vt. 买得起；担负得起；提供；给予
1. 与 can, be able to 等连用，表示“担负得起”某事或某物的费用、损失、后果等，或表示“抽得出”时间等，后面通常可接名词、代词、不定式等（多用于否定句或疑问句）。如：
I can’t afford (to buy) a new coat. 我没钱买件新外衣。
He can’t afford the time for it. 他抽不出时间来做此事。
He says he really can’t afford to wait another day. 他说他确实一天也不能再等了。
2. 表示“提供”“给予”，其后可以接双宾语（直接宾语通常为抽象概念），若双宾语交换位置，要用介词 to（此时无需连用 can, be able to等）。如：
他的来访给我们带来极大的快乐。
正：His visit affords us great pleasure.
正：His visit affords great pleasure to us.
1. They could not afford to spoil those maps by careless colouring.
若是上色的时候不小心弄坏了那些地图，他们可承担不起。
2. They pay full rates. Mind you, they can afford it.
他们付全价，请注意，他们是付得起的。
3. It would be nice to be able to afford to retire earlier.
无后顾之忧而能提早退休当是件幸事。
4. I really can't afford to see this company go belly up.
我绝对不能眼睁睁地看着这家公司垮掉。
5. He could not afford luxury food on his pay.
靠自己的工资他买不起奢侈的食品。
6. If I could afford it I'd have four television sets.
假如能买得起，我就会有4台电视机。