约8分钟阅读
一般现在时(present simple)是英语中使用频率最高的时态之一,用来描述事实、习惯、日常和普遍真理。掌握一般现在时非常重要,因为它是理解其他所有时态的基础。
一般现在时在大多数主语后使用动词原形。关键的例外是第三人称单数(he、she、it),动词要加 -s 或 -es。
| 主语 | 动词 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| I / You | 动词原形 | I work every day. |
| We / They | 动词原形 | They live in Berlin. |
| He / She / It | 动词原形 + -s/-es | She works every day. |
否定句在动词原形前使用 do not (don't) 或 does not (doesn't)。
| 主语 | 结构 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| I / You / We / They | do not + 动词原形 | I don't like coffee. |
| He / She / It | does not + 动词原形 | He doesn't like coffee. |
重要: 使用 does 或 doesn't 时,主要动词要回到原形。不要写 "He doesn't likes"——正确的形式是 "He doesn't like"。
| 类型 | 结构 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| 一般疑问句 | Do/Does + 主语 + 动词原形? | Do you speak French? |
| 特殊疑问句(Wh-) | Wh- 疑问词 + do/does + 主语 + 动词原形? | Where does she work? |
例外: 当 who 或 what 本身就是主语时,不用 do/does:
第三人称单数加 -s 时,拼写有固定规律:
| 规则 | 原形 | 第三人称单数 | 变化方式 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 多数动词 | work | works | 加 -s |
| 以 -s、-sh、-ch、-x、-z 结尾 | wash | washes | 加 -es |
| 辅音字母 + -y 结尾 | study | studies | -y 变 -ies |
| 元音字母 + -y 结尾 | play | plays | 加 -s |
| 不规则 | have | has | 需记忆 |
| 不规则 | go | goes | 加 -es |
| 不规则 | do | does | 加 -es |
用一般现在时表达一直成立或普遍成立的事情。
用一般现在时表达有规律、反复发生的动作。
用一般现在时表达长期或永久的状态与情形。
用一般现在时表达固定的日程和时刻表,即使说的是将来的事。
用一般现在时给出分步骤的说明。
标题和现场解说用一般现在时,以营造临场感。
有些词和短语经常与一般现在时同现。这些标志词能帮你判断该用哪个时态。
| 标志词 | 例句 |
|---|---|
| always | She always arrives on time. |
| usually | I usually walk to work. |
| often | They often eat out on Fridays. |
| sometimes | He sometimes forgets his keys. |
| rarely / seldom | We rarely watch television. |
| never | I never drink soda. |
| every day / week / month / year | She exercises every day. |
| on Mondays / weekdays | The class meets on Tuesdays. |
| once / twice / three times a week | He visits his parents twice a month. |
想表达下面这些内容时,用一般现在时:
一般现在时是表达「稳定」的时态——它描述的是普遍、规律或长期为真的事情。
约9分钟阅读
现在进行时(present continuous,也叫 present progressive)描述此刻正在发生的动作、临时的状态,以及已定的将来计划。一般现在时说的是普遍为真的事情,现在进行时说的则是在某个特定时刻或时段正在发生的事情。
现在进行时由 be 动词(am/is/are)+ 主要动词的 -ing 形式构成。
| 主语 | be 动词 | 动词 + -ing | 例句 |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | am | working | I am working from home today. |
| He / She / It | is | working | She is working on a report. |
| You / We / They | are | working | They are working overtime. |
| 主语 | 结构 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| I | am not + -ing | I am not watching TV. |
| He / She / It | is not (isn't) + -ing | He isn't sleeping. |
| You / We / They | are not (aren't) + -ing | We aren't listening. |
| 类型 | 结构 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| 一般疑问句 | Am/Is/Are + 主语 + -ing? | Are you coming tonight? |
| 特殊疑问句(Wh-) | Wh- 疑问词 + am/is/are + 主语 + -ing? | What are you doing? |
| 规则 | 原形 | -ing 形式 | 变化方式 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 多数动词 | work | working | 加 -ing |
| 以 -e 结尾 | make | making | 去 -e,加 -ing |
| 以 -ee 结尾 | see | seeing | 加 -ing(两个 e 都保留) |
| 以 -ie 结尾 | lie | lying | -ie 变 -y,加 -ing |
| 短动词:1 个元音 + 1 个辅音 | run | running | 双写辅音字母,加 -ing |
| 双音节且重音在后 | begin | beginning | 双写辅音字母,加 -ing |
| 双音节且重音在前 | visit | visiting | 加 -ing(不双写) |
| 以 -w、-x、-y 结尾 | play | playing | 加 -ing(w、x、y 永不双写) |
用现在进行时表达说话当下正在进行的活动。
用现在进行时表达当前这段时间里正在进行的活动,哪怕此时此刻并没有在做。
用现在进行时表达并非长期的状态。
用现在进行时表达已经安排好、确定要做的计划。
注意:这与用一般现在时表示时刻表不同。现在进行时强调的是个人的安排,一般现在时强调的是官方的日程。
用现在进行时描述趋势和变化。
与 always、constantly 或 forever 连用时,现在进行时可以表达对某种反复行为的恼火。
与中性的一般现在时对比:He always loses his keys.(只是陈述事实,不带情绪。)
有些动词描述的是状态而不是动作。这类状态动词一般不用进行时。
| 类别 | 动词 | 正确用法 |
|---|---|---|
| 感官 | see, hear, smell, taste, feel | I see a bird.(不说:I am seeing a bird.) |
| 心理状态 | know, believe, understand, remember, forget, think (= believe), suppose, doubt | I know the answer.(不说:I am knowing the answer.) |
| 情感 | like, love, hate, prefer, want, need, wish | She loves chocolate.(不说:She is loving chocolate.) |
| 所属 | have (= possess), own, belong, possess | He has a car.(不说:He is having a car.) |
| 其他 | be, seem, appear, contain, consist, mean, cost, weigh, measure | This bag weighs 10 kg.(不说:This bag is weighing 10 kg.) |
有些动词兼有状态义和动作义。只有用作动作义时才能用进行时。
| 动词 | 状态义(不用进行时) | 动作义(可用进行时) |
|---|---|---|
| think | I think you're right.(=认为) | I am thinking about the problem.(=在思考) |
| have | She has two children.(=拥有) | She is having lunch.(=在吃) |
| see | I see what you mean.(=明白) | I am seeing a doctor tomorrow.(=去看医生) |
| taste | This soup tastes delicious.(=尝起来) | The chef is tasting the soup.(=在尝味道) |
| look | You look tired.(=看上去) | She is looking out the window.(=在看) |
| weigh | This box weighs 5 kg.(=重量是) | The nurse is weighing the patient.(=在称重) |
| be | He is rude.(=性格如此) | He is being rude.(=此刻表现无礼) |
| 标志词 | 例句 |
|---|---|
| now | She is working now. |
| right now | I am writing an email right now. |
| at the moment | He is studying at the moment. |
| currently | We are currently developing a new product. |
| today | I am working from home today. |
| this week / month / year | They are renovating their house this month. |
| still | She is still waiting for a reply. |
| Look! / Listen! | Look! The sun is setting. |
想表达下面这些内容时,用现在进行时:
不要把现在进行时用在状态动词上(know、believe、like、own 等),除非该动词取的是动作义。
约10分钟阅读
现在完成时(present perfect)把过去和现在连接起来,用于表达经历、刚发生的事、尚未结束的时间段,以及始于过去并延续至今的动作。理解现在完成时非常关键,因为很多学习者会把它和一般过去时(past simple)混淆。
现在完成时由 have/has + 主要动词的过去分词构成。
| 主语 | 助动词 | 过去分词 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|---|
| I / You / We / They | have ('ve) | worked / eaten / gone | I have worked here for five years. |
| He / She / It | has ('s) | worked / eaten / gone | She has eaten lunch already. |
| 主语 | 结构 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| I / You / We / They | have not (haven't) + 过去分词 | We haven't finished the report. |
| He / She / It | has not (hasn't) + 过去分词 | He hasn't called yet. |
| 类型 | 结构 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| 一般疑问句 | Have/Has + 主语 + 过去分词? | Have you seen this movie? |
| 特殊疑问句(Wh-) | Wh- 疑问词 + have/has + 主语 + 过去分词? | Where has she gone? |
过去分词分两类:规则的和不规则的。
规则动词的过去分词加 -ed 构成(与一般过去时形式相同)。
| 原形 | 过去分词 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| work | worked | I have worked here since 2020. |
| play | played | She has played tennis for years. |
| study | studied | They have studied this topic before. |
| stop | stopped | It has stopped raining. |
不规则动词的过去分词形式各不相同,必须记忆。
| 原形 | 一般过去时 | 过去分词 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|---|
| go | went | gone | She has gone home. |
| see | saw | seen | I have seen that film. |
| write | wrote | written | He has written three books. |
| take | took | taken | They have taken the exam. |
| eat | ate | eaten | We have eaten breakfast. |
| be | was/were | been | I have been to Japan. |
| do | did | done | She has done her homework. |
| have | had | had | We have had a great time. |
| make | made | made | He has made a decision. |
| give | gave | given | They have given us feedback. |
| speak | spoke | spoken | I have spoken to the manager. |
| break | broke | broken | Someone has broken the window. |
| choose | chose | chosen | She has chosen a topic. |
| know | knew | known | I have known him for years. |
| begin | began | begun | The meeting has begun. |
用现在完成时谈论人生中的经历,而不说明发生在什么时候。重点在于这件事发生过没有,而不是什么时候发生。
要点: 一旦说明了具体时间,就要改用一般过去时。
用现在完成时表达刚刚发生的事,尤其是与 just、already、yet 连用时。
Just(=就在不久前):
Already(=比预期更早;用于肯定句):
Yet(=到目前为止;用于否定句和疑问句):
当时间段还没有结束时(today、this week、this year 等),用现在完成时。
与时间段已结束时的一般过去时对比:
用现在完成时表达始于过去、一直延续到此刻的情形。
For 与 Since 的区别:
| For | Since |
|---|---|
| + 一段时长 | + 起点(具体时刻) |
| for two hours | since 2 p.m. |
| for three days | since Monday |
| for six months | since January |
| for ten years | since 2014 |
| for a long time | since I was a child |
当过去的动作留下了在此刻仍有影响的结果时,用现在完成时。
这是英语语法中最重要的区分之一。
| 现在完成时 | 一般过去时 |
|---|---|
| 不说明具体时间 | 有具体时间 |
| I have seen that film. | I saw that film last week. |
| 时间段尚未结束 | 时间段已经结束 |
| I have eaten three apples today. | I ate three apples yesterday. |
| 对现在仍有影响 | 在过去已经完结 |
| She has lost her phone.(她现在还是没有手机。) | She lost her phone, but she found it later. |
| 与 for/since 连用(仍在延续) | 与 ago 连用(已经完结) |
| I have known him for years. | I met him two years ago. |
| 现在完成时 | 一般过去时 |
|---|---|
| ever, never | yesterday |
| just, already, yet | last week / month / year |
| today, this week, this year | in 2019, in March |
| so far, up to now | ago (two days ago) |
| recently, lately | when I was young |
| for, since | on Monday(如果那个周一已经过去) |
| How long...? | When...? |
关键规则: 绝不要把现在完成时与表示已结束时间的词语连用。
下列情况用现在完成时:
现在完成时是连接过去与现在的桥梁——它告诉我们,过去的事在此刻依然有意义。
约9分钟阅读
现在完成进行时(present perfect continuous,也叫 present perfect progressive)强调的是某项活动的持续时间或进行状态:这项活动始于过去,要么延续到现在,要么刚刚停止。它是四种现在时态中最具体的一种,同时兼具现在完成时和现在进行时的特点。
现在完成进行时由 have/has + been + 动词-ing 构成。
| 主语 | 结构 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| I / You / We / They | have been + -ing | I have been working all morning. |
| He / She / It | has been + -ing | She has been studying for three hours. |
| 主语 | 结构 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| I / You / We / They | have not (haven't) been + -ing | We haven't been sleeping well. |
| He / She / It | has not (hasn't) been + -ing | He hasn't been feeling well lately. |
| 类型 | 结构 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| 一般疑问句 | Have/Has + 主语 + been + -ing? | Have you been waiting long? |
| 特殊疑问句(Wh-) | Wh- 疑问词 + have/has + 主语 + been + -ing? | What have you been doing? |
用现在完成进行时强调一项活动已经进行了多长时间。这项活动始于过去,一直延续到现在。
For 与 Since(规则与现在完成时相同):
| For(时长) | Since(起点) |
|---|---|
| for 20 minutes | since 3 p.m. |
| for two weeks | since last Monday |
| for a year | since 2023 |
| for ages | since I was a student |
当一项刚结束的活动留下了痕迹或可见的结果时,用现在完成进行时。活动刚刚停止,但它的影响一目了然。
用现在完成进行时表达最近一段时间里反复发生的动作。
当你想突出活动本身,而不是它是否完成或产生了什么结果时,用现在完成进行时。
用现在完成进行时说明眼下的情况是怎么造成的。
因为现在完成进行时经常与 for 和 since 同现,值得把这两个词彻底弄清楚。
For 说明某事持续了多久,后面接一段时间。
Since 说明某事从什么时候开始,后面接一个具体的时间点。
错误: I have been waiting since two hours.
正确: I have been waiting for two hours.
错误: She has been working for 2019.
正确: She has been working since 2019.
这是一个细微但重要的区别。两种时态都把过去与现在连接起来,但强调的侧重点不同。
| 现在完成进行时 | 现在完成时 |
|---|---|
| 强调持续时间/过程 | 强调完成/结果 |
| I have been reading your book.(重点:这个动作本身;也许还没读完。) | I have read your book.(重点:结果;我读完了。) |
| She has been writing emails all morning.(重点:写了多久。) | She has written ten emails.(重点:写了多少封。) |
| We have been painting the house.(重点:正在进行的工作。) | We have painted the house.(重点:完成后的结果。) |
与 for 和 since 连用时,两种时态有时意思相近,都能用,尤其是 live、work、teach、study 这类描述长期活动的动词。
I have lived here for ten years.(同样正确。)
I have been living here for ten years.(同样正确;略微更强调持续时间。)
She has worked here since 2018.(同样正确。)
She has been working here since 2018.(同样正确;略微更强调持续进行的状态。)
用现在完成进行时(而不是现在完成时)的场合:
用现在完成时(而不是现在完成进行时)的场合:
正如状态动词不能用于现在进行时,它们一般也不能用于现在完成进行时。
错误: I have been knowing her since childhood.
正确: I have known her since childhood.
错误: He has been wanting a new car for months.
正确: He has wanted a new car for months.
错误: They have been owning this house for twenty years.
正确: They have owned this house for twenty years.
下列情况用现在完成进行时:
状态动词、以及说明数量或已完成结果时,不要用现在完成进行时——改用现在完成时。
约10分钟阅读
现在时有四种,选对哪一种并不容易。本节给出一套系统的方法:对照表、判断流程、标志词汇总,以及最常见的错误。
| 时态 | 构成 | 主要用途 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 一般现在时 | 动词原形(+ -s) | 事实、习惯、日常 | She works every day. |
| 现在进行时 | am/is/are + -ing | 此刻正在发生、临时状态 | She is working right now. |
| 现在完成时 | have/has + 过去分词 | 经历、未结束的时间段、过去连到现在 | She has worked here for years. |
| 现在完成进行时 | have/has + been + -ing | 持续时间、进行中的过程、可见证据 | She has been working all morning. |
| 特征 | 一般现在时 | 现在进行时 | 现在完成时 | 现在完成进行时 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 时间着眼点 | 泛指/一贯如此 | 此刻/近期 | 过去与现在相连 | 过去持续到现在 |
| 持续性 | 长期 | 临时 | 不特别说明,或用 for/since | 用 for/since 着重强调 |
| 是否完成 | 不适用(反复发生) | 进行中 | 通常已完成 | 通常仍在进行 |
| 证据 | 不适用 | 动作可见 | 结果可见 | 过程留下的痕迹可见 |
| 数量 | 频率(often、always) | 不适用 | 具体次数(three times) | 不适用 |
下面的例子展示同一个话题在不同时态下含义如何变化。
| 时态 | 句子 | 含义 |
|---|---|---|
| 一般现在时 | I read every evening. | 这是我的固定习惯。 |
| 现在进行时 | I am reading a novel by Murakami. | 这是我当下在读的书。 |
| 现在完成时 | I have read five books this year. | 这是我到目前为止的总数(今年还没结束)。 |
| 现在完成进行时 | I have been reading for two hours. | 我两小时前开始读,现在还在读。 |
| 时态 | 句子 | 含义 |
|---|---|---|
| 一般现在时 | He works for a bank. | 这是他长期的工作。 |
| 现在进行时 | He is working from home today. | 这是临时的,只是今天。 |
| 现在完成时 | He has worked in finance for 15 years. | 他的从业总年限,一直延续到现在。 |
| 现在完成进行时 | He has been working on the budget all week. | 这项工作一直在进行,他可能还在做。 |
| 时态 | 句子 | 含义 |
|---|---|---|
| 一般现在时 | It rains a lot in November. | 这是一个普遍事实。 |
| 现在进行时 | It is raining outside. | 就在此刻。 |
| 现在完成时 | It has rained three times this week. | 在未结束的时间段里发生的次数。 |
| 现在完成进行时 | It has been raining since yesterday. | 持续时间;从昨天开始一直没停。 |
按下面的问题判断该用哪种现在时。
第 1 步:这是普遍事实、习惯,还是长期状态?
第 2 步:动作是此刻正在发生,或者是临时状态吗?
第 3 步:它是否把过去的事件或状态连到了现在?
第 4 步:你想强调持续时间或进行中的过程吗?
| 标志词 | 时态 |
|---|---|
| always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never, every day/week/month | 一般现在时 |
| now, right now, at the moment, currently, today, Look!, Listen! | 现在进行时 |
| ever, never, just, already, yet, so far, recently, lately, today, this week/month/year, for, since, How many times...? | 现在完成时 |
| for, since, all day/morning/week, How long...?, lately, recently | 现在完成进行时 |
注意: 有些标志词可以跟多种时态同现(例如 for 和 since 既能用于现在完成时,也能用于现在完成进行时;today 可以出现在一般现在时、现在进行时或现在完成时中)。最终由语境决定用哪一种。
错在哪: 用一般现在时表达此刻正在发生的事。
错在哪: 用现在进行时表达习惯。
怎么改: 问自己:「这是此刻正在发生/临时的吗?」是就用进行时。「这是习惯或长期事实吗?」是就用一般式。
错在哪: 把现在完成时和表示已结束时间的词语连用。
错在哪: 对尚未结束的时间段用了一般过去时。
怎么改: 问自己:「这个时间段结束了吗?」结束了用一般过去时,没结束用现在完成时。
错在哪: 用现在完成进行时表达数量。
错在哪: 重点是持续时间时却用了现在完成时。
怎么改: 问自己:「我强调的是多久或过程吗?」是就用进行时。「我强调的是结果或数量吗?」是就用完成时。
错在哪: 把进行体用在状态动词上。
怎么改: 记住状态动词的几类:感官(see、hear)、心理状态(know、believe)、情感(like、love)、所属(have、own)。这些动词用一般式,不用进行体。
错在哪: 把 since 和一段时长连用。
错在哪: 把 for 和一个起点连用。
怎么改: For 回答「多久?」(一段时间);Since 回答「从何时开始?」(一个时间点)。
错在哪: 把个人安排和官方时刻表弄混。
怎么改: 时刻表和日程用一般现在时;个人计划和安排用现在进行时。
写作或口语时,按这三步来:
| 时间范围 | 重点 | 时态 |
|---|---|---|
| 泛指/一贯为真 | 事实或习惯 | 一般现在时 |
| 此刻/临时 | 正在进行的动作 | 现在进行时 |
| 过去到现在 | 结果、经历或数量 | 现在完成时 |
| 过去到现在 | 持续时间或进行中的过程 | 现在完成进行时 |
语境比规则更重要。 母语者在随意交谈时有时会打破教科书规则。先掌握标准用法,再慢慢培养对自然变体的语感。
在现在完成时和现在完成进行时之间拿不准时,现在完成时通常是更稳妥的选择——它适用面更广,能用的场合更多。
留意标志词,但不要只靠标志词。 同一个标志词可能出现在不同时态中,取决于你想表达的含义。
广泛阅读英语材料。 你在真实语境里见到这些时态越多,时态的选择就会越本能。
用对比来练习。 围绕同一个话题,写出使用不同时态、表达不同含义的成对句子。这能培养你对这些区别的敏感度。