句法结构特点（五）：条件状语从句与虚拟语气的使用

法律英语的正式条文法规中,一般只采用有条件的,符合逻辑推理的,能出现或产生真实结果的条件状语从句,而很少使用虚拟语气的句子,但虚拟语气的句子有时候也出现在律师的陈述与辩状及案情的推测中。

例句一：

If I have a right, another person or persons must be under a duty to recognize and respect that right. 

[参考译文]如果我享有一项权利,则他人就必须承担承认并尊重该项权利的义务。(真实条件)

例句二：

In our judicial procedure, if a party concerned contests the court’s decision of first instance,ｈhe may file and appeal to the court at the next higher level.

[参考译文]在我国审判程序中,如果当事人一方不服初审法院的判决,可以向上一级法院提出上诉。(真实条件)

例句三：    

If Murmansk’s claim to the ship was upheld, Wally Edwards would get none of the $100,000,and might be stuck for $14,000 in sheriff’s costs. 

[参考译文]如果莫尔曼斯克公司对该货轮拥有所有权的主张得到支持,沃利·爱德华就无法从十万美元的保险金中获取分文,而且也会因还得缴付其司法行政长官的公务费一万四千美元而陷于困境。(与将来的事实相反的虚拟语气)

例句四：

Even if the primary purpose of prison sentence were "punishment" or "restraint", the length of many sentences and the conditions under which they are served often far exceed the type of punishment that should be acceptable in our society.

[参考译文]即使徒刑判决的主要目的是"惩罚"或"管束"。许多刑事判决的刑期和服刑的条件也往往远远超过社会应该接受的那种刑罚了。