這句話里包含了虛擬條件句,如果不倒裝就是:The acrobat had to acknowledge he could very well die if he were to perform it.
虛擬條件句的從句部分含有were,should,或had時(shí),可省略if,再把were,should或had 移到從句的句首,實(shí)行倒裝.例如：
Were they here now,they could help us.=If they were here now,they could help us.他們現(xiàn)在在的話,就會(huì)幫助我們了.
Had you come earlier,you would have met him.=If you had come earlier,you would have met him.你來得早一點(diǎn),就碰到他了.
Should it rain,the crops would be saved.=Were it to rain,the crops would be saved.假如下雨,莊稼就有救了.
注意：在虛擬語氣的從句中,動(dòng)詞'be'的過去時(shí)態(tài)一律用"were",不用was,即在從句中be用were代替.例如：
If I were you,I would go to look for him.如果我是你,就會(huì)去找他.
If he were here,everything would be all right.如果他在這兒,一切都會(huì)好的.