It was said that 从句用什么时态

It was said that Harry's father had died a dog's death.
据说哈里的父亲已潦倒而死。
《汉英大词典》
It was said that he went to great expense to install a lift in the building.

据说他花费巨资在大楼里安装了一台电梯。

《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》

有看到用完成时的，也看到有过去时的，那么到底怎么样区分什么时候用什么时态呢？

这两个句子都是很好的例句，表达的情景应该是一样的，为什么会用不同的时态呢？

以上二个例句中，柯林斯的例句时态使用欠妥。说话严谨的人是不会这么使用时态的。

柯林斯例句如果从句要用一般过去时，则主句应改为It is said. 如果主句用过去时，而从句显然表示的是事件而不是习惯，该事件是发生在was said之前的，应该使用过去完成时。

曹荣禄 -

擅长：动词用法,句法问题 | 采纳率 82% | 回答于 1秒前

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其它 2 个回答

黎反修 - 英语翻译（已退休） 1秒前

擅长：数词用法,存在句,英语考试

误（至少欠妥）：It was said that he went to great expense to install a

lift in the building.

正确：It was said that he had gone to great expense to install a lift in the building.

正确：It is said that he went to great expense to install a lift in the building.

【说明】It was said 后面 that 从句中应该用过去完成时表示过去发生的动作；It is said 后面 that 从句中应该用一般过去时表示过去发生的动作。例如：

It was said that he had gone abroad to study English. 据说，他出国学英语去了。（摘自【美】克里斯汀【美】金姆著《英语语法看这本就够了大全集》p.211）

陈才 - 英语教师 1秒前

擅长：中考英语,词法问题

It was said that Harry's father had died a dog's death.
据说哈里的父亲已潦倒而死。
《汉英大词典》
It was said that he went to great expense to install a lift in the building.

第2句应该改为下面句子

It was said that he had gone to great expense to install a lift in the building.