英语的现在进行时用于少数瞬间动词可以表示不断重复的动作,这类动词主要有jump, knock, kick, hit, nod, tap, wink, cough, shoot, drop等。如:
Someone is knocking. 有人敲门。
John is nodding his head. 约翰频频点头。
He is jumping up and down. 他上下地跳着。
Why is she blinking her eyes? 她为什么老眨眼睛?
如果主语为复数,某些动词的现在进行时往往有“不断”或“一个接一个”的含义,如:
People are dying in that part of the world. 在那个地方人们不断地死去。
Men are dropping with malaria, dysentery and simple starvation. 士兵们由于疟疾、痢疾或仅仅因为饥饿一个接一个地倒了下去。
■表示即将发生
注意有些瞬间动词的现在进行时并不表动作的重复,而是表动作即将发生。如:
Mike is coming home on Thursday. 迈克星期四回来。
They’re having a party next week. 下星期他们将开一个晚会。
My sister is getting married next December. 我妹妹十二月结婚。
You’re young people. You ate only beginning to live. 你们是年轻人,刚刚开始生活。
■表示即将结束
有些瞬间动词的现在进行时则表动作即将结束,如:
I am finishing. 我快做完了。
It is ceasing to rain. 雨快停了。
The fruit is ripening. 这果子快熟了。
It was my painful duty to tell him he was dying. 要我把他即将去世的事告诉他,这使我十分为难。