5、终止性动词的用法特征
(1). 终止性动词可用来表示某一动作完成,因此可用于现在完成时。如:
The train has arrived. 火车到了。
Have you joined the computer group? 你加入电脑小组了吗?
(2). 终止性动词表示的动作极其短暂,不能持续。因此,不可与表示一段时间的状语连用 ( 只限肯定式 ) 。如:
1) 他死了三年了。 误: He has died for three years.
正: He has been dead for three years. 正: He died three years ago.
正: It is three years since he died. 正: Three years has passed since he died.
2) 他来这儿五天了。 误: He has come here for five days.
正: He has been here for five days. 正: He came here five days ago.
正: It is five days since he came here. 正: Five days has passed since he came here.
[说明] 1) 、2) 句中的 die 、 come 为终止性动词,不能与表示 " 段时间 " 的状语连用。那么,应如何正确表达呢?可以采用下面的四种方法:
(a) 将句中终止性动词转换为相应的延续性动词,如上面两例中的第一种正确表达方式。下面列举几例: leave→be away, borrow→keep, buy→have, begin/start→be on, die→be dead, move to→live in, finish→be over, join→be in/be a member of, open sth.→keep sth. open, fall ill→be ill, get up→be up, catch a cold→have a cold 。
(b) 将句中表示 " 段时间 " 的状语改为表示过去确定时间的状语,如下面两例中的第二种正确表达方式。
(c) 用句型 "It is+ 段时间 +since..." 表达原意,如上面两例中的第三种正确表达方式。
(d) 用句型 " 时间 +has passed+since..." 表达原意,如上面两例中的第四种正确表达方式。
(3). 终止性动词可用于现在完成时否定式中,成为可以延续的状态,因而可与表示一段时间的状语连用。如 : He hasn't left here since 1986. I haven't heard from my father for two weeks.
(4). 终止性动词的否定式与 until/till 连用,构成 "not+ 终止性动词 +until/till ..." 的句型,意为 " 直到 …… 才 ……" 。如: You can't leave here until I arrive. 直到我到了,你才能离开这里。I will not go to bed until I finish drawing the picture tonight. 今天晚上直到我画完画,我才上床睡觉。
(5). 终止性动词可以用于 when 引导的时间状语从句中,但不可以用于 while 引导的时间状语从句中。 when 表示的时间是 " 点时间 "( 从句谓语动词用终止性动词 ) ,也可以是 " 段时间 "( 从句谓语动词用延续性动词 ) 。而 while 表示的是一个较长的时间或过程,从句谓语动词用延续性动词。如 : When we reached London, it was twelve o'clock. (reach 为终止性动词 ) Please look after my daughter while/when we are away. (be away 为延续性动词短语 )
(6). 终止性动词完成时不可与 how long 连用 ( 只限于肯定式 ) 。如:
误: How long have you come here?
正: How long have you been here?
正: When did you come here?