周童瑜,南京大學(xué)博士,主要研究方向是國際關(guān)系和中美文化。托福考試滿分獲得者,知名語法專家,對英語語法有獨到研究。
婚禮的英文誓詞中有一句是“till death do us part”,death是第三人稱,但并未用does, 因為這是一種特殊虛擬式。提到虛擬語氣,我們腦海中知識的主體是非真實條件句的虛擬用法。然而,條件句之外的特殊虛擬式卻往往出其不意地讓我們陷入麻煩。
這類特殊虛擬式由部分特殊詞引發(fā),這些詞匯主要包括wish,as if,if only等,以及一組表示建議、請求、命令的詞匯。這些詞匯所引發(fā)的虛擬語氣結(jié)構(gòu),我們可以概括為兩類:“時間式”特殊虛擬式和“原形式”特殊虛擬式。
“時間式”特殊虛擬式
1.Wish組:wish從句表示現(xiàn)在的愿望, 從句動詞用過去式。如:I wish I knew his address.(事實上我現(xiàn)在不知道)/ I wish I were a millionaire. (但我現(xiàn)在不是)用wish從句表示過去沒有實現(xiàn)或不可能實現(xiàn)的愿望時,從句動詞用過去完成時或would/could/might have done.如:I wish you had written to him. /I wish I could have slept longer this morning, but I had to go to class earlier. 有時wish從句表示請求,或?qū)ΜF(xiàn)狀不滿,或希望將來有所改變時,這時從句動詞通常只用would(或could)。如: I wish I would remember her name. (實際上是忘記了) / I wish you would (或 could) come. (注意:不是 will)
例1 I wish you him my telephone number, but you did.
A. didnt give B. hadnt given
C. wouldnt give D. shouldnt give
解析:此題選B。but you did提示你實際給了他電話號碼,“沒給”只是一種愿望。
2.If only組:if only 與 wish一樣,也用于表示與事實相反的愿望,其后的虛擬式與 wish從句相同。如:If only I werent so nervous. 要是我不這么緊張就好了/If only the alarm clock had rung. 如果當(dāng)時鬧鐘響就好了。If only也可用于陳述語氣,如:If only he comes early.但愿他早點回來。
例2 As many as 150 miners died in the accident. If only the mine-owners enough attention to the safety measures!
A. paid B. should pay C. would pay D. had paid
解析:此題選D。根據(jù)句子意思,應(yīng)是與過去事實相反,故用過去完成時。
3.As if (though) 組:以as if/as though引導(dǎo)的方式狀語從句或表語從句,有時用虛擬語氣。若表示與現(xiàn)在事實相反,謂語動詞用一般過去時;若表示與過去事實相反,則用過去完成時;若表示將來的可能性不大,一般用would (might, could)+動詞原形。如:I love you as if you were my daughter. 我像愛我的女兒一樣愛你。注意:若從句表示的內(nèi)容可能為事實,亦可用陳述語氣。試區(qū)別:It looks as if he is ill.(真的病了)/It looks as if he were ill. (沒有生?。?/p>
例3 He is a poorly learned man, but he acts as though he .
A. is B. were C. should be D. seems like
解析:此題選B。表示與現(xiàn)在的狀況相反,故用過去時。
4.It is (high) time組:It is (high) time that 后面的從句謂語動詞要用過去式或用should加動詞原形,且should不可省略。其意為“(早就)該干某事了”。 如:It is time that the children went to bed/It is high time that the children should go to bed.注意:time前有時還可以用about修飾。
“原形式”特殊虛擬式
此處“原形”是指動詞原形。有一類動詞,要求其后的賓語從句必須用(should) do的結(jié)構(gòu)來表示虛擬語氣。這類動詞主要有:advise, arrange, ask, beg, command, consent, decide, demand, deserve, desire, determine, direct(指示), forbid, insist, move(提議), order, pray, prefer, propose, recommend, request, require, suggest, suppose, urge, vote等,主要表示意愿、建議、命令、提議、請求等。
例4 The manager required that the work before Friday.
A. should finish B. would be finished
C. be finished D. was to be finished
解析:此題只要了解“原形式”虛擬式的用法,就可以迎刃而解,選C。
考生需要注意的是:suggest不表示“建議”,insist不表示“堅持要某人做某事”時,當(dāng)它們表示“暗示、表明”和“堅持認(rèn)為”時,賓語從句要用陳述語氣,不用虛擬式。
例5 I suggested to my father that we to Hong Kong for a holiday this summer, but the expression on his face suggested that he to it.
A. go;shouldnt agree B. would go;shouldnt agree
C. go;didnt agree D. would go;didnt agree
例6 The little boy insisted that he nothing wrong and that he .
A. should do;not punish
B. did;not punish
C. had done;not be punished
D. do;should not be punished
解析:例5前面一個表示“建議”,后面一個表示 “暗示”,故選C。例6前面一個表示“堅持認(rèn)為”,后面一個表示“堅持要某人做某事”,故選C。
此外,這些詞衍生的名詞如advice, decision, idea, importance, insistence, motion, order, plan, proposal, recommendation, request, requirement, suggestion, understanding, a pity, a shame等作主語后的表語從句或同位語從句,從句謂語動詞也要用“原形式”特殊虛擬式,如:
The professor gave an order that the test ( should ) be finished before 13:30.
My idea is that we (should) get more people to attend the conference.
I make a proposal that we (should) hold a meeting next week.
在It is a pity/a shame that ...句型中,that從句用“原形式”虛擬式表示出乎意料,常譯為“竟然”。若不表示這種含義,則不用虛擬式。如:It is a pity that such a thing (should) happen in your class. 對比:It is a pity that he is ill.
例7 It is a great pity that she so conceited.
A. is B. was C. were D. be
解析:此題選D。意思為很遺憾,她太自負(fù)了。
同樣,這些詞衍生的形容詞和過去分詞在it的句型中,也需采用“原形式”虛擬式,如it is/was+advisable/ appropriate/compulsory/crucial/curious/desirable/essential/imperative/important/ insistent/keen/natural/necessary/proper/recommendable/ridiculous/right/strange/urgent/vital/arranged/decided/demanded/desired/insisted/ordered/proposed/recommended/requested/required/resolved/suggested/urged that +(should) do.
例8 It is highly desirable that a new president
for this college
A. appointed B. is appointed
C. be appointed D. has been appointed
解析:此題對應(yīng)上述原則,根據(jù)desirable這個關(guān)鍵詞,以及省略的Should,可知答案為C。
通過上文我們可以看出,特殊詞引發(fā)的特殊虛擬式并不難記憶,兩種類別的分類模式,將特殊虛擬式一網(wǎng)打盡,有沒有讓你有一種“虛擬語氣其實很簡單”的感慨呢?God bless you!
推薦閱讀:說到ing的用法,規(guī)則之多,內(nèi)容之繁,考生一般難以厘清。但本期同步出刊的《求學(xué)》文科版“新生語法系列”之《“ing”的奇境記》,帶你領(lǐng)略“ing”的九大奇境!