clean、clear、sweep、dust、mop、wipe与scrub这些动词均有“使干净”之意。
clean : 是这些动词中最常用的词，指将某物或某处的污物等清除掉、弄干净。
- I'm going to clean the windows this morning.
今天上午我要擦窗户。 - You should always clean your teeth after meals.
每次饭后你都应当清洁牙齿。
clear : 指清除不要的东西。
- It took several hours to clear the road after the accident.
事故发生后，用了好几个小时来清理道路。 - I'll make the coffee if you'll clear the table.
你要是去收拾桌子，我就去煮咖啡。 - If you use this nasal spray, your nose should clear.
用了这种鼻腔喷剂，你的鼻塞就会好一点。
sweep : 指用扫帚等进行清扫，也用作比喻。
- sweep the floor
扫地 - The showroom had been emptied and swept clean.
陈列室已经清理出来，打扫干净了。 - The owner of the store was sweeping his floor when I walked in.
当我走进商店的时候，店主正在扫地。
dust : 指将积落在物体表面的尘土抹去、掸掉或擦去以保干净。
- I broke the vase while I was dusting.
我擦灰尘时将花瓶打碎了。 - Could you dust the sitting room?
你把起居室擦一擦好吗？
mop : 侧重指用拖把擦洗地板，有时也指擦干净或擦去。
- She wiped all the surfaces and mopped the floor.
她把所有的陈设都擦干净，还拖了地板。 - He took out a handkerchief to mop his brow (= to remove the sweat) .
他拿出手绢来擦额头上的汗水。
wipe : 多指用布、纸等物把东西擦净，也指擦掉某物。
- Do you have some paper towels that I can wipe the floor with?
你有没有我可以用来擦地板的纸巾？ - I'll just get a sponge and wipe the crumbs off the table.
我这就去找块海绵把桌子上的碎屑擦掉。 - Don't wipe your nose on your sleeve!
别用袖子擦鼻子！ - Someone has wiped their dirty hands on my nice clean towel!
有人在我干净漂亮的毛巾上擦过脏手！
scrub : 指用硬刷、肥皂或水用力地擦洗某物。
- She scrubbed (at) the mark on the wall for a long time, but it wouldn't come off.
她花了很长时间擦洗墙上的印迹，但仍然没有擦掉。 - He scrubbed the old saucepan clean, and it looked as good as new.
他把旧的平底锅擦得很干净，看上去像新的一样。 - I found him in the kitchen, scrubbing the floor.
我见他在厨房擦地板呢。
