馬向南
虛擬語氣是一種特殊的動詞形式,一是用來表示說話人所說的話不是一個事實,而是一種假設(shè)、猜測、懷疑等(用在條件從句中或讓步狀語從句中);二是表示說話人的愿望、要求、命令、建議等 (用在主語從句、賓語從句、表語從句、同位語從句中)。
下面我們分以下五種情況來講述虛擬語氣的用法。
一、虛擬語氣在if 引導(dǎo)的條件從句中的用法。(主句與從句中的謂語動詞的形式如下表)
e.g. 1. If I were you, I would go at once.
假如我是你的話,我會馬上走。(表示與現(xiàn)在事實相反)
2. If you had come a few minutes earlier, you would have met him.
要是你早來幾分鐘的話,你就能見到他了。(表示與過去事實相反)
3. If it should rain tomorrow, the meeting would be put off.
如果明天下雨的話,會議將被推遲。(表示與將來事實相反)
注意:(一)當(dāng)if條件從句中謂語有were, should, had 時,可省略if, 把were, should, had提到句首,采用倒裝。e.g.
1. If I were you, I would agree to the plan.
Were I you, I would agree to the plan.
如果我是你的話,我就會同意這項計劃。
2. If I had known more about giving first aid, I would have helped them.
Had I known more about giving first aid, I would have helped them. 如果我懂得更多如何給予急救的知識的話,我就能夠幫助他們了。
3. If it should rain, the crops would be saved.
Should it rain, the crops would be saved.
如果下雨的話,莊稼就能獲救了。
(二)含蓄條件句
有時if條件句是以其他形式表示出來的,如上下文或介詞短語形式等,常見的有but for (要不是),without, otherwise…。e.g.
1. But for you, I should be dead by now.
要不是你, 我現(xiàn)在早死了。
2. Without your help we couldnt have finished the job yesterday.
要不是你的幫助,我們昨天完不成工作。
3. He hesitated for a moment before kicking the ball, otherwise he would have scored a goal.在踢球前他猶豫了一下,否則的話他就會破門得分了。
(三)混雜條件句
即從句與主句的動作發(fā)生的時間不同,那么主從句謂語就依據(jù)相應(yīng)的時間,使用相應(yīng)的謂語。e.g.
1. If he had followed the doctors advice, he would be all right now. 要是他聽從醫(yī)生的意見, 他現(xiàn)在就好了。
2. If he had listened to me, he would not be in such trouble now.
如果他當(dāng)時聽了我的話, 現(xiàn)在就不會遇到麻煩了。
3. If it had rained last night, it would be very cool today.
如果昨天晚上下了雨的話,今天就會非常涼爽了。
二、 虛擬語氣在名詞性從句中的用法。
(一)虛擬語氣在主語從句中的用法
★在It is important/strange/natural/necessary…+that從句中,謂語動詞常常用should+do(should可省略)。e.g.
1. Its necessary that we (should) have a walk now.
我們有必要出去散散步。
2. Its natural that she (should) do so. 她這樣做是很自然的。
3. Its important that we (should) take good care of the patient.
重要的是我們要照顧好病人。
★在“It be+orderedinsistedsuggested that…這一類句型中,主語從句中的謂語動詞應(yīng)用虛擬語氣。即(should)+do。這一類動詞有order, suggest, insist, demand, require等。e.g.
1. It was suggested that the medicine should be sent there by plane. 這種藥被建議空運到那里。
2. It was ordered that we should start work at once.
我們被命令立刻開始工作。
(二)虛擬語氣在賓語從句中的用法
★虛擬語氣在某些動詞后的賓語從句中,常使用“(should)+do”。常見的動詞有:一個堅持(insist);兩個命令(order, command);三條建議(advise, suggest, propose);五項要求(demand, require, request, want, ask)。e.g.
1. I suggest we (should) hold a meeting tomorrow.
我建議明天開個會。
2. We insisted that she (should) go with us.
我們堅決要求她應(yīng)該跟我們走。
★wish 后的賓語從句中的謂語動詞有三種情況:對現(xiàn)在的虛擬,用一般過去式;對過去的虛擬,用過去完成時;對將來的虛擬,用would/could+do。e.g.
1. I wish I were 10 years younger. 我但愿自己能年輕十歲。
2. I wish (that) you would get a good job.
我希望你能找到一個好職業(yè)。
3. He wished he hadnt done it. 他想要是他沒這樣做該多好。
★insist/suggest各有兩種意思,要用不同的語氣。
insist 表示“堅決要求”時,用虛擬形式,即 (should)+do;
insist 表示“堅持認(rèn)為,堅持說”時,用陳述語氣,表示事實。
suggest 表示“建議”時,用虛擬形式。
suggest 表示“表明、暗示”時,用陳述語氣。e.g.
1. The teacher suggested that we (should) clean the blackboard after class. 老師建議我們課后把黑板擦了。
2. His expression suggested that he was angry.
他的表情表明他生氣了。
3. He insisted that all of us (should) be there on time by any means. 他堅決要求我們大家想盡辦法按時去那兒。
4. He insisted that he was right.他堅持說他是對的。
★would rather(寧愿)引導(dǎo)的賓語從句中,當(dāng)從句表示現(xiàn)在或?qū)淼臅r間時,謂語動詞要用一般過去時;表示過去時間時,謂語動詞要用過去完成時。
1.I would rather he came tomorrow than today.
我寧愿他明天來而不是今天來。
2.Id rather you painted the wall green next time.
我寧愿你下次把墻漆成綠色。
3.I would rather she hadnt done that.我寧愿她沒有做過那件事。
(三)虛擬語氣在表語從句和同位語從句中的用法。
某些表示“建議、計劃、命令”的名詞(如advice, order, demand, plan, proposal, suggestion, request等)后的表語從句和同位語從句中的謂語動詞常用 “(should)+do”。e.g.
1. We all agreed to his suggestion that we (should) go to Beijing for sightseeing. 我們都同意他的到北京旅游觀光的建議。
2. My advice is that we (should) do exercises first.
我的建議是我們應(yīng)該先做練習(xí)。
三、虛擬語氣在as if/though引導(dǎo)的表語從句或狀語從句中的用法
由as if (as though) 引導(dǎo)的表語從句或狀語從句中,常用虛擬語氣,即表示與現(xiàn)在事實相反,用過去式;與過去事實相反用過去完成式 (had done);與將來事實相反用would+do。e.g.
1. She looks as if she were made of ice. 她看起來似乎是冰做的。
2. He looked as if he hadnt slept for two days.
他看起來好像兩天沒睡覺了。
3. He is acting strangely as if he would die tomorrow.
他行為很奇怪好像明天要死一般。
4. This American girl speaks Chinese as if she were a Chinese.
這個美國女孩說起漢語來就像中國人一樣。
5. They talked as if they had been old friends for years.他們談起話來就像多年的老朋友似的。
四、虛擬語氣在定語從句中的用法
這種從句常用在Its (high) time that…句型中。定語從句的謂語動詞用過去式或should+do (should不能省)。譯為“該到干……的時候了。”e.g.
1. Its time that you left (should leave) here.
該到你們離開這兒的時候了。
2. Its high time that we went (should go) home.
該到我們回家的時候了。
五、虛擬語氣用在if only引導(dǎo)的感嘆句中
if only 意為:若是……那該多好啊; 真希望……; 但愿……就好了。
如果與現(xiàn)在事實相反,謂語用過去式; 如果與過去事實相反,謂語用過去完成時。
1. If only I were a bird. 我要是一只鳥該多好啊!
2. If only I were five years younger!我要是年輕五歲就好了。
3. If only she had never been married. 要是她沒結(jié)婚就好了。
4. If only I had arrived in time!要是我按時到就好了。
實戰(zhàn)演練
1. Look at the trouble I am in! If only I ____ your advice.
A. followed B. would follow C. had followed D. should follow
2. It is hard for me to imagine what I would be doing today if I ____ in love, at the age of seven, with the Melinda Cox library in my hometown.
A. wouldnt have fallen B. had not fallen
C. should fall D. went to fall
3. How I wish every family ____ a large house with a beautiful
garden!
A. has B. had C. will have D. had had
4. What would have happened ____, as far as the river bank?
A. Bob had walked farther B. if Bob should walk farther
C. had Bob walked farther D. if Bob walked farther
5. Yesterday Jane walked away from the discussion. Otherwise, she ____ something she would regret later.
A. had said B. said
C. might say D. might have said
6. When a pencil is partly in a glass of water, it looks as if it ____.
A. breaks B. has broken
C. were broken D. had been broken
7. It is necessary that a college student ____ at least one foreign
language.
A. masters B. should master C. mastered D. will master
8. Janes pale face suggested that she ____ ill, and her parents
suggested that she ____ a medical examination.
A. be; should have B. was; have
C. should be; had D. was; was
9. The young man insisted that he ____ nothing wrong and ____ free.
A. did; set B. had done; should be set
C. do; be set D. had done; must be set
10. He would rather you ____ the book to him now.
A. returned B. return C. are returning D. had returned
11. Without his help, we ____ such rapid progress.
A. dont make B. wouldnt make
C. didnt make D. wouldnt have made
12. ____ your letter, I would have started off two days ago.
A. If I received B. Should I receive
C. If I could have received D. Had I received
13. Its high time that your daughter ____ to school.
A. would be sent B. was sent
C. should be sent D. both B and C
14. The work would require that ____ at 5 oclock every morning.
A. she has been there B. she was there
C. she be there D. she will be there
15. If I ____ with her last summer, I ____ with her now.
A. worked; am getting on very well
B. had worked; would get on very well
C. had worked; would have got on very well
D. had worked; will get on very well
Key(1)