新概念英语 第20课 语法提问

题目

新概念英语 第20课 语法提问
In 1908 Lord Northcliffe offered a prize of $1,000 to the first man who would fly across the English Channel.On July 19th,1909,in the early morning,Hubert Latham took off from the French coast.' He had travelled only seven miles across the Channel when his engine failed and he was forced to land on sea.
最后一句为什么是had travelled?和前后有什么逻辑关系么?

答案

.He had travelled only seven miles across the Channel when his engine failed 此句可理解为：他发动机失灵的时候,仅仅跨海峡飞行了几英里.之所以用had travelled ,是为了和从句的failed体现动作的先后顺序,即先飞行了几英里后,发动机才失灵,符合过去完成时的用法：过去（failed)的过去(had travelled),故用had travelled.