英语中表示“本想”的若干种方法

当我们要表示过去一个未曾实现的想法和打算时，我们就说“本想……，但是……”。汉语中的“本想”说成英语可以有以下几种方法：

1. 用过去进行时表示

We were coming to see you，but it rained （so we didn’t）. 我们本打算来看你的，但是下起雨来了。

I was trying to help but I screwed up again. 我本想帮忙，反而又把事情搞糟了。

2. 用 was ［were］ going to do sth 表示

―Why didn’t you come to the meeting? 你为什么不来参加会议？

―I was going to，but I caught a bad cold. 我本想来的，但我患了重感冒。

She was going to attend the concert last night，but she was too busy. 她昨晚本想去听音乐会的，但她太忙了。

3. 用want， think， hope， plan， mean， expect， intend， suppose 等动词的过去完成时表示

I had intended to speak，but time did not permit. 我本想发言，但时间不允许。

We had hoped that you would come to see us，but you didn’t. 我们本想你来看我们的，但你没有来。

I had meant to go on Monday but have stayed on. 我本想星期一走的，但又留下了。

We had thought to return early but they wouldn’t let us go. 我们本想早回来的，但他们不让我们走。

4.用want，think，hope，plan，mean，expect，intend，suppose 的过去式后接不定式的完成式表示

I meant to have told you about it earlier，but I could not come. 我本想早点把这事告诉你，但是我来不了。

I wanted to have told her what I thought，but I didn’t. 我本想把自己的想法告诉她，但我还是没有。

5. 用 want，think，hope，plan，mean，expect，intend，suppose 的过去式表示

I meant to reason with you，but you wouldn’t reason. 我本想和你讲道理，但你不肯讲道理。

He hoped to come with us，but he was too busy. 他本想同我们一起来的，但他太忙了。

I wanted mother’s present to be a secret，but my sister let the cat out of the bag. 给母亲的礼物我本想保密，可是妹妹却露了马脚。

6. 用 would have done 表示

I would have written before，but I have been ill. 我本想给你写信的，但我生病了。

I would have preferred a bed，but beggars can’t be choosers so I slept on the sofa. 我本想要张床，但是叫花子不能挑肥拣瘦，所以我就睡在沙发上了。

7. 用 should ［would］ like ［love］ to have done 表示

I should like to have seen it （but it wasn’t possible）. 我本想事前看到的（但这不可能）。

I would like to have gone to the party last night but I had to work extra hours to finish a report. 昨晚我本想去参加晚会的，但我要加班写一个报告。

I’d love to have taken him round the factory，but I was too busy. 我本想带他去厂里看看，但我太忙了。

8. 其他比较灵活的表达

The surprise party turned out as flat as a pancake. 这次本想让大家感到惊奇的聚会到头来却十分扫兴。

We went by sea but I’d rather have gone by air. 我们是乘船去的，可我本想乘飞机去。

He became a doctor，but he’d prefer to have been a lawyer. 他成了一名医生，但他本来是想当一名律师的。（编辑周贞雄）