在英語語法中，時態的使用對于正確表達動作的時間關系至關重要。特別是在間接引語中，主句和從句之間的時態呼應尤為重要。這意味著當主句和從句中的動作發生在相同或不同的時間時，我們需要根據情況選擇合適的時態。例如，當從句的動作在主句之前發生時，我們常用過去完成時；而如果動作在主句之后發生，則常用過去將來時。理解這些規則可以幫助我們更準確地表達時間關系，并確保句子的邏輯和語法正確性。

<例句>

She said she understood.

她說她懂了。

<語法分析>

當主句和從句的謂語動詞所表示的動作同時發生時，從句需要用一般過去時或過去進行時，即要注意句子時態的呼應。當從句所表示的內容是個普遍真理或一般規律時或當從句有絕對表示過去的時間狀語時，句子的主句和從句不存在時態上的呼應。聯系動詞be的一般時可表示完成概念，現在完成時，可表示“到說話時為止”。

<觸類旁通>

(1) I wasn't sure whether you (were) [be] watching TV or not.

我不敢肯定你是不是在看電視。

語法分析：主句和從句的謂語動詞所表示的動作同時發生時，從句需要用一般過去時或過去進行時。

(2) She told me she had graduated from university three years before.

她告訴我她三年前就大學畢業了。

語法分析：從句謂語動詞所表示的動作發生在主句謂語動詞所表示的動作之前時，從句多用過去完成時。

(3) He said he would do anything for his own home.

他說他愿為他自己的家庭做任何事情。

語法分析：從句謂語動詞所表示的動作發生在主句謂語動詞所表示的動作之后時，從句多用過去將來時。

(4) My teacher said that light travels much faster than sound.

我的老師說光的速度比聲音的速度快得多。

語法分析：從句所表示的內容是個普遍真理或一般規律時，不存在時態的呼應。

(5) My fever is gone.

我的燒已經退了。

語法分析：聯系動詞be的一般時可表示完成概念。

<鞏固練習>

(1) The facts proved that the earth and all the other panets _____[move] around the sun.

(2) The teacher said that when a person _____[learn] a foreign language, he must not translate everything into his own.

(3) She said that the little boy ______[break] his leg.

(4) I was told that my brother ______[go] home tomorrow.

(5) He told me that he ______[be] only 14.

(6) You will notice that this word _____[has] several meanings.

(7) I wonder who _____[build] the great bridge.

(8) It ______[be] since his death.

(9) Ever since then, the monkey _____[come] out only at night.

(10) He told me yesterday that she _____[murder] three days before.

<參考答案>

(1) move (2) is learning (3) had broken (4) is going (5) is (6) has (7) built (8) is (9)comes (10) had been murdered