After the elections

原文

The former Prime Minister, Mr. Wentworth Lane, was defeated in the recent elections. He is now retiring from political life and has gone abroad.

My friend, Patrick, has always been a fanatical opponent of Mr. Lane's Radical Progressive Party. After the elections, Patrick went to the former Prime Minister's house. When he asked if Mr. Lane lived there, the policeman on duty told him that since his defeat, the ex-Prime Minister had gone abroad.

On the following day, Patrick went to the house again. The same policeman was just walking slowly past the entrance, when Patrick asked the same question. Though a little suspicious this time, the policeman gave him the same answer.

The day after, Patrick went to the house once more and asked exactly the same question. This time, the policeman lost his temper. 'I told you yesterday and the day before yesterday,' he shouted, 'Mr. Lane was defeated in the elections. He has retired from political life and gone to live abroad!"

I know,' answered Patrick, 'but I love to hear you say it!'

译文

前首相温特沃思·莱恩先生在最近的选举中失败了。他现在正从政界退休,并已去了国外。

我的朋友帕特里克一直是莱恩先生的激进进步党的狂热反对者。选举后,帕特里克去了这位前首相的家。当他问莱恩先生是否住在那儿时,值班的警察告诉他,自从失败后,这位前首相已经去了国外。

第二天,帕特里克又去了那所房子。那个警察正好慢慢地从入口走过,这时帕特里克问了同样的问题。虽然这次有点怀疑,警察还是给了他同样的答案。

后天,帕特里克又一次去了那所房子,并问了完全相同的问题。这一次,警察发火了。“我昨天和前天都告诉过你,”他喊道,“莱恩先生在选举中失败了。他已从政界退休,去了国外生活!”

“我知道,”帕特里克回答说,“但我喜欢听你说!”

词汇表

defeated

动词, 形容词
英:/dɪˈfiːtɪd/
美:/dɪˈfiːtɪd/
定义
1. 被击败 - To be beaten in a competition, election, or conflict.

例子: The team was defeated in the final match.

例子: She defeated her opponent in the debate.

2. 失败的 - Having lost a battle or contest.

例子: The defeated army retreated quickly.

例子: He felt defeated after losing the election.

近义词
beaten: 强调被击倒或超越,常用于体育语境,而 'defeated' 更正式,适用于广泛领域。
overcome: 暗示被征服或克服障碍,侧重于心理或情感层面,而 'defeated' 更直接指向外部竞争。
vanquished: 更正式且文学化,常用于历史或故事中,强调彻底的失败,而 'defeated' 更中性。
反义词:
victorious, winning, successful
用法
常用于政治、体育或军事语境中,描述失败状态;可与介词如 'in' 搭配,如 'defeated in elections';在英语中,文化上常与个人成就或挫折相关。
形式:
复数形式(作为名词): defeats, 过去式: defeated, 现在分词: defeating

关键句型 "Subject + had + past participle"

定义

此句型是过去完成时的基本结构,用于描述在过去某个时间点之前已经发生的动作。结构为:Subject(主语) + had(助动词) + past participle(过去分词)。例如,文章中的 "the ex-Prime Minister had gone abroad"。根据《剑桥英语语法手册》,这是一种表示过去事件的先后顺序的句型,帮助建立时间线,确保叙述清晰明了。

它常用于故事或叙述中,强调一个动作发生在另一个过去动作之前。

用法

此句型主要用于叙述过去事件的顺序,常见于故事、回忆或报告中。规则:在过去时主句中,使用 had + past participle 来表示先发生的动作。例如,在文章中,"since his defeat, the ex-Prime Minister had gone abroad" 表明 "had gone" 发生在 "his defeat" 之后。

在语法体系中,它属于时态系统的一部分,与简单过去时(Simple Past)相关。横向比较:与简单过去时(如 "He went abroad")相比,had + past participle 强调动作的先后关系,更适合复杂叙述;与现在完成时(如 "He has gone abroad")相比,它专注于过去具体时间点,而非与现在的关系。跨语法点联系:它常与时间状语如 "before", "after", "when" 结合(如 "When he asked, the ex-Prime Minister had already gone"),并可与条件句(如 "If I had known, I would have acted")相关联,帮助学生理解虚拟语气。

这种句型在英语写作中非常实用,能使故事更连贯。

注意事项

学生容易犯的错误包括:混淆过去完成时和简单过去时,导致时间顺序混乱,例如说 "He went abroad before his defeat" 而非 "He had gone abroad before his defeat",这会模糊事件先后。纠正建议:总是问自己 "这个动作是发生在另一个过去动作之前吗?" 并练习使用时间词如 "by the time" 或 "after"。

另一个常见问题是用错过去分词形式,如 "He had go abroad" 应为 "He had gone abroad"。提供具体例句:

错误示例:When Patrick arrived, Mr. Lane go abroad already.
正确示例:When Patrick arrived, Mr. Lane had gone abroad already.

记住,正确使用能避免叙述中的逻辑错误。

练习

一个原创例子:假设你在讲述个人经历,说 "By the time I reached the station, my friend had left the city." 学生可以替换关键词,比如改成 "By the time I finished my homework, my sister had gone to bed." 这适用于日常生活场景,如分享旅行故事。

通过替换主语和过去分词,学生能练习在不同语境中应用此句型,例如在日记中写 "Before the meeting started, I had prepared all the documents."

额外内容

背景知识:过去完成时起源于古英语的时态系统,发展为现代英语中处理复杂时间关系的工具。在文化上,它常用于英语文学,如狄更斯的作品中描绘过去事件。对比分析:与汉语的 "已经 + 动词" 类似,但英语通过助动词 had 更精确地标记时间顺序;与西班牙语的 "había + past participle" 相比,英语版本更简单,无需性别或数的变化。这能帮助学生从跨语言视角理解时间表达的多样性。

关键句型 "When + clause, main clause"

定义

此句型用于连接两个相关的事件,表示一个事件发生在另一个事件的同时或紧接着。结构为:When(当…时) + clause(从句,表示时间) + main clause(主句,表示主要动作)。例如,文章中的 "When he asked if Mr. Lane lived there, the policeman told him..."。根据《牛津现代英语语法》,这是一种时间状语从句,帮助描述事件的顺序和关系。

它在叙述中很常见,用于创建流畅的故事线。

用法

此句型广泛用于描述过去、现在或将来的事件,强调时间关联。规则:When 引导的从句通常用一般时态,而主句根据语境调整时态,如过去时或现在时。文章中,它连接了询问和回答的动作。

在语法体系中,它属于从句结构,与其他连接词如 "after", "before", "while" 相关。横向比较:与 "After + clause"(表示后续)相比,When 更注重同时性或直接后续;与 "If + clause"(条件句)相比,它专注于时间而非假设。跨语法点联系:它常与过去完成时结合(如文章中的例子),强化事件先后;学生可扩展到未来时,如 "When I finish, I will call you",并与并列句比较,突出从句的从属关系。

这有助于在写作中构建更动态的描述。

注意事项

学生常犯的错误是时态不一致,例如在 When 从句中使用未来时,如 "When I will go, I will call you" 应为 "When I go, I will call you"。纠正建议:记住 When 从句通常用一般时态,除非是习惯性动作,并练习连贯性。

另一个问题是遗漏逗号或混淆连接词,导致句子模糊。提供例句:

错误示例:When Patrick asked the question the policeman shouted.
正确示例:When Patrick asked the question, the policeman shouted.

注意标点和时态以保持清晰。

练习

一个原创例子:"When the rain started, I had already left the park." 学生可以替换元素,比如 "When the movie ended, we went home." 这贴近生活场景,如描述日常事件。

鼓励学生创建自己的故事,例如 "When I woke up, my family had prepared breakfast." 替换 When 的从句内容能加深对时间关系的掌握。

额外内容

背景知识:When 句型源于古英语的连接方式,在现代英语中增强叙述流畅性,尤其在新闻或小说中。文化上,它反映了英语讲故事的线性传统。对比分析:与法语的 "Quand + clause" 类似,但英语更灵活,无需动词变位;与日语的 "~ときに" 相比,英语版本更直接,便于初学者。了解这些能丰富学生对全球语言差异的认知。