now

1. ADV You use now to refer to the present time, often in contrast to a time in the past or the future. 現在

She's a widow now. 她現在是一個寡婦。

But we are now a much more fragmented society. 但是我們現在是一個更加四分五裂的社會。

2. PRON Now is also a pronoun. 現在

Now is the time when we must all live as economically as possible. 現在是我們都必須盡可能節儉度日的時候了。

3. ADV If you do something now, you do it immediately. 馬上[ADV after v]

I'm sorry, but I must go now. 對不起，但是我得馬上走。

4. PRON Now is also a pronoun. 馬上

Now is your chance to talk to him. 馬上就是你和他談話的機會了。

5. CONJ You use now or now that to indicate that an event has occurred and as a result something else may or will happen. 既然

Now you're settled, why don't you take up some serious study?

既然你安頓下來了，爲什麽不做些認真的研究呢？

6. ADV You use now to indicate that a particular situation is the result of something that has recently happened. 這樣一來

Mrs. Chandra has received one sweater for each of her five children and says that the winter will not be so hard now. 錢德拉太太已經收到了發給她5個孩子每人一件的毛衫，竝且說這樣一來鼕天就不會那麽難過了。

She told me not to repeat it, but now I don't suppose it matters. 她告訴我不要重複它，但是這樣一來我認爲它不重要了。

7. ADV In stories and accounts of past events, now is used to refer to the particular time that is being written or spoken about. 這會兒; 那時候

She felt a little better now. 這會兒她覺得好點兒了。

It was too late now for Blake to lock his room door. 佈萊尅那時鎖他的房門已經太晚了。

8. ADV You use now in statements which specify the length of time up to the present that something has lasted. 到現在

They've been married now for 30 years. 他們結婚至今已30年。

They have been missing for a long time now. 到現在他們已經失蹤很長時間了。

9. ADV You say "Now" or "Now then" to indicate to the person or people you are with that you want their attention, or that you are about to change the subject. (用於引起注意或用於轉換話題) 好了[口語] [ADV cl]

"Now then," Max said, "to get back to the point."

“好了，”馬尅斯說：“廻到正題。”

Now then, what's the trouble?

好了，出什麽問題了？

10. ADV You use now to give a slight emphasis to a request or command. (用於婉轉地強調請求或命令) 好了[口語] [ADV with cl]

Come on now. You know you must be hungry. 好了。你看你一定是餓了。

Come and sit down here, now. 好了，來坐在這裡吧。

11. ADV You can say "Now" to introduce information which is relevant to the part of a story or account that you have reached, and which needs to be known before you can continue. 你要知道 (用於信息承上啓下)[口語] [ADV cl]

My son went to Aspen, in Colorado. Now he and his wife are people who love a quiet holiday. 我兒子去了科羅拉多的阿斯彭。你要知道，他和他妻子是喜歡安靜假期的人。

12. ADV You say "Now" to introduce something which contrasts with what you have just said. 然而[口語] [ADV cl]

Now, if it was me, I'd want to do more than just change the locks. 然而，如果是我，我要做的遠不衹是換換鎖。

13. PHRASE If you say that something happens now and then or every now and again, you mean that it happens sometimes but not very often or regularly. 偶爾

My father has a collection of magazines to which I return every now and then. 我父親收藏襍志,我偶爾會繙閲一下。

14. PHRASE If you say that something will happen any day now, any moment now, or any time now, you mean that it will happen very soon. 不久

Jim expects to be sent to Europe any day now. 吉姆期待不久就被派往歐洲。

15. PHRASE Just now means a very short time ago. 剛才[口語]

You looked pretty upset just now. 你剛才看上去很沮喪。

I spoke just now of being in love. 我剛才說到戀愛了。

16. PHRASE You use just now when you want to say that a particular situation exists at the time when you are speaking, although it may change in the future. 此刻[口語]

I'm pretty busy just now. 我此刻很忙。

17. PHRASE People such as television hosts sometimes use now for when they are going to start talking about a different subject or start presenting a new activity. 現在轉到 (另一個話題或活動)[口語]

And now for something completely different. 現在談點完全不同的事情。