[语法] 借用纪念梵高的一首歌,熟悉“虚拟语气”的使用~

第223期

(每周六、日推送)

最近有同学问了一个比较高质量的问题,跟大家分享。

有首致敬梵高的歌特别有名,叫 Vincent,开头两句就是 Starry Starry night...还记得吗?

里面有两句歌词他问我什么意思:

But I could have told you Vincent,

This world was never meant for one as beautiful as you.

有两个重要语言点:

1)could have done:本来能够…

2)be meant for...:为...而存在

我们重点来看看这个 could have done 结构,这是一个非常典型的虚拟语气,表示“本来可以做,但事实上并没有”,比如:

I could have finished the report.

译:我本来可以完成报告的。

这句话暗指,事实上我并没有完成,可能出现了某种情况,咱们把这种情况补充完整,句子就更明确了:

I could have finished the report if had not disturbed me.

译:如果你没有打扰我的话,我本可以完成报告的。

当然,could 可以换成 might(或许)、would(就会)、should(应该) 等情态动词,表达不同含义,如:

1. If I had got up earlier, I might have caught the train.

译:如果我起得更早一点,我或许就赶上火车了。

2. If I had known your telephone number yesterday, I would have phoned you.

译:如果我昨天知道你的电话号码,我就会给你打电话了。

3. It should have been a simple matter. But you made it complicated.

译:这本应该是一件简单的事情,你把它搞复杂了。

再回到歌词原句:

But I could have told you Vincent,

This world was never meant for one as beautiful as you.

结合起来理解就是:

本来我可以告诉你,文森特,这个世界从来不是为如此美丽的你而存在(换言之,这个世界跟如此美的你毫不相称)。

因为梵高后来是自杀的,作者在为他的死惋惜,故使用了虚拟语气。

理解了点个赞哦!~

上一期:

[语法] 句型 the more...the more...的语法原理是?

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