对片刻动作前时态的领悟

  发生在明显的或具体的过去时间内的动作，应使用一般 过去时态，这是毫无疑义的。然而在 一些现实的语言环境里，描写相对说话时间只是片刻之前，有时短暂到令人无法察觉的过去 时间内发生的动作，也应使用一般过去时态。这却是很容易被忽略的。
  历年高考命题对这种语言现象的考查似乎“情有独钟”。
  (1)—Hello! I _______ you _______ in London. How long have you been here?(MET1988)
   A. don't know；were      B. hadn't known；are
   C. haven't known；are    D. didn't know；were            (D)
  (2)—Come on, Peter. I want to show you something.
  —Oh, how nice of you! I _______ you _______ to bring me a gift.(MET1990)?
  A. never think；are going    B. never thought；were going
  C. didn't think；were going   D. hadn't thought；were going      (B)
  (3)—Your phone number again?
   I _______ quite catch it. —It's 9586442.(NMET1995)
   A. didn't  B. couldn't  C. don't   D. can't            (A)
   (4)—Oh, it's you. I _______ you.
   —I've just had my hair cut, and I'm wearing my glasses.(1996上海)
  A. didn't recognize       B. hadn't recognized
  C haven't recognized      D. don't recognize         (A)
  (5)—Hey, look where you are going!
  —Oh, I'm terribly sorry._______. (NMET1999)
  A. I'm not noticing       B.I wasn't noticing
  C. I haven't noticed       D. I don't notice         (B)
  此类题大多提供的是描写现在的语境，相搭配使用的是动作发生在过去而对说话时似乎 仍有影响的心理感受动词，如know, think, expect, realize, notice等，因而很多考生错误地 使用一般现在时或现在完成时。
  其实，新教材中好几处出现过这种语言现象。如：
  (6)“I didn't know you were coming,” said one.(SB B p42)
  (7)I'm sorry. I didn't know you wanted it. What a shame!(SBⅡA p 31)
  (8)—Look at that sign. It (Smoking) is not allowed.
  —Oh, dear. I didn't see it.(SBⅡA p78)
  下面再选摘两道常见习题，供大家体会。
  (9)I _______ the time _______ so quickly.
  A. didn't realize; had passed        B. don't realize; passed
  C. haven't realized; passed         D. haven't realized; had passed     (A)
  (10)—You've agreed to go, so why aren't you getting ready?
  —But I _______ that you _______ me to start at once.
  A. don't realize; want      B. haven't realized; want
  C. won't realize; will want   D. didn't realize; wanted      (D)