1)He is working hard for fear that he should fail.
2)She didn't go far for fear that she would get lost.
为什么上面2个类似的句子,但是1)却使用了should, 而2)却使用了would ?
2句可否都用should, 或都用would, 或句1)用would, 而句2)用should 呢?
对于这类句子,should, would 使用的规则,依据,含义又分别是什么呢?
网友忽略了两个句子中,主句时态的不同:
1) He is working hard (现在时)for fear that he should fail.
2) She didn't go far (过去时)for fear that she would get lost.
所以,这两句,should 和 would 没有可比性。
如果把句2改为现在时间,从句则是 will:
She doesn't want to go for fear that she will get lost.
【结论】
句1,should 是虚拟语气。句2,是陈述语气。
for fear (that) 表示目的时,意为“唯恐,以防”,从句可用虚拟语气,即谓语动词为“should+动词原形”,有时也可用陈述语气。比较:
The boy hid himself behind the door for fear that his father should see him. (虚拟语气)
The boy hid himself behind the door for fear that his father would see him. (陈述语气)
The boy wants to hide himself behind the door for fear that his father will see him. (陈述语气)
简单地说,for fear that 从句,用 should + 原形虚拟语气, 或者用陈述语气,都行。陈述语气的谓语动词,只要跟主句的时态一致就行,没有其他限制。
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