I was given ten minutes to decide whether I should reject the offer.
请问不定式在这是干什么成分?
另外,请问假如不需要should而用其他情态动词(譬如can will),是不是需要改用过去式的could would?
I was given ten minutes to decide whether I should reject the offer.
第一问:不定式作 ten minutes 的定语,之间存在动状关系。就是说,不定式的动作,是在“十分钟内”完成的。定语的动状关系,可以用 in which 表示出来:
I was given ten minutes in which to decide whether I should reject the offer.
I was given ten minutes in which I would decide whether I should reject the offer.
第二问:情态动词 should 表达“义务”,没过去式,它可以表示过去,也可以表示目前或以后,需依据语境看出来。比如:He said I should come early. (should 指过去)
所以,假如改用其他情态动词(can, will),应用其过去式could , would。