所謂含蓄虛擬條件句，即指將條件從句隱藏在上下文一定的短語中的一類條件句。這類用法主要見于以下七種方式：

1. 將條件隱含在不定式短語中

I should be happy to go with you.

如果能與你一起去，我將很高興。(=I should be happy if I could go with you.)

To have studied harder, you would have passed the examination.

你學習更用功些，你早就考及格了。(=if you have studied harder, you…)

2. 將條件隱含在分詞短語中

Born in better times, he would have been a scholar.

如果出生在好時代，他早就成為學者了。(=If he had been born in better times, he …)

Failing this time, what would you do?

假若這次失敗，那你怎么辦?(=If you failed this time, what…)

Walking alone in the dark, Mary would be terrified.

要一個人單獨在黑暗中走，瑪麗會感十分害怕。(If Mary walked alone in the dark, she…)

3. 將條件隱含在介詞短語中

Without air, no one could live. 沒有空氣，人就不能活。

(=If there were no air, no one could live.)

But for his help, he would have failed. 要不是有他的幫助，他就會失敗了。

(=If it hadn’t been for his help, he would have failed.)

4. 將條件隱含在名詞短語中

A true friend would not have betrayed me. 若是真正的朋友，就不會背棄我。

(=If he had been a true friend, he would…)

A few hours earlier, and you would have seen the famous writer.

要是你早來幾個小時，你就見到這位著名的作家了。(If you had come a few hours earlier, you…)

5. 將條件隱含在某些連詞(如or, or else, otherwise等)中：

I didn’t know that he was a cheat, or else I wouldn’t have believed him.

我不知道他是個騙子，不然我也不會相信他了。(or else=if I had known he was a cheat))

I’m really very busy, otherwise I would certainly go there with you.

我真的是太忙了，不然我就會同你一道去了。(otherwise=if I were not so busy))

6. 將條件隱含在定語從句中

Anyone who had seen that painting might have taken it for a photo. 凡是看過那畫的人，都可能把它看成是照片。(=If anyone had seen that painting…)

7. 將條件隱含在一定的上下文中

Don’t bother to read all these papers. It would take too long. 不要費事看所有這些文件了，那會花太多時間。

(=…If you read all these papers, it would take too long)