虛擬語氣的用法如何歸納
香凡郎
虛擬語氣主要用來表示假設(shè),而非客觀存在的事實,所陳述的是一個條件,不一定是事實,甚至完全與事實相反。虛擬語氣是由句中的謂語動詞的特殊形式表示出來的。
一、虛擬條件句的基本類型
(1) 與現(xiàn)在事實相反:若與現(xiàn)在事實相反,條件從句的謂語用過去式(be通常用were),主句謂語用“should (would, could, might)+動詞原形”。如:
If we left now, we should arrive in good time. 假如我們現(xiàn)在就走的話,我們就會及時到達(dá)。
(2) 與過去事實相反:若與過去事實相反,條件從句的謂語用過去完成時(had+過去分詞),主句謂語用“should (would, could, might)+have+過去分詞”。如:
If he had been in that train then, he might have been killed in that accident. 如果當(dāng)時他也在那列火車上,他可能就死于那場車禍了。
(3) 與將來事實相反:若與將來事實相反,條件從句的謂語用過去式(be通常用were),主句謂語用“should (would, could, might)+動詞原形”。如:
If he went,would you go too? 如果他去,你也去嗎?(大概他不會去)
If I asked him,I'm sure he'd help us. 如果我向他提出要求,肯定他會幫助我們。(不過我不打算這樣做)
二、錯綜時間虛擬條件句
所謂錯綜時間虛擬條件句即條件從句與主句所指時間不一致,如從句指過去,而主句即指的是現(xiàn)在或?qū)恚藭r應(yīng)根據(jù)具體的語境情況,結(jié)合上面提到的三種基本類型對時態(tài)作相應(yīng)的調(diào)整。如:
If you'd listened to me, you wouldn't be in such trouble now. 如果你聽了我的話,你現(xiàn)在也不會有這樣的麻煩了。
If you were in better health, we'd have let you go with us. 你要是身體好一點,我們就讓你和我們一道去了。
三、含蓄虛擬條件句
所謂含蓄虛擬條件句即指將條件從句隱藏在上下文一定的短語中的一類條件句。如:
Anybody else would have believed you. 任何別人都會相信你的話了。
Without your help, I couldn't have achieved all this. 要不是有你幫助,我不會取得這些成就。
I would have written before, but I have been ill. 我本想給你寫信的,但我生病了。
四、if it weren't (wasn't) for與if it hadn't been for
這是兩個很常用的虛擬語氣句型,其意為“若不是(有)”“要不是有”,與but for, without同義。如:
If it wasn't (weren't) for the children, we wouldn't have anything to talk about. 要不是因為孩子們,我們不會有什么可談的。
If it hadn't been for the rain, we would have had a good harvest. 要不是有雨,我們本會獲得一個大豐收的。
If it hadn't been for the doctor's care, I wouldn't have recovered so soon. 要不是醫(yī)生的照顧,我不會痊愈得這么快。
注:一般說來,if it weren’t (wasn't) for 用于談?wù)摤F(xiàn)在的情況,而if it hadn’t been for 用于談?wù)撨^去的情況。但實際上if it weren’t (wasn’t) for有時也可用于談?wù)撨^去的情況。
五、使用虛擬語氣的特殊句式
(1) I wish…句式:要表示與現(xiàn)在事實相反的愿望,從句謂語一般過去時或過去進行時,表示與過去相反的愿望,從句謂語用過去完成時或would / could+have +過去分詞,表示將來沒有把握或不太可能實現(xiàn)的愿望,用would (could)+動詞原形。如:
I wish I was ten years younger. 我但愿年輕10歲。
I wish I could speak your language. 但愿我能講你們國家的話。
I wish I hadn't wasted so much money. 但愿我沒浪費這么多錢。
(2) if only…句式:if only 與 I wish一樣,也是表示與事實相反的愿望的,其后所虛擬語氣的時態(tài)與 wish后所接時態(tài)的情況相同。如:
If only Tessa was here now. 要是特薩現(xiàn)在在這兒就好了。
If only l knew the answer to your question. 我但愿知道你的問題的答案。
(3) as if / as though…句式: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,用過去完成時;表示將來的可能性不大,用would (might, could)+動詞原形。如:
I felt as if I was swimming. 我覺得好像在游泳似的。
At that time she acted as if I were her servant. 當(dāng)時她的舉止好像我是她的仆人。
(4) it's time…句式:從句謂語通常用過去式表示現(xiàn)在或?qū)?,有時也用過去進行時或“should+動詞原形”(較少見,且should不能省略),其意為“(早)該干某事了”。如:
It's time you washed those trousers. 你該洗洗那條褲子了。
I'm getting tired. It's time we went home. 我累了,我們該回家了。
注:time前有時有about和high修飾:
It's high time we left. 我們早該動身了。
(5) would rather…句式:通常用一般過去時表示現(xiàn)在或?qū)淼脑竿?,用過去完成時表過去的愿望。如:
I would rather you came tomorrow. 我寧愿你明天來。
I would rather you didn’t mention the price. 我寧愿你別提價錢。
六、使用虛擬語氣的賓語從句
在表示“堅持”“命令”“建議”“要求”等后的賓語從句要用虛擬語氣。這些動詞主要包括insist, order, command, advise, suggest, propose, demand, require, request, ask等,其虛擬語氣格式為“should+動詞原形”,其中的should在美國英語中可以省略。如:
The doctor advised that he change his job. 醫(yī)生勸他換工作。
The detective insisted that he should have a look. 警探堅持要查看。
The seller demanded that payment should be made within five days. 賣方要求5日內(nèi)付款。
Her uncle suggested that she (should) get a job in a bank. 她叔叔建議她在銀行里找個工作。
注意:insist后接賓語從句時,有時用虛擬語氣,有時用陳述語氣,其區(qū)別是:若謂語動詞所表示的動作尚未發(fā)生,或尚未成為事實,則用虛擬語氣;若謂語動詞所表示的動作已經(jīng)發(fā)生,或已經(jīng)成為事實,則要用陳述語氣。比較:
She insisted that I (should) stay for supper. 她一定要我留下吃晚飯。
He still insisted that he wasn’t there at the time. 他仍然堅持說他當(dāng)時不在那兒。
與insist相似,suggest后接賓語從句時,也可用虛擬語氣或陳述語氣,其區(qū)別是:若謂語動詞所表示的情況尚未成為事實,則用虛擬語氣,此時suggest通常譯為“建議”;若謂語動詞所表示的情況為既成事實,則要用陳述語氣,此時的suggest通常譯為“表明”“認(rèn)為”。比較:
He suggested that we (should) come another day. 他建議們改日再來。
His smile suggested that he was satisfied. 他的微笑表明他是滿意的。
七、使用虛擬語氣的主語從句
形容詞important, impossible, necessary等后的主語從句通常用虛擬語氣。如:
It's impossible that he (should) marry her. 他同她結(jié)婚是不可能的。
It's important that he (should) remember this. 他記住這一點很有必要。
注:在It is amazing (strange, surprising, astonishing, a pity, a shame)以及 I am surprised (sorry) 和I regret等結(jié)構(gòu)后的that 從句中有時也用should,表示說話人的驚異、懊悔、失望等情感,常含有“竟然”之意。如:
It's strange that he should come so late. 他竟然來這么遲真是奇怪。
這類句子若用陳述語氣,則不帶感色彩,比較下面兩句:
I'm surprised that he should feel lonely. 我很驚訝他竟感到孤獨。
She was surprised that I knew all about it. 這事我全知道她感到驚奇。