英语短语 "at the time of" 的核心含义是“在……的时候;在……之际”,用于强调某个具体事件、时间点或状态发生的“同步时刻”,突出两个事件的时间关联性。
强调“在某个特定事件/时间点发生的同时”,相当于“when [something happened]”或“during the period of [something]”。
"at the time of" 是介词短语,后面必须接名词、代词或名词性短语(不能接从句),构成“at the time of + 名词”结构,在句中作时间状语。
1、 接“具体事件”(如事故、灾难、仪式等)
强调“事件发生的那一刻/期间”。
At the time of the earthquake, most people were asleep.(地震发生时,大多数人在睡觉。)
She was not at home at the time of the delivery(快递送达时她不在家。)
2、 接“人生阶段/状态”(如出生、退休、生病等)
指“某人处于某一人生节点时”。
At the time of his birth, his father was working abroad.(他出生时,父亲在国外工作。)
At the time of her retirement, she received a gold watch as a gift.(她退休时,收到了一块金表作为礼物。)
3、 接“抽象概念”(如危机、战争、写作等)
强调“在某一抽象状态持续的期间”。
Countries often cooperate at the time of a global crisis.(全球危机时,各国通常会合作。)
At the time of writing, the situation is still developing.(撰写本文时,形势仍在发展。)
4、 接“时间点/时间段”(如会议、节日等)
指“在某个具体时间点或时间段内”。
At the time of the meeting, all members were present.(会议进行时,所有成员都在场。)
We usually visit grandparents at the time of the Spring Festival.(我们通常在春节期间看望祖父母。)
vs. "at the time":"at the time" 是副词短语,后面不接宾语,单独作状语,指“当时;那时候”(指代前文提到的时间)。
例:I didn’t realize the importance of it at the time.(当时我没意识到它的重要性。)
不能接从句:若要表达“当……的时候”且后面接句子,需用 "when" 或 "while",而非 "at the time of"。
❌ 错误:At the time of when he arrived, I was cooking.
✅ 正确:When he arrived, I was cooking. / At the time of his arrival, I was cooking.
at the time of crisis(在危机时刻)
at the time of war(在战争时期)
at the time of death(在去世时)
at the time of publication(在出版时)
综上,"at the time of" 是一个连接具体时间点/事件与同步动作的介词短语,核心是“在……的那个时刻/期间”,需后接名词性成分,避免接从句。