英语语法

愿望与假设

这类结构用过去的动词形式说现在的意思，表达遗憾、渴望或者不真实的情况。母语者天天在用：小到抱怨一句（“I wish you'd listen”），大到真正的遗憾（“I wish I had studied harder”），再到客气地表达偏好（“I'd rather you didn't”）。

愿望与假设：课本版

全世界的英语课都教这几种标准形式。这里不用编出来的例句，全部拿母语者的真实片段来讲。

I Wish：对现在的遗憾

I wish + past simple (for a present situation)

用来说眼下的遗憾，也就是你希望此刻不是这样的事。用过去形式，是在提示这件事并不成立：你说的正好和现实相反。“I wish I were taller.”“I wish she knew the answer.”日常口语里“I wish I was”和“I wish I were”一样常见，两种都行，课本却只教正式的“were”。

I Wish：对过去的遗憾

I wish + past perfect (for a past situation)

用来说对过去发生了、或者没发生的事的遗憾。“I wish I had studied harder.”“I wish they hadn't left so early.”“He wishes he'd told her the truth.”

Would Rather

I'd rather + base verb (same subject), or I'd rather + subject + past simple (different subject)

用来说个人偏好。日常口语里最常见的是“I'd rather + 动词原形”，说的是你自己想怎么做：“I'd rather stay home.”“I'd rather not talk about it.”“I'd rather cry than laugh.”要是想说希望别人怎么做，英语就换成“I'd rather + 主语 + 一般过去时”：“I'd rather you didn't smoke.”“She'd rather we left now.”后一种在自然对话里少见得多，语气也更正式、更绕一点。

Suppose / Imagine

Suppose / Imagine + past simple (for hypothetical framing)

请对方一起设想一个假设的情形，和条件句一样用过去形式。“Suppose you won the lottery, what would you do?”“Imagine she found out.”“Supposing he didn't come?”

愿望与假设