来自词典的例句:
(1)It appears unlikely that the U.N. would consider making such a move.
(2)It appears unlikely that interest rates will fall further.
老师,我在词典查appear的词义时,看到例句1,觉得that从句的would是虚拟语气的用法,用情态动词过去式,而非will,来表示说话者主观倾向认为谓语动词发生的概率很低,再加上还有表语unlikely在前。
可是继续查,又发现了例句2,同样是unlikely,可后面使用了will。
于是上COCA查询,发现It appears unlikely句式中,would和will都会在从句出现。
我就想能否这样分析,把句型更改一下结构,把主语从句还原:
That the U.N. would consider making such a move appears unlikely.
That interest rates will fall further appears unlikely.
第一句的主语从句,用would动词过去式表虚拟语气,并且暗含一种说话人主观倾向于认为发生概率很小的含意,再用其后的表语unlikely强调说明。
第二句用will陈述语气来表示虚拟语气,介于“两可之间”(类似if从句的陈述语气,概率50比50),但从句本身不暗含说话人的主观判断。说话者的主观观点的表达,落在了其后的表语形容词上。
因此无论用would和will都可以,只是说话人的观点倾向不同。所以请问老师,这里是属于虚拟语气的语法范畴吗,我这样的分析方法对吗?
PS:我还在词典和COCA中找到了 It appears certain....的句式,其后的从句全部使用的是will,感觉这更佐证了我的想法,因为如果使用了certain,就从语意逻辑上,排除了说话人用would的可能性或可行性。
这是来自COCA的例句:
(unlikely句式)
It appears unlikely that the British government would give Assange safe passage to an airport.
Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill said it appears unlikely that Congress will block a bill to be introduced Tuesday that would allow same-sex marriages.
(此句前有will后有would,前面的will在语气上表达法案有被阻止的可能性。后面bill的定语从句使用would,是因为Dems和Reps都认为这个法案不管被阻止与否,它本身能让same-sex marriages被允许的概率都很低 。可以这样认为吗?)
(certain句式)
It appears certain that what we've seen here will have repercussions for many years.
It appears certain the latter half of the preceding statement will be met and then some.
It appears certain that our team will win.