past future tense ¹ (过去将来时)

上句中的 would improve 叫做过去将来时(它由 would 或 should + 动词原形构成)。大家知道,一般将来时表示以现在为时间参照点的将来的动作或状态。过去将来时则表示以过去的某个时间为参照点的将来的动作或状态。拿上面的试题来说,(The minister) expected 便是过去时间的参照点,would improve 是发生在它之后的动作(即从 expected 的时间角度看,improve 是将来要发生的事情)。类例:

1. We never imagined that John would become a doctor。我们从未想到约翰会成为一名医生。(become 对 imagined 的时间而言,是将来的事儿)

2. He said he would come tomorrow. 他说他明天来。(said 的时间为过去时间的参照点)

3. I knew you would agree. 我知道你会同意的。

4. He knew this would make the king very angry. 他知道这会使国王很生气的。请做下面的英语试题：

5. We were all surprised when he made it clear that he ____ office soon. A. leaves B. would leave C. left D. had left(全国高考,93-18)

6. The president told me that I was given three days to decide whether I ____ the offer. A. will accept B. would accept C. have accepted D. had accepted(全国成人高考,96-27)