I should be grateful if you would be so kind as to allow Jim to leave school on Friday. 你如果能准吉姆星期五上去上学的假,我将不胜感激。
请问这里的 if 从句为什么用 would be 而不用 were 呢?
根据《牛津英语用法指南》的观点:……在有礼貌的请求中,一般不用 were, 而用 would be。如:
We should be grateful if you would be so kind as to let us have your cheque as soon as possible. 如蒙尽早将支票交来,我们将不胜感激。 (不能说:... if you were so kind...)
We would appreciate it if you would be so kind as to let us have your cheque by return. 如蒙即送支票,我们将不胜感激。