THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE 現在進行時

 

用於以下五種情况

1. To tell others you are in the middle of doing something

正在進行或發生的動作

e.g.

He is working right now, so can you call later?

What are you doing？

It is raining.

Used with the following adverbs of time: 通常用於有以下副詞出現時

now, at the moment, at this moment, at present, currently, for the time being

Non-progressive verbs:

有些動詞一般不能/宜用于現在進行時，因它們表示狀態/感覺，不能表示正在進行的動作：

love, hate, want respect, admire, like, dislike, value, desire, (verbs of emotion and feeling感覺)

know, think, remember, understand, expect, can't forget , recall,see, realize, trust,perceive...(mental activity思念活動)

look,  hear,  feel, ...(unintended or involuntary action不隨意活動)

watch, listen...(intended or voluntary action)

belong, owe, own , borrow..(verbs of property)

seem, appear, look, taste, smells, sounds....(linking verbs)

不過有些這類動詞用進行時是有別的意思的！

e.g

She looks tired. 表示狀態

She is looking at a bird. 表示動作

The food smells nice. 表示感覺

He is smelling the flowers. 表示動作

The juice tastes good. 表示感覺

I’m tasting the wine. 表示動作

She has two sisters. 表示狀態

She is having lunch. 在吃午飯---表示動作

I have a dog.  (= own有)表示狀態

We are having a walk.= we are walking. 表示動作

有些表示動作的動詞有時反而表示狀態，這時不宜用進行時

e.g

My house stands by the river.

The hut sits in the forest.

The town lies before us.

The coat dosen’t fit me.

He is standing on a chair.

They are sitting on the grass.

She is lying on the beach.

He is fitting the pieces together.

有些表示極短暫動作的動詞也不宜於用進行時

e.g

declare

recognize

jump

nod

但有時用於進行時，則表示反复做某動作

e.g

He is jumping up and down.

The old man is nodding his head.

2. To denote a more temporary action or arrangement

---one main use of the continuous tense(present, past, future) is to tell that something is temporary. 表示一時的動作/安排

e.g

John is teaching us grammer and it is boring.     (temporary)

比較以下一句

Bill teaches us English and he teaches very well.   (permanent action)       ( Bill 才是我們的英文老師)

Is Mr Bill very sick? He hasn't been around for quite some time. What happened to him? Mr Tak took over the Maths class, and he is teaching it well. He told us that he used to be a Maths major at the university.

Be 在一般情況下不能用於進行時，有時卻可以這樣用來表示一時的表現

e.g

Bob is being silly.

You’re being very clever today.

The children are being very quiet.

You’re being childish.

I am not being slow. I’m being careful.

3. ALWAYS + continuous tense

often used with adverbs such as always, repeatedly, continuously, forever  to tell an often repeated action.表示經常性動作，表示厭煩或贊美等情緒

e.g

He’s always making that mistake. (不耐煩)

Social workers are always trying their best to help their clients.(贊賞)

He is constantly changing her mind.(不滿)

如只說明事實，則用一般現在時

e.g

He does fine works at school.     (只說明事實)

He is doing fine works at school.  ( 贊賞)

How do you feel today？(只明事實)

How are you feeling today？(關切)

She often complains of his job. (只說明事實)

She is always complaining of his job.( 厭煩)          

                   

有些靜態動詞也可用現在進行時

e.g

I’m hoping you’ll all come.(表示殷切希望)

I’m always hearing strange stories about him.

I am forgetting that I promised to ring him tonight.

還有少數動詞用兩種時態意思也差不多

e.g

I wonder(am wondering ) whether you could give me some adv ice.

Does your leg hurt ( Is your leg hurting？)

I write (am writing ) to inform you that your mother is ill.

I don’t hear ( am not hearing) as well as I used to .

 Now do you like ( are you liking) your new job？

特別用法

4. Definite future action (travel) /future arrangements

A.  用進行時表示將來動作，特別是在口語中，常有一個表示未來時間狀語，多指計劃安排好的事

e.g

John is leaving for Europe tomorrow morning.

I‘m inviting May to the party on Friday.

I’m not going out tonight. I’m staying at home.

When is Helen coming home？

They are getting married next month.

注意：

在以事物作主語時多用一般現在時表示按時間安排的活動

e.g

The train leaves at 9.30.

The fashion show starts at 7.

The programme begins at 10.

But

Tom is not coming to the party.

B.  用在時間和條件從句以表示未來

e.g

You can do some reading while you are waiting for the train. (時間從句)

You must visit John when you are travelling in China. (時間從句)

If she’s still waiting, tell her to go home. (條件從句)

Suppose it’s still raining tomorrow, shall we go？(條件從句)

C. be going to

e.g

He’s going to buy a new car.(打算做)

It is going to be hot tomorrow. (即將要發生的事)

5. 表示暫時情況

e.g

Her car has broken down. She is going to walk by bike.

I am not hearing very well these days.

My secretary is ill. May is filling in for her.

用於戲劇式的描繪中，表示過去的動作

e.g

I ‘m driving along a country road and I completely lost. Then I see this old fellow. He is leaning against a gate.

SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE一般現在時

用於以下十四種情况

1.      general statement一般陳述,  facts (that do not change) 事实,  telling the truth  真理

e.g.

Water boils at 100 。C.

Hong Kong has wet summers.

There are twelve months in the year.

2. .現時情況， 人或物的一般特征，反復發生的動作，習慣性。

e.g.

He gets up at six.

I don’t smoke.

I always have a sandwich for lunch.

Adverbs of frequency:

always, usually, generally, often, sometimes, occasionally, seldom/rarely, never, EVERYDAY.

When I was a child, I walked to school every morning. Now my family is much better off so I go to school by taxi every day. But if my father wins the lottery, I will go to school by car every day.

I just wear everyday clothes.

                      (adj.)

2.     Opinion and consensus意見

e.g.

Smoking kills.

John has a bad haircut.

H.Reviews of books or films

Bill's new novel is an exciting story.

在一定的情況下，表示現刻的動作,例如：

4. Demonstrations 演示, descriptions 描述 and explanations 說明

e.g.

The teacher said,” First, I take some eggs and then I add the milk. Now watch me. I ….”

He sits down. Suddenly the door opens and a man enters.

5. Conventional wisdom in the form of proverbs 智慧語，諺語

e.g.

A friend in need is a friend in deed.

6.. 講書面材料內容

e.g.

Shakespeare says, “ Neither a borrower nor a lender be.”

7..指引道路

e.g.

“ You go straight on to the traffic lights, then you turn right.”

8. 用於圖片說明

e.g.

The king arrives for the opening of the university.

9. 用在here and there之后

e.g.

Here comes the bus！

There goes the bell.

10. Reference to what was communicated in the past

表示過去動作，有少數動詞如 say, tell, hear, learn…可以用一般現在時表示過去發生的情況，這是因為這類動詞發生的時間在，說話人的腦中已很模糊，他想表達的是后面談的情況。

e.g.

He says he can’t wait any longer.

I received a letter from your cousin yesterday. He writes that he loves Italian food.

I saw the game last week. Bill plays great football.

I hear you want a secretary.

I forget the man’s name.

11.Simple conditional 在時間或條件從句中，須用一般時表示將來動作

e.g.

We’ll let you know as soon as you arrive.

In case I forget, please remind me about it.

If you work hard, you will pass the exam.

If I  see Nancy I’ll ask her.

12. 某些從句中，可用一般時表示將來動作

e.g.

I hope that you feel better soon.

Assuming it rains tomorrow, what shall we do？

Whatever happens, I’m going.

13.Order命令, request，要求

e.g.

'Turn on the fan and then sit down.' the teacher said to John.

'Open the door ,please.'

14.Planned activities/future timetables 在口語中，表示未來計劃或時間表

e.g.

The bus departs at 3 p.m. and reaches Kowloon Tong in the evening.

He leaves for London next week.

My flight leaves at 10:00.

The train leaves in five minutes’ time.

The plane takes off at 9.20 a.m.