1.用于祝愿語(用動詞原形):
Long live world Peace!
世界和平萬歲!
“God bless you,” said the old woman.
老太婆說,“愿上帝保佑你。”
“(God) damn it,” cursed the man.
那人罵道,“他媽的!”
Heaven help us.
愿老天保佑我們。
2.用于由may引起的祝愿語:
May you be happy all your life.
愿你一牛幸福。
May there never be another world war!
愿再也不發(fā)生世界大戰(zhàn)!
3.用if only引起的驚嘆語中(謂語和with后從句的謂語形式一樣):
Oh, if he only knew how we miss him.
但愿他知道我們多么想念他。
If only I hadn't lost it.
我要是沒丟失它就好了!
If only she were not so terribly frightened of Aunt Ruth.
她如果不那么怕魯斯姨就好了!
4.用在as it were中:
He is, as it were, a walking dictionary.
他可說是一部活字典。
在日??谡Z中,??捎胏ould, might, would, should等代替can, may, will, shall等使口氣顯得更婉轉(zhuǎn),有人也看作是一種虛擬語氣,如:
Could you leave your telephone number with us?
你可否把你的電話號碼給我們留下?(比用can顯得客氣一些)
Might I have your pen for a minute?
我可否借你的鋼筆用一下?
What would you advise me to do?
你看我該怎么辦?
I should be glad to talk to him.
我愿和他談?wù)劇?/p>
Wouldn't it be better to do it ourselves?
我們自己來干是否更好一點?
You might as well do it today.
你不如今天就做。
The situation could still be remedied, I suppose.
我看這情勢也許還有挽救余地。