文法淺釋系列 (75)

文法淺釋系列 (75)

文法(grammar)與句型(sentence patterns)

五、時態 (Tense  & Aspect)：

3) From then on he became a well-mannered boy.  (從那時起他變成一位彬彬有禮的男孩)。

1.     from then on 打從那時起， 狀態未持續至今， 應用過去式。若單獨用then(當時)= at that time (moment) 亦用過去式

* Comp.: since then = from that time on until now (迄今) 則應用現在完成式

 (present perfect) 例：

Since then Jane has been punctual. 從那時以後至今，Jane 一直守時。

2. become 動詞變化為 became become; / overcome overcame overcome (克服)

但， welcome  welcomed   welcomed

3. well- n. + ed = adj. 

a well-mannered boy 有禮貌的男孩；a well-tailored suit 一套合身的訂制西服，但，*a custom-built house  訂造的房子(* a tract home成屋) a well-behaved boy    一位舉止端正的男孩

4) The day before yesterday we had visited the Smiths. (前天我們看過 史密斯家人)。

 the day before yesterday 指前天， 故用過去完成式 (past perfect) 。注意：純表示特定的過去式，僅可用過去式：

*Comp: By yesterday we visited (or had visited) the Smiths到了昨晚我們看過了史密斯家人。

By = no later than 不晚於； by + 過去時間副詞 (或片語)，可與過去式

或過去完成式連用。

l  Yesterday morning she paid a visit to her aunt. 昨晨她去看姑媽。

5) During the past decade, the population of this city has increased. (has been increasing) (過去十年來，本市人口一直增加著)。     

                                                                                                            

1. 某種發生於過去時間之動作，若其狀態一直持續到現在時間，須用現在完成式，或現在完成進行式 (present perfect progressive) 表示動作不但完成，且仍繼續進行中。

2. 與此時式連用之常見片語如：

A. for (in, during) the past (last) + 一段時間   「最近多少時間以來」

a. In the last two weeks he has been idling away his time. 最近兩周來他一直虛度光陰。

b. During the last century, there have been many wars. 從上世紀以來，一直有多次戰爭。

c. In the past ten years, new model releases have increased by a third. 過去十年來新款式的發表，增加了三分之一倍。

                        

 若僅 in the past (=formerly= previously 從前) ， 則須用簡單過去式。

In the past, the publication’s focus was singularly technology. 從前這本出版物的焦點奇怪地皆是科技。

* 注意：《今天許多講美語人士喜歡用現在完成式 在in the past片語中。》

         

B. these + 一段時間： (最近多少時間以來)

They have been waiting for a chance these days. 最近幾天以來他們一直在等機會。但，

In those days  (=at that time)  (在那個時代) 則須用過去式                     

They did not have paper money in those days. 在那個時代沒有紙幣。

Justin Lai編

05/12/2014