1. Perhaps things might be better between the two of them if Mary accepted Elizabeth's choice of a safe Protestant husband for her in the winning form of Robert Dudley.
结构剖析:这是一个含有分隔式同为语从句的复合句。主句是:
Perhaps things might be better between the two of them;分隔式同位语从句是:if Mary accepted Elizabeth's choice of a safe Protestant husband for her。
先看主句:主语是things,谓语是might be better。其余的都做状语,perhaps是副词做程度状语,between the two of them是介词短语做状语。
(2)再看从句:这个同位语从句的引导词是if,它是具体意义的,意思是“是否”,能省略的。
从句中主语是Mary,谓语是accepted,宾语是choice,这里有3个定语都是修饰choice的:Elizabeth's(伊丽莎白的) 、of a safe Protestant husband(可靠的清教徒的丈夫)和介词短语for her(为她)。
2. One tiny problem with this plan, though, Mary had no intention of being told what to do by Elizabeth.
结构剖析:这是一个含有表语从句的复合句。主句是: One tiny problem with this plan,表语从句是 Mary had no intention of being told what to do by Elizabeth。此外,though在这里是做副词用,意思是“但是”。
在表语从句中,介词of的后面接的是动名词短语,这个短语使用的是被动语态——being told what to do by Elizabeth,进而来看这个动名词短语,它其中含有一个不定式——what to do,它做宾语。