上句动词 stop 的一般现在时该怎样理解?
是用 stop 的一般现在时表示将来的动作,解释为公车将要停?
还是用 stop 的一般现在时表示一个停车的习惯,或是表示一个停车的瞬间动作?
怎样理解 stop 的这个一般现在时用法?
这类句子的一般现在时通常出现在解说词(比如戏剧对话中)。比如下面这篇材料(摘自牛津英语高中英语教材),为便于理解,给出了相应翻译,其中变了颜色原内容就是“解说词”,均用的是一般现在时:
The invisible bench 隐形长凳
Characters: Five students 人物:五名学生
Setting: A park 场景:某公园
Mike: Really, what this courtyard needs is a bench. Maybe here? (‘sits’ as if there is a bench) No. (gets up, walks to the other side of the stage. Tony enters, but Mike does not notice. ) Maybe here? (‘sits’ again) Yes, I think maybe here.
迈克:说真的,这个庭院所缺的就是一条长凳了。或许可以放这儿?(“坐下来”,好像有一条长凳似的) 不。(站起来,走到舞台另外一端。托尼上场,但迈克没有注意。) 也许这儿?(又“坐下来”) 嗯,我想也许可以放这儿。
Tony: What are you doing?
托尼:你在干什么呢?
Mike: I’m sitting on an invisible bench, of course.
迈克:我自然是坐在一条隐形长凳上了。
Tony: Can I join you?
托尼:我可以和你一起坐吗?
Mike: Of course. (moves over as if to make room for Tony)
迈克:当然可以。(挪至一边,仿佛是在给托尼腾出地方)
Tony: Ah, it’s rather nice here, isn’t it?
托尼:啊,这里相当不错啊,对吧?
Mike: Indeed.
迈克:的确是。
Both ‘sit’ for a while, reading their textbooks. Cathy enters.
两人坐了一会儿,看着他们的课本。凯西上场。
Cathy: What is going on here?
凯西:这里正在发生什么事呀?
Mike: We’re sitting on an invisible bench.
迈克:我们正坐在一条隐形长凳上呢。
Tony: You should join us. It’s nice and cosy.
托尼:你应该跟我们坐在一块。真的很好很舒服。
Cathy: Okay. Thanks for the invitation. (Mike and Tony move over. Cathy ‘sits’ down alongside them.) Wow, it’s quite comfortable!
凯西:好的,谢谢邀请。(迈克和托尼挪到一边,凯西坐在他们的身边)哇噻,真的好舒服啊!
Paula enters. 葆拉上场。
Paula: Sitting on an invisible bench, are you?
葆拉:你们坐在一条隐形长凳上,是吧?
Cathy: Yes, how did you know?
凯西:是啊,你怎么知道的?
Paula: I was doing the same thing myself, just yesterday. Mind if I sit down?
葆拉:我也做过同样的事,就在昨天。我坐这儿你们不介意吧?
Mike looks annoyed. 迈克看上去有点气恼的样子。
Tony and Cathy: Not at all. Please do!
托尼和凯西:一点也不介意。请坐!
All make room. Mike stands up and wanders over to the middle of the stage and ‘sits’ down. Ann enters, looks at Mike.
大家都挪出一点地方。迈克却站起来,溜达到了舞台中央,然后“坐”下来。安上场,看着迈克。
Ann: You look like you are sitting on an invisible bench.
安:你看上去像是坐在一条隐形长凳上嘛。
Mike: Yes, I am.
迈克:是啊,没错。
Ann: What are they doing over there?
安:他们在那边干什么呢?
Paula and Cathy: We’re sitting on an invisible bench too!
葆拉和凯西:我们也是坐在一条隐形长凳上呀!
Mike: No, you’re not.
迈克:不,你们不是。
Tony: We’re not?
托尼:我们不是?
Mike: No. I must have forgotten to tell you. (smiles)
迈克:对。我一定是忘记告诉你们了。(面带微笑) It got too crowded, so I moved the bench. 刚才人太拥挤,所以我就将长凳给搬走了。
Entire group (Tony, Paula and Cathy) fall down.
一行人——托尼、葆拉和凯西——都跌倒在地。
The End
剧 终