It was argued at the end of the 19th century that humans do not cry because they are sad but that they become sadwhen the tears begin to flow.
译文:在19世纪末就有观点认为,人们并不是因为悲伤而哭泣,而是当眼泪开始流淌时才感到悲伤。
分析:本句的主干并不复杂,是个典型的主语从句,只不过由于主语从句过长而采用了it做形式主语,即:It was argued that…,真正的主语是两个由that引导的主语从句,这两个主语从句之间由连词but来连接。第一个主语从句包含主句humans do not cry和原因状语从句because they are sad,注意此处主句中的否定词not不是否定cry,而是否定because,相当于humans cry not because they are sad(人类哭,不是因为悲伤)。第二个主语从句包含主句they become sad 和时间状语从句when the tears begin to flow,此处的连接词when表达的是原因。