小议虚拟语气

李育芳

虚拟语气是表示说话人所说的话并不是事实,而是一种假设、愿望、怀疑或推测。虚拟语气历来是英语语法中的一个难点,下面就虚拟语气来做一个归纳。

一、条件状语从句中的虚拟语气

条件状语从句有两种情况:一种是真实条件句,即条件中所谈到的情况完全有可能发生,这时要用陈述语气;另一种是非真实条件句,这时主句和从句的谓语动词都要用虚拟语气。

1.表示与现在事实相反,从句用一般过去时,be的过去式一般用were,主句用would/should/could/might+动原。

如:If the weather were fine today,we would go to shanghai.

2.表示与过去事实相反,从句用过去完成时,主句用would/should/could/might+have+过去分词。

如:If we had known his telephone number,we would have telephoned him yesterday.

3.表示与将来事实相反的从句的谓语动词可以用三种形式,一般过去时,should+动词原形,were+to do sth;主句用should/would/could/might+动词原形。

如:If it rained(should rain/were to rain)tomorrow,our plan would be put off.

4.虚拟语气中的条件状语从句中如果有助动词were、had或should时,可将if去掉,把这三个助动词提前构成倒装句,但主句不能倒装。

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.有时常用副词、连词、介词短语but for、without、or、otherwise等来表示非真实的条件句,有时连这些都没有,而隐含在上下文中。

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.当条件句和主句的时间不一致时,从句根据从句去做,主句根据主句来做。

如:①If I had taken my raincoat with me this morning,I would not be caught in the rain now.

从句指过去,主句指现在。

②If we had not got everything ready by now,We should be having a more terrible time tomorrow.

从句指到现在,主句指将来。

7.由if only引导的句子意思为“要是……就好了”,也是一种虚拟的条件句。

如:①If only I had followed his advice,I would succeed now.

从句指与过去的事实相反。

②If only I were a bird now.

与现在的事实相反。

二、宾语从句中的虚拟语气

1.Wish/would rather+从句,从句要用虚拟语气。

如:①I wish you had not been there when the accident happened.

②I would rather you came tomorrow.

2.在一些表示欲望、请求、建议、命令、要求等主观愿望的动词suggest、order、demand、desire、advise、insist、require、propose等后的宾语从句常用should+动词原形来表示虚拟语气,其中should常可省略。

如:①They insited that he (should) not stay in the hotel.

②I suggest we(should)go shopping together.

由这些动词派生出来的名词如suggestion、order、advice等如接表语从句或同位语从句,表语从句或同位语从句也必须使用snould+动词原形来表示虚拟语气,其中should也可省略。

如:①My 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引导的方式状语从句中的虚拟语气

as if /as though还可用在一些系动词之后引导的表语从句中,如果从句里讲的情况不是事实,要用虚拟语气;如果与事实接近,用陈述语气。

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.(与事实接近)

四、主语从句中的虚拟语气

常用在It is +adj/n+that从句的句型中,that从句用should+动词原形,其中should可以省略。这类形容词或名词通常为:a pity,a shame,strange,no wonder,essential,impossible,important,natural,necessary,possible,probable,urgent等。

如:①It is a great pity that he (should) be so proud of himself.

②it is important that we (should) study English well.

在现代英语中,这种情况也常可不用虚拟语气。

五、在句型It is/was(high/about)time+that从句,从句通常用一般过去时来构成虚拟语气

如:①It is/was high/about time that you stadied hard.

②It is/was time that you went to bed.

但在现代英语中,从句也出现过用should+动词原形来表示虚拟语气的。

(作者单位:江西金溪一中)