“in one's presence”是一个正式的英语短语,核心含义是:在某人面前;当着某人的面(强调“某人在场的状态下”,动作或事件发生时该人正在现场)。
in:表示“在...状态/情境中”;
one's:指代某人的所有格(如my/your/his/her/their等);
presence:名词,意为“在场;存在”。
整体可理解为:“在[某人]的‘在场状态’中”→ 即“当某人在场时/在某人面前”。
该短语通常作为状语(修饰动词或整个句子),说明动作发生的场合/情境——动作是在“某人在场”的情况下进行的。以下是不同语境的例子:
He didn't dare to lie in my presence.
(他不敢在我面前撒谎。)
She never uses slang in her grandmother's presence.
(她从不在奶奶面前说俚语。)
I always feel self-conscious in the boss's presence.
(在老板面前我总是感到不自在。)
The child was shy in strangers' presence.
(这孩子在陌生人面前很害羞。)
The argument broke out in the teacher's presence.
(争吵是在老师面前发生的。)
The secret was accidentally told in everyone's presence.
(秘密不小心在众人面前泄露了。)
Please don't speak loudly in the baby's presence—she's sleeping.
(请不要在宝宝面前大声说话——她在睡觉。)
Don't mention the accident in his presence—it upsets him.
(别在他面前提那场事故——会让他难过。)
1、 in one's presence vs. in front of sb.
“in front of sb.”更强调物理位置上的“在...前面”(如“站在某人面前”);
“in one's presence”更强调“某人在场的状态”(动作发生时该人在现场,不一定是“物理位置前面”)。
例:
He stood in front of me(物理位置:他站在我面前).
He didn't smoke in my presence(状态:我在场时他不抽烟,不一定站在我前面).
2、 in one's presence vs. before sb.
“before sb.”更口语化,可替换“in one's presence”,但“in one's presence”更正式(常用于书面语或严肃场合)。
例:
She apologized before me(口语)= She apologized in my presence(正式).
所有格一致:“one's”需与“在场的人”对应(如“my presence”对应“我”,“their presence”对应“他们”);
位置灵活:可放在句末(最常见)或句中,不影响句意;
正式性:适用于书面语、正式对话(如职场、法律场景),日常口语中也可用,但更常用“before sb.”或“in front of sb.”。
“in one's presence”是表达“某人在场时/在某人面前”的正式短语,核心是强调“在场状态”,而非物理位置。使用时需注意所有格的对应,且可根据语境选择正式或口语化的替换词。