过去时与现在完成时辨析

The centre was not visited by as many people as we expected.

The centre has not been visited by as many people as we expected.

请问以上两种形式哪一种最恰当呢？

在没有上下文的情况下，二个句子都是正确的。但意义有所不同。

主句用一般过去时，暗示在过去的某一个时期内参观该中心的人数。这个过去的时期为何由语境提供。逻辑决定了expect的动作是在这个时期以前的，所以用一般过去时代替了过去完成时，从句改为过去完成时，意义不变：

The centre was not visited by as many people as we (had) expected.

如果主句用现在完成时，则表示迄今为止参观该中心的人数。从句用一般过去时，表示该中心建成开放的那个时间的期待。从句不能用过去完成时。

The centre has not been visited by as many people as we expected.

曹荣禄 -

擅长：动词用法,句法问题 | 采纳率 82% | 回答于 1秒前

默认排序时间排序

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刘永科 - 教育出版集团英语总顾问 & 英语系列图书主编 1秒前

擅长：语法理论,语言学,文化背景

句子需要清晰的时态，不可模糊不清：

1. The centre was not visited by as many people as we expected.（？）

2. The centre has not been visited by as many people as we expected.（正）

3. The centre was not visited by as many people as we had expected. （正）

【解说】

句1，错在时态相同：一般过去时 VS 一般过去时, 没有先后之分。

句2，现在完成时 VS 一般过去时。现在与过去之分。

句3，一般过去时 VS 过去过去时，须有先后之分。