一般現(xiàn)在時(The Present Indefinite)主要表示:
1) 經(jīng)常發(fā)生或反復發(fā)生的動作:
He gets up at six. 他六點起床。
She works eight hours a day. 她每天工作八小時。
Do you often wash your hair? 你經(jīng)常洗頭嗎?
Thank you. I don't smoke. 謝謝你,我不抽煙。
Do you go to work by bus or by bike? 你坐公共汽車上班,還是騎自行車上班?
2) 現(xiàn)時的情況或狀態(tài):
They live in the same building, don't they? 他們同住一幢樓,對吧?
He is a law student. 他是學法律的。
She knows several languages. 她懂幾國語言。
The soup tastes good. 這湯味道很好。
They enjoy skating. 他們喜歡溜冰。
The trouble lies in the socket. 毛病就在插座上。
3) 永恒的真理:
The sun rises in the east. 太陽從東邊升起。
It snows in winter. 冬天下雪。
Metal expands when heated. 金屬加熱后會膨脹。
The river originates in a spring in the mountains. 這條河發(fā)源于山間的一股泉水。
Hydrogen is a light gas. 氫是很輕的氣體。
英語中有許多動詞表示一種狀態(tài),可以稱作靜態(tài)動詞(Stative Verbs),常常用于一般現(xiàn)在時,如:
I love music. 我喜愛音樂。
What does the word mean? 這個詞是什么意思?
The book consists of five parts. 這書包括五個部分。
I suppose they are right. 我想他們是對的。
I wish you happiness. 祝你幸福。
That seems a good idea. 這似乎是個好主意。
We owe everything to you. 一切我們都得歸功于你。
Who owns this company? 這家公司是誰的?
這類動詞常見的有:
有些動詞表示極短暫的動作,可稱為短暫動詞(Instantaneous Verbs),它們也常可用在一般現(xiàn)在時中,例如:
I declare Mr. Schiff elected. 我宣布希弗先生當選。
I advise that you leave at once. 我勸你們馬上離開。
I suggest that we have lunch now. 我建議現(xiàn)在就吃午飯。
I promise I'll never conceal anything any more. 我答應再也不隱瞞什么。
This, I admit, was wrong. 我承認這是不對的。
I flatly refuse to do what he says. 我斷然拒絕照他的話做。
I regret my bad action. 我懊悔我的不良行為。
I enclose a check herewith. 隨信附上一張支票。
I send herewith the catalogue. 現(xiàn)寄上書目。
It's a lovely place. ——I agree. 這是個美麗的地方?!矣型?。
Your attitude simply amazes me. 你的態(tài)度簡直使我吃驚。
You surprise me. 你嚇我一跳。
這類動詞一般不宜用于進行時,談現(xiàn)在情況時,用一般現(xiàn)在時更自然一些。
在一定的情況下,一般現(xiàn)在時可以表示現(xiàn)刻的動作,例如:
1) 球賽解說:
Hunt takes the ball forward quickly. Palmer comes across, tries to intercept him, but Hunt slips past and quickly pushes the ball to Smart. Now Smart gathers the ball. 亨特快速向前帶球,帕爾默跑過來企圖截住他,亨特閃過身,迅速把球傳給斯馬特,斯馬特接住球。
2) 演示說明:
The teacher said, "Watch me. I'm doing a dangerous experiment. Now watch me. I switch on the current, and stand back..." 教師說,“現(xiàn)在看著我,我做一個危險的實驗。注意,我現(xiàn)在接通電流,往后站…”
3) 動作描述或舞臺動作描述:
When the curtain rises, Juliet is writing at her desk. Suddenly the window opens and a masked man enters. 幕啟時,朱麗葉在辦公桌旁寫東西。突然窗戶開了,進來一個蒙面男子。
He sits down, shivers a little. Clock outside strikes twelve. 他坐了下來,微微有些顫抖,外面鐘敲了十二點。
還可用來表示一些沒有時間性的動作:
1) 劇情介紹:
In Death on the Nile, Linet Ridgeway is the young and beautiful heiress to an immense fortune, but she has a lot of enemies. 在《泥羅河上的慘案》中,年輕貌美的林奈·里奇韋是一大筆財產(chǎn)的繼承人,但她有很多敵人。
How does the story end ? 故事怎樣結(jié)局?
The scene of this opera is set in Switzerland. 這部歌劇的故事發(fā)生在瑞士。
2) 講書面材料的內(nèi)容:
I've just got a letter from Helen. She says she's coming to India next week.我剛收到海倫的一封信,她說下星期要來印度。
What does the notice say?——It says, "No parking." “告示說什么?”——說“禁止泊車?!?
Shakespeare says, "Neither a borrower nor a lender be." 莎士比亞(在書中)說,“既不要向人借錢,也不要借錢給人。”
A notice at the end of the road warns people not to go any further. 路盡頭有個告示,警告路人不要再往前走。
Chaucer writes that love is blind. 喬叟寫道,愛情是盲目的。
3) 用來指引道路:
How do I get to the station? "You go straight on to the traffic lights, then you turn right."“火車站怎么走?”“你徑直往前走,到紅綠燈處往右拐。”
4) 圖片說明:
The Queen arrives for the opening of Parliament. 女王出席議會開幕式。
5) 用在here和there 后面:
Here comes the bus! 公共汽車來了!
There goes the bell. 鈴響了。
1) 在口語中,一般現(xiàn)在時可以表示按規(guī)定、計劃或時間表要發(fā)生的事,通常都有一個表示未來時間的狀語:
The plane takes off at 9:20 a.m. 飛機早上九點二十分起飛。
Their delegation arrives here tomorrow afternoon. 他們的代表團明天下午到達。
I'm in my office from two to five this afternoon. 今天下午兩點到五點我在辦公室。
When does the play begin? 戲幾點開始?
The train leaves in five minutes' time. 火車五分鐘后離開。
Are you free tonight? 今晚你有空嗎?
有時可用這個時態(tài)敘述整個計劃:
We leave London at 10:00 next Tuesday and arrive in Paris at 13:00. We spend two hours in Paris and leave again at 15:00. We arrive in Rome at 19:30, spend four hours in Rome. 我們下周二上午十點離開倫敦,下午一點抵達巴黎。在巴黎停留兩小時,三點再次出發(fā)。晚七點半到達羅馬,在羅馬待四個小時。
2) 在時間或條件從句中,須用一般現(xiàn)在時表示將來動作:
If I see Nancy I'll ask her. 如果我見到南希我會問她。
I'll discuss this with you when we meet. 我們見面時我將和你商討此事。
I'll tell her after you leave. 你走之后我再告訴她。
We'll let you know as soon as you arrive. 你一到我們就告訴你。
In case I forget, please remind me about it. 萬一我忘了,請?zhí)嵝盐摇?
I won't write unless he writes first. 除非他先來信,否則我不會給他寫信。
3) 還有一些其他從句中,可以用一般現(xiàn)在時表示將來動作:
I hope that you feel better soon. 我希望不久你能感覺好一點。
Suppose he doesn't come, shall we go without him? 假如他不來,我們就自己去嗎?
Assuming it rains tomorrow, what shall we do? 假定明天下雨,我們該怎么辦?
I'll just say whatever comes into my head. 我將想到什么就說什么。
Come and stay as long as you please. 你來愛待多久就待多久。
I'll get the car fixed no matter how much it costs. 不管花多少錢我都得讓人把車修好。
Whatever happens, I'm going. 不管發(fā)生什么情況我都要去。
However long you argue, you will never convince him. 不管辯論多久,你永遠說服不了他.
1) 有少數(shù)動詞(如say, tell, hear等)可以用一般現(xiàn)在時表示過去發(fā)生的情況:
He says he can't wait any longer. 他說他不能再等了。
My friends tell me that you've been unwell. 我的朋友告訴我你身體欠佳。
I hear you want a secretary. 我聽說你需要一位秘書。
I learn that this boy is in business in Capetown. 我聽說這小伙子在開普敦做生意。
I forget the man's name. 這人的名字我忘了。
這是因為這類動詞發(fā)生的時間在說話人的腦中已很模糊,他想表達的是后面談的情況。
2) 在下面情況下也常用一般現(xiàn)在時表示過去動作:
a. 故事性讀物中戲劇性的描繪(用一般現(xiàn)在時可給人以歷歷在目的印象):
They threatened to shoot, but the marchers could not be stopped. The unarmed workers press on and on. 他們威脅著要開槍,卻沒法擋住游行者,手無寸鐵的工人們不斷向前逼進。
The crowd swarms around the gateway, excitement grows as the pop star appears. 人群聚集在大門口,當那位通俗歌星出現(xiàn)時,眾人情緒高漲。
這種用法可以稱為戲劇性的現(xiàn)在時(Dramatic Present)。
b. 用在報紙標題中:
MASS MURDERER ESCAPES 大屠殺兇犯在逃
PEACE TALKS FAIL 和談失敗
情節(jié)業(yè)已發(fā)生而用一般現(xiàn)在時,可使標題生動。
c. 用在小說章節(jié)的標題中:
VII Go to Bristol 第七章 去布里斯托爾途中