过去时指现在或将来

英语的一般过去时形式(wanted, did, went)除了表示过去时间之外,有时也可能表示现在或将来。归纳起来,大致有以下几种情况:

A. 礼貌过去时(见 could $^{9}$ , want $^{3}$ )

某些表示意愿和精神状态的动词以及某些情态动词使用过去时,是指现在或将来,而不是指过去。这样用,是为了表达礼貌或委婉的口气,如你提出的句子。再如:

1. Did you want to see me now? 您现在想来看我吗？

2. I thought you might like some flowers. 我想您也许会喜欢一些花。

3. Could you open the door? 能把门打开吗?

B. would rather (that) 之后的过去时 (见 would rather)

1. I'd rather we had dinner now. 我宁愿我们现在吃饭。(表示礼貌)

2. I'd rather you were happy. 我宁愿你幸福。

3. I'd rather you went by train. 我宁愿你坐火车去。

C. 在 wish (that) 之后的过去时 [见 wish(v.) $^{1,2}$ ]

1. I wish I were a bird. 我要是一只鸟,就好了。

2. I'm hungry and I wish I had one of my mother's cake. 我饿了。要是能吃上一块妈妈的糕点该多好。 D. if only 从句之中的过去时

3. If only I were rich! 要是我很有钱该多好!

4. If only Dad could see me now! 要是爸爸现在能见到我,就好了!

E. it's(high) time 之后的过去时[见 It's(high/about) time he found...]

1. It's time we left. 我们该走了。

2. It's time he was taught a lesson. 现在是该教训教训他的时候了。

F. suppose (that) 之后的过去时

1. Suppose you had a million pounds — how would you spend it? 假如你有一百万英镑——你怎么花呢?

2. Suppose you did your homework first. 你先做家庭作业怎么样?

G. 非真实条件中的过去时(见 subjunctive mood)

H. as if (as though) 从句中的过去时(见 as if $^{4-7}$ )

1. When a pencil is partly in a glass of water, it looks as if it were broken. (全国高考, 95-14) 当一支铅笔的一部分放入装有水的玻璃杯的时候, 它就像是折断了似的。

2. He talks as if he had a potato in his mouth. 他说起话来就好像嘴里含着一个土豆似的。