小議虛擬語氣

李育芳

虛擬語氣是表示說話人所說的話并不是事實,而是一種假設、愿望、懷疑或推測。虛擬語氣歷來是英語語法中的一個難點,下面就虛擬語氣來做一個歸納。

一、條件狀語從句中的虛擬語氣

條件狀語從句有兩種情況:一種是真實條件句,即條件中所談到的情況完全有可能發生,這時要用陳述語氣;另一種是非真實條件句,這時主句和從句的謂語動詞都要用虛擬語氣。

1.表示與現在事實相反,從句用一般過去時,be的過去式一般用were,主句用would/should/could/might+動原。

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

2.表示與過去事實相反,從句用過去完成時,主句用would/should/could/might+have+過去分詞。

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

3.表示與將來事實相反的從句的謂語動詞可以用三種形式,一般過去時,should+動詞原形,were+to do sth;主句用should/would/could/might+動詞原形。

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

4.虛擬語氣中的條件狀語從句中如果有助動詞were、had或should時,可將if去掉,把這三個助動詞提前構成倒裝句,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.有時常用副詞、連詞、介詞短語but for、without、or、otherwise等來表示非真實的條件句,有時連這些都沒有,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.當條件句和主句的時間不一致時,從句根據從句去做,主句根據主句來做。

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

從句指過去,主句指現在。

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

從句指到現在,主句指將來。

7.由if only引導的句子意思為“要是……就好了”,也是一種虛擬的條件句。

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

從句指與過去的事實相反。

②If only I were a bird now.

與現在的事實相反。

二、賓語從句中的虛擬語氣

1.Wish/would rather+從句,從句要用虛擬語氣。

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、請求、建議、命令、要求等主觀愿望的動詞suggest、order、demand、desire、advise、insist、require、propose等后的賓語從句常用should+動詞原形來表示虛擬語氣,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.

由這些動詞派生出來的名詞如suggestion、order、advice等如接表語從句或同位語從句,表語從句或同位語從句也必須使用snould+動詞原形來表示虛擬語氣,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引導的方式狀語從句中的虛擬語氣

as if /as though還可用在一些系動詞之后引導的表語從句中,如果從句里講的情況不是事實,要用虛擬語氣;如果與事實接近,用陳述語氣。

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.(與事實接近)

四、主語從句中的虛擬語氣

常用在It is +adj/n+that從句的句型中,that從句用should+動詞原形,其中should可以省略。這類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:①It is a great pity that he (should) be so proud of himself.

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

在現代英語中,這種情況也常可不用虛擬語氣。

五、在句型It is/was(high/about)time+that從句,從句通常用一般過去時來構成虛擬語氣

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

②It is/was time that you went to bed.

但在現代英語中,從句也出現過用should+動詞原形來表示虛擬語氣的。

(作者單位:江西金溪一中)