1. Something then happened which did terrible damage to their relationship.
结构剖析:这是一个含有定语从句的复合句。主句是——Something then happened,从句是——which did terrible damage to their relationship。
它修饰先行词something,这个先行词是不定代词,引导英语从句的关系代词只能够用that,不能用which。由于something在句子中做宾语,所以就把这个引导词省略了。
此外,这个从句属于分隔式定语从句,因为它长于谓语,所以置于句尾,以平衡句子结构。
2. Dudley's wife, Amy, was found at the bottom of a staircase, dead from a broken neck.
结构剖析:这是一个简单句。主语是Dudley's wife,谓语是被动结构was found。
其余的成分,Amy是做主语Dulley’s wife的同位语,说明其名字,at the bottom of a staircase是介词短语做地点状语。最重要的是dead from a broken neck是做伴随状况状语。
3. .... it still cast a shadow over their relationship, just when they had become free to marry.
解析:when在这里不是连词,是副词,意思是“在这时候”,前面用了副词just来修饰副词when,加强语气,意思是“就在这时候”。
4. Officially he was, and though the queen always insisted that Dudley had been vindicated...
解析:he was是与后面的让步状语从句公用一个表语vindicated,这样显得表达更为简洁。