1. 我離開香港前會來看你。
ˇ I will come to see you before I leave Hong Kong.
χ I will come to see you before I will leave Hong Kong.
Photo: AdobeStock l 圖片:AdobeStock
註：表示未來的時間副詞從屬句通常用一般現在時態，但用 when 引導的名詞從屬句，如表示未來，則必須用將來時態，試觀察下列各句：
I will have finished my work by the time he returns.
As soon as he comes, we will start working.
Photo: AdobeStock l 圖片:AdobeStock
I don’t know when he will come; but when he does, I will speak to him.
2. 他打開門，拔腿就逃。
ˇ He opened the door and ran off.
χ He opened the door and runs off.
註：在同一句中，兩個動詞表示的動作雖有先後，但都屬過去的範疇，動詞該用過去時態。
3. 他昨天告訴我他暑假期間要到泰國去。
ˇ Yesterday he told me that he was going to Thailand for the summer vacation.
χ Yesterday he told me that he is going to Thailand for the summer vacation.
註：「間接引語」的時態受主句時態的制約，主句的時態是過去式，間接引語的時態也應該用過去式；但表示「習慣動作、常例或一般真理」時，間接引語的時態不受主句時態制約。例如：
When I was a boy, my teacher told me that the earth is round.
He told me that he goes there every winter.
4. 老師指出你報告有錯後，你要怎麼辨呢？
ˇ What will you do after your teacher points (/has pointed) out the mistakes in your paper?
χ What will you do after your teacher pointed out the mistakes in your paper?
註：某些從屬句（特別是受詞從屬句）的動詞時態，常受主句裏動詞時態的制約。關於受詞從屬句的時態連續已見上例。after 子句以及有關時間的副詞子句多以現在式取代過去式，以現在完成式取代過去完成式。
5. 這是你剛才要找的人嗎？
ˇ Is this the man (whom) you were looking for a moment ago?
χ Was this the man (whom) you were looking for a moment ago?
註：修飾主句的形容詞子句的時態不受時態連續限制，應按具體需要而定。試觀察下列句子中主要子句及從屬子句的時態：
The girl who is sitting behind you will play the piano.
The girl (who is) sitting over there was my student.
The boy (whom) you met in the gym the other day is the best student in my class.
The boy (whom) you saw the other day is running towards us.
Exercises:
A. 坐在那邊的那個女孩是我以前的學生。
The girl (who is) sitting over there __________ my student.
1. was 2. were 3. is 4. are
B. 前幾天你在體育館遇到的那個男孩是我的班上最好的學生。
The boy you __________ in the gym the other day is the best student in my class.
1. have met 2. meet 3. met 4. had met
Answers: A. 1, B. 3
文章由書林出版公司提供：
www.bookman.com.tw
蘇正隆 — 台灣翻譯學學會前理事長、師大翻譯研究所兼任副教授; 編著《走讀自然.花言樹語》，《英語的對與錯》，《世紀病毒：必讀防疫英文知識與詞彙》...等。國家教育研究院中英雙語詞彙審議委員；研究領域為翻譯、術語及詞典編譯，從事植物與人文導覽數十年，亦曾應邀遠赴國外大學做植物人文導覽。
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