含ｏｎ詞組的進行時表達法

眾所周知，be＋動詞的現(xiàn)在分詞構(gòu)成了英語中的進行時態(tài)，表示在過去、現(xiàn)在或?qū)砟骋粫r刻或某段時間正在發(fā)生或進行的動作。除此之外，一些含on的詞組也可以表示正在發(fā)生的動作或持續(xù)的狀態(tài)這一意義。

一、on＋名詞

1．on fire起火，著火

The house was on fire.房子著火了。

相當(dāng)于：The house was burning.

2．on duty值班，執(zhí)勤

Two soldiers are on duty guarding thegate.兩個士兵正在門口執(zhí)勤。

相當(dāng)于：Two soldiers are doing theirjob.guarding the gate.

3．on holiday在度假

His parents are on holiday in California.他的父母親正在加利福尼亞度假。

相當(dāng)于：His parents are spending theirholidays in California.

4．on parade在游行

Shouting slogans，the workers were onparade.工人們正高呼著口號，進行游行。

相當(dāng)于：Shouting slogans，the workerswere holding a parade.

5．on(active)service＝in(active)set-vice在服現(xiàn)役

My uncle was on active service duringthe War of Resistance Against Japan.抗日戰(zhàn)爭時期我伯父在部隊里當(dāng)兵。

相當(dāng)于：My uncle was serving in the ar-my during the War of Resistance Against Ja-pan.

此類詞組還有on leave，on vacation，onstrike等。

二、on＋the＋名詞

1．on the wing在飛行

John shot the eagle while it was on thewing.約翰是在蒼鷹正在天空中飛翔時把它射下來的。

相當(dāng)于：John shot the eagle while it'wasflying.

2．on the warpath反對，阻止

The police are on the warpath againstspeeders.警察極力阻止司機開快車。

相當(dāng)于：The police are trying to stopdrivers from driving too fast.

3．on the track尾隨，跟蹤

The hunter is on the track of a deer.獵人正在追趕著鹿。

相當(dāng)于：The hunter is following a deerin order to shoot it.

4．on the anvil在討論中

It was on the anvil at the meeting yes-terday.昨天會議上在討論這事。

相當(dāng)于：It was being discussed at themeeting yesterday.

這一類詞組還有on the fire，0n the car-pet，on the trail等，它們往往具有比喻或象征等修飾手法的特點。

三、on＋the＋動詞轉(zhuǎn)化成的名詞

1．on the mend(病情或事態(tài))在好轉(zhuǎn)中

Mary's relationship with Joan is on themend.瑪麗和瓊的關(guān)系正在好轉(zhuǎn)。

相當(dāng)于：Mary and Joan had a disagree-ment，but their relationship is getting betternow.

2．on the boil正在沸騰

The kettle was on the boil when I cameinto the kitchen.我走進灶間時，水正在滾著。

相當(dāng)于：The water in the kettle wasboiling when I came into the kitchen.

3．on the move在運動

Large，black clouds on the move an-nounced a coming storm.大堆的烏云正在翻滾，看來一場暴風(fēng)雨要來臨了。

相當(dāng)于：Large，black moving clouds an-nounced a coming storm.

4．onthe run在跑

The enemy soldiers were on the run.敵兵正在逃跑。

相當(dāng)于：The enemy soldiers were retreating.

5．on the increase在增加

The technical cooperation and culturalexchanges between the two countries are onthe increase daily.兩國之間的技術(shù)合作和文化交流正在與日俱增。

相當(dāng)于：The technical cooperation andcultural exchanges between the two coun-tries are Increasing.

6．on the lookout注視著

The little boy was on the lookout for hisfather.小男孩正在仔細觀察著他的父親。

相當(dāng)于：The little boy was watching hisfather closely.

這一類on詞組有如下幾個特點：

1．on后的賓語都是由動詞轉(zhuǎn)化成的名詞。

2．賓語都帶有定冠詞the。

3．原來的動詞通常是不及物動詞。

4．這一類詞組往往含有該動詞的現(xiàn)在分詞的意義。

除以上所舉的例子外，還有：on themarc，on the flow，on the go，on the fly，on the decline，on the decrease，on the ebb等。含on詞組這一結(jié)構(gòu)雖在一般的語法書中很少提及，但它所表示的進行意義卻是十分明顯的。同時，從上述例句中我們不難看出，它們只有在句中充當(dāng)后置定語或表語時，才有這種含義。另外，我們還要注意這種結(jié)構(gòu)與它們作時間(如on January 17th)、地點(on the desk)、目的(on business)、方向(onthe right)等狀語時的區(qū)別，前者一般是固定詞組，后者則是靈活搭配，不可混為一談。