两者均可表明“持续”,有时可交换。如:
The rain went on [contiuned] for three days. 雨接连下了 3 天。
This state of things cannot continue [go on] forever. 这种情况不能持续下去了。
两者差异如下:
1. go on 属一般用词,而 continue 则较正式。如:
Go on, please. 请说下去。
Now, the news continues in standard English. 现在用一般英语持续陈述新闻。
2. continue 后可直接跟名词作宾语,而 go on 后需凭借介词再接名词作宾语。如:
He continued [went on with] the story. 他持续讲故事。比较:
The baby contiuned to cry [crying] all night. 婴儿哭了一夜。
You can’t go on working all night without a rest. 你不能通宵工作而不歇息。(无中止)
She nodded, smiled, and went on stitching. 她点了允许,笑了笑,又持续缝衣服。(中止后再持续)
Go on to do the other exerciese after you have finished this one. 你做完这个练习后,请接着做其他的练习。
注:按传统语法,continue doing sth 只能表明不停地做某事,不能表明中止后持续做某事,但现代英语好像已不彻底遵从此规矩。如 1995 年出书的《朗文今世英语辞典》就有这样一句:
They contiuned talking after the meal. 吃了饭后他们又持续谈。如:
The weather continued fine. 气候一向很好。
The boat continued east. 船持续向东飞行。