CNN 10 《U.S. Politics And The Vote Certification Process》
Now, let's take a look at a few key remaining deadlines left until inauguration day in January.
The first thing to look out for is December 8. That is safe harbor deadline. This is the date by which states are meant to have counted their votes, settle disputes and determine the winner of the Electoral College votes.
This date is extremely important because when Congress needs to tally the electoral votes in January, it must accept the electors certified before this deadline.
请教老师：在 This is the date by which states are meant to have counted their votes, settle disputes and determine the winner of the Electoral College votes中，
1）这里by which等同于when吗？ 这里用by是不是是by+“时间点“的使用方法？
2）这里的are meat to是被动语态吗？或meant当形容词用吗？ 另外，为何to have counted用了完成体，而随后却是一般体 settle disputes and determine...) ？
这是不是表明count动作需要在谓语之前先发生，而后面的2个一般体将和谓语同时或晚于谓语动作发生呢？本文中，我理解是后面的2个一般体是晚于谓语are meant发生，不知对否？
be meant to do sth = To be obliged or supposed to do something. 理应做某事，应该做某事
be meant to have done sth. = be supposed to have done sth. 应该做了某事。
by which需要谓语动词用完成体，表示在这个时间点之前发生的事件。所以by which 不适合改为when.
你看到的文字稿是有人依据录音听写的，settled disputes and determined the winner...这是并列的to have done结构，省略了to have而保留的过去分词。过去分词中ed的爆破音失去爆破或不完全爆破，听写的人没听到ed的爆破音，加上听写者语法水平欠缺，致使他误以为这里是动词原型或一般目前时，尽管二者都讲不通。你的语法常识对你说这里应该是过去分词。你的语音常识对你说ed是会失去爆破的，知识对你说这是听写整理出来的文字。所以你应该了解这里是二个过去分词被搞错了！！！
为何要学语法？学语法不是为了剖析句子成分！ 而是要解决实质问题。这就是你应该运用你语法常识的地方！
