在使用英语动词时，要注意区别延时性动词和终止性动词以及这两类动词的不同的习惯用法。
中文也有延时性动词和终止性动词的概念，只是在使用时，不像英语，会造成理解上的问题。
不注意英语的这个习惯用法，就会在中英对译时出错：
例（1）
——你迟到了。火车已经开走了半个小时。
误译：You are late. The train has left for half an hour.
正译：You are late. The train has been away for half an hour.
正译：You are late. The train left half an hour ago.
例（2）
——He has written two books since he was ill.
误译：他自生病以来，已经写了两本书了。
正译：他病好后，已经写了两本书了。
1. 延续性动词要点
（1）延续性动词表示能够延续的动词作
如：learn, work, stand, lie, know, walk, keep, have, wait, watch, sing, read, sleep, live, stay等。
（2）延续性动词可以与表示时间段的状语连用。
如：for 2 years / since引导的从句 / since last year / since 5 days ago / how long / for a long time等。
例句:
——He has lived here for 6 years.
——You can keep the book for 5 days.
——I stayed there for 2 weeks last year
——How long did you stay there last year?
2. 非延续性动词要点
（1） 非延续性动词也称终止性动词、瞬间动词, 表示不能延续的动作, 这种动作发生后立即结束。如:
open, die, close, begin, finish, come, go, move, borrow, lend, buy, find等。
（2） 非延续性动词在肯定句中与表示具体时间点的状语连用，如：two years ago; at 5 o'clock
例:
——He died 5 years ago.
（3） 非延续动词不能和表示时间段的状语连用：
例：He has come here for two hours. (错句)
注意：
终止性动词的否定形式可以与表示时间段的时间状语连用。例:
——I haven't left here for 3 years.
——I haven't heard from him for 3 weeks.
3. 延时性动词和终止性动词在until引导的状语从句中的用法：
(1) 主句谓语动词是瞬时动词时，主句用否定句：
例：
——I didn’t realize the importance of English until I worked for a trade company.
(2) 主句谓语动词是延时动词时，主句用肯定句：
例：
——I will be free until 4 pm.
4. 延时性动词和终止性动词在since引导的状语从句中的用法：
（1）连词since引导的复合句,如果从句后的谓语动词为延续性动词,那么谓语动词表示的时间从该动作完成或结束算起; 虽然句子形式上是肯定句，但翻译时，意思否定。
例：
——That was really a splendid evening. It’s years since I enjoyed myself so much. (我已多年没有玩得如此开心。)
——It has been a long time since I studied English. (我不学英语已经好久了。)
——He has written two books since he was ill. (他不生病后—-即他病好后已经写了两本书了。)
（2）如果从句后的谓语动词为非延续性动词,那么谓语动词表示的时间从该动作发生后算起。
例：
——It’s two years since he left his hometown. （他离开家乡已经两年了。 ）
——It has been a long time since I saw you last. (上次见你后已经过了好久)
练习：
When he arrived at the bus stop, the bus ________ for 20 minutes.
A. has left B. had left C. has been away D. had been away
I ______ the League for 5 years so far.
A. joined B. have joined C. have been in
The factory ________ since the February of 1988.
A . has been open B. has opened C. was open D. opened
Mary and Rose _______friends since they met in 2000.
A. have made B. have been C. made D. have become
You mustn't ________ until he comes back.
A. be away B. leave C. be left
The meeting _______ for a week now.
A. has finished B. has ended C. has been over
Miss Gao ______ this school for nearly 5 years.
A. has been in B. has come to C. has taught
Ben ______ a teacher for 4 years .
A. has been B. has become C. was D. became
I ______ home for a week.
A. have returned B. have been back C. returned
How long _______ he ________ ?
A. died B. has, died C. has, been dead
He ______ at eight yesterday afternoon.
A. slept B. was sleeping C. has sleep D. had slept
He ________ the car for a week.
A. bought B. has bought C. has had
—–How long _____ you _____ ill ? —–Two weeks.
A. did fall B. have, fell C. have, been
Since 2000, he _____ his hometown.
A. has left B. has moved away C. has been away from
I'll lend you the book , but you can only _____ it for 2 days.
A. borrow B. keep C. take
The bus ______ on the road for 2 hours so far.
A. has stopped B. stopped C. has been
Are you _____ the jacket these days?
A. wearing B. putting on C. dressing D. on
He ________ for 2 hours.
A. got up B. has got up C. has been up
Tom is ill in hospital. He _______ a cold for several days.
A. is B. catches C. has caught D. has had
—– How long can I ______ the book? —— Two weeks.
A. borrow B. lend C. get D. keep
Key:
1—5 D C A B B;
6—10 C A AB C;
11—15 B C C C B;
16—20 C A C D D