了一个小时，但她却没来。
②wait后也可跟不定式或for+宾语＋不定式的复合结构。
- A lady is waiting outside to see you.
一位女士在外面等着要见你。 - We'd better wait to hear what he thinks about the plan.
我们最好等着听一下他对这项计划的看法。 - We're waiting for the rain to stop.
我们在等着雨停。
③wait有时可以事物作主语，表示“等待；(饭菜等已备好)等待(某人)去吃/喝”。
- Time and tide wait for no man.
时光不等人。/光阴易逝人易老。 - Your tea is waiting (for you). Don't let it get cold.
你的茶已好了，别让它凉了。 - Your dinner is waiting for you.
晚饭已准备好等你去吃。
④在有些场合可作及物动词，这时也可用await。
- We had to wait the next train for Qingdao.
我们不得不等下一班到青岛的火车。 - You must wait your turn to see the doctor.
看病时你必须按次序等候。 - I'll wait your convenience.
我等你方便的时候再说。 - Many people were standing there, waiting the signal.
许多人站在那儿，等候信号。 - Don't wait dinner for me.
不要等我吃晚饭。
⑤其他常用搭配如：to wait one's opportunity to do sth., wait the result, wait the answer, wait one's time, wait one's return/arrival等。
(2) await用作及物动词，意思也是“等待”，与wait for意思基本相同，只是稍书面化一些，故日常口语中不如wait for用的多，多接名词、代词，很少接动名词，不能接不定式。
- A Mr. Wang is at the door awaiting you.
有位王先生在门口等你。 - A hearty welcome awaits you.
你将受到热烈的欢迎。
(3) keep/have...waiting意为“让……等候”，keep多用于人，have多用于车辆、人等。
- I'm sorry for keeping you waiting .(=I'm sorry I have kept you waiting .或I'm sorry to have kept you waiting .)
很抱歉让你久等了。 - I have our car waiting outside.
我们的车在外面等着。
(4) ①hold on (a minute)在美式口语中常用，意为“等一会儿！”，英国人则常用Wait a minute!
- Just hold on a minute/a second while I get the car out. I'll run you to school.
等一会儿我把车开出来，我开车送你去学校。 - Hold on there a minute . What's that you said?
等一会儿，你说的是什么？
②hold on (a minute)常在电话中使用，表示“别忙挂；等一下”。
- Ah! Excuse me, sir, hold on (a second) please — Mr. Hill will speak to you himself.
对不起，请等一会儿，希尔先生将亲自与你通话。
