状态动词是描述状态,表示
相对静止的动词,这类词通常只能用于非进行时,不可用于
进行时(状态动词,如get也能用于进行时)。
时态表达
一般而言,如果不表达某一特殊含义,连系动词是没有
进行时和完成时的。seem,
appear等连系动词的进行时和完成时也必须通过其后的
不定式或
从句来表达。而表示状态变化的连系动词都可以直接用进行时、完成时及将来时来表达正在(渐渐)、已经或将要“变得”或“成为”等
时间概念或意义。试比较下列几组句子:
(1) He seemed to be writing something.(=It seemed that he was writing something.)
他好象在写什么东西。
Our country is becoming (或getting) stronger and stronger.
我们国家日益强大。
(2) He seems (或appears) to have been to Beijing. (=It seems (或appears) that he has been to Beijing.)
他似乎去过北京。
The custom has now become a rule.
那习俗现已变为成规。
This material has worn thin.
这料子已磨薄了。
(3) It seems
as if it is going to rain.
看来快下雨了。
The milk in the cup will go bad.
杯子里的牛奶要坏了。
分类
动词be和动词have
例如: The boy is 150 centimeters
tall. 这个男孩150厘米高。
My husband has several shirts of different colors. 我丈夫有好几件颜色不同的衬衫。
而不可以说:The boy is being 150 centimeters tall.
My husband is having several shirts of different colors.
含有状态动词be和have的意义的动词
如:
belong to, contain, differ from, matter,
own等。这类状态动词通常都不可以用于进行时。例如:
That dictionary belongs to me. 那本字典是属于我的
。不能说:That dictionary is belonging to me.
表示五官感觉的动词
如 hear, see, feel, taste, smell等。
例如: The old man doesn’t hear very well.那位老人听觉不太好。
不能说The old man isn’t hearing very well.
The meat tastes delicious. 这肉味道真好。
但不可以说:The meat is tasting delicious.
表示心理或情感状态的动词
如 believe, consider,
expect, imagine, regret,remember等。这
类动词通常也都不用于进行时。
例如: He does not believe in Howard’s honesty. 他不相信霍华德为人真诚。
不能说He is not believing in Howard’s honesty.
注意
某些状态动词也可指代动作,在此情况下,状态动词可用进行时。 例如: The girl is feeling the pot. 那个女孩在摸那个壶。