| 词组 | at present, at the present time |
| 释义 | at present, at the present time Copperud 1964 and Bernstein 1965 discourage the use of these phrases in place of now. It is difficult to see why. We have no evidence that either of these phrases is likely to preempt more than its share of the language, and what virtue there is in trying to limit the number of choices a writer has in expressing an idea is unclear to us. Bernstein suggests that if the verb is in the present tense (and it is with these phrases), an indication of time may be unnecessary. Bernstein's observation may account for why we are not inundated with examples of the phrases. • This view finds favour at the present time because ... —Kathleen Raine, CE A Chap Book, 1969 • At present, in addition to his day-to-day coverage, Smith writes a column —Current Biography, December 1964 • Few of the drawings he mentions are at present known —Times Literary Supp., 6 June 1980 • The fact that these "pro-British" people are now skirmishing against the British Army, which is at present defending the "anti-British," is only superficially paradoxical —Conor Cruise O'Brien, N.Y. Rev. of Books, 6 Nov. 1969 These uses of the phrase seem harmless to us, at the very least. In the example from O'Brien at present forestalls an awkward repetition of now and is a virtue. Both phrases can also be useful in subtly emphasizing a contrast with time past or time future in a way that the less noticeable now cannot accomplish. You should feel free to use them when they sound right. See also presently. |
| 随便看 |
|
英语用法大全包含2888条英语用法指南，基本涵盖了全部常用英文词汇及语法点的翻译及用法，是英语学习的有利工具。