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Lina Chu
英文文法中的時態不單用來表達時間，也可以表達事物的狀態及說話態度。請看以下的故事。
Fattie, the fat cat, and Bony, the thin dog, met on the street.
肥貓與瘦狗在街上遇到。
“I've moved to a new home with my master.”Fattie said.
肥貓說：「我跟主人搬新家了。」
“Really? What does your master do?”Bony asked.
瘦狗問：「真的嗎？你主人做甚麼？」
現在式有時表示恆常存在狀態
“He is having dinner.”Fattie said.
肥貓說：「噢，他在吃晚飯。」
“I mean what is his occupation.”Bony explained.
瘦狗解釋說：「我是問他做甚麼職業。」
“Oh, he is a banker.”Fattie was a bit embarrassed.
肥貓有點靦腆地說：「噢，他是銀行家。」
“Great. Is he a nice guy? Why are you not with him?”Bony asked.
瘦狗問：「很好哇。他人品如何？你為甚麼不和他一起吃晚飯？」
“He is usually very kind and gentle but recently he is not paying too much attention to me. Tonight, he shouted at me. I guess he has lost a lot of money in the stock market.”Fattie complained.
肥貓抱怨說：「他是很和靄溫柔的人，但是近來他不大關心我。就像今晚，他向我大叫大嚷，我估計他在股市虧了大本。」
“I don't know why you are always complaining. These days, it's very fortunate to have a safe and warm shelter. Look at me. I've turned a stray dog. Now, I have to sleep on the street.” Bony raised his voice.
瘦狗扯高嗓子說：「我不明白你為甚麼老是在抱怨。今時今日，能夠有一個平安溫暖的住所，已算很幸運了。看看我。我變了一隻流浪犬，要在街頭露宿。」
兩種時態表達不同意思
上面的故事大量應用現在式(present)和現在進行式(present continuous)。這兩種時態不只表示時間的差異，它們可表達不同意思內涵。例如恆常與短暫狀態的分別。現在式有時用來表示恆常存在的狀態。現在進行式有時用來表示短暫發生的狀態。
What does he do? 是現在式，是問甚麼職業。肥貓誤以為是現在進行式的What is he doing?，以為問正在做甚麼，因此問非所答，鬧出笑話。
肥貓說He is very nice and gentle.他「一向」是溫柔和靄的，屬一貫作風，是恆常狀態。可是，recently he is not paying too much attention to me.「近來」不大關心我，屬一時的行為，是短暫狀態。
瘦狗責備肥貓You are always complaining. 這情形用現在進行式而不用現在式 You always complain.，是要表達責備，不認同的意思。這是現在進行式另一用途。 ■linachu@hkbu.edu.hk
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