當我們用if表達時,基本是出於虛擬語氣的因素,但是有時候會被時態所混淆,明明
有些句子搭配的是現在時態,有些卻用過去時態,這跟if所表述的“可能性”相關。現在時態裡的if
Cindy: Ann, I think I left my wallet at you house. Have you seen it?
Ann: No, but I'll have a look when I get home, if I find it, I'll send it to you.
如果,表述的是一種真正的可能性,用if作假設時,一般搭配現在時態表述。
if+過去時態表“假如”
What would you do if you won a lot of money?
如上,如果表述的只是一種想象(類似於自己假設,暫時無法實現),一般用if+過去時態表述。
Jack would read more if he had more time.
如果Jack有更多時間,他會閱讀得更多。(實際是他並沒有更多時間,僅僅是想象)
If you were me, what would you do?
假如你是我,你會怎麼做?(實際是“你”不可能變成“我”)
同樣的,也可以把這種過去時態應用於wish引導的句子中,表示“真希望......”
It rains a lot here, I wish I had an umbrella.
這兒在下雨,我真希望我有一把傘。(實際是此時我並沒有傘)
I wish I was a millionaire, because I don't want to work.
我希望我是個百萬富翁,因為我不想工作。(實際上我並不是百萬富翁)
過去時態裡的if
前面我們講到的是“if+過去時態”的句子表示假如......,這種情況是我們當時引發的想象,如果說是已經發生過的事情,現在重溫,應該如何表達呢?
答案很簡單,表述過去發生過的了,我們用if+had done(過去完成時)......來描述。
看起來容易跟上面的if+過去時態混淆,看看例子,會清晰很多。
The view was wonderful. If I'd had a camera, I would have taken some photographs.
這景色太美了,如果我當時有相機,我肯定會拍一些照。(當時假如的,而且我當時也沒有相機。)
I didn't see you when you passed me in the street. If I had seen you, I would have said hello.
當時在路上我沒有看見你經過,如果我看見了,我肯定會跟你打招呼的。(已經發生過了的,而且當時我並沒有看見你。)
我們來舉例子跟if+過去時態做個對比:
I'm not hungry. If I was hungry, I would eat something.(現在發生的)
I was not hungry. If I'd been hungry, I would have eaten something.(過去發生的)
同樣的,我們也將if+had done運用於與wish的搭配當中。
I wish I'd know that Gary was ill, I would have gone to see him.
我希望我當時知道Gary生病了,我就會去看他的。(當時希望,而且當時我並不知道)
I felt sick, I wish I'd drunk more water.
我感覺生病了,我真希望多喝些水。(當時希望,而且並沒有喝足夠的水)