为前面的事件提供背景
I was doing some exercises on the high-and-low bars. When I landed, I fell forward and hurt myself. Someone was standing too close and I knocked into him and fell over onto my shoulder.
请分析后一个过去进行时 was standing 的用法。
过去进行时常常为后面的事件或故事提供背景,这一点我们在 past continuous tense 中已经讲过了。但是,我们应进一步了解,过去进行时也可以为前面事件或故事提供背景或时间跨度。在你所提问的句子里,Someone was standing too close ... 是为前面的事件 I fell forward and hurt myself. 提供背景的。下面是类似的句子:
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I'm sorry I didn't hear what you said. I was looking at the picture. 对不起,我没有听见你说什么。刚才我看那张画来着。
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——Hey, look where you are going! ——Oh, I'm terribly sorry. I wasn't noticing. (全国高考,99-24) ——喂,你往哪里走呀! ——噢,实在对不起。我没注意。
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I don't think Jim saw me; he was just staring into space. (同上,95-39) 我想吉姆没有看到我；他当时正在凝视着天空。
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“Be careful! Don't throw your cigarette out of the window. If you do that, you may start a fire. Put it out in the ashtray.” “Sorry. I wasn't thinking.” “当心！不要把烟头扔出窗外，如果扔出去，会引起火灾的。把它熄灭在烟灰缸里。”“对不起，我没想到。”