精品译文

她那么说／那么做只是出于礼貌（只是为了给你面子）而已。

所以，以后读者要想表达“我当时那么说或那么做，只是为了给你面子而已”，就可以说：

58　I was just being polite.

比如下面这个对话出现在夫妻俩一起买家具时的场景中：在家具城，妻子问丈夫是否喜欢这件家具，丈夫随声附和说“喜欢”。这样，家具就买回来了。后来有一天，夫妻俩吵架，丈夫指责妻子品位低（have a low taste），买了这么难看的家具。于是就有了这样的对话：

59　Wife: You said you liked the furniture.

Husband: I was just being polite.

妙语点睛

这里妻子说“你当时不是说喜欢这件家具的嘛”，丈夫则实话实说了——I was just being polite. 意思是说“我当时说喜欢，只是为了顾及你的面子而已，其实我根本就不喜欢这件家具”。

精品译文

妻子：你当时不是说你喜欢这件家具的嘛！

丈夫：我那只是出于礼貌，给你面子而已（其实我一点也不喜欢）。

再比较下列例句：

60　1) Fred is being silly.

2) Fred is silly.

妙语点睛

在例句1）中，动态形容词silly用于进行时态，表示的是弗雷德在说话时刻的行为表现，意思是“弗雷德现在表现得傻里傻气的”，相当于说Fred is acting in a silly manner. 这里的主语Fred是一个施动者。在例句2）中，一般时态is silly则表示主语Fred惯有的性格特点是“傻里傻气的”，而不是说话时刻的行为表现。也许在说话的时刻，他表现得很精明（He may be behaving quite sensibly at the moment of speaking.）我们依然可以说Fred is silly. 这里的主语Fred并不是一个施动者。

精品译文

1）弗雷德现在正犯傻。

2）弗雷德一向很傻气。

动态形容词用于进行时态往往让表达显得非常生动，给人一个具体的、生动的场景。比如：

61　The children are being very quiet; I wonder what they are up to.

妙语点睛

在说话的时刻，这些孩子个个默不作声，也许他们平时其实非常吵闹。这先后两种表现形成鲜明的对比，不禁让人揣摩他们想干什么。

精品译文

这些孩子现在一声不吭，不知道他们想干嘛。

请仔细体会下列各例句所表达出来的生动场景：

62　The peddler is being rude. 那小贩开始动起粗来。

63　She is being careful at this moment. 此刻她正表现得小心翼翼。

64　She was being stupid. Actually she had already known the whole story.

当时她在装傻，其实她早已知道了事情的经过。

65　You're being difficult again. 你又和人为难、闹别扭了。

66　A: Why is he so upset?

B: I told him he's getting fat. I was just being honest.

精品译文

A：他怎么那么难过？

B：我跟他说他越来越胖了。我只是实话实说嘛。

我们再看下列例句比较：

67　1) Clint is being foolish.

2) Clint is foolish.

妙语点睛

在例句1）中，动态形容词foolish用于进行时态，相当于说Right now, at the moment of speaking, Clint is doing something that the speaker considers foolish. 即在说话的时刻，克林特做了一件让说话人认为是愚蠢的事，表示“克林特正在犯傻”。这里的主语Clint是施动者。在例句2）中，foolish用于一般时态，则表示“愚蠢”是克林特通常的性格特征之一（Foolishness is one of Clint's usual characteristics.），这里的主语Clint不是施动者。

精品译文

1）克林特正在犯傻。

2）克林特挺傻的。

以上讨论的都是动态形容词用于进行时态，其实名词也有类似的用法。比如：

68　1) You're being a fool.

2) You are a fool.

妙语点睛

在例句1）中，强调的是主语在说话时刻的行为表现，表示的是一个动作，主语是施动者。在例句2）中，说明的是主语一贯的性格特点，表示一个状态，主语不是施动者。

精品译文

1）你这是在装傻。

2）你真笨。

思维总结

本节的内容非常丰富。虽然比较偏向理论化，也许不易理解，但是非常重要，是读者真正学好英语时态的理论基础。这里我们主要是从“语法体（grammatical aspect）”和“动词体（lexical aspect）”两方面展开论述的。

就“语法体”来说，我们首先介绍了进行时态三方面的核心含义，即事件具有持续性（ongoing）、短暂性（temporary）以及未完成（incomplete）的特点，然后比较了进行时态与一般时态在意义上的差别，最后讨论了不能用进行时态的两种情况。

就“动词体”来说，我们可以把动词分为静态动词、短暂动词和延续动词三类。这三类动词与进行时态都有不同的搭配规律，这些规律对于正确地理解和使用时态非常重要。此外，我们还讨论了动态形容词可用于进行时态，来描述主语的一个暂时的性质状态或特征，而非其本身所固有的或持久的特征。

在这一节里，我们提出了学习英语时态的一个重要理念，即“语法体”和“动词体”两方面是相互作用的，二者的共同作用不仅影响到时态的正确使用，同时也深刻地影响着对句子意思的理解。所以，我们不仅要理解“语法体”的核心意义，同时还要结合“动词体”的特点，要考虑对于动词的不同选择对“语法体”意义的影响，只有这样才能真正地理解和使用英语时态，从而造出正确的句子。

思维训练

Exercise 8.5 (Keys: 此处)

1．解释下列每组中两个句子的含义差别。

1．a. What are you doing for the Spring Festival?

b. What do you do for the Spring Festival?

2．a. My wife was cleaning the house when I got home.

b. My wife cleaned the house when I got home.

3．a. The little boy is being careful.

b. The little boy is careful.

2．判断下面句子正误，错误的请改正，并说明原因。

4．I was knocking your door six times last night.

5．Yes, I was understanding him.

6．I'm understanding less and less about life, the older I get.

3．解释下面句子用于什么样的场合。

7．He was just being polite.

4．用一般时态或进行时态填空。

8．The doctor______(feel) her pulse when I came in.

9．I ________ (feel) he is right this time.

10．The sales clerk ________ (weigh) the fruit.

11．The fruit______(weigh) 2 kilograms.

12．I ________ (see) my dentist tomorrow.

13．I ________ (see) what you mean.

14．I ________ (smell) the scent of the rose in this room now.

15．I ________ (smell) the rose now, but it ________ (not, smell) much.

16．I ________ (smell) something burning in this house now.

17．She ________ (be) stupid. Actually she had already known the whole story.

5．认真体会下来句子中各个进行时态，特别注意其中用于进行时态的动态形容词，并翻译成汉语。

18．Differences Between You and Your Boss...

When you take a stand, you're being bull-headed.

When your boss does it, he's being firm.

When you overlooked a rule of etiquette, you're being rude.

When your boss skips a few rules, he's being original.

When you please your boss, you're apple polishing.

When your boss pleases his boss, he's being co-operative.

When you're out of the office, you're wandering around.

When your boss is out of the office, he's on business.

When you apply for leave, you must be going for an interview.

When your boss applies for leave, it's because he's overworked.

写给读者的话



* * *



一、本章学习思路

进行时态相对来说不是很难，因为汉语里也有类似的表达。学习本章时，读者可以先了解现在、过去及将来进行时态的意义和用法，然后结合8.5节的内容，再回头重新审视三种时间下的进行时态的意义，这样一来就能够更加深入地理解进行时态。

二、本章重点及难点

重点要掌握下列频繁使用的时态含义：

1．对于现在进行时态：

1）说话时刻正在进行的动作（见8.2.1小节）；

2）在目前一段时期内持续的一种暂时的情况（见8.2.2小节）；

3）用于表示“改变”的动词，强调“逐渐变化”的过程（见8.2.3小节）；

4）用于强烈的感情色彩的表达（见8.2.4小节）；

5）表示将来确定的安排（见8.2.5小节）。

2．对于过去进行时态：

1）用来设置故事的背景（见8.3.1小节）；

2）表示委婉的请求或提建议（见8.3.4小节）。

3．对于将来进行时态：

1）用在疑问句中，表示客气的询问（见8.4.4小节）；

2）用来表示客观的将来，以避免与表示“意愿”的will do混淆（见8.4.5小节）。

本章的难点在8.5节，因为内容非常丰富，而且比较偏向理论化，但它是读者真正学好英语时态的理论基础。这里我们主要是从“语法体（grammatical aspect）”和“动词体（lexical aspect）”两方面展开论述的。我们提出了英语时态学习的一个重要理念，即“语法体”和“动词体”两方面是相互作用的，二者的共同作用不仅影响到时态的正确使用，同时也深刻地影响着对句子意思的理解。

三、本章学习时间安排

建议读者用10天左右的时间来研读本章内容，并做完相应的练习。尤其是对于8.5节的总结性内容，要深入理解。



* * *



综合练习（Keys: 此处）

1．翻译句子。

1．Clint和Jane要结婚了？我连他们俩在谈恋爱（go together）都不知道。

2．此刻正在考试的学生正十分细心，以免出错。

3．A：我求你再给我一次机会，Sam！

B: No. It's over. I'm sorry.

4．A：我爸妈定在这个周末来看我们公寓。

B: Looks as if I'd better lend you my vacuum cleaner then.

5．A：下星期公司派我飞到Hawaii出差。

B：好极了，他们安排你住哪？

6．A: Congratulations! I understand you got a job. When do you start work?

B：你一定是想到其他人了，我还在等着听信呢。

7．A: Have you found a position yet?

B：我还在查报纸呢。

8．A: We're going over to the cafeteria now. Aren't you coming?

B：我在等一个电话。

2．将下列句子译成汉语，并解释其中进行时态的含义。

9．Don't you think they're being foolish to worry about it at this time?

10．I'm sorry, but our company is losing money. We can't afford to keep you on anymore.

11．A: My cousin Bob is getting married in California and I can't decide whether to go.

B: It's a long trip but I think you will have a good time.

12．A: Hey, Dan. I hear you're meeting Susan's parents for the first time.

B: Yeah, next weekend. Fortunately her father loves to fish so we'll have something to talk about.

13．A: Have you finished with today's paper?

B: Help yourself. I'm still working on yesterday's.

14．A: Let's jog for another mile.

B: I'll try. But I'm running out of steam.

15．A: Hello. I'm calling to see if the summer position you advertised in the paper is still available?

B: Uh, yes. Certainly. When could you come to the office for an interview?

16．A: I can't believe this. I'm leaving for San Diego tomorrow and I haven't even started packing yet.

B: I wish I were going with you. Will you have much time there?

17．A: I'd love to come to your barbecue on Saturday but my cousin is arriving from California that day.

B: That's no problem. The more the merrier.

18．I'm not sure how much longer I'll be living at home.

19．A: What a morning! My train usually takes 45 minutes but today it took me over an hour to get to campus.

B: I saw signs in the station that construction will be going on for the next three months.

20．Good afternoon! As you know, this is a course in beginning political theory.We'll be meeting each Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 8:00 clock for the next twelve weeks.

3．判断时态正误，错误的请改正。

21．I am seeing the doctor tomorrow morning.

22．I'm feeling terrible. I am thinking I'll be sick.

23．You look pale.Are you feeling OK?

24．I am thinking of giving up my job.

25．The soup is great. It's tasting really good.

26．The chef is tasting the chicken.

27．Are you believing in God?

28．What are you thinking of the movie?

29．He was seeing somebody creeping into the house through the open window last night.

30．Like squirrels, tree shrews are bearing well-developed claws on their digits and are generally active during daylight hours.

31．The scales broke when I was weighing myself this morning.

32．I was weighing 80 kilos three years ago and look at me now!

33．Clint is thinking of emigrating. What do you think of the idea?

34．Water is boiling at 100 degrees Celsius.

35．"Hurry up! It's time to leave." "OK. I come."

36．I hear you've got a new job. How do you get on?

37．The moon is going around the earth.

4．单项选择。

38．I'll go with you as soon as I ________ my homework.

A．will finish

B．finish

C．am finishing

D．finished

39．He ________ at 8 o'clock every morning.

A．is going to work

B．went to work

C．goes to work

D．will go to work

40．When I see Jean in the street, she always ________ at me.

A．smiled

B．has smiled

C．was smiling

D．smiles

41．Look, here ________ the famous player.

A．comes

B．came

C．has come

D．is coming

42．The year ________ four seasons.

A．has been divided into

B．is divided into

C．has divided in

D．was divided into

43．She is going to be a nurse when she ________ up.

A．grows

B．is going to grow

C．growing

D．will grow

44．If it ________ tomorrow, I won't go to the cinema.

A．will rain

B．rains

C．will be rain

D．is raining

45．I don't feel good. I______home from work tomorrow.

A．stay

B．stayed

C．am staying

D．will have stayed

46．My bicycle ________ down just when I need it most.

A．always breaks

B．always broke

C．is always breaking

D．has always broken

47．Nobody likes her because she ________ to carry favor with the boss.

A．has always tried

B．does always try

C．always tries

D．is always trying

48．Next month when there ________ a full moon, the ocean tides will be higher.

A．is

B．is being

C．will be

D．will have been

5．用适当时态填空。

49．I can't understand why he ________ (be) so selfish. He isn't usually like that.

50．I ________ (not, remember) the meaning of the word right now.

51．Wisely, Jenny ________ (not, believe) anything she reads in the newspaper.

52．He ________ (never, think) about other people. He ________ (be) very selfish.

53．He ________ (be) stupid. He is not trying to understand.

54．The boy ________ (be) funny. He is only joking. Don't believe him.

55．How fast______you______(drive) when the accident happened?

56．I ________ (drive) home yesterday when suddenly an old lady ________ (walk) out into the road in front of me. I______(go) quite fast but luckily I was able to stop in time and______(not, hit) her.

57．We were in a very awkward position. We ________ (not, know) what to do.

58．My girlfriend ________ (be) very nice to me at the moment. I wonder why.

59．Normally you are very sensible, so why ________ you ________ (be) so silly about this matter?

60．Why ________ you ________ (stare) at me like that? Is there anything wrong with me?

61．I______(want) to lose weight. So this month I ________ (not, eat) lunch. I am only eating fruits.

62．Clint phoned me last night. He is on holiday in Qingdao. He ________ (have) a good time and ________ (not, want) to come back until the end of this month.

63．You______(always, watch) TV. You should do something more active.

64．Look at these dark clouds. When class ________ (be) over, it ________ (rain, probably).

65．Don't phone me between 7 and 8. We ________ (have) dinner then. You can phone me after 8 o'clock. We______(finish) dinner by then.

66．Leon is never satisfied. He ________ (always, complain).

67．Normally I ________ (finish) work at 5:00, but this week I ________ (work) until 7:00.

68．When the plane ________ (arrive), some of the detectives ________ (wait) inside the main building while others______(wait) on the airfield. While two detectives ________ (keep) guard at the door, two others ________ (open) the parcel.

69．A: Oh, I ________ (leave) the lights on again.

B: Typically! You______(always, leave) the lights on.

70．A: ________ you ________ (listen) to the radio?

B: No, you can turn it off.

71．A: ________ you ________ (listen) to the radio every day?

B: No, just occasionally.

72．Hurry up! Everybody ________ (wait) for you.

73．The water ________ (boil). Can you turn it off?

74．Water ________ (boil) at 100 degrees Celsius（摄氏度）.

75．The train is never late. It ________ (always, leave) on time.

76．Kennex is very untidy. He ________ (always, leave) his things all over the room.

77．After three days of rain, I'm glad that the sun ________ (shine) again today.

78．Every morning the sun ________ (shine) in my bedroom window and ________ (wake) me up.

79．Look! There ________ (go) our bus; we'll have to wait for the next one.

80．A: Excuse me, sir. I ________ (realize) you have the right to smoke here. But could I ask you to put out your cigarette, please? Your smoke ________ (come) right at us.

B: Well, I am in the smoking section, and I ________ (be) here before you.

A: OK. Just asking.

81．A: Hey, guys. Having a good time?

B: Definitely. How about you?

A: Not bad. But I was wondering if you'd mind turning the volume down just a bit? I ________ (not, want) to spoil your party, but the music ________ (drown) out our conversation.

B: Oh, sorry, dude. We ________ (not, know) we ________ (bother) you. We ________ (turn) it down.

A: Thanks a lot.

6．用适当的动词时态完成下面幽默故事。

82．

Who are the two boys?

Nora was sixteen years old. She had a little brother. Her brother's name was Jim. Jim was sometimes naughty, but he made Nora laugh a lot, and she loved him and was always very nice to him.