continuous

continuous — 形容詞

1. going on without a break or pause from start to finish — used for actions, event

1.形容詞B1
釋義

不斷的

持續不停、沒有中斷的

going on without a break or pause from start to finish — used for actions, events, or conditions that keep happening without stopping from one moment to the next.

例句

The factory machines made a low continuous noise that could be heard from outside.

工廠的機器發出一種低沉而不斷的噪音，在外面都聽得到。

continuous noise / continuous + noun pattern

Hassan needed continuous medical care after the accident.

Hassan 在事故後需要持續的醫療照護。

continuous medical care — typical collocation

同義詞
  • uninterrupted

    stronger emphasis on no breaks at all; slightly more formal

  • non-stop

    informal, often used for services or travel (a non-stop flight)

  • constant

    suggests something stays the same level without changing, not just without stopping

反義詞

用法筆記

Frequently modifies nouns for natural phenomena (noise, rain, flow), services (care, supply, monitoring), and abstract qualities (effort, attention, growth). For repeated events with brief interruptions, see sense 4 (RECURRING).

常見錯誤

❌The rain was continual for three hours straight.
✅The rain was continuous for three hours straight.
💡'Continuous' means without any breaks; 'continual' means happening repeatedly but with breaks.

2. relating to the verb form that uses 'be' (am, is, are, was, were) together with

2.形容詞B1
釋義

進行式的

動詞時態，表示動作正在進行

relating to the verb form that uses 'be' (am, is, are, was, were) together with a present participle (-ing form) to show that an action is, was, or will be in progress.

例句

The present continuous tense is used for actions happening right now.

現在進行式用於描述此刻正在發生的動作。

present continuous — common grammatical term

Trang is learning how to form the past continuous using 'was' or 'were' with the -ing form.

Trang 正在學習如何使用「was」或「were」搭配 -ing 來組成過去進行式。

past continuous formation: was/were + -ing

同義詞
  • progressive

    the preferred term in American grammar teaching; means the same thing

用法筆記

Also called progressive in some grammar books, especially American English materials. Stative verbs (know, believe, own, understand) typically do not appear in continuous forms unless the meaning shifts to an active state (e.g., 'I'm loving it' in advertising).

常見錯誤

❌I am understanding the question now.
✅I understand the question now.
💡'Understand' is a stative verb and is not normally used in the continuous form.
❌She is having a car.
✅She has a car.
💡'Have' indicating possession is not used in continuous tenses.

3. forming an unbroken line or surface with no gaps, spaces, or separations between

3.形容詞B2
釋義

連續的

空間上無間隙或中斷

forming an unbroken line or surface with no gaps, spaces, or separations between parts in physical space.

例句

The artist painted a continuous red line across the entire wall.

藝術家在整面牆上畫了一條連續的紅線。

continuous line — spatial sense with physical object

A continuous fence runs along the border between the two farms.

一道連續的圍欄沿著兩座農場之間的邊界延伸。

同義詞
  • unbroken

    common for physical surfaces (an unbroken stretch of beach)

  • seamless

    suggests smooth transition without visible joints; common in design and tech

反義詞
  • broken

    with visible gaps or separations

  • discontinuous

    formal term for something with breaks; used in mathematics

用法筆記

This sense differs from sense 1 (WITHOUT STOPPING) in that it describes physical extension in space (a line, a surface, a band) rather than duration in time. It is most common in descriptions of art, architecture, geography, and technical drawing.

常見錯誤

❌There was a continuous line of customers that would not go away.
✅There was a long line of customers that would not go away.
💡When referring to a queue of people, 'long' is more natural than 'continuous.'

4. happening again and again over time, with only very short pauses between each oc

4.形容詞B2
釋義

頻繁的

短暫中斷後一再發生的

happening again and again over time, with only very short pauses between each occurrence — used for repeated events that feel almost constant.

例句

Nia had continuous headaches that made it hard to focus at work.

Nia 有頻繁的頭痛，讓她很難集中精神工作。

continuous headaches — repeated events with short breaks

The teacher faced continuous questions from the curious students.

老師面對這群好奇的學生接連不斷的提問。

同義詞
  • repeated

    simpler, more neutral; does not imply the breaks are short

  • incessant

    stronger, negative tone; suggests the repeats are annoying

  • perpetual

    suggests something seems to go on forever; somewhat literary

反義詞
  • occasional

    happening from time to time, not frequently

  • sporadic

    happening irregularly, with unpredictable gaps

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 (WITHOUT STOPPING): sense 1 describes something that truly never pauses (e.g., continuous rain that falls without a break), while sense 4 describes events that stop briefly and restart frequently (e.g., continuous headaches that come and go throughout the day). In everyday use, the two senses can overlap — context determines which meaning the speaker intends.

常見錯誤

❌She has had a continuous fever for a week — it never goes away.
✅This is correct for sense 1 (no breaks). If the fever comes and goes, use 'recurring fever' or 'intermittent fever' instead.

continuous — 名詞