Chapter 8 情态动词
8.14 基本用法(九):should的特殊用法
8.14 基本用法(九):should的特殊用法
8.10节讨论了should的很多用法,比如通常把should译为“应该”,表示忠告或规劝,这是should的常规用法。但should还有另外一些比较特殊的用法,不表示劝告,这时不能译成“应该”,而是表示“竟然”和“万一”。
8.14.1 should表示“竟然”
用在下列形容词后面的从句中的should,带有一种很“惊奇”的感情色彩,含有“竟然”的意思。比如:It is/was absurd, amazing, annoying, funny, ludicrous, odd, ridiculous, strange, surprising, unthinkable that…等。
1 It is ridiculous that we should be short of water in a country where it is always raining.
2 It is unthinkable that he should be so careless. 真不可思议,他竟然如此粗心大意!
3 It’s strange that you should be staying in the same hotel! 真奇怪,你们竟然呆在同一个酒店!
4 It’s odd that you and I should have the same name. 很奇怪,我们的名字竟然相同。
此时,从句中也可以用现在时态或过去时态:
5 It is ridiculous that we are short of water in a country where it is always raining.
也常用在下列结构的从句里,放在can’t think why,I don’t know why,I see no reason why等的后面。比如:
6 I don’t know why he should think that I did it. 我真不知道他凭什么竟然会认为这件事是我干的。
7 I see no reason why you should interfere in their quarrel. 我真不明白你有什么理由竟然会介入他们的争吵。
8 I can’t think why he should have been so angry. 我现在搞不明白他当时为什么竟然那么生气。
9 You can’t imagine that a well-behaved gentleman should be so rude to a lady.
10 Why should anyone object to her enjoying herself? 为什么竟然有人反对她过得开心呢?
11 Why should anyone bother to risk losing his treasure to help a stranger?
8.14.2 should表示“万一”
should常常用在lest,for fear that和in case引导的从句中,表示“万一”。比如:
1 I’ve brought my umbrella in case it should rain. 我带伞了,以防万一下雨。
不过,此时,从句中的谓语也可用正常时态,如一般现在时或一般过去时。比如:
2 I’ve brought my umbrella in case it rains.