動詞時態典型陷阱題分析

1. “I _____ his telephone number.” “I have his number, but I ____ to bring my phone book.”

A. forget, forget                                   B. forgot, forgot

C. forget, forgot                                   D. forgot, forget

【陷阱】容易誤選A，認為“忘記”是現在的事。

【分析】仔細體會一下對話的語境：第一個人說“我忘記他的電話號碼了”，這個“忘記”應該是現在的情況，即現在忘記了，要不然就沒有必要同對方說此話了，故第一空應填 forget；第二個人說“我有他的號碼，但我忘記帶電話本了”，這個“忘記”應該是過去的情況，即過去忘記帶電話本，所以現在電話本不在身上(注意句中的轉折連詞 but)，故第二空應填 forgot，即答案選應C。請再看一例：

— Oh, I ______ where he lives.

— Don’t you carry your address book?

No, I ______ to bring it.

A. forget, forget                                   B. forgot, forgot

C. forget, forgot                                   D. forgot, forget

答案選C，理由同上。

2. I had hoped to see her off at the station, but I _____ too busy.

A. was                                                  B. had been

C. would be                                         D. would have been

【陷阱】容易誤選B或D，認為前句用了had hoped，所以此句謂語要用B或D與之呼應。

【分析】但正確答案為A，前一句謂語用had hoped，表示的是過去未曾實現的想法或打算，可以譯為“本想”，而后一句說“我太忙”，這是陳述過去的一個事實，所以要用一般過去時。請做以下類似試題(答案均為A)：

(1) We had hoped to catch the 10:20 train, but _____ it was gone.

A. found                                               B. had found

C. would find                                      D. would have found

(2) We had hoped that you would be able to visit us, but you _____.

A. didn’t                                               B. hadn’t

C. needn’t                                           D. would not have

(3) We had wanted to come to see him, but we ____ no time.

A. had                                                  B. had had

C. would have                                    D. would have had

(4) I had expected to come over to see you last night, but someone ______ and I couldn’t get away.

A. called                                               B. had called

C. would call                                       D. would have called

(5) The traffic accident wouldn’t have happened yesterday, but the driver _______ really careless.

A. was                                                  B. is

C. were                                                D. had been

3. Dear me! Just _____ at the time! I _____ no idea it was so late.

A. look, have                                       B. looking, had

C. look, had                                         D. looking, have

【陷阱】此題容易誤選D，認為第一空用現在分詞表伴隨，第二空填 have 的一般現在時，以保持與前面時態的一致性。

【分析】其實，此題應選C，第一空應填 look, 因為這是祈使句的謂語；第二空應填 had，因為前一句說“看看時間吧”，這一看當然知道了現在很遲的情形，“不知道這么遲了”顯然應是“過去”的事，故應用一般過去時態，許多同學由于忽略這一隱含的語境而誤選。

4. “Your phone number again? I _____ quite catch it.” “It’s 4331577”

A. didn’t                                               B. couldn’t

C. don’t                                                D. can’t

【陷阱】此題容易誤選C，認為此處要用一般現在時態，表示現在“沒聽清對方的話”。

【分析】其實，此題答案應選A，根據上文的語境“請把你的電話號碼再說一遍好嗎?”可知“沒聽清對方的電話號碼”應是在說此話以前，故應用一般過去時態。請看以下類似試題：

(1) “Mr Smith isn’t coming tonight.” “ But he _____.”

A. promises                                         B. promised

C. will promise                                    D. had promised

答案選B，“他答應(要來)”應發生在過去。

(2) “Hey, look where you are going!” “Oh, I’m terribly sorry. _____.”

A. I’m not noticing                              B. I wasn’t noticing

C. I haven’t noticed                           D. I don’t notice

答案選B，“我沒注意”是對方提醒之前的事，現經對方一提醒，當然注意到了。

(3) “Oh it’s you ! I ________ you.” “I’ve had my hair cut.”

A. didn’t realize                                  B. haven’t realized

C. didn’t recognize                            D. don’t recognized 

答案選C。“沒認出是你”是說此話之前的事，說此話時顯然已經認出了對方。

(4) “What’s her new telephone number?” “Oh, I _____.”

A. forget                                               B. forgot

C. had forgotten                                 D. am forgetting

此題應選A，從語境上看，“忘記”的時間應是現在，即指現在不記得了。

(5) “Since you’ve agreed to go, why aren’t you getting ready?” “But I ______ that you would have me start at once.”

A. don’t realize                                   B. didn’t realize

C. hadn’t realized                              D. haven’t realized

答案選B。“沒意識到”是對方提醒之前的事。

(6) “It’s twelve o’clock, I think I must be off now.” “Oh, really? I ______ it at all.”

A. don’t realize                                   B. haven’t realized

C. didn’t realize                                  D. hadn’t realized

答案選C。“沒意識到”是在聽到的話之前的事。

5. Mr Smith ______ a book about China last year but I don’t know whether he has finished it.

A. has written                                      B. wrote

C. had written                                     D. was writing

【陷阱】容易誤選B或C。

【分析】此題應選D，這是由 but I don’t know whether he has finished it 這一句話的語境決定的，全句意為“史密斯先生去年在寫一本書，但我不知道他現在是否寫完了”。有的同學可能由于受 last year的影響而誤選B。但若選B，則句子前半部分的意思則變為“史密斯先生去年寫了一本書”，既然是“寫了”，那么這與下文的“但我不知道他現在是否寫完了”相矛盾。

6. He has changed a lot. He _______ not what he _______.

A. is, is                                                 B. was, was

C. is, was                                             D. was, is

【陷阱】幾個干擾項均有可能誤選。

【分析】最佳答案選C，上文說“他”變化很大，即“他”現在不是過去的那個樣子了，故第一空填is，第二空填 was（其實第二空也可用 used to be）。請看類例：

“What place is it?” “Haven’t you found out we _____ back where we ______?”

A. were, had been                             B. have been, are

C. are, were                                         D. are, had been

答案選C，We are back where we were 的意思是“我們（現在）又回到剛才來過的地方”。

7. He is very busy. I don’t know if he _____ or not tomorrow.

A. come                                                B. comes

C. will come                                        D. is coming

【陷阱】此題容易誤選B。認為 if 引導的是條件狀語從句，從句謂語要用一般現在時表示將來意義。

【分析】其實，此題答案應選C，句中if引導的不是條件狀語從句(即if≠如果)，而是賓語從句(即if＝是否)，句意為“他很忙，我不知道明天他是否會來。”請看以下類似試題：

(1) I don’t know if she _____, but if she ____ I will let you know.

A. comes, comes        B. will come, will come

C. comes, will come     D. will come, comes

答案選 D，第一個 if 引導的是賓語從句，第二個 if 引導的是條件狀語從句。

(2) “When _____ he come?” “I don’t know, but when he _____, I’ll tell you.”

A. does, comes         B. will, will come

C. does, will come      D. will, comes

答案選 D，第一個 when 疑問副詞，用于引出一個特殊疑問句；第二個 when是從屬連詞，用于引導時間狀語從句。

(3) “When he _____ is not known yet.” “But when he ____, he will be warmly welcomed.”

A. comes, comes         B. will come, will come

C. comes, will come      D. will come, comes

答案選 D，第一個 when 引導的是主語從句，第二個 when引導的是時間狀語從句。

8. The bridge, which _____ 1688, needs repairing.

A. is dated from                                  B. was dated from

C. dates from                                      D. dated from

【陷阱】此題容易誤選B或D，認為句中用了 1688 這個過去時間，所以應選過去時態，又因為 date from 不用于被動語態，所以只能選D。

【分析】其實此題的最佳答案應是C，因為 date from 的意思是“自某時起存在至今”(＝have existed since)，它通常用于一般現在時，而不用過去時態(盡管其后接的總是表示過去的時間)。如：

The church dates from 1176. 這座教堂是六世紀建的。

The castle dates from the 14th century. 這座城堡是14世紀建的。

但若所談論的東西現在已不復存在，則可用一般過去時。如：

The church, which dated from the 13th century, was destroyed in an earthquake two years ago.  那座教堂是13世紀建成的，兩年前在一次地震中被毀了。

注：與 date from 同義的 date back to 也有類似用法。

9. “You’ve left the light on.” “Oh, so I have. _____ and turn it off.”

A. I’ll go                                                B. I’ve gone

C. I go                                                   D. I’m going

【陷阱】容易誤選D。

【分析】A和D兩者均可表示將來，填入空格處似乎都可以。但實際上只有A是最佳的，因為根據上下文的語境來看，“我去把燈關掉”這一行為是說話人聽了對方的話后臨時想到的，而不是事先準備的。而按英語習慣：will 和 be going to后接動詞原形均可表示意圖，但意圖有強弱之分，如果是事先考慮過的意圖，要用 be going to；如果不是事先考慮過的，而是說話時刻才臨時想到的意圖，則用 will。比較：

“I’ve come out without any money.” “Never mind, I will lend you some.” “我出來沒帶錢。”“沒關系，我借給你。”(句中用will lend，表示“借”錢給對方是臨時想到的，即聽了對方的話后臨時作出的反應)

I’ve bought a typewriter and I’m going to learn to type. 我買了臺打字機，我想學打字。(句中用 be going to learn to type，表示說話人要學打字是事先準備的，并為此買了臺打字機)