表示過(guò)去未曾實(shí)現的想法或打算,通常用過(guò)去完成時(shí),但在一定的上下文當中,只要意思清楚,也可只用一般過(guò)去時(shí)。如:
I had expected to come early, but I missed the early bus. 我本來(lái)想早點(diǎn)來(lái)的,但未趕上早班車(chē)。
We expected him to arrive yesterday. 我們原以為他昨天就會(huì )到的。
有時(shí)在其后接不定式的完成式,如上面第一句也可改成:
I expected to have come early, but I missed the early bus.
有時(shí)用于“It+be+過(guò)去分詞+從句”結構,表示“預計……”。如:
It’s expected that the war would end soon. 預計戰爭不久即可結束。
It is expected that the report will suggest some major reforms. 預計這個(gè)報告會(huì )提出一些重大的改革。