同学你好，该知识点来自沪江网校《新概念英语第三册【随到随学班】》的课程，想要更系统的学习，欢迎进入课程学习。不仅可以和更多的同学一起学习，而且还有老师、助教随时的学习指导和知识点解答哦。

同学好：
原句：They had a definite meaning, for they were as near as early man could get to writing.

要分析这个句子成分，可以从以下方面着手：
1. 句首的They根据上下文，指代的是 the hunting scenes.
2.其实为使句子简练和避免重复，这个句子省略了某些内容：    
（1）be near to writing是一个词组。意思是'接近书写形式',表状态。
（2）get near to writing 。意思也是'接近书写形式',表过程。

3. they were后跟的是near to writing这个表语。而第二个as引导的是比较状语从句。这句话的完整版其实是这个：They were as near to writing as the early man could get near to writing.    

整句话意思：这些狩猎图画, 实际上有明确的意思, 因为它们是早期人类所能达到的最接近的书写形式。

祝学习愉快！