“time after time”是一个常用的英语副词短语,核心含义是“多次;反复;一次又一次;再三”,强调动作或事件的重复性,相当于“again and again”“repeatedly”或“over and over again”。
表示某件事发生了多次、反复出现,突出“频率高、重复发生”的特点。
作为副词短语,它主要用来修饰动词、形容词或整个句子,在句中作状语,位置比较灵活(可置于句首、句中或句尾)。
句首:Time after time, he missed the bus and was late for work.(他一次又一次错过公交车,上班迟到。)
句中:She has asked him time after time to clean his room, but he never listens.(她再三让他打扫房间,但他从不听。)
句尾:I’ve warned you not to touch that machine time after time.(我一再警告你不要碰那台机器。)
修饰整个事件:The team lost time after time, but they kept practicing hard.(这支队伍多次输球,但仍坚持刻苦训练。)
time and time again:与“time after time”几乎完全同义,更口语化(如:I’ve told you time and time again to be quiet. 我反复告诉你要安静。)
again and again:更简洁的表达(如:He made the same mistake again and again. 他一再犯同样的错误。)
总结:“time after time”是强调“重复次数多”的高频短语,适用于描述反复发生的动作或事件,用法灵活,口语和书面语都常见。