一位微博網(wǎng)友想知道時間狀語從句的時態(tài)遵循哪些規(guī)律。時間狀語從句一般由 “while”、 “when” 和 “as” 等從屬連詞引導(dǎo),與主句組成句子的整體。在這類句子中,主句和從句常對應(yīng)哪些時態(tài)?不同的時態(tài)結(jié)構(gòu)可以分別用來描述哪種情況?本期節(jié)目介紹引導(dǎo)時間狀語從句的常見從屬連詞以及句子的時態(tài)。
(關(guān)于臺詞的備注: 請注意這不是廣播節(jié)目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能沒有體現(xiàn)錄制、編輯過程中對節(jié)目做出的改變。)
Beth
Hello and welcome to Question and Answer of the Week. I'm Beth.
Jiaying
And I'm Jiaying. 本期節(jié)目中要回答的問題來自一位微博網(wǎng)友,問題由我來代讀。
Question
我想問一下,時間狀語從句的時態(tài)是怎么樣的一種規(guī)律?
Beth
Thank you for sending us your question! An adverbial clause of time is a subordinate clause, such as 'while I was walking', and must be in the same sentence as a main clause, 'my phone rang'. Adverbial clauses are introduced by a subordinating conjunction, like 'while' and they tell us when something happened.
Jiaying
是的。在 “While I was walking, my phone rang.” 這句話中,時間狀語從句 “while I was walking” 與主句 “my phone rang” 構(gòu)成句子的整體。
時間狀語從句由像 “while” 這樣的從屬連詞引導(dǎo),用來說明事情發(fā)生的時間。接下來,我們就重點(diǎn)講解三個常見的從屬連詞:“while”、“when” 和 “as”,以及它們一般用于哪些時態(tài)的句子中。
Beth
'While', 'when' and 'as' can all be used when talking about actions or situations that happen at the same time.
Jiaying
這三個從屬連詞的意思都是 “在…的時候,與…同時”,而且都可以用來引出一件事情發(fā)生的時間段或背景情況。請聽一段對話,在對話的答句中分別使用了 “while”、“when” 和 “as”。
Examples
Did you answer the phone?
(你接電話了嗎?)
No. He called me while I was leading a meeting.
No. He called me when I was leading a meeting.
No. He called me as I was leading a meeting.
(我沒接。他在我主持會議時打電話給我。)
Jiaying
在對話的答句中,描述事情發(fā)生的時間段或背景情況的從句是過去進(jìn)行時,也就是 “I was leading a meeting”,主句中描述的動作 “he called me” 是一般過去時,說明 “他給我打電話” 這個動作是在說話人主持會議的時間段內(nèi)發(fā)生的。
Beth
'While', 'when' and 'as' must always be at the beginning of the adverbial clause, but this can go at the beginning or middle of a sentence.
Jiaying
沒錯,從屬連詞必須位于從句的句首。在上面對話的答句中,從句在主句后,因此從屬連詞位于整句話的中間?!爸髑皬暮蟆?的順序常見于英語口語交流中。
Beth
In writing, having them at the beginning or the middle of a sentence is common.
Jiaying
在書面語中, “主前從后” 和 “從前主后” 的情況則都很常見。聽三個例句,時間狀語從句的從屬連詞都位于整句話的句首。
Examples
While I was leading a meeting, he called me.
When I was leading a meeting, he called me.
As I was leading a meeting, he called me.
(在我主持會議時他打電話給我。)
Beth
Let's look at some other examples of the past continuous and past simple. Here's one.
Example
As I was driving past the school, I noticed a queue of people outside a shop.
(當(dāng)我開車經(jīng)過學(xué)校時,注意到了一家商店外面排著長隊。)
Jiaying
在這句話中,“我” 正在開車經(jīng)過學(xué)校,也就是 “I was driving past the school”,“driving” 是一個延續(xù)性動作,從句的時態(tài)是過去進(jìn)行時。這句話的意思是 “我在開車的過程中,注意到了商店外面的長隊(…noticed a queue of people outside a shop)”,“noticed” 是非延續(xù)性動詞,主句為一般過去時。再來聽一個例句。
Example
The doorbell rang when we were eating dessert.
(當(dāng)我們正在吃甜點(diǎn)的時候門鈴響了。)
Beth
So, they were eating dessert, 'the longer action', and were interrupted by the shorter action, 'the doorbell rang'.
Jiaying
在這句話中,“eating dessert(吃甜點(diǎn))” 是一個持續(xù)時間較長的延續(xù)性動作,這個動作被持續(xù)時間較短的動作 “rang(門鈴響了)” 所打斷。
Beth
Now, let's look at some other tenses we can use.
Jiaying
除了上面介紹的時間狀語從句的時態(tài)以外,從屬連詞 “while” 和 “as” 還可以引導(dǎo)一般現(xiàn)在時或一般過去時的從句。
Beth
This is especially true when the main verb refers to a continuous action or state, such as 'sit', 'lie' or 'wait'.
Jiaying
沒錯,當(dāng)主句中的謂語動詞是 “sit”、“l(fā)ie”、“wait” 這樣的持續(xù)性動詞時,從句時態(tài)通常是一般現(xiàn)在時或一般過去時。聽兩個例句。
Examples
While we wait for the rain to stop, the children can play inside.
(我們在等雨停時,孩子們可以在里面玩。)
As I sat in the garden, a bee landed on my finger.
(當(dāng)時我坐在花園里,一只蜜蜂落在了我的手指上。)
Jiaying
還有一種情況:從屬連詞 “while” 和 “as” 引導(dǎo)的從句及其主句都是過去進(jìn)行時。
Beth
This means that two actions were happening at the same time in the past and have finished now. It's often used when telling a story.
Jiaying
這種結(jié)構(gòu)通常意味著兩個動作在過去的某個時間點(diǎn)同時發(fā)生,而且動作均已結(jié)束,通常用于向他人敘述一件過去發(fā)生的事情。聽兩個例句。
Examples
As I was walking towards him, he was walking towards me.
(我向他走去時,他也向我走來。)
While the adults were chatting, the children were running around.
(大人們聊天時,孩子們跑來跑去。)
Beth
It's also possible to use two present perfect continuous clauses together, usually only with 'while'.
Jiaying
我們一般只用 “while” 引導(dǎo)這類從句,也就是時間狀語從句及其主句都是現(xiàn)在完成進(jìn)行時的結(jié)構(gòu),這個結(jié)構(gòu)用來談?wù)撟罱瑫r發(fā)生過的兩個延續(xù)性的動作,在口語中比在書面語中更常見。來聽兩個例句。
Examples
While I've been working hard, you've been drinking coffee!
(在我努力工作的時候,你卻一直在喝咖啡?。?nbsp;
We're exhausted. I've been painting all day while he's been gardening.
(我們已經(jīng)累得筋疲力盡了。我一整天都在畫畫,而他一整天都在修整花園。)
Beth
OK, Jiaying. Let's summarise.
Jiaying
好的。在談?wù)撦^長時間段內(nèi)發(fā)生的持續(xù)時間較短的動作時,用從屬連詞 “while”、“when” 和 “as” 引導(dǎo)過去進(jìn)行時的時間狀語從句。
從屬連詞 “while” 和 “as” 還可以引導(dǎo)一般現(xiàn)在時或一般過去時的從句。在強(qiáng)調(diào)兩個動作在過去的某個時間同時發(fā)生,而且動作均已結(jié)束的時候,這兩個從屬連詞所引導(dǎo)的從句及其主句也可以都是過去進(jìn)行時。
最后,在談?wù)撟罱瑫r發(fā)生過的兩個延續(xù)性的動作時,一般只能用 “while” 來引導(dǎo)現(xiàn)在完成進(jìn)行時的從句,主句同樣是現(xiàn)在完成進(jìn)行時。
Beth
Remember, if you have a question about the English language you'd like to ask us, please send us an email. Our email address is: questions.chinaelt@bbc.co.uk
Jiaying
你也可以通過微博向我們提問。我們的微博賬號是 “BBC英語教學(xué)”。Bye, everyone.
Beth
Bye!