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高中英语核心语法点汇编 part 21 时态之比较
1 现在一般时和过去一般时之比较
现在一般时和过去一般时,一般说来,区别较大,不易混淆。但也有一些情况需要比较。譬如:
(1)Did you wish to see me? (a)
Do you wish to see me? (b)
(a)句与(b)句意思相同,可是语气却不一样。(a)句用过去一般时,表示婉转客气,彬彬有礼。英语里用过去时态表示婉转客气的情况很多,再如“What did you want?” 就要比“What do you want?” 客气得多。(b)句也可以说,但没有(a)句那样礼貌。
(2)My grandfather was a model worker. (a)
My grandfather is a model worker. (b)
例中(a)句用的是过去一般时,表示“我的祖父”生前是一个模范工作者,现已死去。(b)句则说明“我的祖父”还健在人间。英语里,谈到死去的人要用过去时态,但也有例外。请看下面一例。
(3)Shakespeare was the author of Hamlet . (a)
Shakespeare is the author of Hamlet . (b)
例中(a)句用过去一般时,说明作者莎士比亚其人其作品《王子复仇记》皆属过去,和我们现在可以说已无直接关系。(b)句用现在一般时,则表示《王子复仇记》这个剧本现今仍在被人们传诵或演出,而作者虽已死去几百年,则因其作品之不朽而不朽了。
(4)What brought you here? (a)
What brings you here? (b)
这两句的意思完全一样,但(a)句暗含一个过去某一时刻,(b)句则强调现在的结果。(b)句用brings,实际上相当于现在完成时has brought,只是前者强调结果,后者不仅说明结果,而且有从过去过渡到现在的含义。现在一般时相当于现在完成时的情况并不罕见。下面又是一例:
(5)I came to apologize. (a)
I come to apologize. (b)
这两句的意思也是一样。(a)句有“当我决定向你道歉的时候我就来了”的含义,有人说这种说法比较正式。(b)句只强调 “我已到此”的结果。如说“I have come to apologize.”则不但表示结果,而且具有“过渡”的含义在内了。
(6)That's all I had to say. (a)
That's all I have to say. (b)
这两句话都常为人们所说。(a)句的意思是“刚才我心里要说的话,就是这些,我都说了”。(b)句则表示我刚才讲的话现在仍在我的心里。
(7)How did you like the film? (a)
How do you like the film? (b)
例中(a)句用过去一般时,表示电影已看完,问对方喜欢不喜欢刚才看过的那个电影。(b)句用现在一般时,则表示说话人在看电影的过程中,或在泛泛而谈这个电影时,问对方的。
(8)It was so nice to see you. (a)
It is so nice to see you. (b)
例中(a)句用于已见过面谈过话之后将离别之际;(b)句则用在刚见面的时候。
(9)Have you found how wide the window was? (a)
Have you found how wide the window is? (b)
例中(a)句用was, 其含义是: 我问的是当你量窗户的时候(过去某一时刻),窗户有多宽? (b)句用is,其含义是: 那个窗户现在的宽度没有变,仍是过去所量的那个宽度,那么请你告诉我,那个窗户现在有多宽?
(10)He always was that way. (a)
He always is that way. (b)
例中(a)句强调他不但现在如此,而且过去一贯如此。(b)句只是说: 他总是那样。
(11)I never liked him. (a)
I never like him. (b)
例中(a)句的意思是: 我从来就不喜欢他。请注意在这个句子里,liked似乎要比have liked自然通顺得多。(b)句用现在一般时,意思是: 我绝不喜欢他。
(12)Ah, ha! I think I know that voice. (a)
Ah, ha! I thought I knew that voice. (b)
例中(a)句用现在一般时,含义是:“我知道这是谁的声音”,但说话时,客人(即说话人所指的那个人)尚在门外,没有进屋。(b)句用过去一般时,表示客人已经进屋和说话人见面了。
上面一些例子,只是比较常见的一小部分,很不全面。尚望读者自己继续留意。
2 现在一般时和将来一般时之比较
现在一般时表示现在(或包括现在在内的时间)发生的动作或存在的状态,将来一般时则表示将来某一时间或某一段时间发生的动作或存在的状态。二者泾渭分明,各执一事,难道还有什么值得比较的地方吗?
自然,如若现在一般时只表示现在,问题就简单了。然而,它有时却偏偏和将来一般时一样也表示将来。这样,二者之间就需要加以区别了。
让我们从两个方面来讨论这个问题:
1. 在条件状语从句中,我们知道,常用现在一般时表示将来。但有时也可以用将来一般时。试比较:
(1)If it is convenient for you, please come to see us next week. (a)
If it will be convenient for you, please come to see us next week. (b)
(a)句的if从句用现在一般时,表示将来,这是我们早已学过的,无须多讲。但(b)句的if从句中用的是将来一般时,这是为什么呢? 这是由于if从句内省去了另一if从句的缘故。如将整个if从句说出,就会变成“If it will be convenient for you if you come to see us next week,...”但由于if you come to see us next week与主句重复,故而省去。从意义上看,(a)和(b)两句无甚区别,但(b)句更加强调将来,也较委婉客气。条件从句用将来一般时的情况并不罕见,下面再举几例:
(2)I'll come tomorrow if it will suit you.
(3)I would like to buy this book if it won't cost too much.
(4)If what he proposes will benefit the people, we will act upon it.
注意在下面例句中,if从句的will不是构成将来一般时的助动词,而是表示“意愿”的情态动词:
(5)I'll be glad if you will come.
(6)I'm sure you will succeed if you will work harder.
(7)If you will step this way, Mr. Brown.
(8)If you will excuse me, I'll leave you now.
2. 在独立的句子中,固然常用将来一般时表示将来,但有时也用现在一般时,试比较:
(9)When will you start? (a)
When do you start? (b)
(10)The show will begin in a minute. (a)
The show begins in a minute. (b)
(11)The boat will leave for Dalian tomorrow. (a)
The boat leaves for Dalian tomorrow. (b)
上述例句中,(a)句皆用将来一般时,表示单纯的未来事实,强调时间。(b)句则用现在一般时,虽也表示未来,但强调这个未来时间是事先安排好的。
下面再就一些常见的句子作一比较:
(12)Tomorrow is Friday. (a)
Tomorrow will be Friday. (b)
(a)句用现在一般时,具有已被日历固定为星期五的含义。(b)句只推论一个单纯未来的事实。
(13)Are you free tonight? (a)
Will you be free tonight? (b)
(a)句语气较为随便,只是一般的询问。(b)句的语气则比较认真,具有“如果你今晚有空, 就请你如何如何”的含义。
(14)I repeat , this is very important. (a)
I'll repeat , this is very important. (b)
(a)句用现在一般时,表示立即要进行或发生的动作,语气十分肯定,意在强调所要重复的话的重要性。(b)句用将来一般时,语气较为平和,其含义是: 既然你第一次没有听清楚我所讲的话,那么现在我再给你说一遍吧。
(15)I hope you'll have a pleasant stay in China. (a)
I hope you have a pleasant stay in China. (b)
(a)句用将来一般时,容易理会。(b)句用现在一般时,并无“事先安排好”的含义,却是把将来的情况变成现在的心理活动了。现在一般时用在这里表示将来,比较亲切自然,适于口语。下面再举几例:
(16)How long does the meeting last ?
(17)I hope nothing happens to him.
(18)If you lose it, you lose everything. (主句表必然的结果)
总的说来,将来一般时表示将来,时间概念较强,有时有其他含义,如“条件”等。现在一般时表示将来,时间概念不强,没有“条件”的含义,但往往有固定安排或必然结果等含义。
3 现在一般时和现在完成时之比较
如何学习时态? 这是一个很有趣的问题。对成年人来说,最好还是从各个时态的基本形式、基本概念和基本用法学起。过了这一阶段,就应该放开步伐,通过大量听、读和口笔头实践,获得感性知识。这样,到一定阶段,就会发现不少情况需加以区别了。这是一个新的深化阶段,好比登山,又到达一个新的高度了。
现就现在一般时与现在完成时这两种时态的一些常遇到的情况比较如下:
(1)I come from Shanghai. (a)
I have come from Shanghai. (b)
(a)中come from是一个习惯说法,意思是“出生在”。全句的意思是“我的出生地是上海”(即“我是上海人”)。这样,你就明白为什么要用现在一般时了。
(b)中come from不是习惯说法,意思就是字面上的“来自”或“从……来”。全句的意思是 “我是从上海来的”。它丝毫没有“出生在上海”的含义。句中用现在完成时的原因有二: 一是动作发生在过去,说话时这个动作已完成;二是与现在有关,说话者的含义可能是“So I can tell you what Shanghai is like now.” (所以我可以告诉你上海现在的情况)。
(2)You read very well. (a)
You've read very well. (b)
(a)中read 是现在一般时,表示你不仅刚才朗读得好,而且具有朗读的才能。 全句的意思是:“你朗读得很好”,正如“He sings very well.”的意思是“他歌唱得很好”一样。(b)中have read是现在完成时,表示刚完成的一次动作,不指平常朗读得如何。
(3)I forget. (a)
I have forgotten. (b)
(a)中现在一般时forget表示现在的一种暂时心理状态,全句的意思相当于:I don't remember(我不记得了)。(b)中现在完成时have forgotten则强调“全忘了”。
(4)What does he say? (a)
What has he said? (b)
(a)和(b)皆表示“他(刚才)说什么?”,但(a)似乎更普通,(b)则用得较少。现在一般时表示刚刚过去的情况并不罕见,这是由于说话人着重现在的结果的缘故。(b)则强调“过渡 ”,时间性较强。
(5)What wind blows you here? (a)
What wind has blown you here? (b)
这两句话都比较常用,意义上也无甚差异。如细加区别,(a)比较着重现在的结果,语气比较轻松,可以说是一种现成的说法;(b)则强调从过去到现在的过程,语气比较认真,结构也比较正式。
从上可以看出,遇到现在一般时和现在完成时在意义上有相似情况时,现在完成时比较强调一个动作从过去到现在的演变过程,语言比较规范,语气也比较正式;现在一般时着重能力、习惯、心理状态或现在存在的状态等。
以上是就上述几个例子而言,碰到其他具体情况,仍须作具体分析。
4 这两种时态都是对的
有一读者问: 有的书上说下面一句中应用现在一般时:
(1)It's almost a year since we came to this farm.
但我却见过用现在完成时的句子,如:
(2)It has been fifteen years since she left.
到底孰对孰错?
二者都对,只是英国人多用现在一般时,美国人则多用现在完成时。
5 现在一般时与现在完成时都对
有一读者问如何做这道填空题:
I'll go with you as soon as I_________my work. (finish)
我们的老师说应填 finish,而答案填的是 have finished。
finish 与 have finished 都不错,只是前者意味着它与 will go 之间无时隔,后者则意味着它与 will go 之间有时隔。
6 现在一般时和现在进行时之比较
一见这个题目,也许有的读者会说,这个不难: 现在一般时表示经常发生的动作或存在的状态,现在进行时只表示现在正在发生的动作。譬如:
(1)John works hard. (a)
John is working hard. (b)
(a)句用现在一般时works,表示约翰工作努力,经常如此,已经成为他的一个特点了; (b)句用现在进行时is working,只说明现在(说话人说话的时间)约翰很努力工作,至于他平常工作如何,就另当别论了。
说得很对。这是这两个时态之间的基本区别,对于初学英语的人来说非常重要。但这只是初步的,如再深入一下,就会遇到不少句子需要进一步学习了。这里让我们举一些常见的例子,请读者先试着区别一下:
(2)What do you do here? (a)
What are you doing here? (b)
(3)We start work at 8 o'clock. (a)
For this week we are starting work at 7:30. (b)
(4)Here comes the bus! (a)
The bus is coming. (b)
(5)You flatter me. (a)
You're flattering me. (b)
(6)When you pass my way, please drop in. (a)
When you're passing my way, please drop in. (b)
(7)I forget his name. (a)
I'm forgetting his name. (b)
(8)What time do you start? (a)
What time are you starting? (b)
(9)You are too modest. (a)
You're being modest. (b)
(10)You don't eat much. (a)
You're not eating much. (b)
(11)Xiao Li always comes late. (a)
Xiao Li is always coming late. (b)
读者们考虑好了吧。好,现在就将你们的答案和我们的对照一下:
例(2):(a)句和(b)句的意思差不多,都问“你在这里干什么工作?”但(a)句的时间观念不强, 相当于:“你在这里担任什么工作?”现在一般时do说明主语you的身份、职务等,语气比较客气,具有礼貌性质;(b)句的时间观念较强,指包括现在在内的一段时间,有临时的性质, 语气没有(a)客气,有时还可能有不愉快的含怒的感情色彩。
例(3):(a)句start表示经常的情况;(b)句用are starting则专指本周的临时安排。现在进行时往往表示临时情况,这是值得注意的。
例(4):(a)是感叹句,不可改用现在进行时;(b)用现在进行时乃是强调“公共汽车来了”的情景。
例(5):(a)是现成说法,着重说明“你恭维我”这样一个事实;(b)用现在进行时则强调“现在”或“目前”,相当于汉语“你恭维起我来了”或“你这是在恭维我哩”。
例(6):(a)不强调具体时间,任何时候都可以;(b)则指在将来某一时间计划要做的事情。
例(7):(a)句的意思是“我不记得他的名字了”,着重说一时的事实或结果。(b)句的意思是 “我差一点忘记了他的名字”,表示刚才的心理状态。
例(8):(a)和(b)皆指计划中的行动,但现在一般时start比现在进行时are starting更加肯定,更加确定无疑。
例(9):(a)指主语you的品质;(b)只指“现在”或“目前”,可能意味着“你倒谦虚起来了”。
例(10):(a)的意思是“你饭量不大,吃得不多”;(b)的含义则是:“你怎么不(多)吃呀! 太客气啦!”
例(11):(a)往往只是一种客观叙述,并无责备的意思;(b)则带有明显的不满情绪。
上述例句,只是一小部分常见的情况,还有不少情况需要读者随时留意。
7 三个句子的时态比较
有一位读者问下面三个句子的时态意义有何不同:
(1)I saw him before he saw me.
(2)I had seen him before he saw me.
(3)I saw him before he had seen me.
这个问题提得很好。在一般语法书中,或略而不论,或认为三个句子意思相同,没有相互区别的必要。我们认为,对已具有一定英语水平的人来说,对之分析比较一番,则可能是有好处的。
在讨论之前,先复习一下过去一般时和过去完成时的基本概念。过去一般时是:其时间指过去某一时点或时段; 其动作或状态只表一个简单的事实;其动作如非持续,一般是完成了的。过去完成时是: 其时间指过去的过去; 和现在完成时一样,其动作或状态已完成;一般都强调先后或因果关系。好,现在我们可以分析上述三个例句的时态了。
先看句(1)。这里主句和从句都用的是过去一般时,这就意味着:
1. 两个过去一般时皆指一过去某一时刻(具体什么时间由上下文决定),但由于有连词before,不会被误会为同一时间。
2. 两个过去一般时皆表一个简单事实,其动作都是在一瞬间完成的。
3. 两个过去一般时皆不强调“在什么时间以前完成”,从而也自然不强调先后或因果关系。
4. 两个过去一般时所表的动作是相继发生,紧相连接,中间无时隔。
5. 过去一般时较过去完成时简便自然,在不会引起误会的情况下,我们应该学会用过去一般时。再如:
(4)Did you find the pen you lost? (过去一般时lost显然较had lost自然,适合于口语)
再看句(2)。这个句子除用了过去一般时外,也用了过去完成时。关于过去一般时,前面已经做过分析,这里不再重复。而这个句子中的过去完成时则意味着什么呢? 我们根据过去完成时的基本概念,可以得到下面几点结论:
1. 过去完成时强调其动作发生在同句中的过去一般时之前。
2. 过去完成时强调“在过去一般时前完成”这一概念,从而强调了时间上的先后关系。
3. 过去完成时既然强调了先后关系,它们与同句中的过去一般时就不是彼此紧接,而是中间有了时间间隔。
4. 过去完成时与同句中的过去一般时有没有因果关系呢? 显然没有。因为某一方先看见另一方一般都不会构成另一方看见某一方的原因。但下面两句中的因果关系是明显的:
(5)He had finished the work before he took a rest. (完成工作是因,休息是果,故应用过去完成时had finished)
(6)The bell had rung, and we went out to play. (其所以用had rung,是因为孩子们只能在铃打过后才能出去玩。如用过去一般时rang,则与went out变成两个紧相连接的简单事实)
关于句(3),我们只从实用语法的角度提几点看法:
1. 在句中,had seen是后于saw发生的,had seen在此强调动作的完成。
2. 过去完成时有时和现在完成时一样,只强调动作的完成,不强调时态的呼应(即与过去一般时之间的先后关系)。如我们可以说:
(7)“You can't go before you have seen her,” he said.
如将此句中的直接引语变为间接引语,即为:
(8)He said that I couldn't go before I had seen her.
在句(8)中,had seen显然和例(7)中的have seen一样,都是用来强调动作的完成的。这样的例子有很多,这里就不多举了。句(3)中的had seen自然也应这样看。
3. 在实际运用中,“I saw him before he saw me.”比较简洁便当,尤其多用于刚才发生之事。“I saw him before he had seen me.”中的had seen往往显得有点笨重,并给人一种遥远之感,可用于指几个月之前发生的事情。
8 no sooner ... than 可后接一般时态
有一读者问:许多教科书和语法书上说,no sooner ...than结构中的 no sooner 之后应用过去完成时,实例如:
(1)No sooner had she finished reading the poem than students' questions began pouring in.
但我也在书上看到过不用过去完成时而用过去一般时或现在一般时,如:
(2)No sooner did they get to the school than it began to rain.
(3)No sooner am I half way through one reading list than I'm given another.
(4)No sooner was she back at home than she realized her mistake.
请问以上两种不同用法有何不同?
一般说来,no sooner...than 结构中的主句应用过去完成时,其 than 从句用过去一般时。但当主句的谓语动词所表的动作历时短暂时,即其与从句的谓语动词所表的动作之间的时隔很短时,亦可用过去一般时(或现在一般时),上述句(2)即是一例,再如:
(5)The name no sooner passed her lips than she turned away.
此外,当主句的谓语动词不强调动作的结果而强调状态时,亦可用一般时态。实例如上述句(3)和句(4),再如:
(6)It (the craft)was no sooner free from the incumbrance of the branches than it swung into the stream, sheering quite close to the western shore, by the force of the current.
9 用过去一般时还是过去完成时?
有人问这样一道选择题:
(1)He thought of the photo that_________many years ago.
A. was taken B. had taken C. took D. had been taken
我认为选A 比选D好,因为从句中有过去时间 many years ago, 不知对否?
对,应选A。在有表过去某一时间的状语时,一般皆可用过去一般时表“过去的过去”,再如:
(2)John said he was born in 1990.
(3)He told me he saw Mary the day before.
其实,在不会引起误会的条件下,也可用过去一般时表“过去的过去”,如:
(4)Did you find the pen you lost ?
(5)I came after you left .
选D 也不错,但它强调过去动作完成的先后关系。
10 将来一般时抑或现在一般时?
有一读者问如何做这道选择题:
I hope my father_________well soon.
A. will get B. get C. gets D. is getting
命题者显然要求选A,因为 will get 在此是规范英语。其实C也不算错,虽然主要用于美国英语(也有人说用现在一般时比较亲切)。 B不合语法,D则不合乎习惯。
11 为什么不用将来一般时而用现在进行时?
有一读者问这样一句话:
I'm leaving for the south soon.
这里为什么不用将来一般时而用现在进行时?
be leaving含有“意向”,相当于“打算”,较口语化。如用will leave,则有歧义: 一是表“意愿”,一是只单纯表一个未来的事实。
12 现在完成时与过去一般时区别之一
有一读者问到关于现在完成时可以离开时间状语而独立运用的问题。
现在完成时可以不用任何时间状语而单独运用,如:
(1)I have seen the film.
过去一般时就不同了。它通常须和时间状语连用才行,如:
(2)I saw the film yesterday.
这也是现在完成时和过去一般时的区别之一。有一位英国语法家把这种区别与两个冠词联系起来。他说: 现在完成时在时间上是不定的,其不定正如不定冠词a;过去一般时在时间上是确定的,其确定正如定冠词the。他这种类比很值得我们参考。
13 现在完成时和过去一般时之比较
对于我国初学或学过几年英语的人来说,现在完成时这个时态是比较困难的。所以在比较现在完成时和过去一般时之前,有必要搞清现在完成时的基本概念。概括地说,现在完成时表示过去的动作和现在的结果。这是什么意思呢? 第一,现在完成时所表示的动作(包括状态在内)是在过去发生的,也可以说是在现在以前完成的。有的动作是离现在不久完成的,如“He has gone.”; 有的动作则是离现在颇久或很久完成的,如“He has travelled in Tibet.”。 第二,现在完成时所表示的动作虽然发生在过去; 然而我们的兴趣并不在于过去的动作,而在于过去的动作对现在所产生的影响或所造成的结果。我们说He has gone时,我们所强调的不是动作发生在过去,而是它对现在所造成的结果,即“He is not here.”。 “He has travelled in Tibet.”所强调的也不是过去的动作,而是现在的结果:“He knows about Tibet.”或“He knows what Tibet is like.”。 第三, 现在完成时既然强调现在的结果,它所用的助动词又是have (has), 所以它是一个现在的时态。现在完成时既然是现在时态,当然不可以与过去某一时点或时段连用,不可说“He has gone three minutes ago.”或“He has travelled in Tibet last year.”。顺便说一句,现在完成时虽不可与具体确切的过去时间连用,但可以和笼统的过去时间连用,至于具体和什么表过去时间的词连用,则详见英语语法书,这里就不赘述了。
弄清现在完成时的基本概念之后,对现在完成时和过去一般时进行比较就比较容易了。当然还有困难。造成困难的原因主要有二: 两个时态皆可无时间状语; 两个时态都有些特殊的习惯用法。为了解决这些困难,我们试找一些较为常见的句子比较如下:
(1)Have you finished? (a)
Did you finish? (b)
两句都是问对方“完了没有”,如问“讲完了吗?”但(a)句是紧接着对方问的,着重现在,意即“如你讲完,我想接着你讲”。(b)句则用在对方已经结束讲话一会儿之后,譬如说过了一会儿我要发言,突然想起应该问问对方说完了没有,这时就得用过去一般时。其含义是:“刚才你讲完了吗?”这个过去时间虽未明白表示出来,但是有此“内涵”则是没有疑问的。
(2)Have you seen the film? (a)
Did you see the film? (b)
这两句话的目的性不同。(a)的目的在于解决现在的问题,即“如你没有看过这个电影,那么咱们就一起去看吧”,也可能是“如你已看过,那就告诉我这个片子好不好,是否值得看”。当然还有别的可能性,要视当时的情况而定。不管具体目的如何,其兴趣在于解决现在的问题,则是共同的、不变的。(b)句的兴趣则纯粹在于过去,与现在没有关系。又,电影如仍在上映或说话人刚看过电影,必须用(a)句;反之,如电影已停止放映或在电影放过的第二天,则须用(b)句。这两种情况并不难解释: 前者强调现在,后者纯粹谈论过去。
(3)What's happened? (a)
What happened? (b)
(a)句相当于“I see that something has happened; what is it?” (b)句则内涵一个双方都了解的一个过去时间。在实际生活中,这两句话并无多少区别。但在美国似乎多用过去一般时。同样地,美国人多说“Nothing happened since”,较少说“Nothing has happened since”。
(4)Who's taken my pen? (a)
Who took my pen? (b)
和上例一样,两句区别不大。如细加琢磨,(a)句是一个一本正经的问题;(b)句则轻松,还可能带有感情色彩。这里读者可能要问: (b)句用过去一般时,应与现在无关,但为什么在这里又与现在有关了呢? 首先,我们说过去一般时与现在无关,是相对的,不是绝对的;其次,前已提过,在这种情况下,美国多用过去一般时。
(5)Have you ever heard him sing? (a)
Did you ever hear him sing? (b)
(a)句着重事实,在问对方是否知道他唱得如何。(b)句着重时间,问对方什么时候听过他唱歌。但在美国,(b)句用得较多。
这里有一种特殊情况,应引起注意:
(6)Have you ever heard of such a thing? (a)
Did you ever hear of such a thing? (b)
(a)句是认真地提问,希望对方认真地回答。(b)句则是修辞性的问题,并不要求对方回答, 它的真正意思是: 你当然没有听说这种事情啰。在口语中,(b)句也可简略为:“Did you ever?”
(7)What have I done to make you so angry? (a)
What did I do to make you so angry? (b)
(a)句用现在完成时,是一个认真提出的问题,而且对方仍在生气。(b)句中用的是过去一般时,意在过去,现在是否仍在生气则不一定,也无关重要。又,(b)句可能是带有感情色彩的。
(8)My chief purpose has been to help the Chinese student of English. (a)
My chief purpose was to help the Chinese student of English. (b)
(a)句与现在有密切关系,所用的现在完成时所表示的过程也可能就是写一本书或一篇文章的过程,而这本书或这篇文章现已写好出版了。(b)句用过去一般时则与现在没有什么关系。
(9)Who's been here while I was out? (a)
Who was here while I was out? (b)
两句的区别在于: (a)句有说话人发现了有人来过的迹象,(b)句则没有。读者可能要问: (a)句中while I was out可否改为while I have been out? 可以。但要注意两点:一是如用have been out, 主句中的has been则有重复性,意思变成了“每逢我出去,谁常来呀? ”这种用现在完成时来表示过去的动作或状态的重复性的例子并不罕见,再如:
(10)I have told you forty times!
(11)It's rained every day this week.
(12)Every time I have come to see you you have been out.
(13)When heavy rains have fallen in the hills the river has broken its dikes. (此句似乎纯谈过去,与现在无关)
二是在现代英语里,状语从句中的现在完成时往往被过去一般时所代替。如:
(14)Here men have been killed when they fired at a grizzly.
(15)Where have you been? (a)
Where were you? (b)
(a)句问:“你(刚才)到哪儿去啦?”(b)句只问过去某一时间对方在哪里。另外要注意 have been和 have gone的意思不同: 前者不但去了,而且已回;后者意谓去了,尚未或没有回来。又,have been如不与时间状语连用,它所表示的状态已经结束,如:
(16)You look pale. Have you been ill? (being ill这一状态已经结束,即已病愈;脸色不好是病后的现象,绝不说明还在病中)
但如与时间状语连用,说“He has been ill for three weeks”,则病的状态可能延续(即现在仍在病中);但也可能不延续(即病已好)。究竟属哪一种可能,应视具体情况而定。
(17)I have always liked him. (a)
I always liked him. (b)
两句意思完全一样,但在现代英语里多用(b)句,(a)句似乎已不大用。理由是: 现在完成时往往显得笨重,没有过去一般时那样简洁。
(18)He has lived in Shanghai for ten years. (a)
He lived in Shanghai for ten years. (b)
(a)句可能有两种意思: 一是此人仍在上海,一是他已不在上海。但不管是哪一种意思,此人还活着,这是肯定无疑的。(b)中的“他”则可能已死去。
(19)He has been called a thinker. (a)
He was called a thinker. (b)
如“他”已死,(a)句则表明他的声誉(作为思想家)至今犹在;(b)句纯指过去,说明“他” 已被人忘记。
(20)Tianjin has been visited by Comrade Liu Shaoqi. (a)
Tianjin was visited by Comrade Liu Shaoqi.(b)
(a)句是可以说的,虽然不可说“Comrade Liu Shaoqi has visited Tianjin.”, 因为少奇同志已不在人间。这句话用现在完成时是表示至今天津人民仍怀念少奇同志。(b)句则只谈过去,与现在无关。
(21)She's gone long ago. (a)
She went long ago. (b)
(a)句强调现在她已不在此地,相当于“She is said to have gone long ago.”, 注意笼统的时间状语long ago。有的语法家则说这种时间状语是一种添补性或后来想到的(after-thought)说法。(b)句很简单,单指过去,与现在无关。
综上所述,可以简单地归纳为下列几点:
1. 现在完成时是现在时态,与现在密切相关;过去一般时一般与现在无甚关系。
2. 现在完成时有时有持续性,可以持续下去;过去一般时则往往无持续性。
3. 现在完成时有时有重复性;过去一般时一般没有。
4. 现在完成时比较认真严肃,甚至笨重;过去一般时则较轻松方便,有时还带有感情色彩。
5. 现在完成时如指离现在较近的动作,往往可以被过去一般时所代替,在美国尤其如此。
6. 现在完成时后面常常不跟指过去的时间状语,如有时间状语,则一般须表示笼统的过去时间;过去一般时后面常跟有时间状语,所表示的过去时间可以是笼统的,更可以是具体而确切的。
7. 现在完成时如用在主句或一独立句中,后面的时间状语从句或另一独立句中的谓语动词常用过去一般时。
14 现在完成时和现在完成进行时
现在让我们来比较一下现在完成时和现在完成进行时。在比较这两个时态时,关键在于对现在完成进行时的基本概念是否理解,而对于现在完成时我们则已有了一个基本的理解了。
现在完成进行时是一兼有现在完成时和现在进行时二者基本特点的时态。由于它有现在完成时的特点,所以它可以表示某一动作对现在产生的结果或影响。由于它有现在进行时的特点, 所以它也可以表示某一动作的延续性、临时性、重复性、生动性乃至感情色彩。
我们现在就现在完成进行时的这些特点和现在完成时作一简单的比较:
1. 现在完成进行时和现在完成时皆可表示动作对现在产生的结果,但前者所表示的结果是直接的,而后者所表示的则是最后的结果。如:
(1)We have been cleaning the classroom. (a)
We have cleaned the classroom. (b)
(a)句可译为“我们打扫教室来着”。其直接结果可能是:我们身上都是灰。(b)句可以译为 “我们把教室打扫过了”。其结果是: 现在教室很清洁,可以用了。又,(a)句表示教室刚刚打扫过,(b)句则可能表示教室是昨天打扫的。
(2)Be careful! John has been painting the door. (a)
John has painted the door. (b)
(a)句表示约翰刚刚把门漆过,现在油漆还未干,所以你要小心。(b)句则无此含义,油漆可能已干了。
2. 现在完成进行时有时有延续性,现在完成时往往没有。如:
(3)They have been widening the road. (a)
They have widened the road. (b)
(a)句的意思是他们在加宽马路,但尚未完工。(b)句的意思则是已完工了。
3. 现在完成进行时表示延续性,往往有临时性质;现在完成时有时也有延续性(如一些属于持续性的动词),但无临时性质。如:
(4)Mr. Smith has been living in London since last year. (a)
Mr. Smith has lived in London since last year. (b)
(a)句有“史密斯先生在伦敦非久居”的含义,(b)句则没有。但现在完成进行时并不总是具有临时的性质,如:
(5)My mother has been teaching English for twenty years. (a)
My mother has taught English for twenty years. (b)
(a)句在此并无临时性质,但较口语化。(b)句则较为正式。又,(a)句表示动作现在仍在继续,并将延续下去,(b)句的动作是否延续下去,须由上下文决定,但在一般情况下是延续下去的。
4. 现在完成进行时往往表示动作在重复,现在完成时则常常不带重复性。如:
(6)Have you been meeting her lately? (a)
Have you met her lately? (b)
(a)句有“经常相会”之意,(b)句则没有。(b)句如与often, every day等时间状语连用, 当然也表示动作在重复。
5. 现在完成进行时比较生动,有时含有明显的感情色彩,而现在完成时往往只说明一个事实,一种影响或结果,平铺直叙,没有什么感情色彩可言。如:
(7)What have you been doing? (a)
What have you done? (b)
(a)句表示惊异。(b)句则一般只是一个问题。
(8)Have you been waiting long? (a)
Have you waited long? (b)
(a)句较(b)句生动。又,(a)句比较口语化。
(9)I have been wanting to meet you for long. (a)
I have long wanted to meet you. (b)
(a)句比(b)句更亲切,更有礼貌。
(10)Recently Mary has been doing her work regularly. (a)
Recently Mary has done her work regularly. (b)
(a)句显然是在表扬玛丽。(b)只说明一个事实。
下面还有一例,颇为有趣:
(11)Who's been eating my apples? (a)
Who's eaten my apples? (b)
(a)句有强烈的感情色彩,表示愤怒不满;(b)句只是希望回答的一个问题。又,(a)句兼有进行时态,所以有“苹果未被全部吃光”的意思;(b)句是完成时态,说明“苹果一个不剩了”。
6. 在否定结构中,现在完成时所否定的是谓语动词,现在完成进行时所否定的是状语。 如:
(12)He hasn't been speaking since three o'clock. (a)
He hasn't spoken since three o'colck. (b)
(a)句中所否定的不是has been speaking,而是since three o'clock,其结构可能等于“He has been speaking not since three o'clock but since half past three.”,这是因为现在完成进行时本身较少用否定结构的缘故。(b)句用的是现在完成时,而现在完成时是可用否定结构的,所以(b)句中所否定的自然是has spoken,意即“从3点起他一直沉默不语,未发一言”。
15 have had或had had都对
有一读者问: 有这样一个句子:
It was the best meal I have had at the restaurant last night.
我认为have had应改为had had, 不知你以为如何?
have had与had had都对,但它们的含义略有不同。前者具有“至今”的含义,后者只表示在last night以前。
16 这里为何不用过去完成时而用现在完成时?
有一读者问这样一句话:
(1)Professor Lin left yesterday for America where a lecture tour has been arranged for him.
这里,where从句里用的是现在完成时has been arranged,而不是过去完成时,理由何在?
是的,过去完成时是可以用的。不过,两相比较,还是用现在完成时较好,因为:现在完成时和现在(即说话人的说话时间)有关,意味着“讲学”正在进行,如用过去完成时,则与现在无关; 现在完成时用在这里,所表示的时间与现在比较贴近,如用过去完成时, 就会使人觉得远离现在了。
现在完成时所表的时间先于过去一般时的现象,在英语中还是比较常见的,这里再举一些例子如下:
(2)I felt lost in the city today. I have been away too long.
(3)I have just heard a most extraordinary piece of news, and I had to come to tell you all about it.
(4)She has made several attempts to get away, but we succeeded in persuading her to stay.
(5)Mother, this will come as a surprise to you, but I have met a girl here in San Francisco and we were married yesterday.
其实,在日常生活中,如:
(6)I haven't seen you for ages.
(7)I have missed you so.
(8)Have you waited long?
像这样的句子,从时间上讲,也都是发生在before I saw you之前, 只不过这个过去一般时未表现出罢了。
17 在倒叙中如何用过去完成时与过去一般时?
有一读者问: 我已学了好几年英语,但对倒叙“过去的过去”发生的事件时如何用过去完成时和过去一般时,仍不甚了了。关于这个问题,在一般语法著作中又往往或不涉及,或语焉不详。所以请你帮助我彻底弄清这个问题如何?
这个问题提得很好。恐怕有不少人和你一样,对这个问题在不同程度上是模糊不清的。现在让我们探讨如下。
倒叙“过去的过去(或先过去)”的事件时,当然可以用过去完成时。这在基本语法中已经学过,这里只举一二例即可:
(1)The Reds also knew about Shi Dakai and that the main cause of his defeat had been a costly delay. Arriving at the banks of Tatu, Prince Shi had paused for three days to honour the birth of his son — an imperial prince. Those days of rest had given his enemy the chance to concentrate against him. Realizing his mistake too late, Prince Shi had tried to break the enemy encirclement, but it was impossible to manoeuvre in the narrow terrain of the defiles.
(2)Nearly two years passed before Paul met Zhukhrai again. Paul had grown into a man, grown up with shells bursting all round him, grown up in suffering and discomfort. He had seen many terrible things. Together with thousands of others like himself, burning with the fire of struggle for the power of their class, he had marched from one side of the country to the other. He had become one of the “organization of tough fellows” that Zhukhrai had talked to him about.
一般说来,用过去完成时进行倒叙的情况有三:一是强调时间的先后关系;二是给人一种离现在很遥远的感觉;三是多表示连续发生在“先过去”的事件(events)。
然而,完全用过去完成时进行倒叙的情况毕竟不多。在较多的情况下,是将过去完成时和过去一般时交错在一起使用的。有时则可以完全用过去一般时进行倒叙。在什么情况下可以用过去一般时进行倒叙呢? 下面让我们列举几种比较常见的情况:
1. 如有表先过去的时间状语,一般皆可用过去一般时进行倒叙,后面接着也多用过去一般时,如:
(3)In the beginning of February I was married to Miss Olivia L. Langdon... I saw her in her brother Charley's room in the summer of 1867. She became an invalid at sixteen through falling on the ice ... (这是美国著名作家马克·吐温在他的妻子死后所作的一段倒叙)
(4)He had married a nurse sixteen years earlier; when Helen had been born the nurse gave up her nursing to be a full-time mother. After six months she wanted to be a nurse again, but there were no day-care centers in Iowa in those years, and Ernie Holm's new wife grew gradually distant under the strain of being a full-time mother and an ex-nurse. One day she left him. She left him with a full-time daughter and no explanation. (这一段倒叙先用过去完成时had married, 但在时间状语之后即用过去一般时gave up,在时间状语after six months之后亦用过去一般时wanted, were和grew;时间状语one day之后亦用过去一般时left)
2. 在不会引起误会的情况下,即使没有表示“过去的过去”的时间状语,亦可用过去一般时进行倒叙,如:
(5)Her victory over Martina Navratilova here Sunday stretched her unbeaten run in the event to four years and earned her a fourth sports car.She made a bad start, losing five of the first six games. But she gradually wore down Navratilova with her consistent, baseline game. (这里谈的是网球赛。第二、第三句是倒叙,皆用过去一般时,并没有表“过去的过去”的时间状语)
(6)— Did she go alone or did you go with her?
— I went with her — that is, to the door.
— Why only to the door?
— Well, we talked it over, and she thought just as I did , that it might be better that way... I thought the doctor might be willing to help her far less if she went by herself than if we both went together. (口语中经常用过去一般时进行倒叙,如句中的talked, thought, did等)
3. 可先用过去完成时(可有时间状语)进行倒叙,然后转用过去一般时倒叙。这种倒叙比较常见。先用过去完成时的优点在于时间的先后关系清楚醒目。后用过去一般时则比较自然流畅,避免了过去完成时的笨重,如:
(7)It was twenty minutes past nine. Only five minutes before, she had been speaking. She had heard me at the piano and had said to the nurse:“He is singing a good-night song for me.” They had no idea that she was near to death. She was happy and speaking — and in an instant she was gone from this life. Five times in the last four months she spent an hour and more fighting violently for breath, and she lived in the awful fear of choking to death. Mercifully she was granted the gentlest and swiftest of deaths — by heart failure — and she never knew . She never knew ! (这也是马克·吐温在妻子死后所作的一段倒叙。第一句开头的it即指他妻子的死。先用过去完成进行时had been speaking[有时间状语only five minutes before]和过去完成时had heard与had said倒叙, 此后皆用过去一般时)
(8)A day before the commission arrived, there was a snowfall and a sudden frost. On the previous night, sparks and even tongues of flame had been seen flying from the baker's chimney. The baker was worried that a fire might break out and sent for Yash. (从第二句起开始倒叙。先用过去完成时had been seen[有时间状语on the previous night]后转用过去一般时was与sent)
4. 在倒叙中,过去一般时常用来表示一种单纯静态、看法、情景或事实。上述例(3)中的was married,例(4)中的wanted和were,例(7)中的had,was和knew,例(8)中的was worried等等,皆可作如是观。再如:
(9)He died two weeks ago. He was a remarkable man. (这里必须用was,表示他生前始终是一个了不起的人物, 如用had been则有“曾经一度是”的含义)
(10)It was supposed that the pearl buyers were individuals acting alone, bidding against one another for the pearls the fishermen brought. And once it had been so. But this was a wasteful method, for often, in the excitement of bidding for a fine pearl, too great a price had been paid to the fishermen. This was extravagant and not to be countenanced. Now there was only one pearl buyer with many hands... (从第二句开始倒叙,到第四句倒叙完。第三句和第四句中的过去一般时was皆表看法)
(11)We had a chimney sweep in town, nicknamed Black Yash... His father had been the town's chimney sweep, and Yash inherited the job. (过去一般时inherited在此强调事实,不强调时间关系)
值得注意的是,表静态或事实的过去一般时被用作开始倒叙(并可没有时间状语),如:
(12)Bessie died. She had a quarrel with the pimp and she went alone to Hong Kong. What she was looking for I will never know. One day she collapsed and died. It was 1937. (第二句即用过去一般时had和went倒叙,没有时间状语。顺便也请注意,第三句中的过去进行时was looking for也表过去的过去)
(13)The next day my husband arrived... We thought they were being unnecessarily secretive about train 91 to Chengde — we only got on it because we managed to tag along with a Swiss tour party for whom the barrier was specially unlocked. My husband was less lucky and never managed to get on his train. After much upbraiding of station staff he was put on the later, much slower train. (这里用过去一般时thought开始倒叙,也没有时间状语)
5. 用过去一般时便于进一步倒叙,表“先先过去”,如:
(14)An old lady informed the person of the parish that on the previous night she dreamed that she saw her grandmother, who had been dead for twenty years. (在on the previous night引导的倒叙中,用的是过去一般时dreamed和saw,以便用过去完成时had been做进一步倒叙,即表示“先先过去”)
(15)Herr Theobald was dead. He had dropped down clutching his heart in the hall, where he ventured one night to investigate what he thought was a prowler. It was only Duna, the malcontent bear, who was dressed in the dream man's pin-striped suit. Why Theobald's sister had dressed the bear in this fashion was not explained to me. (从第二句起开始倒叙。先用过去完成时had dropped,接着即转用过去一般时ventured, thought, was等,一直到最末一句用过去完成时had dressed进行进一步倒叙,表“先先过去”。注意最后一个时态是过去一般时was not explained, 表示一个过去事实,不强调时间关系上的“先先过去”,故不用过去完成时)
6. 在倒叙中,过去一般时常用在自由间接引语(没有引号)之中,以使叙述变得直接生动,如:
(16)After that, she told me, the hotel went from Class C to much worse. As the burden of management fell more heavily on her, she had less time for Duna and the bear grew senile and indecent in his habits. Once he bullied a mailman down a marble staircase at such a ferocious pace that the man fell and broke his hip...
7. 在倒叙中,宾语从句须用过去一般时表示它与谓语动词的过去完成时同时,如:
(17)Before he died he had told me that he was worried about his son. (that从句中的过去一般时was与谓语动词短语had told同时。如用过去完成时had been代替was,则其所表的时间要先于谓语动词短语had told)
(18)Malama was pleased, for she had observed how capably Jerush managed the work of making the big dress. (过去一般时managed与过去完成时had observed同时)
上面所举各例都比较简单。在更多的情况下,倒叙所用的时态往往错综复杂,需要仔细辨别,认真分析,才能理解作者的真实意图。下面试举一二例:
(19)Black Dobbe had no luck with men. Twice she had been engaged to baker's apprentices but in both instances they had returned the engagement contract to her. Some time afterwards she had received an engagement contract from an old man, a glazier who claimed that he was divorced , but it had later come to light that he still had a wife. (从第二句起开始倒叙。这里混用了过去完成时与过去一般时,过去完成时都用得比较规范,强调时间关系,表一系列事件;过去一般时则用在从句中,claimed表当时的事实,was divorced和had a wife不但表事实,而且皆与前面的主要谓语动词同时)
(20)They had almost forgotten that back in September 1962, they had been invited to tell their experience informally to a UFO study group in Quincy, Massachusetts, some months before they had begun their therapy with Dr. Simon. They had been unaware that at that meeting a tape recording had been made of their talk, which described in detail the experience and Betty's dreams resulting from the sighting. They were also unaware that this discussion later provided the basic information for the reporter who detailed the partial story in the series of articles in the Boston newspaper, appearing in the fall of 1965. Neither the Hills nor Dr. Simon had provided any direct information for this. (这里从back in September 1962开始倒叙。过去完成时had been invited当然是强调时间关系,表一事件;接着had begun用在before从句中,表一“先先过去”发生的事件,可谓之倒叙中的倒叙;过去完成时had been unaware在此也是强调时间关系,如用were unaware则强调静态,这都决定于作者的主观态度;过去完成时had been made表相继发生的事件;过去一般时described表一单纯事实,像是插入的话,绝非相继发生的事件;过去一般时were also unaware则强调状态,不强调时间关系,并显然指的是后来的情况。从这里起已转用过去一般时进行倒叙,所以后面都用过去一般时provided和detailed,而且这两个过去一般时又都与were also unaware同时;最后一句又强调时间关系,故又用过去完成时)
18 过去进行时抑或过去一般时?
有一读者问: 下面一个句子中应填过去进行时还是应填一般过去时?
(1)The children_________ themselves in the park last Sunday morning. (enjoy)
填过去进行时或一般过去时都可以,但二者含义不同。如填过去进行时则强调持续的情况,较为生动。如填一般过去时则只叙述一个单纯的事实。试比较:
(2)The north wind was blowing hard all night.
(3)The north wind blew hard all night.
例(2)显然强调一夜北风刮个不停,而例(3)则只述说一个事实,即“一夜北风紧”。有时这两个时态的区别很大,试比较:
(4)I read a book yesterday. 昨天我读完了一本书。
(5)I was reading a book yesterday. 我昨天在读一本书。
再试比较:
(6)John told me about it. 这件事约翰已经告诉我了。
(7)John was telling me about it. 这件事约翰跟我谈起过。
例(6)的含义是:这事我已经知道了,约翰全告诉我了,你不必再说了。例(7)的含义则是:这事我还不完全清楚,约翰只是和我谈起过,所以我愿意再请你详细说说。
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