第十七講 虛擬語氣(一)
-- 虛擬語氣在條件狀語從句中的應(yīng)用
虛擬語氣(Subjunctive Mood)這一語法項(xiàng)目幾乎是四、六級(jí)必考的內(nèi)容,也是各類英語考試中心測(cè)試的重點(diǎn)之一。虛擬語氣是一種特殊的動(dòng)詞形式,用來表示說話人所說的話并不是事實(shí),而是一種假設(shè)、愿望、懷疑或推測(cè)。
1. 虛擬現(xiàn)在時(shí)表示與現(xiàn)在事實(shí)相反的假設(shè),其if 從句的謂語形式用動(dòng)詞的過去式(be 一般用were),主句用would/ should/ could/ might +動(dòng)詞原形。
1) If places ______ a like, there would be little need for geographers.
A. being B. are C. be D. were
如果各個(gè)地方都一樣,就不需要地理學(xué)家了。(答案是D)
2) If I _____ the meaning of the word, I wouldn't have to look it up.
A. know B. knew C. known D. knowing
如果我知道這個(gè)詞的意義,就不必查詞典了。(答案是B)
2. 虛擬過去時(shí)是表示與過去事實(shí)相反的假設(shè),if 從句的謂語形式用過去完成時(shí)即had+過去分詞,主句用would / should / could / might + have +過去分詞。
例:1995年6月四級(jí)第46題
We didn't know his telephone number, otherwise we _____ him,
A) would have telephoned B) must have telephoned
C) would telephone D) had telephoned
本題是與過去時(shí)相反的虛擬句,從句中用過去完成式,主句中用would have done。本句相當(dāng)于if we had known his telephone number,we would have telephoned him。答案是A) would have telephoned。
3. 虛擬將來時(shí)是表示對(duì)將來實(shí)現(xiàn)的可能性很小的或不確定的假設(shè)。If從句的謂語形式用一般過去式或用were to / should +動(dòng)詞原形,主句用would / should /could/ might +動(dòng)詞原形。
例:1996年1月四級(jí)第44題
Jean doesn't want to work right away because she thinks that if she ______ a job she probably wouldn't be able to see her friends very often.
A. has to get B. had got C. were to get D. could have got
本句的意思是:“瓊不想馬上就工作,她認(rèn)為要是找了工作,就不能經(jīng)常探訪她的朋友了”。 這說明,瓊目前沒有工作。句中假設(shè)的情況在近期內(nèi)并不會(huì)存在。該條件句應(yīng)當(dāng)用表示將來情況的虛擬語氣。 條件從句的謂語用should或were to引出。 因此C. were to get 是本題答案。選項(xiàng)A. has to get是陳述語氣的現(xiàn)在時(shí),不能用于虛擬條件句中。選項(xiàng)B. had got是虛擬語氣的過去時(shí),不能表示將來時(shí)間。選項(xiàng)D. could have got不能用于虛擬語氣的條件從句中。
4. 省略if 采用倒裝語序的條件句。
有時(shí)可以把含有助動(dòng)詞、情態(tài)動(dòng)詞、be或have的虛擬條件句中的連詞if 省去,而將had , should, were 等詞提到主語之前,即用倒裝結(jié)構(gòu)。(這種結(jié)構(gòu)在口語中很少使用)。
例:1997年6月四級(jí)第42題:
Had he worked harder, he _____ the exams.
A. must have got through B. would have got through
C. would get through D. could get through
本題前半句是表示與過去事實(shí)相反的虛擬條件從句,后半句是表示與過去事實(shí)相反的主句。相當(dāng)于:If he had worked harder, he would have got through the exams.本題的答案是B. would have got through。選項(xiàng)A. must have got through(肯定通過)表示一種對(duì)過去事情的主觀推測(cè),不是與過去事情相反的情況。另外,must不能用在虛擬條件句中。選項(xiàng)C. would get through(就會(huì)通過)是虛擬語氣現(xiàn)在時(shí)的一種表示方法,表示與現(xiàn)在事實(shí)相反。選項(xiàng)D. could get through(可能通過),could也可以用于非真實(shí)條件句里,表示與事實(shí)相反的情況,但這里,它只表示與現(xiàn)在事實(shí)或?qū)砜赡艿氖聦?shí)相反。
5. 有時(shí)虛擬條件句并沒來if 從句表示出來,而是用介詞短語、上下文或其它方式來表示。
例:1995年6月四級(jí)第46題
We didn't know his telephone number; otherwise we __________ him.
A. would have telephoned B. would telephone
C. must have telephoned D. had telephoned
結(jié)合選項(xiàng)可知, 全句的意思是:“我們不知道他的電話號(hào)碼,否則我們會(huì)打電話給他”。本句中otherwise 引出的是一種與過去事實(shí)相反的假設(shè)條件, 即實(shí)際上沒有打電話,因此應(yīng)選A. would have telephoned。全句相當(dāng)于:If we had known his telephone number, we would have telephoned him. 選項(xiàng)B. must have telephoned中“must + 完成式”表示“必定……”。選項(xiàng)C. would telephone 的意思是“會(huì)打電話”。 因?yàn)楸绢}是講過去發(fā)生的情況, 實(shí)際上沒有打電話,所以不能用would telephone。選項(xiàng)D. had telephoned表示“已經(jīng)打過電話”,但本題的意思是“沒有打過電話”, 所以 D 不是答案。
第十八講 虛擬語氣(二)
-- 虛擬語氣在賓語從句中的應(yīng)用
(一) 在表示愿望的動(dòng)詞wish后的賓語從句中,需用虛擬語氣。(wish后的that 常省略)
1.表示現(xiàn)在或?qū)淼脑竿瑥木溆眠^去式。
例:1995年6月四級(jí)第45題
I wish I ______ longer this morning, but I had to get up and come to class.
A. could have slept B. slept C. might have slept D. have slept
動(dòng)詞wish后面接從句,表達(dá)不可能實(shí)現(xiàn)或與事實(shí)相反的情況時(shí),謂語動(dòng)詞要用虛擬語氣,即用過去式(表示現(xiàn)在發(fā)生的動(dòng)作)或過去完成式(表示過去發(fā)生的動(dòng)作)。本題后半句謂語動(dòng)詞have用的是過去時(shí)had to get up and come, 所以前面要用過去完成時(shí)表示過去發(fā)生的動(dòng)作。所以, 選項(xiàng)A)could have slept是答案。
2.如果將wish改為過去式wished, 其后that 從句中的動(dòng)詞形式不變。例如:
I wished I hadn't spent so much money.
我要是那時(shí)沒有花掉那么多錢就好了。
(二) 在具有愿望、請(qǐng)求、建議、命令等主觀意愿的動(dòng)詞(desire, demand, advice, insist, require, suggest, propose, order, recommend, decide …) 后的賓語從句中需用虛擬語氣。謂語動(dòng)詞用(should) +動(dòng)詞原形。
例:1996年1月四級(jí)第28題
It is politely requested by the hotel management that radios ______ after 11 o'clock at night.
A. were not played B. not be played
C. not to play D. did not play
全句意思是:“旅館管理部門懇請(qǐng)客人晚上11點(diǎn)后不要打開收音機(jī)”。句中的謂語動(dòng)詞request(請(qǐng)求)所引出的從句應(yīng)當(dāng)用虛擬語氣,即動(dòng)詞原形或“should+動(dòng)詞原形”。本句的主語從句中,主語radio是謂語動(dòng)詞play 的客體,謂語應(yīng)當(dāng)用被動(dòng)語態(tài)。所以,答案是C) not be played。在上述這類句子中不能用動(dòng)詞過去時(shí)形式表示虛擬語氣,所以A)不正確。選項(xiàng)B) not to play是動(dòng)詞帶to的不定式,不能在句中作謂語。選項(xiàng)D)did not play也是動(dòng)詞play的過去時(shí)形式,同樣不能在本句中作為虛擬語氣來使用。而且,它是主動(dòng)語態(tài)形式,而本題要用被動(dòng)語態(tài)。
。ㄈ﹚ould rather , would sooner也用來表達(dá)主觀愿望,它們之后的賓語從句中需用虛擬語氣。謂語動(dòng)詞用過去式表示現(xiàn)在或?qū),用過去完成式表示與過去事實(shí)相反。
第十九講 虛擬語氣(三)
--虛擬語氣的其它應(yīng)用
虛擬語氣在表語從句和同位語從句中的應(yīng)用
在表示建議、請(qǐng)求、命令等主觀意向的名詞(suggestion, proposal, requirement, demand, desire, advice, order, insistence…) 作主語時(shí),其后的表語從句或同位語從句中,需用虛擬語氣。謂語動(dòng)詞用(should)+動(dòng)詞原形。注意這種句型中的虛擬語氣形式不受主句動(dòng)詞時(shí)態(tài)的影響。
例:1998年6月四級(jí)第68題
We are all for your proposal that discussion _____.
a. be put off b. was put off c. should put off d. is to put off
全句意思是:我們都贊成你的建議,把討論推遲。答案是A。
虛擬語氣在定語從句中的應(yīng)用
在It's (high) time 之后的定語從句中需用虛擬語氣。謂語動(dòng)詞用過去式。
例:1995年6月四級(jí)第43題
It's already 5 o'clock now. Don't you think it's about time _____ ?
A. we are going home B. if she leaves
C. we went home D. if she had left
現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)十六點(diǎn)鐘了,難道你不認(rèn)為該回家了嗎?(答案是C)
虛擬語氣在狀語從句中的應(yīng)用
一、虛擬語氣在as if / as though 引導(dǎo)的方式狀語從句中的應(yīng)用(謂語動(dòng)詞形式與wish后的賓語從句基本相同)
。ㄒ唬 表示與現(xiàn)在事實(shí)相反或?qū)ΜF(xiàn)在情況有懷疑,謂語動(dòng)詞用過去式。例如:
① He felt as if he alone were responsible for what had happened.
他感到仿佛唯獨(dú)他要對(duì)發(fā)生的一切負(fù)責(zé)。
② He acts as if he were / was a TV expert.
他做起事來好象是個(gè)電視專家。
。ǘ 表示過去想象中的動(dòng)作或情況,謂語動(dòng)詞用過去完成式。
例:1992年四級(jí)試題
The tree looked as if it ______ for a long time.
A. hasn't watered B. didn't water
C. hadn't bee watered D. wasn't watered
那棵樹看上去好象很久沒人給澆水了。(答案是c)
二、 在lest 引導(dǎo)的狀語從句中,謂語動(dòng)詞多用虛擬語氣,(should )+ 動(dòng)詞原形。例如:
例:1998年1月四級(jí)第38題
The mad man was put in the soft-padded cell lest he _____ himself.
a. injure b. injured c. had injure d. would injure
這個(gè)瘋子被關(guān)進(jìn)墻上裝有襯墊的病房,以免傷了他自己。(答案是a)
三、 在if only 引起的感嘆句中需用虛擬語氣。謂語動(dòng)詞用過去式或過去完成式。
例:1993年6月四級(jí)第70題
Look at the terrible situation I am in! if only I ____ your advice.
A. follow B. had followed C. would follow D. have followed
if only 引出感嘆句,意思是“要是……多好”,表示說話人的一種愿望,希望發(fā)生(事實(shí)上不可能發(fā)生)與過去事實(shí)相反的情況。本句的全句意思是:“看我現(xiàn)在的處境多糟糕!要是我聽從你的勸告多好”。事實(shí)上,句中的“我”沒有聽從勸告,所以處境很糟糕。 題中空格處應(yīng)當(dāng)用虛擬語氣,答案是B。