在学习if从句的虚拟语气时有些疑惑,看到if were to do表示对将来的虚拟,例如:
If I were to tell the truth to my boyfriend, he would kill me!
但是,为什么不能说
If I told the truth to my boyfriend, he would kill me!
再比如:
If he were to graduate on schedule, you could call me blind.
为什么不能说:
If he graduated on schedule, you could call me blind.
记得状语从句主将从现的时候,从句是现在时其实表示将来时,有将来的含义。那么if从句对现在虚拟的时候,其实已经有了将来时的含义,那么为什么还要专门有一个对将来的虚拟呢 ?
If I were to tell the truth to my boyfriend, he would kill me!
但是,为什么不能说
If I told the truth to my boyfriend, he would kill me!
再比如:
If he were to graduate on schedule, you could call me blind.
为什么不能说:
If he graduated on schedule, you could call me blind.
【答】 if ... were to do 是表示对将来的虚拟的形式之一,不是只能用这种形式,也可以用过去时。所以,你的四个句子都是正确的。
《刘毅英语语法宝典》p.363有以下内容,可以解答你的问题:
If 从句用过去时,可同时表示与现在事实相反,或与将来事实相反的假设,通常可由上下文的文意来辨认,但若要明确地表示所涉及的时间,可加进时间副词,就可一目了然。
If you were happy today, you'd make others happy.如果你今天快乐,你也会使别人快乐。
If you were happy next week, you'd make others happy.如果你下星期快乐,你也会使别人快乐。
If your father knew this, he would be angry. 如果你父亲知道这件事,他会生气的。【与上两句相同,可同时表示与现在和将来事实相反的假设】