2018年英语六级考试语法:虚拟语气
三、虚拟语气
多数中国人对虚拟语气的理解是:虚拟语气表示说话人的愿望,是假设的,虚构的,与事实相反的,或者是不太可能的。这种理解固然是对的,但并不全面。在英语中,虚拟语气是个广义的概念,包括好几种句型和结构。假设,意愿等只是虚拟语气的两个方面。
英汉两种语言表达虚拟语气的方式差异:
而在英语中,虚拟语气是通过句子中谓语动词的特殊形式来表示的。这又一次证明动词在英语中的核心地位,又一次证明要学好英语语法,就要学好英语动词。由于虚拟语气是通过句子中谓语动词的特殊形式来表示的,因此,掌握虚拟语气中所使用的各种谓语动词形式变化是掌握虚拟语气的关键,这也是虚拟语气的难点。虚拟语气本身也是英语语法的一个难点。
学习虚拟语气的方法是分别弄通虚拟语气的各种句型和结构,各个击破。下面对虚拟语气在各种句式中的用法分别介绍。
(一)虚拟语气用于表示假设的条件状语从句,状语从句相当于汉语的“假如…” “要是…”等。
请看一个句子:
If she invites me tomorrow, I shall go to the party. 如果她明天邀请我参加聚会,我就去。
这是个带条件从句的主从复合句,是直接的陈述语气,主句谓语动词用将来时,从句谓语动词用现在时代替将来时,表示能实现的动作。这句话说明说话人认为邀请的可能性较大。此句的条件是“只要她邀请我”,“去”这一动作就能实现。
请把这句话与下面虚拟语气的带条件从句的主从复合句进行比较:
1) If she invited me, I should go to the party. 假如她邀请我参加聚会,我就去。(说话人认为邀请的可能性较小或不可能。)
这句话主句谓语动词用过去将来时,从句谓语动词用一般过去时,其含义是:
She will probably not invite me, so I shall not go to the party. 她很可能不会邀请我参加聚会,所以我不会去。
2) If she had invited me yesterday, I should have gone to the party. 假如她昨天邀请我参加聚会,我就去了。
这句话主句谓语动词用“should + have + 过去分词”形式,从句用过去完成时,对过去发生的事情进行虚拟假设,表示与过去
事实相反的情况,其含义是:
She didn’t invite me yesterday, so I didn’t go to the party. 她昨天没有邀请我参加聚会,因此我没有去。
3) If she should invite me tomorrow, I should go to the party. 如果她明天邀请我参加聚会,我会去的。
这句话主句谓语动词用过去将来时,从句谓语动词也用过去将来时,表示的意思是,“邀请我”的可能性较小,对将来要发生的情况表示怀疑。其含义是:
It is unlikely that she will invite me tomorrow, so I shall not go to the party. 明天她不可能会邀请我,因此我不会去。
从以上例句可以看出:虚拟语气的条件句是用谓语动词的特殊形式来表示与现在、过去事实相反的情况或对将来发生的情况表示怀疑,和直陈语气条件句的谓语动词形式以及所表达的含义完全不同。虚拟语气条件句中所用的谓语动词过去式、过去完成式、过去将来式等只表示不同的虚拟语气,与直陈语气句子的过去时、过去完成时等毫无关系,在学习时应注意加以区别,不要混淆。
现将虚拟语气在条件句中的各种具体形式和用法分述如下:
1、对现在的虚拟,表示与现在事实相反的假设时,条件状语从句的谓语动词用过去式(be的过去式用were.而主句中的谓语动词用would (should, could, might) + 动词原形。见下表:
条件状语从句的动词形式 |
主句的动词形式 |
If+主语+动词过去式(be的过去式were.在口语等非正式场合中,I,he,she,it等后面也可用was.但在If I were you中,一定要用were,不能用was. |
I (we)should+动词原形 主语+would (might,could)十动词原形 |
2、对过去的虚拟,表示与过去的事实相反的假设时,条件状语从句的谓语动词用过去完成时,主句的谓语动词用would (should, could, might)+过去分词。见下表:
条件状语从司的动词形式 |
主句的动词形式 |
If+主语+had+过去分词 |
i(we)should+have+过去分词 主语+could (might,could)+have + 过去分词 |
3、表示与将来事实相反的假设,对将来表示怀疑,或将来的动作不太可能实现时,条件状语从句和主句的谓语动词有以下形式:(见表)
条件状语从句的动词形式(三种) |
主句的动词形式 |
(1)if十主语+动词过去式(be的过去式用were),通常要与一个表示将来的时间状语连用. (2)If+主语(任何人称和数)+should+动词原形 (3)if+主语(任何人称和数)+were to+动词原形 |
I(we)should+动词原形 主语+would (might, could)+动词原形 |
4、当条件状语从句表示的行为和主句表示的行为所发生的时间不一致时,动词的形式要根据它所表示的时间来调整。这与以上三种情况不同,虚拟语气的谓语动词形式没有遵循以上规律。
5. 以上句型可以转换成以下形式:
1)条件状语从句省略if:在书面语中,如果条件状语从句的谓语中有were, had 或should, 就可以省略if, 并将were, had 或should 放到句首,谓语主语之前,用 “Were/Had/Should + 主语”的形式。这种虚拟语气在意义上与带if 的条件状语从句相同。当然,如果从句没有were, had, 或should,就不能省略if.
2)用介词短语代替条件状语从句。(可以改为条件状语从句)。例如:
Without air, there would be no living things.
But for your help, I couldn’t have done it.
3)用其他方式代替条件状语从句(可以改写为条件状语从句。)例如:
It would produce bad results to do that. 用动词不定式 =If you did that/should do that, it would produce bad results.
6、虚拟语气省略条件从句或主句
表示虚拟语气的条件句的主句或从句有时可以省略,而省略部分的含义仍有所体现。
(二)虚拟语气的其他句型和用法
1、用在“wish+宾语从句”中,表示很难实现或不能实现的愿望,可以翻译为“但愿…”, “悔不该…”等。表示现在不能实现的愿望,从句的谓语动词用过去式;表示将来的愿望,从句的谓语动词用“would (could)+动词原形”;对过去的事情表示愿望,从句的谓语动词用 “had+过去分词” 或“could + have + 过去分词”。Wish 后面的宾语从句必须用虚拟语气,不管这个愿望是否能实现。如:
I wish it were Spring all the year round.
I wish you could go with us.
We wish we had arrived there two hours earlier.
2、用在as if/as though,或even if/even though引导的从句中: 这时,如果从句中表示的动作发生在过去,则谓语动词用had+过去分词形式;如果指的时现在的状况,则用过去式(be用were);指将来则用would(should, could)+动词原形。这里只看从句动作发生的时间,与主句的时态没有关系。
3、在It is (high) time (that)…句型中,后面的从句的谓语动词常用过去式(be的过去式用were), 或用should+动词原形(should 不能省略)来表示。这句话的意思是“(现在)该…”。For example:
It is time we left/should leave.
It is high time that you got married.
4、在 I would rather (that)…句型中,后面的从句的谓语动词用过去式(be的过去式用were)。这句话的意思是“我宁可…”,表示说话人的意愿。
For example:
I’d rather I were in the rain now.
I’d rather you did not tell him.
5、用在suppose开头的祈使句中,从句的谓语动词变化与as if后面的动词变化规律相同,用过去式、过去完成式、或过去将来式。意思是“假如…”,但suppose 是动词,不是连词。如:
Suppose the boss walked in. What should I do?
Suppose Saddam had not been captured. What would the U.S. do?
Suppose Chen Shui-bian should declare Taiwan independent. What would China do?
6、用在for fear that或lest引导的从句中,表示“怕…”“万一…”等意思。从句的谓语动词用should+动词原形,should 可以省略。如:
She closed the windows for fear that she (should) catch cold.
The officer forbade the use of artillery lest the city’s industry be damaged.
Lest the wall should collapse, they evacuated from the building.
7. 在表示建议、要求、命令等意思的动词,如arrange, command, demand, desire, insist, order, propose, request, require, suggest, beg, move(提议)后面的宾语从句中,谓语动词用should + 动词原形,should 可以省略,而引导宾语从句的that 不能省略。例如:
We suggested that we (should) have a meeting.
We insisted that they (should) go with us.
The doctor ordered that she (should) stay in bed for a few days.
He demanded that we (should) start right away.
The commander ordered that the bridge (should) be bombed.
The villagers requested that the old building not be pulled down.
Now let’s do some translation:
总经理坚持该项目必须按计划执行。
The general manager insisted that the project be carried out as planned.
省长请求再给他一次机会。
The governor requested that he be given another chance.
美国要求伊朗必须无条件放弃其核武器计划。
The United States demanded that Iran should unconditionally give up its nuclear weapon program (program to develop nuclear weapons)
最高法院裁定此案必须重新审理。
The Supreme Court ruled that this case be retried.
医生建议,即使在节假日人们也不应该熬夜。
8、使用上述表示建议、要求、命令等意思的动词派生的名词,或在这些动词用作名词时,名词之后的从句用虚拟语气,即从句的谓语动词用should+动词原形,should 可以省略。从句的引导词that 不能省略。这与上述第7项类似。如:
He made a request that he (should) be allowed to take 3 days off. = He requested that he be allowed to take 3 days off.
Our suggestion is that education not be industrialized. = We suggest that education not be industrialized.
The president’s decision is that the war against terrorism be launched at the right time. =The president decided that the war against terrorism be launched at the right time.
9、上述动词在It is suggested that…, It is required that…, It’s requested that…, It’s ordered that…, It’s arranged that…句型中,that 之后的从句用虚拟语气,即谓语动词用should+动词原形, should 可以省略,但引导词that 不能省略。如:
It was suggested that he attend the conference.
It was requested that the trial be openly reported.
10、在It’s important (imperative, necessary, essential, vital, desirable, advisable, better) that…句型中,that 引导的从句用虚拟语气,即谓语动词用should + 动词原形,should可以省略。这个句型表示说话人的意见、要求等。
For example:
It is essential that there should be enough food and clothing for the winter.
It is desirable that your wedding be postponed until next July.
It is imperative that the board chairman be present at the board meeting.
另外,在一些习惯用语中也有虚拟语气的形式。但最好把这些习惯用语作为一种句型来记住。如:
May you be happy!
May you succeed!
Long live the People’s Republic of China!
Everybody leave the room!
You had better not resign.
I would rather not tell you.
总之,虚拟语气是英语中的一个难点,因为虚拟语气的用法和句型较多,动词的变化比较复杂。在学习的时候要逐个过关。同时,也要善于发现虚拟语气的规律。根据动词的变化,大致可以把虚拟语气分为三种:
一种是动词用过去式,过去分词式,或过去将来式,这主要是用if…, wish, suppose的情况;
一种是动词用should+动词原形(should可以省略),这主要用于表示建议、要求、命令等意思的动词或名词后面所接的从句,以及It is important (necessary) that…后面所接的从句;
一种是动词用过去式,如It is (high) time (that)…和I would rather 后面的从句。同学们还可以自己总结适合自己的规律,如把虚拟语气句型可以分为用于简单句、条件状语从句、宾语从句、主语从句、表语从句、定语从句、同位语从句等。
Now let’s do some exercises to consolidate what we have learned about subjunctive mood: