【问】 Supposing the weather___bad，where would you go?

A. is B. will be C. were D. be

这里有两个问题：1. supposing 是什么词? 2.Supposing之后既然可以使用陈述语气，为什么在上面的试题里选A(is)是错误的呢?

【答】 Supposing that是个复杂的连词(complex subordinator)，其中的that常常被省略。sup-posing (that)引出的从句既可以使用陈述语气，也可以使用虚拟语气。下面是一些实例：

1. Supposing (that) she doesn't come，what shall we do? (Chambers)

假如她不来，我们怎么办?

2. Supposing that he asks you，will you go? (Eckersley)

假如他请你，你去不去?

3. Supposing (that) all the doors are locked how will you get in the house? (EGS)

假如所有的门都锁上了，你怎样才能进屋里去呢?

4. Supposing (that) you were left alone on a desert island，what would you do? (同上)

假如你只身被留在一个荒岛上，你怎么办?

5. Supposing they won the raffle，what would they do with an extra car? (CGEL)

假如他们抽彩中奖，那么他们将怎样处理一辆额外的汽车?

你所提问的句子是否可以在空白处填is，这就要看主句和从句用的是何种语气。也就是说supposing(that)从句的语气要和主句的语气一致。由于作者在主句中使用了虚拟语气(would you go)，所以从句也必须使用虚拟语气(were)。