英语中表示假设的句子主要是虚拟语气,其表示方式有:
1.以if条件从句为虚拟语气标志:
与现在事实相反 从句时态用一般过去时(be用were),主句用过去将来时
例如:If I were you, I would finish homework first.
与过去事实相反 从句用过去完成时,主句用过去将来完成时
例如:If I had gone there, I would have bought two tickets.
与将来事实相反 从句用一般过去时或过去将来时,主句用过去将来时
例如:If he had/would have time, he would come to your birthday party tomorrow.
2.以even if/though让步从句为虚拟语气标志 主从句时态同if条件从句相同
例如:He might give you more help, even though he were/was very busy.
3.以as if/though引导的表语从句或状语从句为虚拟语气标志 主从句时态同if条件从句相同
例如:It seems as if he had known the news.
应用条件
在表示假想的虚假的、与事实相反的或难以实现的情况时用虚拟语气,表示主观愿望或某种强烈情感时,也用虚拟语气。即当一个人说话时欲强调其所说的话是基于自己的主观想法,愿望,假想,猜测,怀疑或建议,而不是根据客观实际,就用虚拟语气。主要是英语语法的一种表达。