“there and then”是一个副词短语,核心含义是“当场;立即;当时当地”,强调动作、决定或事件在某个特定的时间和地点即时发生,没有延迟。
用来描述某件事在“那个地方(there)”和“那个时间(then)”立刻执行,不拖到之后或其他地方。
通常作状语,修饰动词或整个句子,可放在句末、句中(较少)。
1、 表示“当场行动”:
When I spilled coffee on his shirt, I apologized there and then.
(我把咖啡洒在他衬衫上时,当场就道歉了。)
The shopkeeper gave me a refund there and then when I complained about the broken item.
(我抱怨商品破损时,店主当场就给我退了款。)
2、 表示“当场决定”:
She liked the apartment so much that she decided there and then to rent it.
(她非常喜欢这套公寓,当场就决定租下来。)
The team leader made the decision there and then to change the project plan.
(团队 leader 当场就决定修改项目计划。)
3、 口语中强调“即时性”:
If you have a problem with me, tell me there and then—don’t wait until later.
(如果你对我有意见,当场就说——别等之后。)
“then and there”与“there and then”完全同义,只是词序不同,用法一致(更常见于美式英语):
He quit his job then and there after the argument with his boss.
(和老板吵架后,他当场就辞职了。)
“there and then”突出“此时此地、立刻执行”的语境,适用于描述没有犹豫或延迟的行动/决定。记住它的核心是“当场即时”,结合例句就能快速掌握~