say

say 在这里是现在虚拟式(be 型虚拟式) = Let him say。在这种习语里，表示让步意义。以现在虚拟式形式出现的动词总放在句首。例如，常见的习语 Come what may(不管发生什么事)，Be that as it may(无论如何)。你提问的句子的意思是：“不管他怎么说，他已把事情搞得再糟不过了。”类例：

1. Come what might, they were alone in the world with no one to help them. (Dickens) 不论发生什么事，他们在世界上都是孤独的，谁也不来帮助他们。

2. Later writers, say what you will of their genius, have rarely equalled the elaborate beauty of the ancients. 不管你对于他们的天才怎么说，后世作家很少能够与古代作家语言的精巧优美相媲美。

3. Be he friend or enemy, the law regards him as a criminal. 不管他是朋友,还是敌人,法律都把他看作是一个罪犯。

4. Well, say it were wrong, what then? 好吧,就算错了,那又怎么样呢?

(参见 be $^{3}$ , come what may)

按照时态呼应的原则,直接引语中的一般过去时要前移为过去完成时。例如:

"I wrote a letter to my brother."

= He said that he had written a letter to his brother.

但是,当间接引语中已有时间状语表明间接引语中的动作、事态先于引述动词的动作时,则间接引语中的谓语动词仍可用一般过去时,而不必前移为过去完成时。

根据CGEL的解释，对于不久前所发生的交流行为，可以使用动词的一般现在时态：

1. Joan tells me she's going to the airport in an hour's time. (CGEL) 琼告诉我她在一小时内(后)要到机场去。

2. The guard says (that) the road is closed. (Close) 卫兵说路不通了。

3. The boss says (that) he can see you now. (LEG) 老板说他现在可以见你。

4. A: Come in now, Jim. Dinner's ready. 吉姆, 现在进来吧。晚餐准备好了。

B: What does your mother say? 你母亲说什么？

C: She says you must come in now, Dad. (She says) dinner's ready. 她说你现在该进来了，爸爸。(她说)晚餐准备好了。

(参见 present tense $^{6}$ )

应记住: be said 之后要跟一个带 to 的动词不定式。例如：

1. An egg is said to be the equivalent of a pound of meat. (RCD) 据说一个鸡蛋相当于一磅肉。

2. The tiny village of Frinley is said to possess a ‘ cursed tree’. (New Concept English, Book 2,

L.58）据说弗林利小村里有一棵“被诅咒”的树。

还应注意, be said to do 没有与之相对应的主动结构。He is said to be 不能说 They said him to be。

句中的 saying 不是作状语,而是作定语,其中心词是 a notice。你可能问,say 能与 a notice(告示,通告)搭配使用吗?可以的。因为 say 不仅可以表示“人们说”,也可以表示“文字材料说或写”。例如:

1. ... a letter arrived from Antonio saying that all his ships had been lost at sea and that he would have to give Shylock a pound of his flesh. ……安东尼奥的一封信上说，他所有的船只都在海上遇险失事了，他将不得不给夏洛克一磅自己身上的肉。

2. a notice saying 'Keep Out' 一个写有“禁止入内”的告示

3. What does the sign say? 标牌上写的是什么？

4. The notice says that you are not allowed to walk on the grass. 告示上写着: 不许在草地上行走。

[句意]也许有必要贴一张“勿踩台面”的告示。