一般過去將來時
形式:would+動詞原形和was/were going to+動詞原形
用于描述過去某時間里你對于未來的想法和猜測。

虛擬語氣(此處我們談論對現(xiàn)在和將來情況的虛擬)
形式:would/should/might/could+動詞原形
用于描述不能實現(xiàn)或者純粹是家鄉(xiāng)的情況。

例句對比:
(1)
I was sure that I would work in a small city when I was a child. 在我很小的時候我就覺得我會在一個小城市工作。
If I were you, I would choose to work in a small city. 如果我是你,我會選擇在小城市工作。(事實上我不是你)

(2)
You told me that you would talk with your parents. 你告訴我你會和父母談談的。
If you talked with your parents, something wouldn't happen. 如果你和父母談過了,有些事就不會發(fā)生了。(你沒和父母談過)

(3)
She hoped that when Nixon told it to me the next morning I would not give him a hard time. 她希望第二天上午尼克松同我談起這件事時,我不要使他難堪。
If she told me about this, I wouldn't give Nixon a hard time. 如果她告訴我這些,我就不會讓尼克松難堪了。(她沒告訴我這些事)

是不是感覺二者很相似?其實虛擬句和過去將來時最大的不同便是虛擬句是純粹的假想,不會發(fā)生的事情。而過去將來時則是計劃會發(fā)生的事。