王新民
虛擬語氣是高中英語語法的難點(diǎn)之一。在近年來的高考試題中,虛擬語氣不斷出現(xiàn)。因此,掌握好虛擬語氣,對于我們正確地理解英語會有很大的幫助,從而直接或間接地提高我們的高考分?jǐn)?shù)。
一、虛擬語氣在含有非真實(shí)條件狀語從句的主從復(fù)合句中的應(yīng)用
如果條件狀語從句敘述的情況與已經(jīng)發(fā)生情況相反,或者在未來發(fā)生的可能性極小,甚至根本不可能發(fā)生,這種條件狀語從句稱為非真實(shí)條件句。虛擬語氣在含有非真實(shí)條件狀語從句的主從復(fù)合句中的應(yīng)用有以下幾種情況:
(一)與過去事實(shí)相反的假設(shè)
其基本句型是:
“If+主語+had done, 主語+should/would/could/might have done”。如:
If I had taken the teacher's advice,I would have gone to college.
(二)與目前事實(shí)相反的假設(shè)
其基本句型是:
“If+主語+did(be動詞常用were),主語+should/could/would/might do”.如:
If I were you,I would follow the teacher's advice.
(三)對未來幾乎不可能發(fā)生的情況的假設(shè)
對于未來的情況,如果發(fā)生和不發(fā)生的可能性同時存在,我們還是要用真實(shí)條件句。只有當(dāng)發(fā)生的可能性極小或者根本不可能發(fā)生的時候才用非真實(shí)條件句。其基本句型是:
“If+主語+should do/were to do//did,主語+should/could/would//might do”.如:
If it were to rain tomorrow,I would give you 100,000,000 US dollars.
[注意]
(一)有時,某些介詞短語、副詞或連詞的作用相當(dāng)于非真實(shí)條件句。如:
Without his help,I couldn't have finished this task in such a short time.
He phoned to inform me of your birthday,oy I would have forgotten it.
(二)若從句的謂語中有助動詞had, should 或were,可把這些詞提到句首,而省略掉If。如:
Had I had enough money,I would have bought the house.
Should he come,tell him to ring me up.
Were I you,I would go with him.
(三)若條件句和主句的時間不一致,則要根據(jù)各自的時間使用相應(yīng)的虛擬語氣的謂語動詞形式。如:
If I were you,I would have chosen the English department at that time.
If you had taken my advice just now,you would be better now.
二、虛擬語氣在其他狀語從句中的應(yīng)用
(一)在so that或in order that引導(dǎo)的目的狀語從句中,常常使用虛擬語氣,其結(jié)構(gòu)如下:
①當(dāng)主句的謂語動詞是現(xiàn)在時或?qū)頃r時,從句的謂語動詞前要加may,can或will。如:
Please give me a little more time so that I can perfect it.
②當(dāng)主語的謂語動詞是過去時時,從句的謂語動詞前要加could,should,might或would。如:
Our teacher spoke slowly so that we could hear clearly.
(二)當(dāng)as if或as though引導(dǎo)的方式狀語從句所表達(dá)的內(nèi)容與實(shí)際情況相反或者純粹是一種假設(shè)時,句子中通常使用虛擬語氣,其結(jié)構(gòu)如下:
①從句用動詞的過去式表示從句的動作和主句的動作同時發(fā)生。如:
He speaks as if he were an Englishman.
②從句用“had+過去分詞”表示從句的動作發(fā)生在主句動作之前。如:
She was very heppy as if she had won the contest.
三、虛擬語氣在賓語從句中的應(yīng)用
(一)wish后的賓語從句必須用虛擬語氣。其結(jié)構(gòu)和as if或as though引導(dǎo)的方式狀語從句里的虛擬語氣相同。如:
I wish I were a bird and could fly freely in the sky.
I wish I had seen the film last night.
(二)suggest,order,demand,insist等動詞之后的賓語從句也常常使用虛擬語氣,其構(gòu)成是“should+動詞原形”,其中的should可以省略。如:
Our teacher suggested that we read more books in our spare time.
[注意]
(一)susgest在表示“建議”時,其后的賓語從句可以用虛擬語氣;在表示“暗示;表明”時,要用陳述語氣。如:
The smile on his face suggested that he was satisfied with our work.
(二)insist在表示“堅(jiān)持要”時,其后的賓語從句要用虛擬語氣;在表示“堅(jiān)持說”時,要用陳述語氣。如:
The little boy insisted that he had never stolen the money.