184 与将来事实相反的假设的三种表示法

“You have it already,” said Dantes, “for it was taken from me with some others.”

The judge requested the letter and began to read it, his hands trembling. Then he looked up at Dantes. “If you should be questioned again by anyone else, this letter would send you to the bottom of the hell.”

“已经在你那里了，”邓蒂斯说，“因为它是和别的一些信一起从我这里被搜走的。”

法官要过那封信，开始看了起来，双手颤抖。然后他抬起头来看着邓蒂斯。“如果将来有别的任何人再审问你的话，这封信能送你下十八层地狱。”

既然法官这么说，那就说明将来不可能再次出现由别人审问的事实，这封信也就不会在将来把邓蒂斯送入地狱底层。

与将来事实相反的假设的第一种表现形式为：

        条件从句                  主句

    should + 动词原形   would(should, could, might) + 动词原形

 

与将来事实相反的假设还有另外两种表现形式：

Dantes did not know what to say. His face went pale. But the judge threw the letter into the fire! “Now, the only thing against you is destroyed.”

The judge stepped close to him. “If you were to be questioned a second time, it would be stupid of you to breathe a word of this letter.”

邓蒂斯不知道说什么才是，他的脸色变得苍白。但是法官把他那封信扔到了火里！“现在，唯一对你不利的东西已经被毁了。”

法官走到他跟前。“如果你将来被再次提审，要是你对这封信透漏半点儿口风，你就太傻了。”

与将来事实相反的假设的第二种表现形式为：

        条件从句                  主句

    were to + 动词原形   would(should, could, might) + 动词原形

 

“I understand.” Dantes was so deeply moved that his voice broke.

“Have you ever shown this letter to anyone?”

“To no one.”

“Good! As you know, a straw shows which way the wind blows. You would also lose freedom if you ever happened to mention the name of Noirtier again.”

“我明白。”邓蒂斯感动极了，竟语不成声。

“你把这封信给任何人看过吗？”

“没有。”

“好极了。要知道，草动知风向。所以，如果你再次哪怕碰巧提到诺提爱这个名字，你就会失去自由。”

这里，主句和从句的位置颠倒了。

与将来事实相反的假设的第三种表现形式为：

        条件从句                  主句

      动词的过去式   would(should, could, might) + 动词原形

这与表示与现在事实相反的虚拟语气形式完全一样。那么，这会不会在“与那一个时间的事实相反”这一点上造成混乱？有这种可能。正因为这个原因，这种形势比较少用。如果用的话，往往加上一个表示将来时间的词、短语或从句，或者通过上下文来暗示出具体的时间段。

 

185 主句和从句在时间上想错时遵循的原则

Dantes nodded his understanding . The judge rang his bell and two soldiers came in. “Follow them,” he said to Dantes.

The moment the door closed, the judge threw himself into his chair. “If this letter had been read by anyone else before the examination, I would be a prisoner myself now.”

邓蒂斯点头表示领会。法官按响了铃，两个士兵走了进来。“跟他们走。”他对邓蒂斯说。

门一关上，法官一下倒在了他的椅子里。“如果这封信在这场审问之前被任何别的人看过，我自己现在就是一个囚徒了。”

这里从句表示的是与过去事实相反的假设（如果过去有人看过这封信的话），而主句表示的是与现在事实相反的假设（我现在就是一个囚徒了）。

当主句和从句表示的假设在时间上发生相错的时候，该遵循什么原则呢？

各自为政。

从句表示的假设与过去事实相反，就用“had+过去分词”；主句表示的假设与现在事实相反就用“would+动词原形”：

If I had taken your advice, I should complete the task now.

如果我采纳了你的建议，现在就完成任务了。

If it were not for the collective, it wouldn’t have been possible for us to

succeed.

如果不是依靠集体的力量，我们是不可能成功的。

以上可以看出：在虚拟语气中不存在从句所表示的内容与主句所表示的内容在时间上必须协调一致的问题，彼此之间互不制约；而在陈述语气（即时态运用）中情形则完全相反。

道理很简单：虚拟语气尽管借用了陈述语气的某些形式（如过去时、过去完成时等），但它所要表达的并不是在某一时间真正发生的事实，只是假设和愿望，也就用不着在时间上进行协调了。

 

[典型试题]

If you had seen a doctor yesterday, you——well now.

A. are   B. might be   C. had been   D. would have been

 

186 表达“我要是你”之类的意思时应注意的问题

在使用虚拟语气时，虽然不用为协调主句和从句的表现形式而费神，但在对主句和从句各自是对什么时间存在的事实作出的假设这一点上却必须得判断准确。有时，做到这一点并不容易。

 

[典型试题]

If I——you, I would have gone to the cinema last night.

A. had been   B. were   C. was   D. has been

[题意]

如果我是你的话，昨天晚上我就去看电影了。

[分析]

很多人会选A. had been，理由是：这个从句表示的是“昨天假如我是你的话……”。但正确的答案却是B. were。

英美人的思维逻辑是：“假如我是你”这个假设，并不是针对某个具体时间段的假设，而是对一个“客观事实”的假设。与这个假设相反的事实是：我就是我，永远成不了你。过去是，现在是，将来依然是。

所以，对“客观事实”作出的假设只能用“与现在事实相反”的虚拟语气形式。

 

187 含蓄条件句与情态动词在虚拟语气中的使用

Dantes was alone in darkness. He had been in prison for years, but he still believed that he would be set free the next day. “But for the kind judge, I might have been sentenced to death.”

邓蒂斯孤单单地待在黑暗中。他在牢里已待了好几年了，但他仍然相信第二天他就会被释放。“要不是那个好心的法官，我也许会被判成死罪。”

这里从句被介词短语But for the kind judge取代了。

实际上，But for the kind judge=If it were not for the kind judge.

当一个假设的情况不用If条件从句表示，而用其他方式如介词短语、分词短语或通过上下文的意思表示，这样的表现形式被称为含蓄条件句。

遇到上述情形，首先要注意辨认出用If从句以外的形式表示的与事实相反的假设条件。至于主句的虚拟语气形式，根据具体的情形按常规处理即可：

  1. 用with, without, under, but for, only for等介词或短语表示虚拟条件：

Without steel, there would be no industry.

(=If there were no steel, )

没有钢，就没有工业。（与现在事实相反）

With your help, I should succeed.（与将来事实相反）

(=If I had your help, )

假如有你的帮助，我将会成功。

But for your advice, I wouldn’t do this work.(与现在事实相反)

(=If it were not for your advice, )

要不是听你的劝告，我是不愿意做这个工作的。

Born in better time, he would have done credit to the profession of

letters.(与过去事实相反)

(=If he were born in better time, )

如果他出生在较好的时代，他会为文学界赢得声誉的。

The plan might work under such a condition.(与将来事实相反)

(=If it were under such a condition, )

在这样的情况下，这项计划也许会行得通。

I would do so in your place.(与现在事实相反)

(If I were in your place, )

假如我处在你的立场，我就那样做。

 

  2. 用并列连词or, otherwise, but, and, also表示虚拟条件：

        The soldier fled away, or he would have been killed.

        (=If the soldier hadn’t fled away, he would have been killed.)

        要不是这个士兵逃跑了，就会被杀死了。

        I didn’t catch the bus, otherwise, I would not have missed the film.

        (=If I had caught the bus, I would not have missed the film.)

        我没赶上公共汽车，否则我不会错过这部电影的。

        I would have arrived earlier but my car broke down on the way.

        (=If my car hadn’t broken down, I would have arrived earlier.)

        我本可以早点儿到的，但是我的汽车坏在路上了。

        Tell me the truth, and you wouldn’t have to fear.

        (=If you told me the truth, you wouldn’t have to fear.)

        如果你把事情真相告诉我，就不必担心了。

  3. suppose (that), supposing (that)用于句首(=If)时引出虚拟条件句：

        Suppose (that) there were no gravitational force, object would not fall to the ground when dropped.

        假如没有地球引力，物体就不会落在地面上。

        Supposing (that) you were left alone on an island, what would you have to do to keep alive?

        假如你独自一人留在岛上，你将怎样生活？

 

[典型试题 1991年全国高考题]

Without electricity human life——quite different today.

A. is   B. will be   C. would have been   D. would be

 

[典型试题 1997年上海市高考题]

Without the air to hold some of the sun’s heat, the earth at night——，too cold for us to live.

A. would be freezing cold   B. will be freezing coldly

C. would be frozen cold   D. can freeze coldly

 

情态动词特别是should, would, could, might在口语中用的很多，往往不表示事实，常带主观色彩，使句子显得很委婉：

Would you kindly send me your sister’s address?

你可否把你妹妹的地址告诉我？

I should like to ask you a question.

我想问你一个问题。

I could come earlier, if necessary.

如果必要我可以早点儿来。

You might as well saty with us.

你不妨和我们一道住。

这样的情态动词一般不受时态影响，虽然形式是过去式，却常指现在的情况，几乎可以说是一种含蓄的条件句，接近虚拟语气，试比较下面句子：

            陈述语气                  接近虚拟语气

I think you’re right.             I should think that might be a good

solution.

      I want you to collaborate with us.  I should (would) like you to

collaborate with us.

      Can you say it in English?        Could I trouble you with a question?

上面的很多句子都可以改成虚拟条件句：

    I should like to ask a question if you allowed me.

    I could come a little earlier if it were necessary.

    You might stay with us if you liked.