核心问题
He admitted that he has received money from the agent of a foreign power.
上句中的 that 从句应当使用 had received, 才符合时态呼应原则。这种破坏时态呼应原则的用法, 是否应被看成错误?
词典解答
为了表示“承认”(admitted)与间接引语中的“接受”(had received)时间上的先后关系，当然要说:He admitted that he had received...但是,正像语言学家A.S.Hornby所指出的那样，法庭上的辩护律师或证人通常要说:He admitted that he has received...为什么呢？这是因为说话人所陈述的事件是与目前的审讯有直接联系的。(参见 sequence of tenses, indirect speech)