條件式虛擬語氣及其變體探究

摘 要：條件式虛擬語氣是虛擬語氣的基本形式，也是學習虛擬語氣的入口，但其各種變體結構多樣，不易掌握。本文闡釋了條件式虛擬語氣及其變體并再現了它們在試題中的應用，以期有效地服務于英語教學和考試。

關鍵詞：虛擬語氣 if從句 條件變體

英語語法學習的難點在動詞，動詞的難點之一是語氣，語氣難在“虛擬”。虛擬語氣主要用來表示與事實相反的主觀假設或難以實現的主觀愿望，這一功能的實現依賴于謂語部分動詞形式的變化。在虛擬語氣的各種形式中，條件式結構較固定、趨于公式化，易于學習，但其各種變體結構多變、形式多樣，考試常考，學生常錯。“常考”只因虛擬在人們生活中必不可少，“常錯”只緣不識變體真面目。

一、條件式虛擬語氣的構成及類別

條件式虛擬語氣由if引導的非真實性條件從句即虛擬條件句加上主句構成，為了表達虛擬含義，從句和主句謂語部分的動詞形式都要作相對固定的變化。由于人們面對的時段只有三個：現在、過去和將來，因此，條件式虛擬語氣也相應地分為三種類型，構成如下：

示例：

（1）If I had the chance， I would have a sleepless night.

如果我有這個機會，我會失眠。（事實是，我沒這樣的機會。）

If I were you， I would give it up.

如果我是你的話，我會放棄。（事實是，我不是你。）

（2）If I had seen you in the street yesterday， I would have said “hello” to you.

如果我昨天在街上看到你的話，我當然要打招呼。（事實是，我沒看到你。）

If they had known the truth at that time， they would have fought with each other.

如果他們當時了解真相，就會打起來。（事實是，幸虧他們當時不了解真相。）

（3）If I got/should/were to get the information tomorrow， I should let you know first.

如果我明天能得到消息的話，我會第一個讓你知道。（事實是，我不大可能得到消息。）

If the earth stopped/ should/were to stop spinning tomorrow， what would happen?

如果明天地球停止轉動，那會發生什么情況？（事實是，明天地球不會停止轉動。）

二、條件式虛擬語氣的各種變體

1.倒裝式。如果條件從句謂語部分含有should，were或had，常省略if，并將should，were或had提至句首引起倒裝。如：

Should it rain (If it should rain)， we could not go out for camping.

Were I in his place (If I were in his place)，I might think differently.

Had he recognized me (If he had recognized me)， he would have come over.

2. 替代式。有時虛擬條件句不用if從句表示，而是通過介詞、介詞短語、不定式短語、動名詞短語、抽象名詞、并列句或上下文等形式表示出來，這種情況也稱含蓄條件句。這類詞語常見的有with， without， but， but for， but that， given more time， given that， or， or else， otherwise， unless， supposing等。如：

With your help (=if you had helped me)， I might have done it better.

Without electricity (=if there were no electricity)， human life would be quite different today.

He would have helped me， but he was so lazy (=if he had not been so lazy).

But for the storm (=if it had not been for the storm)， we should have arrived earlier.

I’m really busy，otherwise (=if I were not so busy) I would go with you.

Meeting anywhere else (=if we had met anywhere else )， we wouldn’t have recognized each other.

Given more time (=if we had been given more time)， we would have done it even better.

To hear him talk (=if you should hear him talk)， you’d think he were Prime Minister.

One step further (=if you took one step further) and you would be dead.

Your reputation would be ruined.(虛擬條件暗含在上下文中，可能暗含if you should accept it.)

3. 混合式。有時虛擬條件從句與主句的動作發生在不同的時間，這時從句與主句謂語動詞的虛擬語氣形式因時間不同而不同，這種情況也稱錯綜時間條件句。做這種類型的練習時，要擺脫基本形式（表格）中公式化思維定勢的干擾。如：

If I had worked harder before， I would not worry about my exam now.

If you had asked him yesterday， you would know what to do now.

If he had taken my advice，he would not be in such a position now.

4. 強化式。這里是指用if only代替if， 表示說話人的一種與現在事實、既成事實或將來的事實相反的強烈愿望或遺憾，相應的謂語動詞分別用過去時、過去完成時及would/could+動詞原形，一般譯為“要是”或“只要”。如：

If only he were not so timid， he would be more attractive. (對現在的虛擬)

If only somebody had told me， I would have reminded you. (對過去的虛擬)

If only you could help me next week， I would not be so nervous. (對將來的虛擬)

但更常見的是，if only虛擬條件句單獨使用，表示一種假設的祈愿，常譯為“要是……就好了。”如：

If only the photos were not lost! (對現在的祈愿)

If only I had seen you three years ago! (對過去的祈愿)

If only I could see him face to face one day! (對將來的祈愿)

三、條件式虛擬語氣及其變體在常見考試中的應用

1. 基本形式的應用。基本式主句和從句標志明顯，謂語動詞形式較固定，因而，難度不大，出現的頻率也不高。例如（斜體為正確選項）：

（1）If he_______me tomorrow， I would let him know. (高考模擬試題)

A. should callB. should have calledC. would callD. were calling

（2）If you asked your father you_______permission. (高考模擬試題)

A. may getB. maybe getC. might getD. should have got

（3）The plants would have grown all right if she_______them properly. (CET3-1999/6)

A. had wateredB. wateredC. has wateredD. waters

（4）Jean doesn’t want to work right away because she thinks that if she _______a job she propably wouldn’t be able to see her friends very often. (CET4/6-1996/1)

A. has to getB. were to getC. had gotD. could have got

2. 變體的應用。條件式的各種變體結構多變、形式多樣，在各類考試中頗受歡迎。下面是一些代表性的例子（斜體為正確選項）：

（1）_______ today， he would get there by Friday. (高考模擬試題)

A. Would he leaveB. Was he leavingC. Were he goD. If he leaves

（2）_______more careful， his ship would not have sunk. (高考模擬試題)

A. If the captain wereB. Had the captain beenC. Should the captain beD. If the captain would have been

（3）_______ he be interested in that film， he might go to see it with me. (高考模擬試題)

A. ShouldB. WouldC. AreD. Were

(4) Were it not for TV， we _______ the events that are happening in other places.(CET3-1995/6)

A. cannot seeB. could not seeC. cannot have seenD. could not have seen

(5) Should green plants disappear some day，_______ on the earth. (CET3-1996/6)

A. there will hadly be any life B. will there hadly be any lifeC. would there hadly be any life D. there would hadly be any life

(6) Had I been Peter， I_______that way. (CET3-1997/6)

A. won’t talkB. didn’t talkC. wouldn’t have talkedD. wouldn’t talked

(7)_______before we depart the day after tomorrow， we should have a wonderful dinner party. (CET4/6-1997/1)

A. Had they arrivedB. Would they arriveC. Were they arrivingD. Were they to arrive

(8) The millions of calculations involved， had they been done by hand， _______ all practical value by the time they were finished. (CET4/6-2001/6)

A. had lostB. would have lostC. would lostD. should have lost

以上(1)-(8)題為倒裝式變體。

(9)_______ the English exam， I would have gone to the concert last Sunday. (高考模擬試題)

A. In spite ofB. But forC. Because ofD. As for

(10) Without the dreams of the youth， this invention might v for a century. (高考模擬試題)

A. have been postponedB. has been postponed C. postponeD. be postponed.

(11) Without your help， we _______ so much in such a short time. (CET3-2001/6)

A. will not achieveB. didn’t achieveC. don’t achieveD. would not have achieved

(12) He was very busy yesterday， otherwise， he _______ to the meeting. (CET3-2004/6)

A. had comeB. cameC. would comeD. would have come

(13) He must have had an accident， or he_______here then. (CET4/6-1990/1)

A. would have been B. had to beC. should beD. would be

(14) We didn’t know his telephone number; otherwise， we _______ him. (CET4/6-1995/6)

A. would have telephoned B. must have telephoned C. would telephone D. had telephoned

以上(9)-(14)題為替代式變體。

(15) Had Paul received six more votes in the last election， he _______ our chairman now. (高考模擬試題)

A. must have beenB. would have beenC. wereD. would be

(16) If you _______ Jerry Brown until recently， you’d think the photo on the right was strange. (高考模擬試題)

A. shouldn’t contactB. didn’t contactC. weren’t to contactD. hadn’t contacted

(17) They would still be missing at sea if a passing ship_______ them. (CET3預測題)

A. did not spotB. had not spot C. was not spottingD. would not spot

(18) If I hadn’t stood under the ladder to catch you when you fell， you_______now. (CET4/6-1999/1)

A. couldn’t have smliedB. wouldn’t be smilingC. didn’t smileD. won’t smile

以上(15)-(18)題為混合式變體。

(19) If only I _______with you last night! (高考模擬試題)

A. wentB. have goneC. could goD. could have gone

(20) If only we_______ a phone! I’m tired of lining up outside the public phone box. (CET3預測題)A. haveB. hadC. will haveD. are to have

(21) Look at the terrible situation I’m in! If only I _______ your advice. (CET4/6-1993/6)

A. followB. had followedC. would followD. have followed

(22) If only the committee v the regulations and put them into effect as soon as possible. (CET4/6-1997/1)

A. approveB. will approveC. can approveD. would approve

以上(16)-(22)題為強化式變體。

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