want到底能不能用于进行时态

问题描述

在书上见到过说 want 是不能用于进行时态的。但是有看到这样一个句子：

I have been wanting to write to you since day one. It hurts that you cannot see this. 

老师答疑

陈老师：

▲是的，动词 want 通常不用于普通的进行时态，比如英语通常不说：

I am wanting to go with you.

He is wanting a new pair of shoes.

We are wanting you to stay.

▲但是，want 却可以用于完成进行时（现在完成进行时和过去完成进行时）。比如：

You’re the man I’ve always wanted to meet. 你是我一直想会见的人。

I’ve been wanting to have a little talk with you. 我一直想找机会跟你谈几句。

Thank you so much for the binoculars. I’ve been wanting a pair for ages. 我非常感谢你送给我望远镜。我一直想要一副。

The boy was delighted with his new knife. He had been wanting one for a long time. 男孩对新小刀很高兴。他早就想要一把了。

▲葛传椝的《英语惯用法词典》和薄冰的《高级英语语法》都认为：want 用于完成进行时具有较强的感情色彩（可以联想现在进行时有时也表示感情色彩）。如：

I have been wanting to meet you for a long time. 和你见面是我盼望已久的事。(薄冰《高级英语语法》)

I have been wanting to consult your dictionary. (葛传椝《英语惯用法词典》)

▲题外话：wanting可以用作形容词（意思是：有欠缺的），比如下面的句子是系表结构，而不是进行时态：

A certain humanity is wanting in big cities. 大城市里少了一些人情味。

They were skilled, but (they were) wanting in discipline. 他们技术熟练，但是不够遵守纪律。

黎老师：

《牛津英语用法指南》第三版（最新版）471.3节指出：

need, want 和 mean 可以使用将来时或现在完成进行时。

...... I've just been invited to Sydney. It's wonderful—I've been wanting to go to Australia for years. 我刚刚接到去悉尼的邀请。真是太好了——多年来我一直想去澳大利亚呢。