虛擬條件句的正確用法

The Subjunctive Use with WISH, IF ONLY, I’D RATHER, SUPPOSE, etc.
導讀：在使用虛擬條件從句時，請特別留意從句中時態的用法。

1)with WISH, IF ONLY and WOULD (or WOULD THAT), the past tense expresses present wishes and the past perfect expresses past wishes, e.g.
使用wish, only和would( would that)時，從句中用過去式表達現在的愿望，用過去完成式表達過去的愿望。例如：
John wishes that he had a car. (but he doesn’t )　他很希望有一輛車（現在他還沒有）
Hob wished he had not cheated at the examination. (but he did and was severely punished)　Hob很希望他沒有在考場作弊。（但他已經考試作弊了）
*需要注意的是，If only和Would (would that)在書面語中常用來替代wish。例如：
Ah, if only (=I wish) it had life and movement.

2) I’D/HE’D RATHER=I WOULD/HE WOUD RATHER (我寧愿/他寧愿)
① followed by a verb root, e.g.
后面緊跟動詞原形，例如：
I’d rather stay at home on Sundays.　　我寧愿我周日都呆在家里。
② followed by a past tense clause showing a present wish and a past perfect tense clause expressing a past wish, e.g.
從句中用過去式來表達現在的愿望，用過去完成式來表達過去的愿望。
He’d rather his children did not make so much noise. (but they do)　　他希望他的孩子們不發出這么吵鬧的聲音。
I’d rather you had done it yesterday. (but you didn’t)　我希望你昨天就已經完成了。（但是你沒有）
*需要注意的是，I’d/He’d rather+從句=I’d/He’d just as soon+從句，例如：
I’d just as soon (=I’d rather) you did not mention it to him now. (but you do)

3) AS IF and AS THOUGH are used in the same way
As if 和as though的用法相同
In unreal comparisons, we often use, after AS IF and AS THOUGH, the past tense to express a present meaning and the past perfect tense to express a past meaning, e.g.
在作虛擬比較時，我們常在as if 和as though之后用過去時態表達現在的意思，用過去完成時表達過去的意思。例如：
He often talks as if/as though he were my father. (but he is not)
他說起話來就像我的父親一般。（但事實上他不是）
*需要注意的是，as if和as though 后面可以接陳述句語句，在look as if/though和seem as if/though的短語中比較常見。這個時候，從句中的動作很有可能發生或者所描述的被認為是真的。請比較下面兩句句子：
He walks as if he is drunk. (=He is probably drunk.)　他走路的樣子看上去他很可能已經醉了。
He walks as if he were drunk. (but he is not)　他走路的樣子像是他喝醉了。（事實上他沒有）

4)IT IS TIME+ PAST TIME CLAUSE expresses a present or future meaning, e.g.
It is time+過去式從句表達現在或者是將來。
It is time you went to bed. (It is time for you to go to bed.) 現在你該睡覺了。
It is high time you got married and settled down. 你確實該結婚成家了。（語氣比較強烈）
It is about time you got up. 恐怕你該起床了吧。（語氣較溫和的表達）

5)SUPPOSE and SUPPOSING are the same, They are used with a similar meaning to “if”, e.g.
Suppose和supposing的用法相同，都表示“如果”的意思。例如：
Suppose (Supposing) he is absent, what shall we do?
Suppose (Supposing) he were absent, what should we do?