play用作及物动词时接表示球或乐器等名词、代词或that从句作宾语。有时还可接双宾语，其间接宾语可转化成介词to或for的宾语，还可接由“(as+) n./adj. ”充当补足语的复合宾语。有时可用于被动结构，play还可用作系动词，后接形容词或名词作表语。play后接表示球类或牌等名词时，其前不加冠词the，而接乐器时则必须加冠词the，在美式英语中the有时也可以省略。
1.玩耍；游戏；玩乐
如：I haven't got anybody to play with!
没有人跟我玩儿！
2.（为玩耍）假装，假扮
如：They were playing at being cowboys.
他们装扮成牛仔玩。
3.参加比赛；（同某人）比赛
如：Have you played her at football yet?
你跟她踢过足球没有？
4.（在运动队中）担当，充任
如：I've never played right back before.
我过去从来未当过右后卫。
5.弹拨，吹奏（乐器）；演奏
如：He played a tune on his harmonica.
他用口琴吹奏了一支曲子
6.播放；继续播放
如：Play me their new CD, please.
请给我放一下他们的新唱片吧。
7.上演；演出
如：They played to a full house.
他们的演出座无虚席。
8.闪烁；浮现；掠过
如：Sunlight played on the surface of the lake.
阳光在湖面上闪烁。
9.动；作用；影响
如：The media played an important part in the last election.
大众传媒在上一次选举中发挥了重要作用。
