【问】 in state与in a state意思是否相同?
 【答】 in state意为“隆重地”、“正式地”、“庄严堂皇地”：
 1. The Queen drove to the palace in state. (LDCE)
 女王的车隆重地驶向皇宫。
 2. The flower girl enters in state.
 卖花姑娘庄严地走了进来。
 3. The President was received in state. (OSD)
 总统受到隆重接待。
 4. The king received the ambassador in state.
 国王隆重地接见了那位大使。
 in a state意为“处于焦急、激动的状态”、“处于混乱、不整洁等不良状态”：
 1. What a state you are in!
 看你弄成了什么样子!
 2. She was in a state when she heard her mother was ill.
 听说妈妈病了，她很焦急不安。
 3. He is. as the parlormaid has said，in a state.
 正如客厅女仆所说，他的精神状态不好。
 至于in a state of结构，那是比较容易理解和翻译的：
 1. Everything was in a state of disorder. (Palmer)
 一切都处于混乱之中。
 2. For some days the family lived in a state of excitement. (Maugham)
 全家人有好几天一直生活在兴奋之中。