浅谈虚拟语气的特殊用法
1. 当虚拟条件从句中的谓语动词和主句中的谓语动词发生的时间不一致时,主句和从句的谓语动词应根据实际的时间选用适当的动词形式。如:
If you had earned enough money,you would live a happy life in the future.
如果你已挣了足够的钱,你今后就会过上幸福的生活。
(从句与过去事实相反,谓语动词用过去完成时;主句与将来事实相反,谓语动词用“ would/should/could/might+ 动词原形”。)
2. 在虚拟语气中,有时假设的情况并不是以条件状语从句的形式表示,而是通过相应的介词或连词来表示,如 without, but for, or, but, otherwise 等。如:
But for your help,we couldn’t have finished the task in time. (= If you hadn’t helped us… tomorrow…)
要不是你的帮助,我们就不会按时完成任务。
3. 在 if 引导的虚拟条件句中,如果条件状语从句位于句首,且从句中含有 were, had 或 should ,则可以省略 if ,并用倒装结构。如:
Should it rain tomorrow,we would have to stay at home. (= If it should rain tomorrow…)
如果明天下雨,我们就得呆在家里。
4. 如果主句中含有 would rather, would as soon, would sooner 或 would prefer ,则从句要用过去时表示当时或将来的情况,用过去完成时表示过去的情况,表达希望或婉转的责备。如:
I would prefer he worked hard.
我倒希望他能够努力学习。
I would just as soon you had returned the book yesterday.
我真希望你昨天把这本书还了。
5. 在“ It’s (high/ about) time + that 从句”中, that 从句的谓语动词要用虚拟语气,表示“是该……的时候了”,其形式为一般过去时或“ should + 动词原形”,但 should 不能省略。如:
It’s time that we began our meeting.
是该开会的时候了。
It is high time that we should tell him the truth.
是我们该告诉他真相的时候了。
6. 在表示建议、命令、要求、坚持( suggest , order , demand , propose , request , command , insist )等相关的名词性从句中,谓语动词要用虚拟语气“ (should) + 动词原形”。如:
The order that we should reach the small village before daybreak came just now.
要求我们在天亮之前赶到小村庄的命令刚刚下达。(同位语从句)
The suggestion is that we (should) recite a passage each day.
建议是我们每天应背诵一篇短文。(表语从句)
It is demanded that we (should) get everything ready by tonight.
我们被要求今晚之前把一切都准备好。(主语从句)
7. 在“ It is + 形容词 + that 从句”中,从句的谓语动词要用虚拟语气“ (should) + 动词原形”。这类形容词有 necessary, important, essential, strange, natural 等。如:
It is necessary that he (should)be sent to the hospital at once.
立刻送他进医院是非常必要的。
8. 由 wish 引起的表示愿望的宾语从句,其谓语要用虚拟语气。当 wish 表示的是与现在或当时事实相反的愿望时,它所引起宾语从句的谓语动词要用一般过去时或过去进行时;当 wish 表示的是与过去事实相反的愿望时,它所引起宾语从句的谓语动词要用过去完成时;当 wish 表示的是将来难以实现的愿望时,它所引起宾语从句的谓语动词要用“ would/ should/ could/ might + 动词原形”。如:
I wish I had enough money to buy a car.
我希望能有足够的钱来买一辆小汽车。(表示的是现在)
He whishes he had not lost the chance.
他真希望没有失去机会。(表示的是过去)
I wish I would join the army when I grow up.
我希望长大后能够参军。(表示的是将来)
9. 在 insist 和 suggest 后的宾语从句中常用虚拟语气表示建议、要求或命令。但当 insist 表示“坚称;主张”时,宾语从句要用陈述语气;当 suggest 表示“表明;暗示”时,宾语从句也要用陈述语气。如:
She insisted that she had seen a thief climb into the house through the window.
她坚持说她曾看见一个小偷从窗口爬进了房间。
The smile on his face suggested that he had passed the exam.
他脸上的微笑表明他已通过了考试。
10. 在 as if / as though 引导的状语从句表示的是非真实情况时,从句的谓语动词要用过去时或过去完成时。如:
She talked about the film as if she had really seen it.
她谈论那部影片,就好像她确实看过一样。
安徽·梁静渊
《高中英语语法-浅谈虚拟语气的特殊用法》由英语编辑整理,更多请访问:https://www.liuxuequn.com/english/