英语条件句课程 - TOEIC®备考

英语中的条件句用于表达情况及其后果。在TOEIC®考试中条件句非常常见,因为它们既反映事实,也反映概率和假设。本课程详细介绍了各种类型的条件句、它们的结构、用法及其细微差别。
那么什么是条件句?
如前言所述,条件句是用于表达条件的句子。该句由两个部分组成:
- 条件从句(称为「if clause」):用于表达条件。
- 主句(称为「main clause」):用于说明结果或后果。
该句子的通用结构为:「If + 条件,结果」
- If it rains, I will stay home.(如果下雨,我会待在家里。)
两个部分可以颠倒顺序而不改变意思,此时不需要逗号:
- I will stay home if it rains.
英语中有五种条件句类型:
- Zero-conditional
- First-conditional
- Second-conditional
- Third-conditional
- Mixed-conditional
根据行为的语境、时态、概率程度等,会选择不同类型的条件句。接下来我们将逐一详细讲解这些条件句类型。
1. 零条件句(Zero-conditional)
Zero-conditional用于表达普遍事实、普遍真理或可预测的结果。它常用于描述科学现象、规则或习惯。
构成zero-conditional的结构如下:
- If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.
(如果你把水加热到100°C,它就会沸腾。) - If people don't exercise, they gain weight.
(如果人们不锻炼,他们会发胖。) - If you press this button, it turns off.
(如果你按这个按钮,它就会关闭。)
判断一句话是否为zero-conditional,只需将「if」替换为「every time」。这种句型用于表达普遍真理,因此条件始终成立。
2. 第一条件句(First-conditional)
First-conditional表达未来可能或很有可能发生的事情。当条件是现实可行的时使用。
构成first-conditional的结构如下:
- If it rains, I will stay at home.
(如果下雨,我会待在家里。) - If she studies, she will pass the test.
(如果她学习,她会通过考试。) - If they arrive on time, we will start the meeting.
(如果他们准时到达,我们就开始开会。)
你可以阅读我们的一般现在时课程,了解如何构成一般现在时。
A. 条件从句后不能用「will」
如我们在将来时课程中提到的,如果一句话以**「if」开头,则该部分不能**使用「will」:
❌ If I will go to London, I will visit Big Ben.
✅ If I go to London, I will visit Big Ben.
B. 在正式语境下用「should」代替「if」
在first-conditional中,在正式语境下可以用「should」代替「if」。使用「should」表示事件很可能发生但仍属于假设。
- Should you need any help, I will assist you.
(如果您需要帮助,我会协助您。) - Should the meeting be postponed, we will inform all attendees.
(如果会议推迟,我们会通知所有参与者。)
3. 零条件句和第一条件句的特殊用法
Zero和first-conditional在英语中最常用,因为它们表达现实情况或普遍真理。不过,它们在用法上有很多细节和变体。
A. 在零条件句和第一条件句主句中使用其他动词形式或时态
A.a. 在主句中使用情态动词
在zero和first-conditional中,可以用情态动词如**「can」、「may」、「might」或「should」**替换「will」,以表达不同的语气。
- 「Can」:表示能力或可能性。
- If you finish your homework, you can watch TV.
(如果你做完作业,你可以看电视。)
- If you finish your homework, you can watch TV.
- 「May」 / 「Might」:表示不确定的可能性。
- If you study hard, you may pass the exam.
(如果你努力学习,你可能通过考试。) - If we leave early, we might catch the train.
(如果我们早点出发,可能赶得上火车。)
- If you study hard, you may pass the exam.
- 「Should」:表示建议或推荐。
- If you feel sick, you should see a doctor.
(如果你感觉不舒服,你应该去看医生。)
- If you feel sick, you should see a doctor.
A.b. 在主句中用祈使句
在zero和first-conditional中,主句可以用祈使句来发布指令或命令,使句子更直接。
- If you see Jane, tell her to call me.
(如果你看到Jane,告诉她给我打电话。) - If it rains, take an umbrella.
(如果下雨,带把伞。)
B. 在零条件句和第一条件句的条件从句中可以用除一般现在时外的其他时态
B.a. 用现在完成时代替一般现在时
如果要强调先于未来结果发生的完成行为,可以在条件从句中使用现在完成时,突出条件是已完成的动作。
- If you have finished your work, we’ll go out for dinner.
(如果你做完工作,我们就去外面吃饭。) - If he has called, I’ll let you know.
(如果他已经打电话了,我会告诉你。)
B.b. 用现在进行时代替一般现在时
条件从句中用现在进行时表达正在发生或临时性的动作,用于依赖于当前状态的条件。
- If you’re getting tired, you should take a break.
(如果你累了,应该休息一下。) - If it’s raining, we’ll stay indoors.
(如果正在下雨,我们就待在室内。)
C. 在零条件句和第一条件句中可用其他表达代替「if」
C.a. 用「when」代替「if」
在zero和first-conditional中,可以用「when」代替「if」来引导条件(或动作发生的时间)。
- When the water reaches 100°C, it boils.
(当水达到100°C时,它就会沸腾。)
但要注意,使用「if」和「when」会改变句意:
- 「If」表达不确定的条件,即可能发生也可能不发生。
- If she gets pregnant, they will move to a bigger house.
(如果她怀孕了,他们会搬到更大的房子。--怀孕是否发生不确定。)
- If she gets pregnant, they will move to a bigger house.
- 「When」则表示事件必然发生,只是时间问题。
- When she gets pregnant, they will move to a bigger house.
(当她怀孕时,他们会搬到更大的房子。--认为怀孕一定会发生。)
- When she gets pregnant, they will move to a bigger house.
C.b. 用「unless」代替「if not」
在zero和first-conditional中,可以用「unless」代替「if not」来表达否定条件。「unless」意为「除非」,与「if not」作用类似,但更简洁。
- If you don’t study, you won’t pass the exam.
(如果你不学习,你就通不过考试。) - Unless you study, you won’t pass the exam.
(除非你学习,否则你通不过考试。)
重要提示
- 否定意义: 与「if」不同,「unless」直接表达限制或例外。
- Unless he apologizes, I won’t forgive him.
(除非他道歉,否则我不会原谅他。)
- Unless he apologizes, I won’t forgive him.
- 语法细节: 用「unless」时无需再加否定(不像「if not」)。
- ❌ Unless you don’t study, you won’t pass the exam.(错误--不需要双重否定)
- ✅ Unless you study, you won’t pass the exam.
- 用「not + unless」强调条件: 常用「not + unless」表示「只有...才...」,强调必要条件,这等同于「only ... if」。
- The company will only approve my application if I provide additional documents.
- The company will not approve my application unless I provide additional documents.
(公司只有在我提供附加材料后才会批准我的申请。)
- 肯定程度差异: 使用「unless」有时比单纯「if」更绝对和坚决。
C.c. 用「so long as」「as long as」「on condition that」「providing / provided that」代替「if」
在zero和first-conditional中,可以用「so long as」、「as long as」、「on condition that」以及「providing / provided that」等表达严格或特定条件,强调条件的必要性。
- 「So long as」/「As long as」(只要,条件是):
- You can stay here so long as you keep quiet.
(只要你保持安静,你就可以待在这里。) - As long as you work hard, you will succeed.
(只要你努力工作,你就会成功。)
- You can stay here so long as you keep quiet.
- 「On condition that」(条件是):
- I’ll lend you my car on condition that you return it before 8 PM.
(我会借你我的车,但条件是你必须在晚上八点前归还。)
- I’ll lend you my car on condition that you return it before 8 PM.
- 「Providing / Provided that」(条件是):
- I will let you take a day off provided that you finish your tasks first.
(只要你先完成任务,我就会让你休一天假。) - Providing the weather is good, we’ll go for a hike.
(只要天气好,我们就去徒步。)
- I will let you take a day off provided that you finish your tasks first.
C.d. 用「so that」或「in case」代替「if」
在某些语境下,可以用「so that」(为了)或「in case」(以防万一)代替「if」,表达目的或预防措施:
- 「So that」用于说明行为目的或期望的结果:
- I’ll explain it again so that everyone understands.
(我会再解释一遍,为的是让大家都明白。)
- I’ll explain it again so that everyone understands.
- 「In case」表达为某种可能性做准备:
- Take an umbrella in case it rains.
(带把伞,以防下雨。)
- Take an umbrella in case it rains.
C.e. 其他可替换「if」的表达
还有一些其他表达可在zero和first-conditional中替换「if」,包括:
- 「before」(在...之前)
- 「until」(直到...为止)
- 「as soon as」(一...就...)
- 「the moment」(在...那一刻)
- 「after」(在...之后)
4. 第二条件句(Second-conditional)
Second-conditional用于描述假设性或不大可能发生的情况,通常是现在或未来。也可用于提出建议或虚构的情境。
其结构如下:
举例:描述当前不太可能发生或不现实的情况:
- If I had a car, I would drive to work every day.
(如果我有车,我每天都开车去上班。)
此例中,实际上我没有车,这是与实际情况相反的假设。
举例:描述未来不太可能发生或不现实的情况:
- If I won the lottery tomorrow, I would buy a mansion.
(如果明天我中了大奖,我会买一栋别墅。)
这里,"明天中彩票"被认为极不可能,因此用second-conditional。
请注意,条件从句中不能有「would」!
✅ If I had a car, I would drive to work every day.
❌ If I’d have a car, I would drive to work every day.
你可以阅读我们的过去式课程,了解如何构成过去式。
A. 用「could」或「might」代替「would」
在second-conditional中,可以用「could」或「might」代替「would」表达不同的语气:
- 「Could」:表示能力或在假设情境下的可能性。
- If I had more money, I could buy a new car.
(如果我有更多钱,我就可以买新车。) - 表示在这种假设下该行为是可实现的。
- If I had more money, I could buy a new car.
- 「Might」:表示概率或不确定性。
- If she studied harder, she might pass the exam.
(如果她努力学习,她可能通过考试。) - 这里通过考试是有可能但不确定的。
- If she studied harder, she might pass the exam.
B. 所有主语都用「If I were」而不是「If I was」
在second-conditional中,建议所有主语都用「were」(包括"I", "he", "she", "it"),因为它体现了假设性。
在正式或书面语的假设句型中,「were」更规范。口语中偶尔会用「If I was」,但不够优雅或正式。
总结:「If I were」是second-conditional的标准和推荐表达,尤其在学术或正式场合。
- If I were rich, I would travel the world.
(如果我很富有,我会环游世界。) - If he were taller, he could play basketball professionally.
(如果他更高,他可以打职业篮球。)
C. 用「rather」表达偏好(First & Second Conditional)
在first和second-conditional中可用「rather」表达偏好:
- First conditional: If it rains tomorrow, I'd rather stay at home than go out.
(如果明天下雨,我更愿意待在家里而不是外出。) - Second conditional: If I had more free time, I'd rather read a book than watch TV.
(如果我有更多空闲时间,我愿意读书而不是看电视。)
D. 在第二条件句中使用「wish」表达愿望或遗憾
在second-conditional中,「wish」可用于表达愿望或对不现实/未来不可能情况的遗憾。在「wish」后用一般过去时或「could」。
- If I spoke Spanish, I would apply for the job.
→ I wish I spoke Spanish so I could apply for the job. - If she had more free time, she would travel the world.
→ I wish she had more free time so she could travel the world.
「wish」后不能用情态动词,因为「wish」本身就是情态动词。直接用一般过去时。 ❌ I wish I would have more time.
✅ I wish I had more time.
更多关于「wish」的用法,见我们的情态动词课程。
5. 第一和第二条件句的特殊用法
A. 用「be to」表达前提条件
表达必须先满足某个条件才能发生主句事件时,可以用「be to」,让句子更正式或权威。
- First conditional:
- If you are to pass the exam, you must study harder.
(如果你想通过考试,你必须更加努力。)
- If you are to pass the exam, you must study harder.
- Second conditional:
- If she were to accept the job offer, how would she manage the relocation?
(如果她接受了工作邀请,她将如何安排搬迁?) - 这里「were to」让假设更正式。
- If she were to accept the job offer, how would she manage the relocation?
B. 如何选择第一或第二条件句?
选择first还是second-conditional取决于情况的可能性或现实性:
- First conditional: 用于未来非常可能发生的情况。
- If it rains tomorrow, I’ll stay home.
(如果明天下雨,我会待在家里。)
- If it rains tomorrow, I’ll stay home.
- Second conditional: 用于假设、不太可能或不可能发生的现在或未来情况。
- If I had a million dollars, I’d buy a mansion.
(如果我有一百万美元,我会买一栋别墅。)
- If I had a million dollars, I’d buy a mansion.
6. 第三条件句(Third-conditional)
Third-conditional用于描述过去的假设情况,通常表达对过去的遗憾。它描述没有发生的事件及其虚构后果。要牢记,third-conditional仅用于虚构或不真实的过去事件。
构成third-conditional的结构为:
想了解更多,请阅读我们的过去完成时课程。
- If I had known, I would have helped you.
(如果我当时知道,我会帮助你。) - If she had not ignored the instructions, she would have avoided the mistake.
(如果她没有忽略说明,她就能避免犯错。) - If they had left earlier, they wouldn’t have missed the flight.
(如果他们早点离开,他们就不会错过航班。)
注意,条件从句中不能出现「would」!
✅ If she had worked harder, she would have succeeded.
❌ If she would have worked harder, she would have succeeded.
A. 用「could」或「might」代替「would」
在third-conditional中,也可用「could」或「might」代替「would」表达不同语气:
- 「Could」表示在虚构过去场景下的能力或可能性。
- If I had saved more money, I could have bought a house.
(如果我存了更多钱,我就可以买房了。)- 表示在这种情况下买房是可能的。
- If I had saved more money, I could have bought a house.
- 「Might」表示在虚构过去场景下的概率或不确定性。
- If she had taken the earlier train, she might have arrived on time.
(如果她坐早一点的火车,她可能就能按时到达。) - 这里按时到达是可能但不确定的。
- If she had taken the earlier train, she might have arrived on time.
B. 在第三条件句中用「wish」表达遗憾
在third-conditional中,「wish」可用于表达对过去未发生事件的遗憾。用过去完成时表示假想的过去。
- If I had studied harder, I would have passed the test.
→ I wish I had studied harder so I could have passed the test. - If we had arrived earlier, we would have seen the performance.
→ I wish we had arrived earlier so we could have seen the performance.
「wish」后不能用情态动词,因为「wish」本身是情态动词。直接用过去完成时。 ❌ I wish I would have studied harder
✅ I wish I had studied harder.
更多关于「wish」的用法,请参见我们的情态动词课程。
7. 混合条件句(Mixed-conditional)
Mixed conditionals结合了second-conditional和third-conditional的元素,描述过去行为对现在的影响或反之。
构成mixed-conditional的结构如下:
- If I had studied medicine, I would be a doctor now.
(如果我当时学了医学,现在就是医生了。) - If I had worked harder at school, I would have a better job now.
(如果我在学校更努力,现在就会有更好的工作。) - If she hadn't missed the train, she would be here with us.
(如果她没有错过火车,她现在会和我们在一起。)
结论
总之,条件句非常重要,它能表达复杂思想、假设、概率或遗憾。无论在TOEIC®考试还是日常生活中,掌握条件句能让你沟通更清晰、表达更准确。只要多练习,你就可以在各种场合(无论是工作还是生活)自如运用条件句!