徐燕
一、虛擬語氣的定義
用來表示說話人所說的話并不是事實,而是一種假設、愿望或推測的語氣叫做虛擬語氣。該語法主要用于if條件狀語從句中,真實條件句中有可能發生(主將從現)和必然發生(主從現在)兩種情況。非真實條件句表示的是假設的或實際可能性不大的情況,今天主要解析的就是非真實條件狀語從句中的虛擬語氣。此外,虛擬語氣還可用于賓語從句、主語從句和表語從句等。
二、if虛擬語氣的判斷
假設的條件為非真實條件句,要用虛擬語氣。在含有虛擬條件句的復合句中,主句和從句的謂語都要用虛擬語氣,列表如下:
(1)與現在事實相反的假設。結構為:從句的謂語動詞用過去式,系動詞用were,主句的謂語用“should(would, could, might) + 動詞原形”。
例如:If I were in your position, I would marry her.
(2) 與過去事實相反的假設。結構為:從句的謂語動詞用“had + 過去分詞”,主句用“should (would, could, might) + have + 過去分詞”。
例如:If it had not rained so hard yesterday, we could have played tennis.
(3) 與將來事實相反的假設。結構為:從句的謂語動詞用“should (were to) + 動詞原形”,主句用“should(would, could, might) + 動詞原形”。
例如:If you should miss the chance, you would feel sorry for it.
if虛擬語氣加虛擬條件句型注意點:
(1)if虛擬條件狀語從句中謂語動詞部分是were+to do , had done 或是should +do時可把if 省略,把were , had , should提前, 引起倒裝 : Had I not seen it with my own eyes , I would not have believed it.
(2)假設條件從句謂語動詞發生的時間與主句所假設的謂語動詞不一致,叫做錯綜條件虛擬語氣。這時需要根據意思采用表示不同時間的動詞形式來進行調整。
If she had taken the doctor's advice, she might still be alive.
(3)if only(要是…就好了)的條件狀語從句中的虛擬語氣,用于表示與事實相反的愿望,其后所接虛擬語氣的時態依照假設的時間而定。如:
If only I knew his name!
If only I hadn't missed the train!
4.含蓄條件句
(1)有時候假設的情況通過介詞短語來表示。如 : Without sunlight, people's life would be different from today.
(2)假設的條件通過上下文表現出來。
I would go abroad for further study but that I am poor.
(3)表示虛擬語氣的主句或從句有時可以省略。
a.省去條件從句 You could have washed your clothes yourself. 省去了If you had wanted to。(事實是:你自己沒洗衣服,因為你不想洗。)
b.省去主句(常用以表示愿望)If my grandmother were with me!事實是:祖母已不在世。
三、虛擬語氣在名詞性從句中的應用
1.“wish+賓語從句”表示不可能實現的愿望,漢語可譯為“可惜……、悔不該……、但愿……”。表示現在不能實現的愿望,從句的謂語動詞用過去式;
表示將來不可能實現的愿望用“would/could+動詞原形”;
表示過去不可能實現的愿望時用“had+過去分詞”。如:
I wish I were better-looking.
2.在表示建議、要求、愿望、命令、堅持、想法(advise, command, demand, decide, desire, insist, order, prefer, propose, request, require, suggest)等動詞后面的賓語從句,或這些動詞的同源名詞后面所跟的同位語從句或表語從句中,從句謂語用“should+動詞原形”,其中should常省略。如:The young man insisted that I (should) go with his fellows. 注意:當insist 表示“堅持認為”、suggest表示“表明,顯示”時,不用虛擬語氣。
3.在would rather后的賓語從句中,謂語常常用過去時來表示現在或將來的情況,用過去完成時表示過去的情況。如:—Shall I open the window?
— I'd rather you didn't.
4.主語從句中的虛擬語氣。
(1) It be + 形容詞 + that... (should)...。用于該句型的形容詞有:necessary, good, important, right, wrong, better, natural, proper, funny, strange, surprising等。例如:It's natural that he should feel hurt. 他感到疼是很正常的。
(2) It be + 過去分詞 + that... (should)...。用于該結構中的過去分詞是表示“建議、請求、命令”等詞的過去分詞。如: desired, suggested, requested, ordered, proposed等。例如:It is desired that the building of the house be completed next month.
(3) It is time (about time / high time) that... + (過去時或should + 動詞原形)...。例如:It is high time I went home now. = It is high time I should go home.
5.表語從句、同位語從句中的虛擬語氣。在suggestion, proposal, order, plan, idea, advice, decision等需要具體內容解釋的名詞后要使用虛擬語氣,其謂語動詞為:should+動詞原形,連接從句的that不能省略。例如:My suggestion is that we should go there at once.
6.as if (as though)方式狀語從句中的虛擬語氣
as if (as though)引導的方式狀語從句可用陳述語氣,也可用虛擬語氣。
(1) as if 從句用陳述語氣的情況。
當說話者所述的是真實的或極有可能發生或存在的事實時。如:It sounds as if it is raining.
(2) as if 從句用虛擬語氣的情況。
當說話人認為句子所述的是不真實的或極少有可能發生或存在的情況時。從句虛擬語氣動詞時態的形式如下:
① 從句表示與現在事實相反,謂語動詞用一般過去時。如:He talks as if he knew where she was.
② 從句表示與過去事實相反,謂語動詞用“had+過去分詞”。如:He talks about Rome as if he had been there before.
③ 從句表示將來發生的可能性不大,謂語動詞用“would (could, might)+動詞原形”。如:It looks as if it might snow.
7.目的狀語從句中的虛擬語氣
(1)以in order that, so that引導的目的狀語從句中:She took a taxi so that she could get there on time.
(2)以lest, for fear that和in case 引導的目的狀語從句中:She took an umbrella with her lest/for fear that/in case it should rain.
8.其他形式的虛擬語氣
(1)It' s time that句型中的虛擬語氣
在It' s time that句型中,從句謂語通常用一般過去時或should+動詞原形 (should不能省略),其意為“(早)該做某事了”。如:It's high time that we were off.
(2)在would/had rather, would(just) as soon, would sooner和 would prefer結構中,也用虛擬語氣。共同特點是:從句中動詞用一般過去時,表示現在或將來要做的事;用過去完成時,則表示過去的情況。I'd rather you left tomorrow.
(3)表示“祝愿”時,常用“may + 主語 + 動詞原形 + 其它”。如:May you have a good journey! 祝你一路順風!