The cave might never have been discovered had not the entrance been spotted by the distinguished French potholer, Berger. (New Concept English, Book 3, L.42) 我不理解 had not the entrance been spotted 的结构。
had not the entrance been spotted... 是个无连词 if 的条件从句, 它等于 if the entrance had not been spotted... (如果不是法国著名洞穴探险家波格发现了这个入口)。这个例句表明, 无连词条件从句可以放在主句之前, 也可以放在主句之后 (参见 had he been, should I be free, were )。再如:
And there's one case I think I would have lost had I taken Bill's name. (Hillary, Living History) 有一个案子, 如果我用了比尔的姓, 我认为官司必输无疑。
请做下面的英语试题：
- The millions of calculations involved, had they been done by hand, ____ all practical value by the time they were finished.
A. could lose B. would have lost C. might lose D. ought to have lose(全国研考,94-7)
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They are the ones who assert that a better bridge could have been built have we had their assistance. (TOEFL)
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____, John would not have failed. A. If he has listened to me B. Had he listened to me C. If he listened to me D. As soon as he listened to me(TOEFL)
(参见 conditional clause without conjunction)