李育芳
虛擬語(yǔ)氣是表示說(shuō)話(huà)人所說(shuō)的話(huà)并不是事實(shí),而是一種假設(shè)、愿望、懷疑或推測(cè)。虛擬語(yǔ)氣歷來(lái)是英語(yǔ)語(yǔ)法中的一個(gè)難點(diǎn),下面就虛擬語(yǔ)氣來(lái)做一個(gè)歸納。
一、條件狀語(yǔ)從句中的虛擬語(yǔ)氣
條件狀語(yǔ)從句有兩種情況:一種是真實(shí)條件句,即條件中所談到的情況完全有可能發(fā)生,這時(shí)要用陳述語(yǔ)氣;另一種是非真實(shí)條件句,這時(shí)主句和從句的謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞都要用虛擬語(yǔ)氣。
1.表示與現(xiàn)在事實(shí)相反,從句用一般過(guò)去時(shí),be的過(guò)去式一般用were,主句用would/should/could/might+動(dòng)原。
如:If the weather were fine today,we would go to shanghai.
2.表示與過(guò)去事實(shí)相反,從句用過(guò)去完成時(shí),主句用would/should/could/might+have+過(guò)去分詞。
如:If we had known his telephone number,we would have telephoned him yesterday.
3.表示與將來(lái)事實(shí)相反的從句的謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞可以用三種形式,一般過(guò)去時(shí),should+動(dòng)詞原形,were+to do sth;主句用should/would/could/might+動(dòng)詞原形。
如:If it rained(should rain/were to rain)tomorrow,our plan would be put off.
4.虛擬語(yǔ)氣中的條件狀語(yǔ)從句中如果有助動(dòng)詞were、had或should時(shí),可將if去掉,把這三個(gè)助動(dòng)詞提前構(gòu)成倒裝句,但主句不能倒裝。
如:If I were at school again,I would study harder.
=Were I at school again,I would study harder.
If it should snow tomorrow,all the flowers would die.
=Should it snow tomorrow,all the flowers would die.
If you had come earlier,you would have met the singer.
=Had you come earlier,you would have met the singer.
5.有時(shí)常用副詞、連詞、介詞短語(yǔ)but for、without、or、otherwise等來(lái)表示非真實(shí)的條件句,有時(shí)連這些都沒(méi)有,而隱含在上下文中。
如:①But for your advice,I could not have done it so successfully.
②Without air,there would be no living things.
③I was so busy then,otherwise,I would have told him the answer.
④It rained yesterday,or I would have gone camping.
6.當(dāng)條件句和主句的時(shí)間不一致時(shí),從句根據(jù)從句去做,主句根據(jù)主句來(lái)做。
如:①I(mǎi)f I had taken my raincoat with me this morning,I would not be caught in the rain now.
從句指過(guò)去,主句指現(xiàn)在。
②If we had not got everything ready by now,We should be having a more terrible time tomorrow.
從句指到現(xiàn)在,主句指將來(lái)。
7.由if only引導(dǎo)的句子意思為“要是……就好了”,也是一種虛擬的條件句。
如:①I(mǎi)f only I had followed his advice,I would succeed now.
從句指與過(guò)去的事實(shí)相反。
②If only I were a bird now.
與現(xiàn)在的事實(shí)相反。
二、賓語(yǔ)從句中的虛擬語(yǔ)氣
1.Wish/would rather+從句,從句要用虛擬語(yǔ)氣。
如:①I(mǎi) wish you had not been there when the accident happened.
②I would rather you came tomorrow.
2.在一些表示欲望、請(qǐng)求、建議、命令、要求等主觀(guān)愿望的動(dòng)詞suggest、order、demand、desire、advise、insist、require、propose等后的賓語(yǔ)從句常用should+動(dòng)詞原形來(lái)表示虛擬語(yǔ)氣,其中should??墒÷?。
如:①They insited that he (should) not stay in the hotel.
②I suggest we(should)go shopping together.
由這些動(dòng)詞派生出來(lái)的名詞如suggestion、order、advice等如接表語(yǔ)從句或同位語(yǔ)從句,表語(yǔ)從句或同位語(yǔ)從句也必須使用snould+動(dòng)詞原形來(lái)表示虛擬語(yǔ)氣,其中should也可省略。
如:①M(fèi)y suggestion is that we (should) go shopping together and buy a new bed.
②He gave the order that the test (should) be finished before six.
三、as if、as though引導(dǎo)的方式狀語(yǔ)從句中的虛擬語(yǔ)氣
as if /as though還可用在一些系動(dòng)詞之后引導(dǎo)的表語(yǔ)從句中,如果從句里講的情況不是事實(shí),要用虛擬語(yǔ)氣;如果與事實(shí)接近,用陳述語(yǔ)氣。
如:①He speaks English so fluently as if he had studied English in England.
②He looks as if he were ill.
③It is so cloudy.It looks as if it is going to rain.(與事實(shí)接近)
四、主語(yǔ)從句中的虛擬語(yǔ)氣
常用在It is +adj/n+that從句的句型中,that從句用should+動(dòng)詞原形,其中should可以省略。這類(lèi)形容詞或名詞通常為:a pity,a shame,strange,no wonder,essential,impossible,important,natural,necessary,possible,probable,urgent等。
如:①I(mǎi)t is a great pity that he (should) be so proud of himself.
②it is important that we (should) study English well.
在現(xiàn)代英語(yǔ)中,這種情況也??刹挥锰摂M語(yǔ)氣。
五、在句型It is/was(high/about)time+that從句,從句通常用一般過(guò)去時(shí)來(lái)構(gòu)成虛擬語(yǔ)氣
如:①I(mǎi)t is/was high/about time that you stadied hard.
②It is/was time that you went to bed.
但在現(xiàn)代英語(yǔ)中,從句也出現(xiàn)過(guò)用should+動(dòng)詞原形來(lái)表示虛擬語(yǔ)氣的。
(作者單位:江西金溪一中)