Ⅵ助动词(2)

88.It is...that...should中should的含义

在It is...that...的句型中,常接用should,那个should应该怎样翻译才对?

【解答】在这种句型中用的should,到底是表示一个什么意思,文法家颇有不同的意见,有的说是一种临时的假设语气,不把那事看做事实,而只是当作一个思考上的问题提出而已。至于It is后所接的形容词或名词,那才真正是对那事的判断或批评的表示。例如: It is natural that you should count the days before coming home.(如果你要计算归期,我认为也是当然的。)

另外一种意见,就认为这个should的意思是含有“正当”或是“意外”或“遗憾”的成分在内。我觉得这个说法很对,请看下面的这些实例,同时注意翻译的方法:

(1)表示“正当”的:

It is proper that you should pay for it.(=You ought to pay for it.)(你应当付钱。)

It is necessary that men of this calling should remain single.(干这种职业的人是应该终身不结婚的。)

It is natural that I should dwell rather upon his successes than upon his failures.——Doyle(我自然应当详说他的种种成功,而不说他的种种失败。)

It is not well that there should be a difference among the members of a family.(在一个家庭中发生不同的意见是不好的。)

It is impossible you should need any assistance.——Cowper(你不至于要什么帮助。)

Is it really possible that you should be so careless?——Doyle(你真会这样不当心吗?)

注意:只有在It is impossible...及Is it possible...后面才可以接should或can,若是说It is possible时,后面就要接may了,如:

It was possible that I might spend the night there.——Doyle(我很可能在那里过夜。)

It is impossible that this can be true.(这决不可能是真的。)

Is it possible that he can have forgotten me?(他竟会把我忘记了吗?)

(2)表示“意外”或“遗憾”的:

It is strange that he should say so.(他居然会这样说,真是奇怪。)

It is a pity that he should live at such a distance.(他住得那样远,真是一件憾事。)

It is singular that on this particular night he should have been up.——Doyle(在那天晚上他竟会起来是很奇怪的。)

在why及I am surprised,I regret,I am sorry,I wonder等等的后面用的should,也是表“意外”的,例如:

There is no reason why we should not succeed.(我们没有不成功的理由。)

I am surprised that you should not be able to explain it.(你不能解释这个,我很惊异。)

I regret that it should have come to this.(我很遗憾它会变成这个样子。)

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