In the past year, I have seen The Titanic three times.

對讀者而言，最重要的是〝現在完成式〞和〝過去式〞不同究竟在那里?最重要的不同在于，一旦在句子中講一件過去發生的事，而且指定特定的時間，就一定要用〝過去式〞，而不能用〝現在完成式〞。比方說，〝我曾經看過「鐵達尼號」〞，可以用現在完成式，因為這句話沒有指明任何特定的時間，假如說，〝我昨天晚上去看「鐵達尼號」〞，就一定用過去式，讀者不妨看看以下的比較：

(a)I went to America last year.

I have been to America.

(b)I saw The Titanic last year.

I have seen The Titanic twice.

(c)I finished my homework late last night.

I have finally finished my homework.

(d)I studied English when I was a small child.

I have studied English since I was a child.

(e)I went to church yesterday.

I have never been to church.

以下的句子是錯的，請特別注意：

*(1)I have seen the movie last year.

*(2)I have never been to America last year.

*(3)He has never finished his work last night.

現在完成式常和since、for、already、never、ever等字一起使用，以下都是這類的例子：

(1)I have already had dinner.

(2)Since this summer began, we have already had two storms.

(3)It has not rained for a long time.

(4)I have never talked to this man before.

(5)I have never met your father.

(6)Have you ever been to America?

(7)He has already won three awards.

(8)I have stayed here since June.

Never 和 ever 也常是我們弄不清楚如何使用的字，一般說來， never 有否定的意思，ever則只有在問句中才會出現。

【練習十一】

將以下句子譯成英文，全部用現在完成式：

1.自從1980年，我就每天早上游泳。

2.我已收到了你的信。

3.我從未去過美國。

4.從他是一個小孩開始，他就是一個基督徒(Christian)。

5.我見過你的祖父。

6.你的弟弟一直住在這里。

7.他學鋼琴已經很久了。

8.我已寫了三封信給他，他都沒有回。

9.過去三年我都在開這部車。

10.自從1975年以來，他一直是一位老師。

11.他教英文很久了。

12.我曾經看過亂世佳人(Gone with the Wind)。

13.我已吃過飯了。

14.今年我去過海灘三次。

15.我終其一生都愛你的。

【練習十二】

將以下句子譯成英文，有的用過去式，有的用現在完成式

1.昨天我去看〝亂世佳人〞(Gone with the Wind)。

2.我從未看過〝亂世佳人〞。

3.去年，我住在美國。

4.自從1985年，我就一直住在美國。

5.他從未去過英國。

6.他已經完成了報告。

7.我昨天晚上完成了報告。

8.昨夜，我見到了你的父親。

9.我已經見過你的父親好幾次了。

10.我終生都住在臺中。

【練習十三】

填充

1. I (become) a Christian when I was a child.

2. I (be) a Christian all my life.

3. He (live) here since 1939.

4. Stop eating now. You (eat) too much.

5. It (rain) last night.

6. John is a writer. He (written) thirteen novels.

7. Last night, I (see) your father for the first time in my life.

8. I (talk) to my father last night.

9. Since 1961, I (be) a teacher. Before that, I (be) a student.

10. I (read) many novels written by Charles Dickens.

4§2現在完成進行式(Present Perfect Progressive Tense)

在上一節，我們知道，如果有一個行動，從過去發生后，就一直延續到現在，我們可以用現在完成式。舉例來說，以下的例子都應該用現在完成式：

(1) 自從1974年，我就在學校學英文。

Since 1974, I have studied English at school.

(2) 自從我大學畢業以后，我就在這里工作。

Since I graduated from college, I have worked here.

以第一句話為例，假如我們要強調我一直在練習游泳，而且沒有間斷，我們可以用現在完成進行式(present perfect progressive tense)。所謂現在完成進行式，形式如下：

verb to have + been + present participle

verb to have 是為了完成式，been 和 present participle 都是為了進行式。

以下是現在完成進行式的例子：

I have been studying English since 1974.

I have been working here since I graduated from college.

I have been living here since I was a child.

He has been acting like a fool lately.(他最近一直在做傻事)

They have been dancing since seven o’clock.

It has been snowing since yesterday.

I have been taking music lessons since last year.

He has been drinking heavily since last year.(他去年起，就一直在酗酒)

【練習十四】

將以下的句子譯成英文，全部用現在完成進行式：

1. 自從我們是小孩子起，我們就一直努力工作。

2. 從去年起，他就在念英文。

3. 從昨天起，就一直在下雨。

4. 從五時起，他就在做功課(do homework)。

5. 從三歲起，我就一直住在臺中。

4§3 過去完成進行式(Past Perfect Progressive Tense)

過去完成式的形式如下：

had + past participle

過去完成式是不能單獨用的。我們用的時候，必須有另一個事件。也就是說，假如我們有兩件事 A 和 B，兩件事都發生在過去，但 A 發生在 B 以前，A 應該用過去完成式，B 則用過去式。以下是幾個例子：

(1) 他到臺灣以前，曾學過中文。

He had studied Chinese before he came to Taiwan.

(2) 他念大學以前，曾前工作過。

He had worked before he decided to go to college.

(3) 我寫這篇有關愛爾蘭的小說以前，曾去過愛爾蘭。

I had been to Ireland before I wrote this book about Ireland’s people.

(4) 我在上大學以前，已經學過微積分。

I had studied calculus before I got into college.

(5) 周一以前，已經下過雪了。

It had already snowed before Monday.

如果我們要強調較早發生事件的連續性，我們可以用過去完成進行式。占去完成進行式和現在進行式惟一不同的地方是 verb to have 的地方一定要用had 。以下是一些過去完成進行式的例子：

1. I had been watching TV before you called me.

2. I had been working hard in a company for many years before I went to college.

3. He had been studying before he went to class.

4. He had been driving all day before he went to sleep.

【練習十五】

將以下中文句子譯成英文，每一句都要用過去式和過去完成式：

1.我十四歲以前，就曾見過你的母親。

2.我1974年以前，曾去過美國。

3.六年前，他曾念過圣經(the Bible)。

4.我念大學以前，曾經是個工程師(engineer)。

5.你來以前，我曾打電話給你。

6.在我昨天晚上吃飯以前，曾和李先生見過面。

7.在他辭職(resign)以前，他是個好校長(president)。

8.在他去世(die)，他是個好醫生。

9.在他到教堂以前，他一直在練習唱歌。

10.在今天早上八時以前，天一直在下雨。

【練習十六】

將以下的中文句子譯成英文，選適宜的時態。

1.他昨天去看你的時候，你在唱歌。

2.他從前是個好孩子。

3.他們都喜歡打籃球。

4.我們正在看電視。

5.你在臺灣住了很久了。

6.我已經看完了這本書。

7.他們一直都住在這里。

8.我來以前，曾去過教堂。

9.他喜歡看日出。

10.他喜歡游泳。

11.他自從六歲起，就一直在學鋼琴(piano)。

12.他過去是個強壯的孩子。

13.在他生病以前，他曾是個非常健康(healthy)的人。

14.當火車進站時，人們在跳舞。

15.在戰爭爆發(break out)以前，他曾是個音樂家(musician)。

16.我曾見過你。

17.我去年見過你。

18.我已經將信寫好了。

19.自從1974年以來，我就是一個軍人(soldier)。

20.我讀了很多英文書。

【練習十七】

將正確的動詞填入以下各句的空白：(有的地方可能有多種答案)

1. He (love) his country.

2. He (love) his country, but now he does not.

3. I (be) a teacher since 1975.

4. I (be) a teacher before I went to college.

5. I (read) Shakespeare ever since I was a little girl.

6. When I went to see her yesterday, she (watch) TV.

7. I (see) your father before I saw you.

8. He (read) many detective stories.

9. He (go) to church every Sunday.

10. It (be) a cold day yesterday.

11. It (rain) for the last two days.

12. I (eat) too much. I am full now.

13. You (be) a nurse before the war broke out.

14. I (have) never (see) you in my life.

15. He (be) a teacher since 1980.

16. It (be) good to eat vegetables every day.

17. It (be) so nice to meet you last night.

18. She (be) such a nice girl before she died.

19. Peter (go) to America many times.

20. He (work) hard since last year. He (hope) to succeed in the college entrance examination this time.

第五章 未來式

5§1 未來式的基本規則

如果我們在句子中，有需要提到未來的事情，就可以使用未來式，舉例來說，以下的句子都用未來式。

I will go to America tomorrow.

He will dance tonight.

Peter will finish his work next month.

如果不用〝will〞，我們可以用〝verb to be +going to+ verb〞，如果我們如此做，以上的三個句子就變成了以下的句子

I am going to go to America tomorrow.

He is going to dance tonight.

Peter is going to finish his work next month.

以下是一些未來式的例子：

1. I will call you tonight.

I am going to call you tonight.

2. He will graduate next June.

He is going to graduate next June.

3. Mr. Lee will teach us English soon.

Mr. Lee is going to teach us English soon.

4. He will help you.

He is going to help you.

5. The war will break out soon.

The war is going to break out soon.

6. It will rain tonight.

It is going to rain tonight.