英语短语"be on the point of"的核心含义是“正要做某事;即将(做某事);处于……的边缘/临界点”,强调动作或状态即将发生的瞬间性(即“差一点就发生”“马上就要做”)。
结构:be on the point of + doing sth(后接动名词,不能接不定式)
be动词随主语和时态变化(am/is/are/was/were)
1、 强调“即将发生的临界点”:
突出动作处于“马上要开始”的状态,常与表示“中断”的场景连用(如突然被打扰、出现意外)。
例:
I was on the point of leaving the office when my boss called me.
我正要离开办公室时,老板叫住了我。
She is on the point of graduating from university.
她即将大学毕业。
2、 可与when引导的从句搭配:
常用结构:主语 + be on the point of doing sth + when + 从句(“正要做某事,这时……”),强调“即将发生的动作被突然打断”。
例:
They were on the point of giving up the project when they received funding.
他们正要放弃这个项目时,得到了资金支持。
3、 时态变化:
现在时(am/is/are):表示当前即将发生的动作;
例:He is on the point of making an important announcement. 他即将发表重要声明。
过去时(was/were):表示过去某个时刻即将发生的动作;
例:We were on the point of boarding the plane when it started to rain heavily. 我们正要登机时,突然下起了大雨。
be about to do:也表示“即将做某事”,但更侧重“计划中即将发生”,语气较平淡;
be on the point of doing:更强调“动作处于临界点”“差一点就发生”,语气更紧迫。
"be on the point of doing sth" 是表达“即将做某事”的高频短语,核心是“瞬间的临界点”,常用来描述“即将发生却被打断”的场景,后接动名词,需注意be动词的时态变化。
例子 recap:The team is on the point of winning the game. 球队即将赢得比赛。
I was on the point of calling you when you texted me. 我正要给你打电话,你就发消息来了。