本刊資料
動詞的時態(tài)是中學(xué)英語教學(xué)的重點(diǎn),也是高考考查的熱點(diǎn)。教學(xué)大綱所規(guī)定的要掌握的八種常用時態(tài)出現(xiàn)在高考題中,往往因語境和考查角度的變化而具有很大的靈活性,使考生望而生畏。下面結(jié)合高考題例談?wù)動嘘P(guān)時態(tài)題的解題思路和方法。
一、分析題干,抓結(jié)構(gòu)特點(diǎn)
高考題對時態(tài)的考查雖具有很大靈活性,但題干中的某些成分往往與所考時態(tài)有著密切的聯(lián)系,這些結(jié)構(gòu)特點(diǎn)是判斷時態(tài)的可靠依據(jù)。
1. 固定句式
在某些句式中,其時態(tài)往往是約定俗成的,因此我們可以根據(jù)這些句式去判斷所需要的時態(tài)。例如:
——Do you know our town at all?
——No. This is the first time I ____ here.
A. was B. have been C. came D. am coming
此題考的是“That/This/It is the first/second…time+that從句”這一固定句式,that從句里面用現(xiàn)在完成時,若將is改為was,則從句用過去完成時。例如:
——Can I join your club?
——You can when you ____ a bit older.
A. get B. will get C. are getting D. will have got
如果主句表示將來動作(往往用一般將來時、祈使句或情態(tài)動詞表示),在由when, before, after, until等引導(dǎo)的時間狀語從句或由if, unless等引導(dǎo)的條件狀語從句中用一般現(xiàn)在時表示將來。
這提醒考生在平日的學(xué)習(xí)中要注意積累。類似這樣的固定句式還有:It is/has been…since…表示某事發(fā)生到現(xiàn)在有多長時間,since從句中動詞用過去式;be about to do…when…表示“正要……這時突然……”等。
2. 時間狀語
通過時間狀語判斷時態(tài)的題目在高考題中占有一定比例。例如:
Shirley ____ a book about China last year but I dont know whether she has finished it.
A. has written B. wrote C. had written D. was writing
根據(jù)時間狀語last year和后邊的“是否完成”判斷,應(yīng)用過去進(jìn)行時。例如:
I first met Lisa three years ago. She ____ at a radio at that time.
A. has worked B. was working
C. had been working D. had worked
由時間狀語three years ago和at that time判斷,此題應(yīng)用過去進(jìn)行時。
3. 時態(tài)一致原則
(1)兩個或兩個以上的動詞作并列謂語,它們的時態(tài)必須一致。例如:
She set out soon after dark ____ home an hour later.
A. arriving B. to arrive
C. having arrived D. and arrived
arrived與set out為并列謂語,都用過去時。
On Saturday afternoon, Mrs. Green went to the market, ____ some bananas and visited her cousin.
A. bought B. buying C. to buy D. buy
went, bought和visited為三個并列謂語,均用過去時。
(2)并列的兩個句子(有沒有并列連詞均可)也要求時態(tài)一致。例如:
You dont need to describe her. I ____ her several times.
A. had met B. have met C. met D. meet
第一個分句用了現(xiàn)在時,第二個分句也應(yīng)用現(xiàn)在時。根據(jù)后面的時間狀語several times推斷,應(yīng)用現(xiàn)在完成時。
4. 信息詞語
有些高考題盡管題干比較復(fù)雜,但只要考生仔細(xì)分析,找出與所考時態(tài)相關(guān)的信息詞語,注意前后照應(yīng),便能正確認(rèn)定動作所發(fā)生的時間。例如:
——Your phone number again? I ____ quite catch it.
——Its 9563442.
A. didnt B. couldnt C. dont D. cant
根據(jù)again一詞推斷,對方已說了一遍電話號碼,所以是“剛才”沒聽清應(yīng)用過去時。couldnt表“不能夠”,不合題意。例如:
——We could have walked to the station; it was so near.
——Yes. A taxi ____ at all necessary.
A. wasnt B. hadnt been C. wouldnt D. wont
could have walked意為“本可以步行去”,由此推斷并沒有步行去;再分析下句可知,不是“步行”而是坐出租車去的車站,動作已發(fā)生,應(yīng)用過去時。
二、明晰語境,把握“信息時間”
有些高考題題干中沒有判斷行為動作所發(fā)生時間的明確依據(jù),其“時間信息”隱含在特定語境中,考生在理解題意的同時還應(yīng)明晰語境,進(jìn)行合理的推斷和想象;才能確認(rèn)“信息時間”,準(zhǔn)確判斷時態(tài)。
1.靈活運(yùn)用“時態(tài)一致”原則
有的考生往往受“時態(tài)一致”原則的束縛,被題干中某些具有干擾性的“負(fù)信息”所迷惑,陷入定勢思維的泥潭。因此,在分析題時,不僅要抓信息詞語,還要排除干擾成分,才能吃透題意,選出正確答案。例如:
——____ my glasses?
——Yes, I saw them on your bed a minute ago.
A. Do you see B. Had you seen
C. Would you see D. Have you seen
此題中see為干擾成分,不能作為判斷的依據(jù)。根據(jù)對話的情景,籠統(tǒng)地問對方干過某事,應(yīng)用現(xiàn)在完成時。例如:
——Nancy is not coming tonight.
——But she ____!
A. promises B. promised C. will promise D. had promised
此題中上句用的是現(xiàn)在時態(tài),表明她現(xiàn)在不在這兒,但下句中的“許諾”已發(fā)生,應(yīng)用過去時。
2.模擬對話情景
分析高考題我們不難發(fā)現(xiàn),其隱含“時間信息”題多為情景對話,這些情景對話題來自日常生活,為中學(xué)生所熟悉。因此,考生不妨運(yùn)用自己的想象力,在頭腦中“模擬”對話情景,以此把握信息時間。例如:
——Come on in, Peter. I want to show you something.
——Oh, how nice of you! I ____ you ____ to bring me a gift.
A. never think; are going B. never thought; were going
C. didnt think; were going D. hadnt thought; were going
考生可以在頭腦中模擬這樣的生活情景:自己正過生日,沒想到來了一位平日關(guān)系一般的同學(xué)給自己送禮物,使自己喜出望外?!案緵]想到”發(fā)生在客人到來之前,故應(yīng)用過去時。didnt think“認(rèn)為不……”不合題意。
——Can I help you?
——Yes, I bought this radio here yesterday, but it ____.
A. didnt work B. wont work C. cant work D. doesnt work
考生可以想象自己昨天買了一臺收音機(jī),結(jié)果出了毛病,“現(xiàn)在”去找售貨員反映情況。這樣就不至于受“bought”的影響而誤選A。
本文僅就高考題解題方法的各個側(cè)重點(diǎn)加以論述,有些高考題需從題干、題意、語境等方面進(jìn)行綜合分析,才能準(zhǔn)確作答,不能僅僅局限于某一種方法。