Jasper White is one of those rare people who believes in ancient myths.

ancient?adj. 遠(yuǎn)古的，古代的，古老的

n. 神話（故事）

He has just bought a new house in the city, butever since he moved in,

he has had trouble with cars and their owners.

trouble ?n. 麻煩，困難??

family troubles?

I am having trouble with my teeth.?我受牙痛的折磨。

I?am?having trouble chewing this. ?我嚼這個有困難。

have trouble with ... ?有……的麻煩

have trouble doing sth. 做某事有困難

Sorry to trouble you.?抱歉給你添麻煩了。

Oh, don't be! No trouble (at all). 沒關(guān)系，沒什么。

When he returns home at night, he always finds that someone has parked a car outside his gate. Because of this , he has not been able to get his own car into his garage even once.

• When?he returns home at night

when引導(dǎo)時間狀語?從句，當(dāng)……

• that someone has?parked a car outside his gate

that引導(dǎo)賓語從句，作find的賓語，即“發(fā)現(xiàn)…...

• be able to do?=?can do?能……

• not ... even once ?一次都沒有……

  even adv. 甚至（用來加強(qiáng)語氣）

Jasper has put up 'No Parking' signs outside his gate, but these have not had any effect.

• effect n. 結(jié)果；影響

  cause and effect?原因和結(jié)果

  have effect?(on)?有效果/影響

  That event had a big effect on me.?那件事對我影響很大。

  sound effects 音效 ? ?side effects 副作用

Now he has put an ugly stone head over the gate. It is one of the ugliest faces?(I have ever seen.)

定語從句，修飾faces，表示“……的臉” 從句引導(dǎo)詞that此處省略

I asked him what it was and he told me that it was Medusa, the Gorgon. Jasper hopes that she will turn cars and their owners to stone. But none of them has been turned to stone yet!

• what?it was

what引導(dǎo)賓語從句，作asked?的賓語，表示“問他的內(nèi)容”

• that it was Medusa, the Gorgon.

that引導(dǎo)賓語從句，作told的賓語，表示“告訴我的內(nèi)容” ?

• that she will turn cars and their owners to stone.

that引導(dǎo)賓語從句，作hopes的賓語，表示“Jasper希望的事情”

Language Plus

現(xiàn)在完成時（二）

表示過去的動作或狀態(tài)持續(xù)到現(xiàn)在并對現(xiàn)在有影響。

常與just, already, yet, never, ever等副詞，及so far,?lately, for some time 等時間狀語連用。

• He has just bought a new house in the city, but ever since he moved in, he has had trouble with cars and their owners.

• Because of this, he has not been able to get his own car into his garage even once.

• Jasper has put up 'No Parking' signs outside his gate, but these have not had any effect.

• Now he has put an ugly stone head over the gate. It is one of the ugliest faces I have ever seen.

• But none of them has been turned to stones yet!

  since+過去的時間點(diǎn)（短語/從句）?

• I haven't seen Tim (ever) since 2016. 自2016年以來，我就再沒見過tim。

• I haven't seen Tim (ever) since he went abroad.

  for+一段時間

• I haven't seen Tim for three years.

  
  

  句中出現(xiàn)so far , lately, recently, up till now等時間狀語，

  句子時態(tài)也可用現(xiàn)在完成時

• Up till now I have been to New York three times.

• I have been to New York three times so far.

  迄今為止，我去紐約三次了。