1.
The plane [was] late and detectives [were waiting] at the airport all morning.
飞机晚了用的是was
一看就知道是过去的事。
他们正等在哪儿,而且强调等了一早上了(all moring),所以表示持续的状态,持续进行。所以用了were waiting
。
2.
They [were expecting] a valuable parcel of diamonds ...
正在等着
3.
A few hours earlier, someone [had told] the police that thieves [would try] to steal the diamonds.
几个小时以前(A few hours earlier),刚才说的这些事都是过去的事,那“几个小时以前”是“过去的以前”,因此用了过去完成时had told
。
would try
过去将来,警察知道消息后才在那里等着,是“过去的将来”。
4.
When the plane [arrived], some of the detectives [were waiting] inside the main building while
others [were waiting] on the airfield.
当飞机到达(过去到达arrived),一些人正等着主楼(main building)的里面。
一件事情持续进行(人们等着),一件事情(飞机到达)把它打断。
这种经常搭配的就是过去进行时和一般过去时。
5.
Two men [took] the parcel off the plane and [carried] it into the Customs House.
6.
While two detectives [were keeping] guard at the door, two others [opened] the parcel.
过去进行(were keeping)和一般过去(opened)常常搭配。
一件事情持续进行,另外一件把它打断。
持续进行的事用来铺垫故事背景
7.
To their surprise, the precious parcel [was] full of stones and sand!
To ... surprise
“令人惊讶的”
“令我惊讶的”:To my surprise
。
be full of
“充满了”。
总结
时态如何选择?
2点:
1.首先确定一件事情发生的时间(过去/现在/将来/过去将来)
2.然后在确定你想表达的状态。
如果你想强调“这事正在进行”,那就用进行时
;
如果你想强调“之前怎么怎么样”,那就用完成时
;
如果什么都不强调,那就用一般时
。