6.含蓄条件句

条件状语从句不表达出来，只暗含在上下文中的条件句为含蓄条件句。具体的表现形式有以下几种。

(1)用介词短语引出含蓄条件句。

In the absence of(=Without)the keeper，the house would have been burned down．

要不是看门人的话，房子可能会被烧塌。

I had my hair cut off and sold it because I couldn't have lived through Christmas without giving you a present．(人教大纲版高三第88页)

我剪了头发，卖了它，是因为要是不给你一件礼物我就过不好圣诞节。

We could have done better under more favorable conditions．

假设我们有更有利的条件，我们还会做得更好。

What would you do with a million dollars?

有一百万美元你会怎么用?

Without their hard work and dedication，the steps taken by the government would have been useless．(人教大纲版高三第214页)

要是没有他们的辛勤劳动和奉献，政府采取的措施就会付诸东流。

(2)用otherwise，or，but，though等连词引出含蓄条件句。

His hands began to shake two years ago．Otherwise he would still be teaching．

他的手两年前开始发抖，要不然现在他还在教书。

提示：

此句既含有含蓄条件句，又是混合条件句。

It was vital to choose exactly the right place to cut or the diamond could have broken into many small pieces．(人教大纲版高三第114页)

正确地选择切割点是至关重要的，否则整个钻石就会成为碎片。

He raised himself completely，obliging me to rise too，or I could not have supported him．

他完全地站了起来，使得我也站了起来，否则我就无法搀扶他了。

The chickens can eat the food that we would otherwise throwaway．

我们养的小鸡可以吃我们要扔掉的食物。

提示：

在此句中otherwise是副词。又:

By looking at a problem in as many ways as possible，creative thinkers can find solutions that would otherwise remain invisible．(人教大纲版高二下第59页)

通过从尽可能多的角度来看待一个问题，富有创造力的思考者可以发现在其他情况下可能察觉不了的答案。

I might have given you more help，but I was busy then．

我本可以给你更多的帮助，但是当时我很忙。

I would have written before，but I have been ill．

本来该早点给你写信的，但我一直在生病。

Einstein cared little for money，though he could have been very rich．

爱因斯坦对钱不怎么感兴趣，虽然他本可以非常富有的。

(3)用but for和except for(若非)引出含蓄条件句。

but for和except for其后均可接名词短语，表示与事实相反的假设或条件，其后句子中的谓语要用should/would/could(not)do/be．．来表示对现在的虚拟;而用should/would(not)have done/been．．来表示对过去的虚拟。

But/Except for air and water，nothing could live in the earth．

要是没有空气和水，任何东西都无法在地球上生存。

But/Except for the storm，I could have swam across the Channel．

要是没有风暴，我就可能游过海峡了。

The ship would have been sunk with all on board but for the efforts of the captain．

要不是船长的努力，船和船上所有的人都会沉下去。

(4)用but that(若非)引出含蓄条件句。

But that he was prevented，he would have shot the other guy．

要不是受到阻止的话，他就会开枪打死另一个人的。

He would have said no but that he was afraid．

要不是害怕的话，他就会拒绝的。

(5)用分词短语given等引出含蓄条件句。

Given more attention，the tree could have grown better．

如果给予更多的照料的话，这棵树就会长得更好的。

(6)用动词不定式短语引出含蓄条件句。

It would be only partly right to answer in this way．(=if we answered in this way)

如果这样回答，只对了一部分。

To hear him speak English(=If one were to hear him speak English)，one would think him an Englishman．

要是听他讲起英语来，人们会认为他是一个英国人。

Your wife would not be pleased to hear you say that．(人教大纲版高二下第68页)

你的妻子听到你那么说是不会高兴的。

(7)用形容词及其比较级或者用形容词及其比较级修饰的名词词组引出含蓄条件句。

What would the world look like full of managers and financial specialists?(人教大纲版高三第98页)

如果世界上全都是经理和金融家，那么这个世界将会成为什么样子呢?

A lone，he would have been terrified．

如果单独一人，他会感到害怕的。

A more careful person would not have made so many mistakes．

一个更细心的人就不会犯这么多错误了。

A less conscientious man would not have tried so hard to get this job done．

换了一个责任心不强的人就不会那么努力地去干好这件工作了。

A strong man would not have committed suicide．

意志坚强的人是不会自杀的。

(8)有时一个名词也能引出含蓄条件句。

One mistake could have resulted in a huge loss．(人教大纲版高三第114页)

哪怕就是一个错误也会导致巨大的损失。

As a consequence，the Kooris have been able to live for thousands of years in a desert land in which a foreigner would quickly die from lack of water and food．(人教大纲版高三第166页)

因此，古利人数千年来得以居住在沙漠里，而外国人在这儿很快就会因为缺水和食物而死亡。

提示：

在此句中，名词a foreigner引出一个含蓄条件句，同时整个定语从句表示转折。(参见定语从句的非定语功能)

(9)用独立主格结构引出含蓄条件句。

All things considered，the price would be reasonable．

如果全盘考虑的话，价格就是合理的。

More time given，we could have done it better．

假若给更多的时间的话，这件事情我们会做得更好。

(10)用定语从句引出含蓄条件句。

Anyone who had been in your position would have done the same．

任何处在你这种情况的人都会这样做的。

A nation，which stopped working，would be dead in a fortnight．

任何民族，要是停止工作的话，就会在两周内消亡。

Any person who had behaved in that way would have been dismissed．

任何人这样做了都会被解雇。

(11)“情态动词+不定式完成式”暗示虚拟语气。

I should have called to make an airline reservation，but I didn't．

我本应该打个电话预定飞机票的，但是我没有。

The porter ought to have called the fire-brigade as soon as he saw the fire。

这个搬运工本应该一看到大火就跟消防大队打电话的。

(12)条件暗含在上下文中。

You might stay here forever．

你可以永远待在这儿。(可能暗含if you wanted to)

We would have succeeded．

我们本来是会成功的。(可能暗含if we had kept trying)

Your reputation would be ruined．

你的名誉会败坏的。(可能暗含if you should accept it)

I would appreciate a little of your time．

谢谢你给我一点时间吧。(可能暗含if you were so kind as to giveme a little of your time)

(13)在不少情况下，虚拟式已变成习惯说法，很难找出其暗含的条件。

You wouldn't know．

你不会知道的。

I would like to come．

我愿意来。

I wouldn't have dreamed of it．

这是我做梦也不会想到的。

He told the story in such minute detail that he might himself have been an eyewitness．

他将那事讲得非常仔细，简直就像他亲眼看见的一样。

(14)有时表示虚拟语气的条件状语从句或者主句都可以省略，而只剩下一个主句或者一个条件状语从句。

I could have helped you．

我本可以帮助你的。

If I had time!

我要是有时间该多好啊!

She should have come to the party．

她应该来参加聚会。

(15)“名词+and”结构。

One step further and you would be dead．(=If you took one step further，you would be dead．)

再往前走一步，你就会死。

Another sound from me and the snake might strike．(=If another sound came from me，the snake might strike．

要是我再弄出点响声，蛇就可能咬人。