漫谈at短语的进行意义

摘要

<正> 人们在表达某一动作正在进行时,往往首先想到的是使用行为动词的进行时态。人人明白“What are you doing now?”这一问句的意思,可对于表示同一意思的“What are you at now?”却会众说纷纭,莫衷一是。问题出在未能认清由介词at构成的短语也能表达“正在进行”或“正在从事”这一概念。请看下面的例句: 1.The children are now at school. =The children are attending school now. 2.The family are at table. =The family are having dinner. 3.He always falls asleep at church. =He always falls asleep when he is attending a