1 The present simple is used
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- PASSAGE A
- Vacancy for junior clerk
- Wong Mei Ling
- PASSAGE E
5. TENSES
1 The present simple is used(a) for eternal truths（永恆真理）. e.g. The earth goes round the sun. Cats and lions belong to the same species. (b) for general statements（一般句子）. e.g. We all speak Cantonese at home. In Hong Kong, Chinese comprise 99% of the population. (c) for habitual activities（慣常活動）. e.g. I walk to school every day. We visit our grandparents every weekend. (d) in running commentaries（評論）, demonstration （示範）and exclamations（解釋）. e.g. Pele passes the ball to Beckenbauer. I now pour the acid into the beaker. Watch the change in colour. Ladies and gentleman, here comes the winner of tonight's contest!
Your car will be towed away if you park it there. 2. The present continous is used (a) for an activity or state continuing in the immediate present（正在發生事情）. e.g. What are you doing here? I am writing a letter. (b) to emphasise the idea of an annoying habit（強調某些怪異行為）. e.g. He is always telling lies. You are always complaining. NOTE: Notice the use of always in the above example. (c) for events planned for the future（指出某些預計事情）. e.g. The train is leaving tonight at 9:30. I'm giving a party tomorrow night. (d) together with going to to indicate intention or probability（指示目的或可能性）. e.g. When are you going to get married? I think it's going to rain. 3. The past simple is used (a) for events in the past without any connection with the present（發生在過去與現在無關事情）. e.g. We attended the same school when we were boys. I talked to John on the phone an hour ago. (b) for habitual or repeated activities in the past（過去慣常或重複發生活動）. e.g. We saw each other every day because we were at the same school. We used to fight with each other when we were boys. 4. The past continuous is used (a) for an activity continuing at the time when another activity occurred. （當某事發生而同時另一樁事出現） e.g. While he was doing his work, the telephone rang. I was waiting at the bus stop when the stranger approached me. (b) to emphasise the continuity of a past action（強調過去連續不斷發生的事情）. e.g. I was living in Macau in 1970. The girls were talking for the whole lesson. 5. The present perfect is used (a) for activities or states which begin in the past and continue up to the present moment（過去開始而延續至今的事情）. e.g. Mr Roberts has lived in Hong Kong since 1970. Mr Brown has lived in Hong Kong for the last ten years. He has never been to the Ocean Park.
This is the first time our class has organised a debate. (c) to emphasise the result of a past action（強調過去行動對現今的影響）. e.g. I have taken my lunch. (i.e. I am not hungry now.) I have seen that movie. (i.e. I am not going to see it again.) (d) for activities which begin in the immediate past（指剛剛開始的事情）. e.g. The concert has just started. The lesson has just begun. (e) in adverb clauses of time and condition（顯示時間及條件的句式）. e.g. I will return the book to you when I have read it. I will return your book next Monday, if I have finished it by then. NOTE: The present perfect is not used if there is an adverbial of time (e.g. yesterday, a few days ago). Instead, the past tense should be used. （如句式顯示時間，不合使用）
Notice also the difference between the following two sentences: Mr Brown lived in Hong Kong for ten years. (past simple) Mr Brown has lived in Hong Kong for ten years. (present perfect)
I have been learning English for ten years (and intend to continue learning it). NOTE: There is little difference in meaning between Mr Brown has lived in Hong Kong since 1970 and Mr Brown has been living in Hong Kong since 1970; but with certain verbs there is a difference in meaning. e.g. I've been reading The Old Man and the Sea (but I haven't finished it). I 've read The Old Man and the Sea: I finished it yesterday. Who's eaten my cake? (i.e. there is nothing left) Who's been eating my cake? (i.e. there is some left) 7. The past perfect and past perfect continuous are used
When we arrived at the station, the train had left. A fault was discovered in the engine when the ship had been sailing for a few hours. By 1975, Mr Brown had been living in Hong Kong for five years. (b) for reported speech（用於間接語句）. e.g. He said that he had already seen that movie. He told me that he had been working continuously for three hours. 8. The future simple is used for future events or activities（將來的事情或活動）. e.g. I shall meet you in the station tomorrow. Mr Chan will go to Japan on Business next week. 9. The future continuous is used (a) for activities or states that will extend over a period of time in the future（某些延續將來一段時間的事情）. e.g. The train will be passing through the tunnel in about five minutes. I wonder what we shall be doing tomorrow night. (b) for a future event that will take place as a matter of course, and the use of this construction avoids giving the impression of volition, insistence, etc（將來因必須性以顯示其不甘及執意的事情）. e.g. Now that we work in the same office we shall be seeing each other a lot. When will you be coming to Hong Kong? NOTE: I will write to you soon shows stronger volition or commitment than I will be writing to you soon. The same principle applies to we shall see each other a lot and we shall be seeing each other a lot. Similarly, the question When will you come to Hong Kong? indicates stronger insistence than When will you be coming to Hong Kong? 10. The future perfect and future perfect continuous are used (a) for a future event that will take place before some other future event（未來兩樁事情中，其中較早發生的一件事）. e.g. He will have left by the time you get there. By the end of this school year, I shall have been attending this school for five years. 11. Future in the past (i.e. future time as seen from the past) can be expressed by
I thought he would recover, but the poor man died after all. (b) the use of was (or were) going to. (Such a construction also indicates unfulfilled intention.表示一樁仍未達成願望的事情) e.g. You were going to say something to me a minute ago, weren't you? I was going to leave the house when it started to rain. 12. There are some verbs which are not often used in the continuous tenses. Some of these verbs are: believe（相信）, belong to（屬於）, compare（比較）, consist of（包括）, contain（包含）, cost（價值）, depend on（依靠）, desire（渴望）, differ from（不同）, dislike（討厭）, exist（存在）, forget（忘記）, hate（憎惡）, interest（興趣）, know（知道） , like（喜歡）, love（愛慕）, matter（困擾）, measure（量度）, own（擁有）, remember（記住）, seem（似乎）, think（想到）, understand（明白）, want（要）. e.g. This beautiful villa belongs to a very rich man. He seems to know the answer. I believe you are right. Do you remember seeing him before? I think it's going to rain.
Some women wish they had been born men. "Children, it is time you went to bed." (But they are not in bed.) If I were a king, I would make you my queen. We would have caught the train if we had started earlier. She looks as if she had seen a ghost. If only I had taken your advice. (But I did not take your advice.)
Dear Madam Wise, I (go) 1 steady with a man for seven years and we are planning (engage) 2 to get married. But there is one problem: he seems (care) 3 more for his mother than for me. He always says his mother takes very good care of him. (be) 4 a career woman myself, I can't possible devote as much attention to him as his mother (do) 5 . He also says getting married means (have) 6 to pay more taxes. I wouldn't put up with him if I (not love) 7 him so much. I enjoy (go) 8 to the movies but he would rather stay at home (watch) 9 TV with his mother. He is so attached to his mother that he even insists on her (come) 10 to live with us after our marriage. Now I (catch) 11 in the dilenma of either (leave) 12 him or marrying him and becoming a neglected and frustrated wife. I (approach) 13 30. It would be rather late to start another romantic affair, even if I (feel) 14 inclined to do so. What would you do if you (be) 15 me?
Worried Ann PASSAGE B One night in April 1912, a huge ocean liner, the Titanic, (cross) 16 the Atlantic on her maiden voyage. She (be) 17 at that time the most luxurious ship that (ever build) 18 . She (carry) 19 about 2000 passengers, some of whom (be) 20 the richest people in Europe and America. The Titanic (go) 21 dangerously fast in that part of the Atlantic where icebergs (abound) 22 when it suddenly (strike) 23 an enormous iceberg. Almost immediately it began to sink. (See) 24 this, the passengers scrambled for the lifeboats but there were not enough because it (believe) 25 that the Titanic (never sink) 26 and there (be) 27 no need for the lifeboats. Rockets (fire) 28 from the ship into the air to alert another ship that (pass) 29 nearby, but for some reason it (just sail) 30 right on without stopping. If it (stop) 31 (help) 32 , most of the passengers (can save) 33 . Finally, the ship went down with about 1500 passengers (including the millionaires) on board, (accompany) 34 by the music from a dance band that (still play) 35 in order to keep the passengers calm. PASSAGE C Flat C, On Lok Building, 9th Floor, 333, King's Road, North Point, Hong Kong.
The Personnel Manager, Mason & Co. Ltd., 22, Ox Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong. Dear Sir, Vacancy for junior clerkWith reference to your advertisement in the South China Morning Post on 18th June, I (like) 36 to apply for the post of junior clerk in your company. I am a Chinese girl of 18. I (graduate) 37 from Ming Tak College in 1978. I took the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination in the same year with credits in Chinese and History, and passes in English, Mathematics and E.P.A. Since my graduation, I (work) 38 as a typist in Oslo & Co. Ltd. I can type at a speed of 50 words per minute. By the end of next month, I (complete) 39 a six-month course (offer) 40 by Goodman Commercial Institute. Mrs Grace Wong, my former teacher, (kindly consent) 41 to be my referee. She will be glad to answer any questions from you concerning my character and ability. If you should find my qualifications and experience worthy of your consideration, I (be) 42 glad to attend an interview so as (furnish) 43 you with further information about myself. My contact telephone number is 256462222. Sincerely yours, Wong Mei LingWONG Mei-ling, Miranda (Miss) PASSAGE DThieves (steal) 44 jewels from shop in Tsimshatsui last night. This is the third time this year the shop (rob) 45 . According to the police, the thieves must (enter) 46 the shop by (break) 47 open the back door. After (enter) 48 the shop, the thieves (tie) 49 up the watchman who (sleep) 50 at that time in the shop. The shop-owner told the press that most of the jewels the thieves (take) 51 (be) 52 fakes. He said a security firm (advise) 53 him never (put) 54 real jewels in the window. "Their advice has been invaluable," said the owner. "Without it, we (loss) 55 thousands of dollars." PASSAGE EFor some reason Michael (suffer) 56 from insomnia recently. One night he (decide) 57 to go to bed much earlier than usual. At 9:30 he (lie) 58 down in bed, closed his eyes and began to count sheep, (hope) 59 that he (fall) 60 asleep very soon. However, thinking of those furry little animals (jump) 61 over fences only made him (feel) 62 more restless, so he (stop) 63 , went to his bookshelf and (take) 64 out the most boring book he had. It (call) 65 Buddhism in Japan. At the end of an hour he (still read) 66 . In fact, he (become) 67 quite interested in the subject. He (lay) 68 down the book and tried another method. He tried to imagine himself (become) 69 a heavy lump of mud and kept (repeat) 70 to himself the words "I am a lump of mud and I (feel) 71 heavy, very heavy......." Half an hour later the lump of mud (still murmur) 72 the words. Indeed, Michael felt so heavy that he could hardly breathe. In desperation he gave up (try) 73 to be a lump of mud and (swallow) 74 a sleeping pill, but it had no effect on him whatsoever. At 3 o'clock he got up and (walk) 75 round and round his room until he (grow) 76 dizzy. At 4 he went back to his bed and gazed abstractedly into space. Gradually his eyes began to feel heavy and, finally, he fell into a troubled sleep. He (awake) 77 the next morning only (find) 78 that it (be) 79 already a quarter to nine, which meant another mad morning rush to get to work. When he arrived at the office, his boss (already stand) 80 beside his desk, (eye) 81 him severely. "(Look) 82 here, Mic," he said, "this is the sixth time you (be) 83 late this month. You (look) 84 rather tired lately. I really think you (ought to go) 85 to bed earlier last night." Download 117.18 Kb. Share with your friends:
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