He is working.
is 用来帮助后面的 work 来形成目前进行时,所以 is 在这里是个助动词。
但讲解为 is 是系统词,后面的 working 是表语好像也说得通。
那样这句话是主系表结构吗?
“be + doing”结构 的三种格式:
1. She is looking after the children. (进行时态)
2. Her job is looking after the children.(主系表:动名词作表语)
3. Her job is boring.(主系表:目前分词作表语)
下面,以“进行时”跟这两种主系表分别作一比对:
▲在“be + 目前分词”结构中,be可能是助动词,也会是系动词。这要看这个“目前分词”是动词还是形容词。比如:
He is working. 这是进行时态:working是动词work 的目前分词形式。
He is interesting. 这是主系表结构:interesting 是形容词,或者叫作由目前分词变来的形容词。
容易见到的这种形容词有:
annoying 恼人的 boring 让人讨厌的
challenging 富有挑战性的
convincing 让人信服的 disappointing 让人失望的
discouraging 让人丧气的
disturbing 烦人的 embarrassing 让人尴尬的
encouraging 让人激励的
exciting 让人开心的 frightening 让人害怕的
inspiring 让人激励的
interesting 让人有兴趣的 moving 感动人的
puzzling 让人不解的
relaxing 让人放松的 satisfying 让人认可的
shocking 骇人听闻的
surprising 让人惊讶的 tiring 让人疲劳的
worrying 让人担心的
▲除此之外,还有一种貌似的进行时态,其实仍是主系表结构。“动名词作表语”和“进行时态”,也是形似而神异。请比较:
She is looking after the children.
Her job is looking after the children.
它们太相似了,只不过主语不同,其他成分完全一样,意思却大相径庭,这是为何?
这确实是一个非常有意思的问题。Her job is looking after the children. 意为 “她的工作是照料孩子的。” 本句中,is 是系动词,looking after the children是动名词作表语。由于is是系动词,主语和表语是平等的并列关系,所以,主语和表语可以互换而意思维持不变:Looking after the children is her job. 照料孩子是她的工作。
She is looking after the children. 意为“她正在照料孩子。”本句中,is是助动词,跟动词look的目前分词构成进行时态,所以is前后两部分不可以互换。不可说:*Looking after the children is she. 又如:
His hobby is collecting stamps. 他的业余喜好是集邮。
→Collecting stamps is his hobby.
He is collecting stamps. 他正在集邮。
不可说:* Collecting stamps is he.
His ambition is working as a lawyer. 他的抱负是当律师。
→Working as a lawyer is his ambition.
He is working as a lawyer. 他正在以律师的身份工作着。
不可说:*Working as a lawyer is he.
【规律】A代表“主语”,B代表“动词-ing形式”:
“主系表结构”:A is B. 可以说:B is A. (is意为“是”)
“进行时态”:A is B. 不能说:B is A. (is doing意为“正在做”)
请不同以下例句中,前面10句是动名词作表语的例句,后面则是进行时态的例句。
His hobby is collecting stamps. 他的业余喜好是集邮。
His ambition is working as a lawyer. 他的抱负是当律师。
The only way to cure your disease is going to bed. 治疗你的病的唯一方法是上床睡觉。
Her job is keeping the offices clean. 她的工作是给办公室保洁。
Her work is teaching children music. 她的工作是教孩子音乐。
His only wish is finding a job in an office. 他唯一的愿望就是找一份办公室的工作。
The ant queen’s full-time job is laying eggs. 蚁后的专职工作是产卵。
The boy’s interest is playing games online. 这个男生的兴趣就是玩网上游戏。
My favourite sport is playing tennis. 我最喜欢的运动是打网球。
Her first delight was going to the Tower. 她第一个想做的事情是参观伦敦塔。
The scientist is doing experiments no one has so far attempted. 科学家正在作一项迄今为止没人做过的实验。
According to these figures, our company is doing well. 从这类数字来看,大家的公司经营得很好。
The teacher is reading Tom’s English paper. 老师正在审阅汤姆的英语答题。
He always makes careful notes while he is reading. 当他阅读时,他一直仔细作笔记。
The witness was telling about the whole accident. 目击者正在讲述整个事故的过程。
He is working in his photographic studio. 他正在摄影室工作。
The sculptor is working on a sculpture of Venus. 那个雕刻家正在雕一个维纳斯雕像。