Lesson 16 Mary had a little lamb(from New Concept English 3)部分语法解析

1. One of Mary's prize possessions was a little white lamb.

her husband的give动作发生在小羔羊变成Mary最珍贵的东西之一之前, 且主句用了一般过去时, 所以定语从句的谓语动词用过去完成时态.

2. One evening, however, the lamb was missing.

这里强调小羔羊是在一天晚上的某个事件中丢失的, 所以用到了过去进行时.

3. He knew it would not prove difficult in such a small village.

主句的谓语动词时态为一般过去时, 后面宾语从句的时态受主句影响, 所以用would而不是will.

4. The rope had been cut, so it was obvious that the lamb had been stolen.

the lamb had been stolen这里用到了过去完成时, 是因为这样: 作者评论很显然绵羊已被偷走时(it was obvious), 绵羊在此之前已经被偷走了, 即相对于作者发出it was obvious的评论前, 绵羊就已经被偷了, 所以用过去完成时修饰绵羊被偷走(the lamb had been stolen).

5. (When he went outside half an hour later, he was astonished to find that the little white lamb was almost white. )Its wool, which had been dyed black, had been washed clean by the rain.

he was astonished和the little white lamb was almost white这两个动作几乎是同时发生的, 所以这几乎是同一个过去时间节点. 而which(Its wool) had been dyed black和(Its wool)had been washed clean by the rain这两处的动作发生在过去时间节点之前, 所以都用到了过去完成时.

6. Dimitri found out that his neighbour, Aleko, had suddenly acquired a new lamb.

Aleko的acquire a new lamb这个动作发生在Dimirti的found out动作之前, 所以用过去完成时修饰Aleko的acquire动作.

7. Ashamed of having acted so rashly, Dimitri apologized to Aleko for having accused him.

在前面的状语中, 过去分词ashamed表伴随; 对与act这个动作来说, 它发生在Dimitri道歉之前: 所以有ashamed of having acted so rashly. 在后面的主句，Dimitri道歉是过去时态，for后面发生的事情在道歉之前，所以用having accused.

后续我将会逐步说明完成时态出现的场合.

8. He told him that he had better return it, or he would call the police.

虽然主句的谓语动词时态为一般过去时, 但宾语从句中的had为情态动词, 故其不会变化(依旧是had)