语气是用来表示说话者的意图和态度的。尽管英语中有陈述语气(indicative mood)、祁使语气(imperative mood)、虚拟语气(subjective mood),但是虚拟语气是各种英语考试中考察最多的一种。虚拟语气在英语里主要用来表达:
1.非真实的情景,不可能发生的事,即某种与事实相反或难以实现的情况,或说话人的主观愿望。
2.强制性虚拟语气,表示建议、命令、劝告等意思,表示强烈地要求做到、必须做到这样的含义。
虚拟语气的表达形式是通过动词的变化形式表达的,其特点是主从句时态的不一致,而起一般有明显的标志。
难点释疑
一、If型
If条件状语从句表示的虚拟语气,其句型结构如下:
从句
主句
与过去事实相反
had done
would/could/might have done
与现在事实相反
did/were
would/could/might do
与将来事实相反
were to do/should do/did
would/could/might do
特别值得注意的是,这种虚拟语气的形式存在交叉虚拟,即如果从句发生的动作和主句发生的动作不一致(例如:从句动作发生在过去,主句动作发生在现在),谓语动词要根据表示的时间进行调整。例如:
If Peter had applied for the post, he would probably get it now.要是彼得申请了那职位,他很可能现在就得到了。
If he had left for Shanghai yesterday, he would get there now.如果他昨天动身去上海的话,他现在已经到那里了。
二、Wish型
1.wish后的宾语从句用虚拟语气,其句型结构如下:
与过去事实相反 wish that 从句的谓语动词用had done
与现在事实相反 wish that 从句的谓语动词用did
与将来事实相反 wish that 从句的谓语动词用would/could do
例如:
I wish they would change the menu.他们要是改变一下菜单就好了。
I wish I hadn’t spent so much money.我要是没花那么多的钱就好了。
同样地,在as if/as though引导的宾语从句中和以if only引导的带有感叹色彩的虚拟语气句子中,谓语动词与wish引导的宾语从句中的虚拟形式相同。
2.由if only 引导的虚拟语气
与过去事实相反 if only 谓语动词用had done
与现在事实相反 if only 谓语动词用did
例如:
If only she had asked someone’s advice! 她要是征求了别人的意见就好了!
3.由as if/as though 引导的虚拟语气
与过去事实相反 as if/as though谓语动词用had done
与现在事实相反 as if/as though谓语动词用did
例如:
He talks about Rome as if he had been there himself.谈论起罗马来就像他去过似的。
He orders me as though I were his wife.他向我发号施令就好像我是他的妻子似的。
三、强制性虚拟语气
1.表示建议、命令、劝告、决心等主观色彩的动词 + that + (should) + 动词原形,其中should经常被省略。这类动词包括:advise,ask,command,decide,decree,demand,desire,determine, direct,insist,maintain,move(动议,规定),order,prefer,propose,recommend,require,stipulate,suggest等等。例如:
It is politely requested by the hotel management that radios (should) not be played after 11 o'clock at night.酒店管理人员恳请房客在晚上11点之后不要打开收音机。
2.以上动词转化为名词,如suggestion,proposal,demand,order,command,advice,desire,requirement,request,agreement,determination,preference,resolution,indication,后接同位语从句或表语从句时,从句要求用虚拟语气,其谓语部分用should + 动词原形,should可以省略。例如:
We are all for your proposal that discussion should be put off.我们都支持你推迟讨论的建议。
3.值得注意的是,只有suggest意为“建议”、insist意为“坚持认为”时,从句用虚拟语气,当suggest意为“暗示”、insist意为“坚持说”时,从句不用虚拟语气。例如:
When the son suggested that they should go to park on Sunday, the expression on his father suggested that he agreed with him.当儿子提议星期天去公园时,父亲用表情表示了默许。
The boy insisted that he didn’t cheat in the exam.这个孩子坚持说他没有在考试中作弊。(考试已经结束)
The boy insisted that he shouldn’t cheat in the exam.这个孩子坚持认为不应该在考试中作弊。(考试还未进行)
4.It is/was + 形容词/过去分词 + that + (should) + 动词原形,这些形容词主要表示必要性、重要性、强制性、合适性、义务性,即某人对某事的反应。这类词包括:important,natural,desirable,possible,astonishing,advisable,anxious,appropriate,compulsory,crucial,eager,essential,fitting,imperative,improper,necessary,obligatory,preferable,proper,urgent,vital,shocked,requested,amazing,strange,odd,ridiculous,surprising,unthinkable,incredible等等。例如:
It is important that students graduating from universities should have not only theory but also practice.大学毕业生不仅要有理论知识,更要有实践经验,这一点很重要。
It is surprising that they should kill the time like that.他们竟然这样打发时间,真是太奇怪了。
四、其他类型的虚拟语气
1.由would rather/sooner,would sooner,had rather,would just as soon,would prefer等结构引导的虚拟语气,其句型结构如下:
与过去事实相反 would rather/sooner…谓语动词用had done
与现在、将来事实相反 would rather/sooner…谓语动词用did
2.由it is time引导的虚拟语气,谓语动词始终用did。
3.在lest that,for fear that,in case that,引导的表示消极意义的目的状语从句中常用虚拟语气,结构用should + 动词原形。例如:
I keep some candle in the house in case that electric power should fail.我在家里备了些蜡烛,以防断电。
4.含蓄虚拟条件句是指没有出现用if 引导的条件句,而条件句的意思是用其他方式表达的。如:without,but for,otherwise,or,but that,given,provided,supposing,were it not for等等。例如:
Given me more time, I would have worked out a more perfect scheme. 再给我一点时间的话,我本可以设计出更加完善的方案。
Were it not for your help, I would haven’t finished the work on time. 要不是你的帮助,我不可能按时完成工作。
5.表示祝愿或希望用虚拟语气,例如:
Long live the queen! 女王万岁!
God bless you! 上帝保佑你!
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初中英语语法虚拟语气的结构和用法