◎ 以現(xiàn)在式陳述故事或笑話

說(shuō)故事或笑話：以現(xiàn)在式描述 (場(chǎng)景描述)，用于非正式的場(chǎng)合。
說(shuō)故事或笑話：以過(guò)去式描述 (普通敘事)，作者目的是要讓讀者知道它們?cè)?jīng)發(fā)生過(guò)，此種寫作方式比較正式。

1) There‘s this Scotsman, you see, and he’s walking through the jungle when he meets a gorilla. And the gorilla’s eating a snake sandwich. So the Scotsman goes up to the gorilla… (Practical English Usage by Michael Swan. p462)

(翻譯)
你瞧，這個(gè)蘇格蘭人正在穿越叢林，突然間看到一隻大猩猩正在吃著蟒蛇三明治。蘇格蘭人隨即走向大猩猩…
(說(shuō)明) 說(shuō)故事時(shí)以現(xiàn)在式來(lái)“鋪陳劇情”，說(shuō)明接二連三發(fā)生的事情?，F(xiàn)在進(jìn)行式則提供“背景信息”，所謂“背景信息”就是故事開(kāi)始時(shí)正在發(fā)生的事情，或者故事中持續(xù)某段時(shí)間的事情或動(dòng)作。

2)??A panda walks into a cafe. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then pulls out a gun and shoots the waiter. “Why?” groans the injured man. The panda shrugs and walks out, tossing a badly punctuated wildlife manual over his shoulder. When the waiter consults the book, he finds the explanation for this behaviour. The entry for “panda” reads: “Large black and white mammal native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves.”

(翻譯)
一隻貓熊走進(jìn)咖啡廳，點(diǎn)了三明治，吃完之后掏出槍，朝服務(wù)員開(kāi)了一槍。受傷的服務(wù)員呻吟著，問(wèn)道：“這是為什幺？”貓熊聳聳肩，走了出去，從肩部上方拋下一本亂用標(biāo)點(diǎn)符號(hào)的野生動(dòng)物手冊(cè)。服務(wù)員翻看手冊(cè)，找到貓熊這種行為的說(shuō)明。“貓熊”的條目這樣記載：黑白相間的大型動(dòng)物，土生于中國(guó)。吃東西、射殺，然后離開(kāi)。
(說(shuō)明) 這則笑話以現(xiàn)在式來(lái)“鋪陳劇情”，說(shuō)明接二連三發(fā)生的事情。內(nèi)容是講亂用標(biāo)點(diǎn)符號(hào)而鬧出的笑話，最后一句原本應(yīng)該是?“Eats shoots and leaves” (專吃嫩芽與樹(shù)葉)，結(jié)果多了一個(gè)標(biāo)點(diǎn)符號(hào) “Eats, shoots and leaves” (吃東西、射殺，然后離開(kāi))，意思完全走樣。

3) Seeing that people were becoming more and more wicked, God was grieved that he had made them. But there was one man, called Noah, who found favor in the eyes of God.? “I am going to destroy all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them,” God told Noah.? “Every living animal will die. I want? you to make an boat of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. This is how you are to build it: The boat is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high.”

Then,? God added, “I am going to send flood to cover the earth. Only you, your family, and the animals that are inside the boat, will be kept safe.” With the help of his three sons (Shem, Ham, and Japheth), Noah obeyed God and began to build an enormous boat called an “ark”.? He followed what God had commended him precisely. When the ark was finished, God sent two of every kind of animal and bird – one male and one female – and they all went into the ark. As soon as the last animal was on board, God told Noah and his family to get in, too. God himself closed the door behind them.

(翻譯)
神看到世人變得愈來(lái)愈邪惡，心理難過(guò)，后悔創(chuàng)造了人類。然而，唯有挪亞在 神眼前蒙恩。 神告訴挪亞：“我要?dú)缢械娜耍驗(yàn)樗麄冏尩厣铣錆M邪氣敗壞。凡有血?dú)獾幕钗锒紝缤?。你要用歌斐木造一艘船，里面要有隔間，內(nèi)外要抹上松香。船的造法如下：長(zhǎng) 450 英尺，寬 75 英尺，高 45 英尺?！?/p>

然后， 神接著說(shuō)：“我要使洪水氾濫于地上。唯有你、你的家人，以及船上的活物能夠保全生命?！迸瞾喺罩?神的旨意，在三個(gè)兒子 (閃、含與雅弗)? 的協(xié)助之下建造了一艘巨大的船，稱為“方舟”。凡 神所吩咐的，挪亞都照樣行。方舟完成之后， 神吩咐凡有血肉的活物，每樣兩個(gè)，一公一母，都進(jìn)入到方舟之內(nèi)。最后一隻活物上船之后， 神命令挪亞與其家人也進(jìn)到方舟。然后， 神親自關(guān)上方舟的門。
(說(shuō)明) 說(shuō)故事時(shí)以過(guò)去式來(lái)“鋪陳劇情”，屬于正式的用法。

◎ 一般雜誌或文章常以現(xiàn)在式講述事件或描述物體

Nestled amidst a neighborhood of single story bungalows in Venice, California, the Solar Umbrella Residence boldly establishes a precedent for the next generation of California modernist architecture. Located on a 41’ wide x 100’-0” long through lot, the Solar Umbrella addition transforms the architects’ existing 650 square foot bungalow into a 1900 square foot residence equipped for responsible living in the twenty-first century.

Inspired by Paul Rudolph’s Umbrella House of 1953, the Solar Umbrella provides a contemporary reinvention of the solar canopy—a strategy that provides thermal protection in climates with intense exposures. In establishing the program for their residence, which accommodates the couple and their one child chose to integrate into the design, principles of sustainability that they strive to achieve in their own practice. The architects carefully considered the entire site, taking advantage of as many opportunities for sustainable living as possible.? Passive and active solar design strategies render the residence 100% energy neutral. Recycled, renewable, and high performance materials and products are specified throughout.? Hardscape and landscape treatments are considered for their aesthetic and actual impact on the land.? The Brooks Scarpa Residence elegantly crafts each of these strategies and materials, exploiting the potential for performance and sensibility while achieving a rich and interesting sensory and aesthetic experience.

(翻譯)“太陽(yáng)傘住宅”坐落于加州威尼斯海灘 (Venice)，四周皆為單層平房，這間住宅作風(fēng)大膽，為下一代加州的現(xiàn)代主義建筑創(chuàng)下了先例?！疤?yáng)傘住宅”寬 41 英尺，長(zhǎng) 100 英尺，整體宅院為通透形式，其擴(kuò)建部份將原本 650 平方英尺的單層平房轉(zhuǎn)變成 1900 平方英尺的住宅，居家設(shè)施是針對(duì)二十一世紀(jì)環(huán)保生活而規(guī)劃。

“太陽(yáng)傘住宅”的設(shè)計(jì)概念源自于保羅．魯?shù)婪?(Paul Rudolph) 1953 年興建的“雨傘住宅”(Umbrella House)，將“大陽(yáng)能頂蓬”重新塑造成現(xiàn)代形式，可在烈日的氣候中發(fā)揮隔熱效果。本宅院是供一對(duì)夫婦及其獨(dú)生子居住，設(shè)計(jì)師在規(guī)劃設(shè)施時(shí)將他們致力推動(dòng)的永續(xù)原則整合進(jìn)去。建筑師曾經(jīng)仔細(xì)考慮過(guò)整個(gè)場(chǎng)址，僅可能在各個(gè)細(xì)節(jié)去實(shí)踐永續(xù)生活的原則，無(wú)論消極或積極的太陽(yáng)能設(shè)計(jì)都讓整間住宅在能源使用上自給自足。住宅內(nèi)隨處可見(jiàn)回收、再生與高效率的建材與產(chǎn)品。設(shè)計(jì)師在規(guī)劃景物設(shè)施 (hardscape) 與宅院風(fēng)貌時(shí)，都曾針對(duì)美感與對(duì)土地的實(shí)際衝擊來(lái)加以考量。“布魯克斯卡帕住宅”(Brooks Scarpa Residence) 以高雅的方式運(yùn)用每一項(xiàng)環(huán)保設(shè)計(jì)與建材，將效能與敏銳度發(fā)揮到極致，同時(shí)營(yíng)造出豐富有趣的感官體驗(yàn)與美學(xué)效果。

◎ 撰寫‘評(píng)論’

Du Fu?is one of the undisputed geniuses of Chinese poetry – still universally admired?and read thirteen centuries after his death. Du Fu?masters all the forms of Chinese poetry.?His poems use a wide range of registers, from the?colloquial to the allusive?literary.

(翻譯)
杜甫毫無(wú)疑問(wèn)是寫中國(guó)詩(shī)的天才，他逝去已一千三百多年，至今仍然受到舉世讚揚(yáng)，讀者遍佈全球。杜甫精通各種類型的中國(guó)詩(shī)。他詩(shī)中的語(yǔ)言風(fēng)格多樣廣泛，從口語(yǔ)到文學(xué)典故都有。

(說(shuō)明) 寫杜甫傳則必須用過(guò)去式
Du Fu (杜甫, 712-770) was a prominent Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty. Along with Li Bai (Li Po), he is frequently called the greatest of the Chinese poets. His own greatest ambition was to help his country by becoming a successful civil servant, but he proved unable to make the necessary accommodations. His life, like the whole country, was devastated by the An Lushan Rebellion of 755, and the last 15 years of his life were a time of almost constant unrest.
出處：http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Du_Fu

(翻譯)
杜甫 (公元 712 年 – 770 年) 乃是著名的唐朝詩(shī)人，常與李白并稱為中國(guó)最偉大的詩(shī)人。他胸懷壯志，矢志考取功名為國(guó)效力，可惜卻窮途潦倒，難以溫飽。杜甫的一生風(fēng)雨飄搖，猶如當(dāng)時(shí)的朝廷，因著安祿山之亂而顛沛流離。杜甫離世前的15年，生活大多艱辛困頓。

◎ 其他

• This issue is discussed in Chapter One. (將整本書視為完整的整體)
  This issue?was discussed in Chapter One.(將整本書視為逐次完成)
  This issue?has been discussed in Chapter One. (強(qiáng)調(diào)已經(jīng)討論過(guò)這項(xiàng)問(wèn)題了)
• As you will see from my resume, I have a great deal of experience in program development, administration, contract development, and budget planning.
  – Cover letter 寫法，應(yīng)征者認(rèn)定雇主待會(huì)會(huì)讀他的履歷表
  As you can see, there is a river at the bottom of the canyon. It is the Colorado River.
  – 書本寫法，作者要讀者看書中圖片
  As you should know by now, I like to be very upfront with the membership about RIOY. We have been hit by a few unforeseen circumstances that have had a significant impact on our business.
  – 發(fā)文者假定收信者已經(jīng)知道某件事
  As you already may have heard by now, the FTC has some new rules coming into effect in December.
  – 發(fā)文者假定收信者已經(jīng)知道某件事

上述類似的情況，可以運(yùn)用不同的時(shí)態(tài)來(lái)寫，這就是版主之所以再三強(qiáng)調(diào)，時(shí)態(tài)的運(yùn)用要存乎一心，視情況予以調(diào)整，不要太拘泥于文法規(guī)則。

◎ 文章中用于描述或說(shuō)明“假設(shè)/想像”的情況

想像的事情‘并未真正發(fā)生’，因此絕對(duì)不可使用過(guò)去式，只能用現(xiàn)在式。網(wǎng)友可參照下面的文章，實(shí)際體會(huì)英文正確的時(shí)態(tài)用法。

1) Some of my friends and I have a similar opinion regarding the way some toilets are designed here. Imagine (假設(shè)開(kāi)始) having dinner at a restaurant, and all of a sudden your stomach tells you that what you had (過(guò)去事件) for lunch is 90 percent digested. What do you do? Well, of course, you simply get up and look for a place to ease the tension. You go asking where the toilet is, and when you get there, what do you see? A squat toilet!
(節(jié)錄自 Literally Wuman 《吳大維週記》)

(翻譯)
我和某些好友對(duì)于此地馬桶的設(shè)計(jì)看法類似。比如你在餐廳用餐，突然之間胃通知你，吞下肚的中餐百分之九十已經(jīng)消化完畢，你會(huì)怎幺做？當(dāng)然，你會(huì)不加思索便起身找地方“紓解壓力”。你會(huì)去問(wèn)廁所在哪里，不過(guò)當(dāng)你到了廁所，你發(fā)現(xiàn)什幺？蹲式馬桶！

2) Imagine (假設(shè)開(kāi)始) going to heaven and standing by God as He lovingly shows you the calendar of His plan for your earthly life. It begins with the day you were (過(guò)去事件) born. Once you received (過(guò)去事件) Christ as Savior, every day that follows is outlined in red. You see footprints walking through each day of each week of your life. On many of the days, two sets of footprints appear.

(翻譯)
想像你上到了天堂，站在天父的身邊。天父親切向你說(shuō)明祂為你一生規(guī)劃的計(jì)畫，這項(xiàng)計(jì)畫從你出生的那天便開(kāi)始。你接受耶穌基督成為你生命救主之后，接下來(lái)的每個(gè)日子都以紅色標(biāo)示。你會(huì)看到你生命中的每一天都留下足跡，有許多日子甚至出現(xiàn)兩對(duì)足跡。

3) Shifting Your Clock
Let’s start with a common example: traveling from the West Coast to the East Coast of the United States, which requires a three-hour advance of the body clock. Let’s say (假設(shè)開(kāi)始) that when you arrive in New York, you want to feel sleepy at 11 P.M. and to be able to wake up at 7 A.M. (when it is only 4 A.M. in Los Angeles). To advance your clock, take a half-milligram of melatonin at 3 P.M. Pacific time on the day before departure and again on the day of departure.
(節(jié)錄自?Personal Health, The New York Times, Wednesday, Aug. 20th, 2008)

(翻譯)
調(diào)整生理時(shí)鐘
舉個(gè)常見(jiàn)的例子：從美國(guó)西岸飛往東岸，這通常需要將生理時(shí)鐘往前調(diào)三個(gè)小時(shí)。你抵達(dá)紐約之后，如果要在晚上 11 點(diǎn)就想睡覺(jué)，然后隔天早上 7 點(diǎn)就能起床 (那時(shí)洛杉磯才凌晨 4 點(diǎn))。這時(shí)要將生理時(shí)鐘往前調(diào)，出發(fā)前一天的太平洋時(shí)間下午 3 點(diǎn)服用半毫克的退黑激素，出發(fā)當(dāng)天的同一個(gè)時(shí)間再服用一次。

◎‘戲劇、小說(shuō)或電影’的簡(jiǎn)介

戲劇是面對(duì)觀眾，通常會(huì)假設(shè)劇情發(fā)生于當(dāng)下，因此人物對(duì)白或場(chǎng)景敘述皆采現(xiàn)在的時(shí)態(tài) (‘現(xiàn)在式’與‘現(xiàn)在完成式’)。由于小說(shuō)或電影情節(jié)只存于想像，并未在真實(shí)時(shí)空中演出，因此時(shí)態(tài)要定在“現(xiàn)在”，但是仍然需要以時(shí)態(tài)變化來(lái)表達(dá)“事情的先后順序”。

1) Charles turns a leaf. A distant clock strikes the half-hour softly. Charles shuts the book with a clap; throws it aside; snatches up the rattle; and whirls it energetically, making a deafening clatter.
(source: Saint Joan / Epilogue 1 by George Bernard Shaw)

(翻譯) 查理翻了一頁(yè)。遠(yuǎn)處的鐘樓輕柔地敲了一記半點(diǎn)鐘響聲。他啪的一聲闔上了書，將它丟于一旁，隨手抓起撥浪鼓使勁旋轉(zhuǎn)，發(fā)出震耳欲聾的嘎嗒聲。

2) The Family Man (2000) Plot:
Jack Campbell, a successful and talented businessman, is happily living his single life. He has everything, or so he thinks. One day he wakes up in a new life where he didn’t leave (過(guò)去) his college girlfriend for a London trip. He is married to Kate, lives in New Jersey and has two kids. He, of course, desperately wants his life back for which he has worked 13 years for. He is president of P. K. Lassiter Investment House and not a tire salesman at Big Ed’s. He drives a Ferrari and not a mini-van that never starts. And most importantly he doesn’t wake up in the morning with kids jumping on the bed. After a bad start, day by day he is more confident in his new life and starts to see what he has been missing. Turns out money’s good to have but that’s not everything.

(翻譯)
【扭轉(zhuǎn)奇蹟】劇情簡(jiǎn)介：
杰克坎貝爾是個(gè)成功且精明的商人，他過(guò)著快樂(lè)的單身生活，以為擁有自己想要的一切，不料有一天竟然墜入異樣的新生活。杰克驚覺(jué)自己并未離開(kāi)大學(xué)女友凱特而前往倫敦追尋夢(mèng)想。他倆婚后住在紐澤西，生下了兩個(gè)寶寶。杰克當(dāng)然不想放棄奮斗 13年所得到的成就，極欲想回到原本的生活。他過(guò)去是 P. K. Lassiter 投資公司的總裁，不是在 Big Ed’s 賣輪胎的銷售員，出門皆以法拉利代步，不是開(kāi)著時(shí)常拋錨的箱型車。更重要的是，早上不會(huì)有小孩在床上蹦蹦跳跳擾他清夢(mèng)。杰克剛開(kāi)始雖然諸事不順，他卻活得愈來(lái)愈有自信，開(kāi)始明白自己到底失去了什幺。結(jié)局是，金錢雖好卻絕非萬(wàn)能。

3) A City of Sadness?is a 1989 Taiwanese historical drama film by Hou Hsiao-hsien. This film has its setting in a once prosperous gold-mining town in northern Taiwan, and depicts one family’s experiences during the White Terror. The eldest brother is murdered by a Shanghai mafia boss, the middle brother is driven insane in a KMT jailhouse, and the youngest brother is a mute, who wants to flee to the mountains with his friends to fight in the anti-KMT resistance movement. By the end of the film only the youngest brother is alive to tell, in writing, the story of his family’s destruction.

(翻譯)
《悲情城市》是侯孝賢導(dǎo)演 1989 年推出的臺(tái)灣歷史電影。本片于北臺(tái)灣過(guò)去盛極一時(shí)的金礦小鎮(zhèn)取景，描述某個(gè)家族在白色恐怖時(shí)期的辛酸血淚史。家族長(zhǎng)兄遭到上海黑幫老大殺害，老二被國(guó)民黨關(guān)入大牢后發(fā)瘋，最小的弟第失聰，想與友人前往深山加入反抗國(guó)民黨的勢(shì)力。電影結(jié)束時(shí)只有幺弟還倖存于世，將家族衰亡的過(guò)程記錄下來(lái)昭告于世。

3.“無(wú)關(guān)現(xiàn)在的”現(xiàn)在簡(jiǎn)單式用法

◎ 傳達(dá)意思或感官認(rèn)知方面的動(dòng)詞翻譯
傳達(dá)意思的動(dòng)詞: say, speak, tell
感官認(rèn)知的動(dòng)詞: hear, understand, learn

The fox?news says?an Apple event for late January?has been confirmed.
(福斯新聞?wù)f，蘋果已經(jīng)確定一月底會(huì)舉辦產(chǎn)品發(fā)表會(huì)。)

We understand (= learn) that you are one of the leading vendors of trusted computing equipment in Taiwan.
(我們知道貴公司是臺(tái)灣主要的可信計(jì)算設(shè)備供應(yīng)商之ㄧ。)

I hear you are getting divorced.(泛泛的道聽(tīng)涂說(shuō))
(比較) I heard you are getting divorced.(確實(shí)聽(tīng)到某人說(shuō)過(guò))
(說(shuō)明) ‘過(guò)去式’明確表明事情的確發(fā)生，如果我們不那么想明確表明時(shí)，可以用‘現(xiàn)在式’表達(dá)。

◎ 報(bào)紙與新聞稿標(biāo)題和照片說(shuō)明翻譯
報(bào)紙與新聞稿報(bào)導(dǎo)的事件雖已發(fā)生，仍然習(xí)慣以‘現(xiàn)在式’表達(dá)。然而，報(bào)導(dǎo)內(nèi)容仍要使用‘過(guò)去式’描述事件的經(jīng)過(guò)。

China serves notice on its tennis future.
(中國(guó)的網(wǎng)球未來(lái)引人注目)
This week, two Chinese women made it to the final four of a grand slam tennis tournament for the first time, wowing audiences internationally and back home. Could this be the start of the rise of a tennis superpower?
(說(shuō)明)
1. serves notice 這個(gè)詞組是玩弄文字，我們常用 “take no notice of …” 來(lái)說(shuō)“不理會(huì)”，而且 “serve” 這個(gè)字可表示“網(wǎng)球的發(fā)球”。
2. made – 真正的‘過(guò)去式’，用來(lái)講述事實(shí)
3.?Could – 假設(shè)用法，與‘過(guò)去式’無(wú)關(guān)

Aflax Appoints New Broad Member
(阿法列已指派新的董事會(huì)成員)
Taiwan, Octorber 13, 2004 – Aflax (NASDAQ:AFLAX) today announced that Robert Kiyosaki, vice president and chief financial officer of Gateway Ltd., has been appointed to the Company’s Board of Directors effective immediately.
(2004 年 10 月，臺(tái)北 ─ 阿法列 (NASDAQ:AFLAX) 今日宣佈，Gateway 副總裁與總財(cái)務(wù)長(zhǎng)青崎已經(jīng)被指派為該公司的董事會(huì)成員，命令即刻生效。?)
(說(shuō)明)??報(bào)導(dǎo)內(nèi)容仍要采用‘過(guò)去式’來(lái)描述事件。

(比較)
Adobe to acquire Macromedia
(Adobe 即將併購(gòu) Macromedia)
On April 18, 2005 Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq: ADBE) announced a definitive agreement (合同書) to acquire Macromedia (Nasdaq: MACR) in an all-stock transaction (全股份交易).
(說(shuō)明) 新聞稿的報(bào)導(dǎo)事件如果尚未發(fā)生，標(biāo)題要以‘不定詞’表達(dá)。

◎ 廣告詞與標(biāo)語(yǔ)翻譯
A diamond is forever. (鉆石恒久遠(yuǎn)，一顆永流傳) – De Beers廣告詞
Just do it. – Nike 廣告詞
Impossible is nothing. (沒(méi)有不可能) – Adidas 廣告詞
The Playoffs: Where Amazing happens – 美國(guó) NBA 季后賽廣告詞

(比較)
i’m lovin’ it – 麥當(dāng)勞廣告詞
(說(shuō)明) 麥當(dāng)勞在玩弄英文時(shí)態(tài)，love 屬于持續(xù)動(dòng)詞，本不該與現(xiàn)在進(jìn)行式搭配，但此處轉(zhuǎn)化為動(dòng)作動(dòng)詞，與 enjoy 的用法類似，詳見(jiàn)‘英文文法基本概念：動(dòng)詞的基本型態(tài)’。

◎ 行事曆、行程表、日曆的未來(lái)翻譯
此時(shí)的簡(jiǎn)單式代表未來(lái)，表示說(shuō)話者持‘超然態(tài)度’ (psychologically uninvolved) 來(lái)說(shuō)明排定好的行程，這不同于純未來(lái)式。

Your bus leaves in fifteen minutes, so hurry up and finish your work!
(巴士十五分鐘之后就要開(kāi)了，快點(diǎn)做完工作！)

(比較)
本句可用不同時(shí)態(tài)來(lái)改寫：
Your bus is leaving in fifteen minutes, so hurry up and finish your work!?(標(biāo)準(zhǔn)用法)
Your bus will leave in fifteen minutes, so hurry up and finish your work!
(可接受，但這種寫法不是老美的首選 – not the first choice for native speakers!)

I start my new job tomorrow. (我明天要開(kāi)始新的工作。)

The exhibition opens on January 21st and closes on March?31st.
(展覽一月二十一日開(kāi)幕，三月三十一日閉幕。)

Tomorrow morning we get up at 6:30, have breakfast at 7:00, get together around here at 7:30, and start for the lake at 7:40.
(夏令營(yíng)領(lǐng)隊(duì)：明天早上 6:30 起床，7:00 吃早餐，7:30 左右在此集合，7:40 前往湖邊。)

A: “Are you free Saturday night?” (禮拜六晚上有空嗎 ?)
B: “Sure, what time are you looking at?” (可以啊，約幾點(diǎn)呢？ )

Thank God, it’s Friday. I’m so glad that tomorrow is?Saturday.
(謝天謝地，今天是禮拜五。真高興明天就是禮拜六了。)
(說(shuō)明 ) 本句也可寫成： I’m so glad that tomorrow will be Saturday.

(比較)
If today is Wednesday, the day after tomorrow will be Friday.
(如果今天是禮拜三，后天就是禮拜五。)
If today is Wednesday, the day before yesterday was Monday.
(如果今天是禮拜三，前天就是禮拜一。)

I haven’t got time today, but I can see you tomorrow.
(說(shuō)明) 當(dāng)下決定未來(lái)的事情，可用現(xiàn)在式來(lái)表達(dá)“未來(lái)”。

I am continuing to work with the QuTem support team, and?I believe there are some bigger setup issues so please wait until I am able to address those issues. When does Aspire?production begin?
(我與 QuTem 支援小組仍在調(diào)查未何他們的設(shè)置更改沒(méi)有生效。我認(rèn)為有更嚴(yán)重的設(shè)置問(wèn)題，在我解決問(wèn)題之前請(qǐng)耐心等候。Aspire 將何時(shí)量產(chǎn)？)

◎ 在附屬子句中表示“未來(lái)”事件翻譯
‘現(xiàn)在式’通常在附屬子句中說(shuō)明未來(lái)，這跟中文邏輯思維有所不同，有心學(xué)習(xí)的網(wǎng)友請(qǐng)多背訟例句來(lái)強(qiáng)化語(yǔ)感。

She’ll pay us back when she gets a job.
(她找到工作后便會(huì)還我們錢。)
//She’ll pay us back when she’ll get a job.

David will take care of my dog till I get back.
(我回來(lái)前大衛(wèi)會(huì)照顧我的狗。)

Breakfast will be ready before you get up.
(早餐在你起床前就會(huì)準(zhǔn)備好。)

I will offer him financial support if he is in difficulty.
(如果他有困難，我會(huì)借錢給他。)

(說(shuō)明)
1) 主要子句即使沒(méi)有使用未來(lái)式，只要它隱含未來(lái)的意思，附屬子句便要以現(xiàn)在式說(shuō)明未來(lái)情況。
Call?me when you arrive in Taipei.
(抵達(dá)臺(tái)北后給我打個(gè)電話。)

2) 現(xiàn)在完成式也可使用于從屬子句，藉以說(shuō)明事情已經(jīng)完成。
I’ll tell you when I’ve finished.
(我完成后會(huì)告訴你。)

3) 比較未來(lái)事情時(shí)，從屬子句可用‘現(xiàn)在式’或‘未來(lái)式’
She’ll be on the same train as we are tomorrow.
= She’ll be on the same train as we will (be) tomorrow.
(她明天會(huì)跟我們搭同一班火車。)

4) 如果主要子句沒(méi)有指名未來(lái)情況，附屬子句便要使用未來(lái)式來(lái)表達(dá)。
I don’t know where she will be tomorrow.
(我不知道她明天會(huì)在哪。)

5) 即使主要已經(jīng)指名未來(lái)情況，但所指名的未來(lái)時(shí)間與附屬子句所要指名的時(shí)間不同，附屬子句仍然要以未來(lái)式來(lái)表達(dá)。

I’ll hide this box?somewhere where he‘ll never find it.
(我會(huì)把箱子藏起來(lái)，讓他永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)。)

◎ 現(xiàn)在簡(jiǎn)單式與 for 搭配，時(shí)間概念會(huì)延續(xù)到未來(lái)

How long are you here (for)? (= Until when…?)
= How long will you stay here (for)?
= How long will you be staying here (for)?
(你要在這里待多久呢?)

(比較)
How long have you been here (for)? (= Since when…?)
(你已經(jīng)在這里待多久了?)

1.一般用法：

a. 表示恒久不變的真理或一般事實(shí)

Copper is heavier than iron.
(鋼比鐵重。) – 恒久不變的真理

Jupiter is the largest planet within the solar system. It is two and a half times as massive as all of the other planets in our solar system combined.
(木星是太陽(yáng)系最大的行星，其質(zhì)量為太陽(yáng)系其他所有行星總和質(zhì)量的兩倍半。) – 恒久不變的真理

The battery light displays charge status:
Off: The battery is fully charged or not installed.
(電池指示燈顯示充電狀態(tài) //指示燈不亮：電池已經(jīng)充飽或者并未裝上。)
–? (技術(shù)手冊(cè)) 一般事實(shí)

What do frogs eat?
(青蛙吃什幺 ?) – 詢問(wèn)事實(shí)

We get five days’ Christmas holiday this year.
(今年的耶誕節(jié)連續(xù)放五天。)? – 一般事實(shí)

b.?說(shuō)明狀態(tài)或能力

My parents live near Denver.
(我的雙親住在丹佛附近。) – 狀態(tài)

I work from nine to five.
(我的工作朝九晚五。) – 狀態(tài)
// (比較) He is working in Saudi Arabia at the moment. (他目前在沙烏地阿拉伯工作。)
– 現(xiàn)在進(jìn)行式給人‘變動(dòng)’的印象，因此用于說(shuō)明‘臨時(shí)或者短暫的’職業(yè)。

I have a bad memory for names. (我不太會(huì)記人名。) – 能力

He plays the?piano.? (他會(huì)彈鋼琴。) – 能力

Do you speak Chinese? (你會(huì)說(shuō)中文嗎？) – 詢問(wèn)能力
// (比較) They can speak French. (他們會(huì)說(shuō)法語(yǔ)。)

I don’t drink. (我不會(huì)喝酒) – 能力
//(比較) I’m not drinking tonight. (我今晚不想喝酒)
– 這句話的意思是：我可能不會(huì)喝酒，也可能會(huì)喝酒，但我待會(huì)不想喝酒。

A: When does the lease expire? (租約何時(shí)期滿?)
B: The lease has four years left to run. (租約還有四年才到期。)
– 雖然是‘日后’才到期，因?yàn)檎f(shuō)明狀態(tài)，所以可用現(xiàn)在簡(jiǎn)單式。

c. ?表示目前習(xí)慣與例行事項(xiàng)
這是常見(jiàn)情況，因此閱讀文章時(shí)最常遇到現(xiàn)在簡(jiǎn)單式。

John smokes. (約翰會(huì)抽菸 / 約翰是個(gè)有抽菸習(xí)慣的人。)
John never smokes. (約翰從不抽菸。)
John smokes every day. (約翰每天抽菸。)

Don’t believe what he says.
(不要相信他講的話。) – 說(shuō)這句話表示你指的這個(gè)人不可信 (not to be trusted)。
(比較) Don’t believe what he said. (他先前講什幺都不要相信。)

My?husband usually takes the kids?to the nursery school before he goes to work.
(我先生通常先送小孩上幼稚園，然后再去上班。) – 例行事項(xiàng)

How often do you go to the U.S.? – I go there twice a year.
(你多常去美國(guó)？我一年去兩次。)

He always shouts at employees. (他總是對(duì)員工大吼小叫。)

A married woman usually bears her husband’s surname.
(女子出嫁后通常隨夫姓。)

The cat scratches. (這隻貓愛(ài)用爪子亂抓。)

d. 在談話中以狀態(tài)動(dòng)詞或感覺(jué)動(dòng)詞表達(dá)意見(jiàn)或看法

I wish I were a millionaire.
(但愿我是個(gè)百萬(wàn)富翁。)

I fear that the recent financial market scandal is only the tip of the iceberg.
(恐怕最近的金融市場(chǎng)丑聞不過(guò)是冰山一角而已。)

I feel we may be too late.
(恐怕我們太遲了。)

I believe it to have been a mistake.
(我認(rèn)為這一直就是錯(cuò)的。)

We hope that the re-launched site provides a stimulating and dynamic online environment.
(我們希望重新啟用的網(wǎng)站能夠提供有趣且生動(dòng)的線上環(huán)境。)

我們通常以現(xiàn)在式來(lái)表達(dá)說(shuō)話時(shí)剛完成的動(dòng)作，常見(jiàn)的情況如下：
2.“立即的”現(xiàn)在簡(jiǎn)單式用法：

a. 動(dòng)作說(shuō)明、問(wèn)路指導(dǎo)或操作示范

OK, let’s go over it again. You wait outside the office building until the manager arrives. Then you radio Louis, who’s waiting round the corner, and he drives round to the front entrance. You and Louis grab the manager…
(Practical English Usage by Michael Swan)
(OK，我們?cè)倥芤槐椤Ｄ阍谵k公室大樓外頭等著，經(jīng)理一到，你就用對(duì)講機(jī)通知在街角等候的路易斯，然后他就把車開(kāi)到前門，你和路易斯就一把抓住經(jīng)理…。) – 動(dòng)作說(shuō)明

“Hi,?I heard there’s a Chinese restaurant around here. Do you know how to get?there from here?”
(我聽(tīng)說(shuō)這附近有中國(guó)餐廳，可以告訴我如何去嗎？)
” Yeah, Chinatown is pretty close to here. Just go to the corner and then take a right. You have to walkt two blocks…?”
(嗯，中國(guó)城離這里不遠(yuǎn)。走到轉(zhuǎn)角處之后右轉(zhuǎn)，你得再經(jīng)過(guò)兩條街…。) – 問(wèn)路說(shuō)明

Using the TouchPad
To move the pointer, slide your finger across the TouchPad surface in the direction you want the pointer to go.
(Compaq Notebook User’s Guide)
(使用觸控板 //如要移動(dòng)鼠標(biāo)，在觸控板表面朝著你要鼠標(biāo)移動(dòng)的方向滑動(dòng)手指。) – 操作示范

b. 電視或收音機(jī)播報(bào)運(yùn)動(dòng)比賽

The Red Sox wins. (波士頓紅襪隊(duì)贏了。)
//(比較) The Red Sox is wining the AL East. (波士頓紅襪隊(duì)即將贏得美聯(lián)東區(qū)冠軍。)

“The ball is going, going, going, high into the center field stands… and it is a home run!”
(球一直飛、一直飛、一直飛，飛到了中央看臺(tái)。這是一隻全壘打！)
(說(shuō)明) ‘簡(jiǎn)單式’說(shuō)明剛完成的動(dòng)作或者報(bào)導(dǎo)時(shí)的現(xiàn)況，而‘ 現(xiàn)在進(jìn)行式’則說(shuō)明時(shí)間較長(zhǎng)的動(dòng)作，或者接下來(lái)即將發(fā)生的事情。

“Citation taking the lead… with Faraway in second place… and the others already are trailing so far that you’re glad the distance is a mile and a half! And Citation is pulling away… he’ll have to collapse to lose this race. It is Citation going to win the Belmont Stakes.”
(Citation 保持領(lǐng)先，F(xiàn)araway 處在第二位置，他其馬匹則被拋在后頭苦苦追趕，差了有一哩半！Citation 逐漸拉開(kāi)距離，除非它摔倒，否則它贏定了比賽。Citation 即將贏得貝蒙錦標(biāo)。)
(說(shuō)明) ‘簡(jiǎn)單式’說(shuō)明剛完成的動(dòng)作或者報(bào)導(dǎo)時(shí)的現(xiàn)況，而‘ 現(xiàn)在進(jìn)行式’則說(shuō)明時(shí)間較長(zhǎng)的動(dòng)作，或者接下來(lái)即將發(fā)生的事情。

Oxford are drawing slightly ahead of Cambridge now; they’re rowing with a beautiful rhythm; Cambridge are looking a little disorganized…
(牛津隊(duì)目前稍稍領(lǐng)先劍橋隊(duì)，他們正以穩(wěn)健的節(jié)奏持續(xù)向前劃，劍橋隊(duì)看起來(lái)有點(diǎn)慌了手腳…。)

c.?表達(dá)命令、請(qǐng)求或建議

Why don’t you take a day off tomorrow?
(你明天何不請(qǐng)個(gè)假？你明天乾脆請(qǐng)假吧) – 建議

Get out of here! (滾開(kāi)!) – 命令

Give me a call when you arrive in Taipei.
(到達(dá)臺(tái)北之后，給我打個(gè)電話。) – 請(qǐng)求
//when 后面的附屬子句以現(xiàn)在式說(shuō)明未來(lái)的情況，請(qǐng)參考有關(guān)附屬子句的說(shuō)明。

d. here comes… 與 there goes… 的特殊句型

Here comes your wife. (你老婆來(lái)了。)

There goes our bus – we’ll have to wait for the next one.
(巴士跑掉了，我們得等下一班了。)

e.?用文字、數(shù)字或圖片表達(dá)訊息

What does this word say?
(這個(gè)詞是什幺意思？)

It says in the paper that petrol’s going up again.
(報(bào)上說(shuō)油價(jià)又要漲了。)
//這句話可以改成過(guò)去式：It said in the paper that?petrol was going up again.

The label says this sauce is made from tomatoes and garlic.
(標(biāo)籤上寫著這種調(diào)味醬是用番茄和大蒜製成的。)

Does it say in the instruction how much you should use?
(說(shuō)明書上有沒(méi)有指定該用多少？)

f.?其他: 說(shuō)完動(dòng)作立即發(fā)生 / 發(fā)誓或者許下諾言

“I now declare Hong Kong Disneyland officially open,” said Disney’s Chief Executive Michael Eisner.
美國(guó)迪士尼公司運(yùn)行長(zhǎng) Michael Eisner 說(shuō)：“我現(xiàn)在宣布，香港迪士尼樂(lè)園正式開(kāi)幕?！?/p>

We wish you a happy new year.
(我們祝你新年快樂(lè)。)
//(Here’s) wishing you all the best in your new job. (固定說(shuō)法)

With great sadness I announce that, effective immediately, I will be leaving RIOY to pursue other interests.
(雖然感到極為難過(guò)，我在此宣佈即日起離開(kāi) RIOY 團(tuán)隊(duì)去追尋其他夢(mèng)想。)

I enclose (herewith) a check for?$249.
(茲附上249?美金支票一張。)
(說(shuō)明)
下列是書信中某些固定的說(shuō)法，以現(xiàn)在式表達(dá)時(shí)較為正式。
We write to advise you… / We are writing to advise you (不正式)
I enclose my check for $200. / I am enclosing my check for $200. (不正式)
I look forward to hearing from you. / I’m looking forward to hearing from you. (不正式)

I promise never to gamble again.
(我保證絕對(duì)不再賭博。)
(I am promsing…)

I sware that I will tell the truth.
(我發(fā)誓絕對(duì)會(huì)說(shuō)出實(shí)情。)
(I am swearing that…)

We gree.
(我們同意。)
(We are agreeing.)

He denies the charge.
(他否認(rèn)這項(xiàng)指控。)
(He is denying…)

Do you deny that this is your writing?
(你不承認(rèn)這是你的筆跡嗎？)
(Are you denying that…)

如果只想提升英文寫作能力，可以不用學(xué)習(xí)中進(jìn)英的技巧。版主撰寫英文文章時(shí)，腦海中通常只有“想要表達(dá)的概念”與“英文邏輯思維”，如此避免寫出中式英文。唯有在進(jìn)行中譯英翻譯案件時(shí)，版主才會(huì)納入或運(yùn)用中譯英技巧。

以下內(nèi)容屬于高級(jí)英文的范疇，僅供有興趣的網(wǎng)友參考，這些技巧與資源可協(xié)助以中文為母語(yǔ)的譯者找到所需的英文線索，最終完成可供英美人士修訂的英文初稿。

貴州雨量充沛，氣候濕潤(rùn)，土壤肥沃，竹木蔥蘢。

版主先前翻譯這句話時(shí)沒(méi)有吃透中文的意思，腦筋只想著英文句型與對(duì)應(yīng)的英文詞語(yǔ)，壓根沒(méi)有把這句話的前因后果想清楚之后才著手翻譯。
版主原先提供客戶的英文譯文如下：
Covered with dense foliage, Guizhou has a humid climate and features abundant rainfall and fertile soil.
這句話結(jié)構(gòu)完整，版主還刻意調(diào)動(dòng)中文語(yǔ)序，把“竹木蔥蘢”的對(duì)應(yīng)英文拿到句子前頭，以分詞構(gòu)句的形式納入句子之中。
這句話看似漂亮，很唬人，老美編輯第一次看到時(shí)還保留原句，直到復(fù)審時(shí)才抓出個(gè)中錯(cuò)誤。
這句英文到底錯(cuò)在哪里？沒(méi)有細(xì)想很可能就會(huì)疏忽。版主現(xiàn)在分析如下：
中文原文“雨量充沛，氣候濕潤(rùn)，土壤肥沃，竹木蔥蘢”對(duì)應(yīng)完整，前兩句講氣候和雨量，后兩句提土壤與植被，因此要分成這兩大部分來(lái)處理，英文譯文要保持這個(gè)邏輯思維和前后語(yǔ)序。

1. 氣候濕潤(rùn) ->雨量充沛 (氣候濕潤(rùn)的其中一項(xiàng)特征是雨量充沛)
   2. 土壤肥沃->竹木蔥蘢 (因?yàn)橥寥婪饰?，所以竹木蔥蘢)
   嚴(yán)格說(shuō)來(lái)，這兩大部分有因果關(guān)系，譯者不可“因形害意”，為了遷就英文結(jié)構(gòu)而犧牲正確的語(yǔ)義，因?yàn)?“meaning first”，譯者要傳達(dá)的是意思，文字和結(jié)構(gòu)只是表象的工具。人若失去靈魂，便成了行尸走肉；句子缺少意思，就成了符號(hào)廢物 。
   美籍編輯提出的版本值得參考，版主也從中學(xué)到了教訓(xùn)：
   Guizhou province has a humid climate with abundant rainfall and its fertile soil produces dense vegetation.
   這句英文清楚說(shuō)明因果關(guān)系，而且結(jié)構(gòu)簡(jiǎn)單，語(yǔ)序也接近中文原文，遠(yuǎn)勝于版主先前提出的版本。此外，美籍編輯運(yùn)用介系詞 “with”和動(dòng)詞 “produce”來(lái)表達(dá)前述的因果關(guān)系。

版主記得以前也犯過(guò)類似的錯(cuò)誤，在翻譯時(shí)跟原文跟得太緊，以致于譯文不容易讀懂。網(wǎng)友請(qǐng)看下面的翻譯例句：
自古以來(lái)，玉在宮廷中占有尊崇的地位，它以自身的興盛、衰落、變化，在華美中沉靜地書寫著歷史、傳承著文明。

(版主譯文)
Jade enjoyed a highly respected status in the loyal palace in ancient times. Its prosperity, downfall, and diversification have written its own historical chapters and passed on civilization in a quiet and gracious manner.
(美籍編輯修訂的譯文)
Jade enjoyed a highly respected status in the royal palace in ancient times. Having experienced prosperity and downfall and diversification over a long time, jades have written up their own historical chapters in a peaceful and gracious manner, passing on civilization.