该短语的本义指“在那个特定的时间点”,强调时间的精确性和唯一性。它常用来指过去某一具体时刻,如“At that moment, the phone rang.”(就在那时,电话响了。)引申义可指“在那种情况下”或“在那种关头”,带有转折或戏剧性,如“At that moment, I realized my mistake.”(在那一刻,我意识到自己的错误。)也可用于未来,表示“到那时”,如“At that moment, you will understand.”(到那时你就会明白。)
该短语作为时间状语,常置于句首或句末。若置于句首,后用逗号与主句隔开,如“At that moment, she smiled.”;置于句末则无需逗号,如“She smiled at that moment.”。它常与过去时(一般过去时、过去进行时)连用,也可用于将来时。易错点:不要与“at the moment”混淆,后者指“此刻、现在”,用于现在时;也不要与“in that moment”混淆,后者更强调内心感受或短暂状态,而“at that moment”更强调时间点。
近义比较
“at that moment”强调一个具体的时间点,常用于叙述过去事件;“at that time”则指较长的时期,如“At that time, I lived in London.”(那时我住在伦敦)。与“then”相比,“then”更口语化,且含义更宽泛(可表“然后”);“just then”强调“恰好在那时”,带有即时性;“at that instant”更正式,用于科学或文学描述,强调极短瞬间。选择时,若强调时间点用“at that moment”;若时间段用“at that time”;若强调巧合用“just then”。
常见误区
该短语为中性表达,无褒贬色彩,适用于正式与非正式场合。但需注意,在口语中过度使用可能显得刻意,建议根据语境转换表达。常见误用包括:误用为“in that moment”表达时间点(后者更强调内心状态);与“at the moment”混淆,导致时态错误;在正式写作中,若需更精确,可使用“at that precise moment”或“at that very moment”加强语气。
常见搭配
at that very moment
就在那一刹那
at that moment in time
在那个时候
at that precise moment
就在那个精确的时刻
from that moment on
从那时起
at that moment of crisis
在危机时刻
at that moment of truth
在关键时刻
at that moment in history
在历史的那个时刻
句子示例
At that moment, the fire alarm went off.
就在那一刻,火警响了。
She was about to leave, but at that moment the phone rang.
她正要离开,但就在那时电话响了。
At that moment, I knew everything would be fine.
在那一刻,我知道一切都会好起来的。
The two leaders shook hands, and at that moment the crowd cheered.
两位领导人握了手,就在那一刻,人群欢呼起来。
If you hesitate at that moment, you will miss the opportunity.
如果你在那一刻犹豫,你就会错过机会。
He didn't realize the danger until at that moment when the bridge collapsed.