* 不完整的條件句
此處所謂不完整的條件句是指有時我們用到假設法，並不會像上面的例子完整的講出「如果…就會…」，但仍有假設語氣在。以下介紹幾種常見的情況。
A. 暗示性、隱藏的假設
1. I would have helped you, but I had to work. I would have helped you if I hadn't had to work.
當時我本來可以幫你的，只是我有工作要做。意思是：如果我當時沒有工作要做，我就會幫你了。這裡沒有把條件句的部分用假設語氣寫出來，而是用一般的直述句，但整句的意思隱含有假設語氣。
1. I would like to go with you, but I have to stay home. →If I didn't have to say home, I would go with you.
我很想跟你去，但我得留在家。即：如果我不用留在家，我就會跟你去。情況類似第1句。
B. 省略性的用法
1. I would not succeed without your help. I would not succeed if you didn't help me (or if you hadn't helped me).
如果條件句中的動作可以簡單用一個所有格加名詞表示，就可以把條件句的部分省略成without…（但原句要有「如果沒有…」的意思）。如此處條件句的部分意思是如果你沒幫我，可以簡單寫成without your help，這種句子看不出條件句的時態（因為動詞省略了）。
此外，這種「如果沒有…」的句子還可以這樣寫：
1. But for your help, I would not succeed.
2. If it were not for your help, I would not succeed.
3. Were it not for your help, I would not succeed.
4. If it had not been for your help, I would not succeed.
5. Had it not been for your help, I would not succeed.
第5-8句的寫法就保留了原條件句的時態，第6句和第8句分別是第5和第7句省略if的用法。
C. as if / as though
1. It looks as if it is going to rain.
as if後面加未來可能發生的事，用未來式。
1. He looks as if he were sick. (He is not sick.)
as if後面若是加與事實相反的事，那就要照上面所說的方法來寫。如這一句是說他看起來一副病了的樣子（事實上他沒病），as if後面就要用過去式來表示與現在事實相反。若是與過去事實相反則用過去完成式。如：
1. He looks as if he had ran a race.
他看起來好像之前參加了賽跑一樣。
* wish的用法
wish可以當成「希望」，也可以用在祝福，在此要介紹的是當成「希望」的用法，因為它和假設語氣有關。另一個表希望的hope用在可能實現的願望，若是不可能實現或是與事實相反的願望，要用wish搭配假設語氣的時態。如下例：
1. I wish I were you. (I am not you.)
真希望我是你，但事實上，我不可能是你。這是與現在事實相反的願望。
1. I wish he hadn't told me the truth. (He did tell me the truth.)
真希望他那時沒告訴我真相。但事實上，他確實已經告訴我了。 |
