NCE Book 2 · Lesson 39（课本印刷页 178-181）· 10 个生词和短语 · 课文 8 句
一全文逐句语法解读
本课是一则「病人自己打电话探听自己病情」的小幽默，主要语言点是宾语从句（whether / if / when 引导，以及从句的语序与时态呼应）、被动语态 had been done / would be allowed，还有 a Mr. + 姓名、ask for、inquire about 等用法。
¶ 1 · 问病情被拒（句 1-2）
句子
语法点
While John Gilbert was in hospital, he asked his doctor to tell him whether his operation had been successful, but the doctor refused to do so.
时间状语从句 while 引导 · ask sb. to do sth. 请某人做某事 · 宾语从句 whether 引导，用陈述语序 · 过去完成时的被动 had been successful · refuse to do so 中 so 代替前面的动作
The following day, the patient asked for a bedside telephone.
the following day ＝ 第二天（＝ the next day）· ask for 索要 · a bedside telephone 床头电话
¶ 2 · 独自打电话（句 3-4）
句子
语法点
When he was alone, he telephoned the hospital exchange and asked for Doctor Millington.
alone 作形容词，表示「独自一人」· the hospital exchange 医院总机 / 交换台
When the doctor answered the phone, Mr. Gilbert said he was inquiring about a certain patient, a Mr. John Gilbert.
answer the phone 接电话 · inquire about sth. 询问某事 · a certain patient 某位病人 · a Mr. John Gilbert ＝ 一位名叫约翰·吉尔伯特的先生（a + 姓名表示「某一个叫这名字的人」）
¶ 3 · 一问一答（句 5-6）
句子
语法点
He asked if Mr. Gilbert's operation had been successful and the doctor told him that it had been.
宾语从句 if 引导 · 从句用陈述语序（主语 + 谓语）· 主句过去时，从句相应用过去完成时 · it had been 是省略式，完整为 it had been successful
He then asked when Mr. Gilbert would be allowed to go home and the doctor told him that he would have to stay in hospital for another two weeks.
宾语从句 when 引导 · 过去将来时的被动 would be allowed to do sth. · for another two weeks 再住两个星期
¶ 4 · 真相揭晓（句 7-8）
句子
语法点
Then Dr. Millington asked the caller if he was a relative of the patient.
the caller 打电话的人（call + -er）· a relative of the patient 病人的亲属
'No,' the patient answered, 'I am Mr. John Gilbert.'
点睛之笔：打电话探听病情的人，正是病人自己 · 直接引语中的问句与答句要成对理解
二固定搭配与重点词组
短语
用法与例句
ask sb. to do sth.
请某人做某事：He asked his doctor to tell him the truth.
ask for
请求，索要：He asked for a bedside telephone.
the following day
第二天（＝ the next day），用于过去时叙述。
inquire about sth.
询问某事：He was inquiring about a certain patient.
a Mr. + 姓名
一位名叫……的先生：a Mr. John Gilbert；表示说话人只知道名字、不认识本人。
be allowed to do sth.
被允许做某事：He would be allowed to go home.
三语法核心总结
宾语从句
whether / if / when 引导，从句一律用陈述语序
过去完成时的被动
had been + 过去分词：手术「被做了」
过去将来时的被动
would be + 过去分词：will 的过去式 would
a + 姓名
a Mr. John Gilbert 一位名叫约翰·吉尔伯特的先生
宾语从句必须用陈述语序：主句是 he asked，从句仍写 if Mr. Gilbert's operation had been successful，而不能写成 if had Mr. Gilbert's operation been successful。这是中国学生最常出错的地方。
if 与 whether：两者都能引导「是否」的宾语从句，可互换。但介词后、与 or not 连用时只能用 whether：whether or not（✓）/ if or not（✗）。
a Mr. John Gilbert：在姓名前加 a，表示「有一位叫这个名字的人」。因为接电话的医生并不认识打电话的人，只听到他说出的姓名，所以用 a Mr. … 这种说法。