终止性动词也称非延续性动词，它所表示的动作一经发生立即完结，不再延续。常见的这类动词有：come, go, leave, open, begin, start, finish, stop等。
在使用终止性动词时，应注意以下四点：
一、终止性动词不用于进行时态，若是进行时态形式应译成将来时态的意思。如：
The spacecraft is returning to the earth. 宇宙飞船就要返回地面了。
I'm leaving for Lanzhou.我要出发去兰州。
二、 终止性动词不能与how long引导的疑问句连用。如：
不能说：How long have you left school?
应该说：How long is it since you left school?
或者说：How long ago did you leave school?
三、终止性动词不能与for引导的表示一段的时间状语连用。如：
不能说：He has bought the computer for two months.
应当说：He has had the computer for two months.
或者说：He bought the computer two months ago.
也可说：It is two months since he bought the computer.
还可说：Two months have passed since he bought the computer.
但有些终止性动词的否定形式可与表时间段的状语连用。如：
I haven't heard from him for six months.
He hasn't come here for a week.
四、 终止性动词与until引导的时间状语（或从句）连用时，只能用否定形式，不能用肯定形式。如：
I didn't know until yesterday.直到昨天我才知道这件事。
He didn't return until midnight.他直到午夜才回来。
Don't get off the bus
until it has stopped.等到汽车停妥后再下车。