Ask & Learn闻问切英语口语: Are not agreed

读者 Eric 在报纸上看到下面一句：

Japan and China were not agreed that the Diaoyu Islands question be shelved in their talks.

Eric 问，"were not agreed" 是被动式还是一个作形容词用的过去分词？又问 "were not agreed" 可否改成 "have not agreed"？

"Were not agreed" 并不是被动式。被动式的动词必定是及物动词（transitive verb），agree 是非及物动词，并无被动式可言。

"Were not agreed" 句型属于 Eric 提出的另一种用法，即用作形容词的过去分词。我们平常听到的 "I am pleased"、"He is interested"、"The horse is tired" 等都是这种用法。

翻译出来，"were not agreed" 指两者意见不一致。意思与 "have not agreed" 并没有两样。然而我们需要考虑时态。原本的句子是 "were not agreed"，所以代入时也应用同样的时态，应改用 "did not agree"。

句子中的 "shelved" 令我想起另一个英文字，下次探讨。

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