■基本用法

现在进行时由“am / is / are +现在分词”构成,主要用于表示说话时或现阶段正在进行的动作或发生的情况。如:

I’m looking for a place to live. 我正在找一个住处。

I’m thinking of studying medicine. 我正在考虑学医。

Women are fighting for their rights. 妇女们正在为自身的权利而斗争。

Someone’s knocking at the door. Can you answer it? 有人敲门,你去开一下好吗?

注:这种情况不一定在说话时发生。如:

Don’t take that ladder away. Your father’s using it. 别把梯子拿起,你父亲在用哩。(现在不一定在用)

■表示将来

现在进行时有时可以表示为将来安排好的活动和事件,此时除在上下文中意思清楚者外,通常需要连用一个表示具体时间的状语。如:

Mike is coming home on Thursday. 迈克星期四回来。

Are you meeting Bill this evening? 你今晚将和比尔见面吗?

Karol is playing tennis on Friday. 卡洛尔星期五打网球。

My sister is getting married next December. 我姐姐12月结婚。

We’re spending next winter in Australia. 我们将要在澳大利亚度过明年冬天。

He’s arriving tomorrow morning on the 13. 27 train. 明天早上他将乘13时27分的火车到达。

注:能这样用的动词不多,主要的有arrive, come, dine, do, get, go, have, leave, meet, play, return, see, sleep, spend, start, stay, wear, work等。

■重复的动作

现在进行时有时可用来描述一种重复的动作,通常与always, constantly, continually等副词连用,且往往具有特定的感情色彩。如:

He is always losing his keys. 他老是丢钥匙。

She’s constantly changing her mind. 她老是改变主意。

He is continually reminding me of what I owe him. 他老提起我欠他钱的事。

She is forever complaining about her job. 她总是对她的工作提出抱怨。