表示在将来不太可能实现的条件从句有三种形式:
①were、did
条件从句用动词的过去式(be动词用were),主句用should(第一人称)或would(全部人称)+动词原形。也可用could, might代替should, would。
If he were here tomorrow, I would speak to him.明天如果他在这里的话,我就和他谈谈。
If you dropped the glass, it would break.你要是把杯子掉下来,会打碎的。
If she had time, she could help me.她要是有时间,就会帮我了。
②should do
条件从句中不管什么人称都用should do,可表示有偶然实现的可能性。
If it should rain, the crops could be saved.假如下雨,庄稼可能就有救了。
We would trust him if he should be honest.如果他真是诚实的,那我们就相信他。
③were to do
条件从句用were + to do。这种形式比较正式,常出现在书面语中,其假设成份很大,实现的可能性很小。
If I were to do the work, I should do it in a different way.要是我做这项工作,我就会以不同的方式去做。
If the headmaster were to come, what would we say to him假如校长来了,我们对他说什么呢?
对比:
将来不太可能实现的三种非真实条件句中的虚拟语气对比
If it snowed tomorrow, I would stay at home.如果明天下雪的话,我就留在家里。
(常用形式)
If it should snow tomorrow, I would stay at home.如果明天下雪的话,我就留在家里。
(可能性较小)
If it were to snow tomorrow, I would stay at home.如果明天要下雪的话,我就留在家里。(可能性最小)