有一读者问： 有这样一句话：
(1)The last time he was there, Jurgis had thought of little but his family; but now he was free to listen to these men, and to realize that he was one of them...
句中的free 是什么意思？ 它似乎不可译作“自由”，对吗？
对。在这个句子中，free 不是简单地意谓“自由的”，而是意谓“能够随意” (able to do what one likes), 常后接带 to 的不定式。再如：
(2)That'll leave me free to amuse myself as I please.
(3)You're free to eat or drink whatever you like and to play with any of the girls or boys.
有时可和able并用，如：
(4)Usually only single men serve as guides for these tours. They must be free to spend a lot of time away from home, and they must be able to assist tourists with their heavy luggage. They must be able to meet all kinds of emergencies.
这种free 还常有“被允许”的含义，如：
(5)I am free to see him now. （=I can see him now.）
(6)You're free to go home now. （=You can go home now.）
