1. The most ancient festivals would celebrate the end of the cold weather, planting in spring and harvest in autumn. (Reading)
would在此表示过去的习惯性动作,可译为“总会”。又如:
Whenever I went to see him, he would treat me with some home-made cakes.
每次我去看他,他总是用自制的糕点招待我。
would 还有以下用法:
(1) 表示意愿。如:
He wouldn’t let the doctor take his blood pressure.
他不愿意让医生量他的血压。
(2) 表示猜测。如:
That would be in 1976, I think.
我想那大概是在1976年。
(3) 表示倾向。如:
The window wouldn’t open.
窗子怎么也打不开。
2. The most energetic and important festivals are the ones that look forward to the end of winter and to the coming of spring.(Reading)
look forward to指热切地期盼着一件事或行动。此短语中的to是介词,所以后面的宾语应为名词或动词的-ing形式。如:
We are looking forward to my uncle’s visit with great pleasure.
我们高兴地等着叔叔来作客。
We’re looking forward to seeing him again.
我们期望再见到他。
含有介词to的动词短语还有 lead to(导致,通向), be/get used to(习惯于), pay attention to(注意), devote...to(致力于,献身于), prefer...to(喜欢……胜过……), get down to(开始认真干某事)等。
3. The country is covered with cherry tree flowers so that it looks as though it might be covered with pink snow.(Reading)
as though和as if 意义相同,都表示“似乎”、“好像”之意。当说话人认为句子所述是不真实的或极少有可能发生或存在的情况时,as though / if 从句要用虚拟语气。如:
He talked as if he knew all about it.
他说起来好像了解一切。
It seemed as if the day would never end.
似乎白天永远也过不完。
I feel as though I were ten years younger.
我觉得我仿佛年轻了十岁。
She looks as if she had not slept last night.
她看起来好像昨晚没睡觉。
He talks about pyramids as though he had seen them himself.
他谈起金字塔来,就像亲眼见过似的。
当说话人认为所述的情况可能发生时,as though / if从句可用陈述语气。如:
It seems as if our team is going to win.
看来我们队要胜了。
It looks as if it is going to rain.
好像要下雨。