有一读者问：有这样两句话：
(1)They ain't got any Indians in Illinois. I never seen one damn Indian all the time I was out there.
all the time 应如何分析？又， never seen 之前是否省去了 have?
all the time 可看作一短语从属连词，用以引导一时间状语从句，再如：
(2)Unfortunately, it rained all the time we were there.
(3)He's just magnificent! I think you are the slyest girl I ever saw; you never once mentioned his name all the time you were here.
顺便提一下，下面句子中的 each time, every time, next time 等皆同样可看作短语从属连词：
(4)Each time I read this poem, I admire it the more.
(5)Every time I come, he is reading.
(6)Come and see me next time you are in town.
(7)He looked very happy last time I saw him.
现在再谈 seen。这里的 never seen 不等于 have never seen，因而其前并未省去 have。 seen 是社会下层人民所用的非正式英语，相当于规范英语中的过去一般时 saw。
用过去分词代替过去一般时，在英美一些小说或戏剧中是比较常见的现象，再如：
(8)I never seen nobody work hard.（在规范英语中 nobody 应改作 anybody）
(9)They taken whatever I had an' set fire to the place.（在规范英语中 taken 应改作 took， an' 应读作 and）
同样，上述句（1）中的 ain't 也是非正式英语，相当于 haven't。
