條件句有真實條件句和非真實(虛擬)條件句兩種。真實條件句所表示的假設是有可能發(fā)生的,而非真實條件句則通常表示一種假想,與事實相反或不大可能會發(fā)生:
If I have time, I will go with them. 假若我有時間,我就同他們去。(陳述語氣)
If I were you, I would go with them. 假若我是你,我就同他們去。(虛擬語氣)
虛擬條件句的三種基本類型
一、與現(xiàn)在事實相反
若與現(xiàn)在事實相反,條件從句的謂語用過去式(be通常用were),主句謂語用"should (would, could, might)+動詞原形":
If you took a taxi, you’d get there quicker. 如果你坐出租車去,你可以快一點到那里。(但你不坐)
If I knew her number I could ring her up. 要是我知道她的電話號碼,我就可以給她打電話了。(可惜我不知道)
二、與過去事實相反
若與過去事實相反,條件從句的謂語用過去完成時(had+過去分詞),主句謂語用“should (would, could, might)+have+過去分詞”:
If I’d left sooner,I’d have been on time. 要是我早點動身,我就準時到了。(但我動身太遲了)
If we had found him earlier we could have saved his life. 要是我們當時早點找到他的話,我們就可以救活他。(可惜我們找到他太晚了)
三、與將來事實相反
若與將來事實相反,條件從句的謂語用過去式(be通常用were),主句謂語用"should (would, could, might)+動詞原形":
If he went, would you go too? 如果他去,你也去嗎?(大概他不會去)
If I asked him, I’m sure he’d help us. 如果我向他提出要求,肯定他會幫助我們。(不過我不打算這樣做)
注:幾點特別說明
① 主句謂語中的should主要用于第一人稱后。would, might, could的大致區(qū)別是:would表示結果,might表示可能性,could表示能力、允許或可能性。比較:
If you tried again you would succeed. 要是你再試一試,你就會成功的。(would表結果)
If you tried again you might succeed. 要是你再試一試,你可能會成功的。(might表可能)
If you tried again you could succeed. 要是你再試一試,你就能成功了。(could表能力)
② 條件從句的謂語動詞為be時,不管其主語為單數(shù)還是復數(shù)通常都用were,但在口語或非正式文體中的單數(shù)第一人稱和第三人稱后,也可用was,不過在 If I were you這樣的表達中,通常還是以用were為宜。
③ 有時條件從句用would表示愿意:
If he would live on with me, I would be his better half. 要是他還愿意跟我過,我仍會做他的妻子。
④ 對于與將來事實相反的情形,請注意以下幾點:一是這里說的與將來事實相反,實為對將來情況的推測;二是此用法中的條件從句謂語除用過去式外,有時也用“should+動詞原形”(表示可能性極小,常譯為“萬一”)或“were to+動詞原形”(表示與將來事實相反的假設);三是當條件從句使用“should+動詞原形”這樣的謂語時,主句謂語除可用“should (would, could, might)+動詞原形”這樣的虛擬語氣外,也可用陳述語氣或祈使語氣:
If it should rain tomorrow, don’t expect me. 萬一明天下雨,就不要等我了。
I should see him, I’ll tell him. 萬一我見到他,我就告訴他。