But not murder! !

原文

I was being tested for a driving licence for the third time. I had been asked to drive in heavy traffic and had done so successfully. \t

After having been instructed to drive out of town, I began to acquire confidence. Sure that I had passed, I was almost beginning to enjoy my test.

The examiner must have been pleased with my performance, for he smiled and said. 'Just one more thing, Mr.Eames. Let us suppose that a child suddenly crosses the road in front of you. As soon as I tap on the window, you must stop within five feet.'

I continued driving and after some time, the examiner tapped loudly, Though the sound could be heard clearly, it took me a long time to react. I suddenly pressed the brake pedal and we were both thrown forward.

The examiner looked at me sadly. 'Mr.Eames,' he said, in a mournful voice, 'you have just killed that child!'

译文

我正在第三次参加驾照考试。我被要求在车流量大的地方开车,而且已经成功地做到了。

在被指示开车出城后,我开始获得了信心。确信自己已经及格,我几乎开始享受起这次考试了。

考官一定对我的表现感到满意,因为他微笑着说:“再有一件事,Eames先生。假设有个孩子突然在你面前横穿马路,我一敲窗子,你就必须在五英尺以内停下来。”

我继续开车,开了一会儿,考官重重地敲了一下。尽管声音听得清清楚楚,我却过了好一会儿才反应过来。我突然踩下刹车踏板,我们俩都向前冲去。

考官悲伤地看着我。“Eames先生,”他用哀伤的语气说,“你刚才把那个孩子撞死了!”

词汇表

licence

名词
英:/ˈlaɪs(ə)ns/
美:/ˈlaɪsəns/
定义
1. 执照 - An official document or permit that allows someone to do something, such as drive a vehicle.

例子: You need a driving licence to operate a car legally.

例子: He finally obtained his fishing licence after passing the test.

2. 许可证 - Formal permission or authorization for an activity.

例子: The restaurant has a licence to serve alcohol.

例子: She applied for a business licence to start her shop.

近义词
permit: 更通用,指任何形式的官方允许,与 'licence' 类似,但常用于临时或具体活动,如停车许可。
certificate: 强调证明文件,常用于教育或资格证明,而 'licence' 更侧重于官方授权,如驾照。
authorization: 更正式且抽象,指授予的权力,不一定涉及物理文件,与 'licence' 相比更适用于行政或法律语境。
反义词:
prohibition, ban, restriction
用法
常用于正式语境中描述官方文件或权限,尤其在法律、交通或商业领域。在英国英语中,作名词时拼作 'licence',而美国英语中为 'license';常见搭配如 'driving licence' 或 'licence to operate'。
形式:
复数: licences

关键句型 "I had been asked to [verb]..."

定义

此句型是过去完成时的被动语态结构,用于描述在过去某个时间点之前已经发生的动作,并强调动作是被动的。基本结构为:主语 + had been + 过去分词 + to + 动词原形。根据《剑桥英语语法手册》,这是一种结合过去完成时和被动语态的表达,常用于叙述过去事件的先后顺序和被动关系。例如,在文章中,“I had been asked to drive in heavy traffic” 表示在叙述的过去时刻之前,有人已经要求我开车,但动作是被动的。

这种句型帮助学习者表达复杂的时间关系,同时突出动作的接受者。

用法

此句型主要用于故事叙述、回忆或报告中,强调一个过去动作发生在另一个过去动作之前,且该动作是被动的。规则:在过去完成时(had + 过去分词)的被动形式中添加 to + 动词原形,表示意图或安排。

在语法体系中,它属于时态和语态的交叉点,与主动语态的过去完成时(如 "I had asked")形成对比。横向比较:与简单过去时被动语态(如 "I was asked")相比,此句型更强调动作的完成和先后顺序;与现在完成时被动语态(如 "I have been asked")相比,它专注于过去的时间框架。另外,与条件句中的虚拟语气(如 "If I had been asked")相关联,学生可以扩展学习如何在假设情景中使用。

跨语法联系:它常与时间状语(如 "after"、"before")结合,帮助构建复杂叙述。学生应注意与其他时态的区别,例如与过去进行时的被动语态(如 "I was being tested")的联系,后者强调当时正在发生的动作。

注意事项

学生容易犯的错误包括混淆主动和被动语态,导致说成 "I had asked to drive"(这是主动语态);或错误使用时态,如说 "I was been asked" 而非 "I had been asked"。纠正建议:记住 had been + 过去分词 的固定结构,并练习在上下文中使用。另一个常见问题是用错不定式形式,如 "I had been asked driving" 应为 "I had been asked to drive"。

错误示例:I had asked to drive in traffic.  (主动语态,改变了原意)
正确示例:I had been asked to drive in traffic and had done so successfully.

此外,学生可能忽略时态的逻辑顺序,在叙述中跳跃。建议通过阅读故事练习保持时间线清晰。

练习

原创例子:假设你在分享个人经历,说:“Before the interview, I had been asked to prepare a presentation.” 学生可以替换 [verb] 为其他动作,如 “to write a report”,并改编句子为自己的故事,例如:“By the time I arrived, I had been asked to bring extra documents.”

这种替换练习能让学生在日常叙述中应用句型,增强对过去事件顺序的把握。

额外内容

背景知识:过去完成时的被动语态起源于英语中对时间和语态的精细表达,常见于文学和正式写作中。对比分析:与中文的表达(如 “我已经被要求去做…”)类似,但英语更依赖语法结构而非词汇。在其他语言如法语中,类似结构(如 “j'avais été demandé”)也存在,但英语的时态系统更灵活。学习此句型能帮助学生理解英语叙述的深度,同时为高级写作(如报告或小说)奠定基础。

关键句型 "As soon as [clause], [clause]"

定义

此句型用于表示两个动作的紧密时间顺序,即一个动作刚发生,另一个动作立即跟随。结构为:As soon as + 从句(主句)。根据《牛津现代英语语法》,它是一种时间状语从句,强调事件的即时性,常用于描述快速反应或条件触发的情景。例如,文章中的 "As soon as I tap on the window, you must stop within five feet" 表示敲窗的瞬间必须刹车。

这种句型在英语中很常见,帮助学习者表达因果或顺序关系。

用法

此句型主要用于叙述、指令或预测中,突出事件的紧凑性。规则:As soon as 引导从句,通常用一般时态,而主句可以是各种时态(如将来时、过去时)。

在语法体系中,它属于从句结构,与其他时间状语从句(如 "when"、"after")相关。横向比较:与 "When [clause], [clause]" 相比,As soon as 更强调立即性,而 "When" 可能表示一般或稍后发生;与 "If [clause], [clause]" 相比,它关注时间而非条件。跨语法联系:学生可以将其与情态动词结合(如文章中的 "you must stop"),或扩展到其他从句如 "as long as"(只要),以构建更复杂的句子。

这种比较有助于学生分辨不同从句的细微差别,增强语法灵活性。

注意事项

学生常犯的错误是时态不一致,例如在从句中使用将来时(如 "As soon as I will tap" 应为 "As soon as I tap");或将主句和从句顺序颠倒,导致句子不自然。纠正建议:始终用一般时态引导 As soon as 从句,并确保主句逻辑上跟随。另一个问题是忽略逗号使用,在复杂句中可能引起歧义。

错误示例:As soon as I will hear the bell, I stop running.  (时态错误)
正确示例:As soon as I hear the bell, I must stop running.

练习时,注意语调以突出 urgency。

练习

原创例子:在安全培训中,你可以说:“As soon as the alarm rings, everyone must evacuate the building.” 学生可以替换 [clause] 为个人场景,如 “As soon as the phone rings, I will answer it immediately.” 并尝试改编为过去时:“As soon as the teacher called my name, I stood up.”

通过这种替换,学生能将句型应用到日常生活,提升反应描述的能力。

额外内容

背景知识:As soon as 源自英语中对时间精确表达的传统,常用于紧急或指令语境,如交通规则或故事叙述。对比分析:与西班牙语的 "tan pronto como" 类似,英语版本更简洁。在中文中,类似 "一…就…",但英语强调结构一致性。了解此句型能丰富学生的叙述技巧,并帮助他们在跨文化交流中准确传达 urgency。