薄冰英語語法 第十一章 虛擬語氣(9-17)

　　11.9 不用if引導(dǎo)的條件從句

　　非真實(shí)條件句的條件從句除用if引導(dǎo)外，還有when，unless，lest，suppose，as if，for fear，in case，on condition等詞語來引導(dǎo)。如：

　　(1)The peasants prepared to feed the city when it should be freed. 農(nóng)民已準(zhǔn)備在這座城市解放后供給糧食。

　　(2)Lest you should not have heard all, I shall begin at the beginning. 我怕你沒有聽全，所以我再從頭開始講一遍。

　　(3)Unless I were well, I wouldn’t be at school. 除非我好了，否則我不會上學(xué)。

　　(4)Suppose you were giver a chance to study in America, would you accept? 假如給你一個到美國學(xué)習(xí)的機(jī)會，你會接受嗎?

　　(5)He can use the bicycle on condition that he should return it tomorrow. 如果明天能還回來，他就可以借用這輛自行車。

　　(6)In case I forget, please remind me of my promise. 如果我忘了，請?zhí)嵝盐业闹Z言。

　　(7)Susan is walking slowly as if she were tired. 蘇珊走得很慢，就像是累了似的。

　　[注]與if一樣，上述詞語所引導(dǎo)的條件從句亦可用直陳語氣，表可能實(shí)現(xiàn)或發(fā)生的事。

　　11.10 虛擬語氣的其它用法

　　虛擬語氣除主要用于條件從句即狀語從句外，還可用于主語從句、賓語從句、表語從句、定語從句等。

　　1)用于主語從句，其謂語用should+動詞原形(或should+have+過去分詞)或只用動詞原形(尤其是美國英語)。should在此是助動詞，本身并無實(shí)義。這種主語從句由連詞that所引導(dǎo)，常用在it is (was) important (necessary，desirable，imperative，advisable) that…句型中。如：

　　(1)It is important that we should speak politely. 我們說話要有禮貌，這是很重要的

　　(2)It is imperative that we should practice criticism and self-criticism. 應(yīng)當(dāng)進(jìn)行批評與自我批評。

　　[注]這種句型中的主語從句亦可用直陳語氣，如it is important that he made an explicit statement on this score last week (他上個星期對于這一方面做了明確的說明，這是很重要的)。

　　這種主語從句中的should有時有感情色彩。如：

　　(3)It is strange that he should have gone away without telling us. 真奇怪，他沒有通知我們就走掉了。

　　全句的表語亦可以是名詞。如：

　　(4)It is a pity that she should fare so badly. 她竟吃得那么差，真可憐。

　　這種主語從句還常用在it is (was) desired (suggested，settled，proposed，requested，decided，etc.) that…句型中。如：

　　(5)It is desired that this rule shall be brought to the attention of the staffs. 希望這條規(guī)則引起全體職員的注意。(shall在當(dāng)代英語中已較少見)

　　(6)It is settled that you leave us, then? 那么你離開我們已是定了的啰?

　　2)用于賓語從句，一種是用作動詞wish的賓語的從句，表示愿望，常省去連詞that。這種從句的謂語動詞可用過去式，表示與現(xiàn)在事實(shí)相反;亦可用過去完成式，表示與過去事實(shí)相反。如：

　　(7)I wish I wasn’t going to Bristol. 我真希望不是去布里斯托爾。

　　(8)We wish you had come to our New Year’s party. 我們真希望你來參加了我們的新年聯(lián)歡會。

　　賓語從句的謂語如是would+動詞原形，則是一種常用的希求。如：

　　(9)I wish you would stay a little longer. 我希望你再待一會兒。

　　也可以用would rather，would sooner等表示愿望，但其賓語從句常用虛擬過去式。如：

　　(10)I would rather you came tomorrow. 我寧愿你明天來。

　　(11)I’d sooner she left the heavy end of the work to some one else. 我寧愿她把重活留給別人。

　　另一種是謂語用should+動詞原形或只用動詞原形的that從句，作為demand，suggest，propose，order，arrange，insist，command，require，desire等動詞的賓語。如：

　　(12)He suggested that we should leave early. 他建議我們早點(diǎn)動身。

　　(13)The detective insisted that he should have a look. 警探堅(jiān)持要查看。

　　(14)The judge ordered that the prisoner should be remanded. 法官命令被告還押。

　　有些動詞，如think，expect，believe，其否定式的賓語從句亦可用should+動詞原形。如：

　　(15)I never thought he should refuse. 我萬沒有想到他會拒絕。

　　(16)She did not expect that you should come. 她沒有預(yù)料你會來。

　　還有一種是用作某些形容詞或相當(dāng)于形容詞的過去分詞的賓語的that從句，其謂語是should+動詞原形或should+have+過去分詞。如：

　　(17)I was glad that he should go. 他走，我很高興。

　　(18)I’m ashamed you should have done such a thing. 我真感到羞恥，你竟會做這種事情。(省去that)

　　3)用于表語從句，由that(可省去)所引導(dǎo)，其謂語是should+動詞原形。句子主語常常是suggestion，proposal，idea，motion等名詞。如：

　　(19)My suggestion is that we should tell him. 我的建議是我們應(yīng)該告訴他。

　　(20)Our only request is that this should be settled as soon as possible. 我們惟一的請求就是盡快解決這個問題。

　　虛擬語氣也可以用于同位語從句。如：

　　(21)There was s suggestion that Brown should be dropped from the team. 有一項(xiàng)建議是布朗應(yīng)該離隊(duì)。

　　4)用于定語從句，常用在it is time (that)…句型中。定語從句常用虛擬過去式。如：

　　(22)It is time we left. 我們該走了。

　　(23)It is time we went to bed. 我們該去睡覺了。

　　虛擬時態(tài)亦可用在由關(guān)系代詞引導(dǎo)的定語從句中。如：

　　(24)A man might pass for insane who should see things as they are. 一個看到事物本來面目的人可能會被認(rèn)為了瘋子。

　　11.11 動詞原形用于正式文體

　　動詞原形作為虛擬時態(tài)皆用在正式文體中(非正式文體用直陳語氣)。它在條件從句中所表的假設(shè)是可能實(shí)現(xiàn)的，所以其結(jié)果主句應(yīng)用直陳語氣。如：

　　(1)This, if the news be true, is a very serious matter. 如果消息屬實(shí)，這可是一樁非常嚴(yán)重的事情。

　　(2)If the heart be malformed, the condition may be ascertained by the X-ray examination. 如果心臟呈畸形，這種情況即可用愛克斯光檢查確定。

　　動詞原形也可用在目的與讓步狀語從句中。如：

　　(3)Let us act and not shrink for fear our motives be misunderstood. 讓我們行動起來，不要退縮，以免我們的動機(jī)遭到誤解。

　　(4)Let him say what he will, he cannot make matters worse. 不管他說什么，他也不會使事態(tài)變得更糟了。

　　動詞原形有時可置于主語之前。如：

　　(5)All magnets behave the same, be they large or small. 磁鐵不論大小，其性能都一樣。

　　(6)She’ll be sixteen years old, come May. 五月到來，她就16歲了。(come May=when May comes)

　　虛擬式動詞原形也可用在主語從句和賓語從句中。如：

　　(7)It is necessary that every member inform himself of these rules. 每一個會員必須熟記這些規(guī)則。(用于主語從句)

　　(8)The doctor insists that I give up smoking. 醫(yī)生堅(jiān)持要我戒煙。(用于賓語從句)

　　[注] 虛擬式動詞原形的否定式是not+動詞原形。如：

　?、買 would like to suggest newspaper reporters not write this kind of article any more. 我愿建議報(bào)紙記者不要再寫這種文章了。

　　虛擬式動詞原形亦常用在獨(dú)立句中，表愿望。如：

　　(9)Long live the People’s Republic of China! 中華人民共和國萬歲!

　　(10)God bless you! 上帝保佑你!

　　(11)God damn it! 該死的!

　　(12)The devil take you! 見鬼去吧!

　　(13)So be it then. 就那樣吧。

　　11.12 虛擬時態(tài)與謂語動詞時態(tài)的關(guān)系

　　從句中的虛擬時態(tài)往往不受全句謂語時態(tài)的影響。

　　1)用于主語從句。試比較：

　　(1)It is important that he should know about this. 他必須知道此事。

　　(2)It was important that he should know about this. 他必須知道此事。

　　2)用于賓語從句。試比較：

　　(3)I suggest that we should go tomorrow. 我建議我們明天走。

　　(4)I suggest that we should go the next day. 我建議我們第二天走。

　　(5)She said, “If I were a boy I would join the army.” 她說，“我如是男孩，就參軍。”

　　(6)She said that if she were a boy, she would join the army.” 她說她如是男孩就參軍。

　　但強(qiáng)調(diào)現(xiàn)在時刻的虛擬式在間接引語中需要遵守時態(tài)一致的原則。試比較：

　　(7)“If I knew how it worked, I could tell you what to do,” he said. “假如我知道它是如何運(yùn)行的話，我就會告訴你該怎么辦，”他說道。

　　(8)He said that if he had known how it worked, he could have told me what to do. 他說假如他知道它是如何運(yùn)行的話，他就會告訴我該怎么辦。

　　但如不強(qiáng)調(diào)時間性，間接引語中的虛擬時態(tài)仍不變。如：

　　(9)“If I knew the answer to all your questions, I’d be a genius,” he said. “我如知道你所有問題的答案，我就是天才了，”他說道。

　　(10)He said that if I knew the answer to all your questions, he’d be a genius. 他說他如知道我所有問題的答案，他就是天才了。

　　但如果全句謂語是虛擬語氣，其后從句的時態(tài)則多受其影響，現(xiàn)在時態(tài)應(yīng)隨之而變?yōu)檫^去時態(tài)。如：

　　(11)I would think he was wrong. 我看他是錯了。(須用was，試比較：I would think he is wrong)

　　(12)It would seem that she was right. 她似乎是對的。(須用was，試比較：It would seem that she is right)

　　11.13 虛擬式were與過去完成虛擬式的特殊用法

　　虛擬式were常用在較老的或典雅的英語中。(表真實(shí)條件，當(dāng)代英語則常用直陳語氣)如：

　　(1)The king dispatched his favourite courtier to see if she were really as charming as fame reported. 國王派他的寵臣來看她是否真地美如其名。

　　(2)If it were so, it was a grievous fault. 如是這樣，那可是一大過失。

　　在較老的英語中，過去完成虛擬式可用作過去將來完成虛擬式。如：

　　(3)I would give all my goods that t had never happened. 我愿傾我所有，如此事不會發(fā)生的話。(=might never have happened)

　　在非正式文體中，過去完成虛擬式可表與現(xiàn)在事實(shí)相反的假設(shè)。在這種情況下，結(jié)果主句中的過去將來完成虛擬式也隨之而實(shí)指現(xiàn)在時間。如：

　　(4)If I had had the money I should have paid you. 我如有錢，就會付你的賬。(= If I had the money I should pay you.)

　　(5)I wish that poor Strickland had been still alive. I wonder what he would have said when I gave him twenty-nine thousand eight hundred francs for his picture. 我但愿可憐的斯特里克蘭德現(xiàn)在還活著。我不知道當(dāng)我付他29800法郎買下他的畫時他會說些什么呢。(had been=were，請注意would have said也表現(xiàn)在，等于would say)

　　這種表現(xiàn)在的過去完成虛擬式亦可用來表愿望。如：

　　(6)I wish I had been rich enough to give you the money. 我但愿能付得起你這筆錢。

　　11.14 was用作虛擬式

　　在當(dāng)代英語中，尤其在口語中，單數(shù)主語常用was代替虛擬式were。如：

　　(1)If I was you, I would go. 我如是你，我就去。

　　(2)If it wasn’t for me, you’d have taken the wrong path a long time ago. 如不是我，你早就走上邪路了。

　　(3)I wish I was ten years younger. 我但愿年輕10歲。

　　(4)I shall act by her as tenderly as if I was her own mother. 我將溫存滿懷地待她，就像她的生母一樣。

　　有時was發(fā)生的可能性大于were。如：

　　(5)He looks as if he was ill. 他像是病了。

　　[注]但在正式文體中仍須用were，如須說if I were in your position(假如我處于你的地位)。又，as it were與were it not for me中的were亦不可代以was。

　　11.15 虛擬時態(tài)的進(jìn)行式

　　虛擬時態(tài)亦有進(jìn)行式。如：

　　(1)—You mean you didn’t hear? 你的意思是說你沒有聽見?

　　—If I did, would I be asking? 我如聽見，還會問嗎?

　　(2)—How about the tea-leaves? 那那茶葉哪?

　　—You beggar, you might be going to die if you didn’t get it. 你這家伙，沒有它你簡直要死啦。

　　(3)If we weren’t living in the twentieth century, I would think you were a sorcerer. 如果我們不是生活在20世紀(jì)的話，我準(zhǔn)會認(rèn)為你是一個男巫。

　　(4)I suppose it’s almost time we were leaving. 我猜想我們差不多該走了。

　　(5)Sometimes she would suggest I should be saving some of the money. 有時她會建議我應(yīng)該省下點(diǎn)錢。

　　11.16 語氣的變換

　　有時說話人會中途變換語氣。如條件從句開始用虛擬語氣(強(qiáng)調(diào)可能性不大)，而結(jié)果主句卻變?yōu)橹标愓Z氣(強(qiáng)調(diào)可能性大)。如：

　　(1)Should there possibly be any such case, I have not seen it. 如果可能有這樣的情況，我是沒有見過的。

　　(2)I am not bad looking if my skin were not so sallow. 我并不難看，如果我的皮膚不是灰黃的話。

　　有時恰恰相反，條件從句用直陳語氣(強(qiáng)調(diào)可能性大)，結(jié)果主句中途變?yōu)樘摂M語氣(強(qiáng)調(diào)可能性不大)。如：

　　(3)If he lost his health and lost his job we would all have starved. 假如他失去了健康，失去了工作，我們就都會挨餓。

　　(4)I should hate and despise myself if I desert the brave fellow in his present extremity. 假如我拋棄了這位現(xiàn)在處于困境的勇士，我將痛恨和蔑視我自己。

　　(5)When it rains you wouldn’t think it was the same place as on a fine day. 一下雨你就不會認(rèn)為它與晴天時是同一個地方了。

　　11.17 虛擬語氣用作請求

　　虛擬語氣有時并不表示與事實(shí)相反的假設(shè)，而是表示委婉客氣的請求。如：

　　(1)If you were to help him, it would keep him safer. 你如肯幫他，他就會安全一些。

　　(2)Our messages, both ways, will go through you. It would be best if you didn’t write them down, but carry them in your head. 來往的消息都將靠你傳遞。你最好是不要寫下，而是要記在腦子里。

　　(3)—Shall I call for you? 我來叫你好嗎?

　　—It would probably save time if we met downtown. You tell me where. 我們?nèi)缭谑袇^(qū)碰頭倒會節(jié)省時間哩。你說在哪兒吧。

　　這種表示請求的虛擬語氣還可與祈使語氣連用。如：

　　(4)If you enjoyed this book, just send your name and address and ten dollars to us. 你如喜愛此書，將你的姓名、地址及10美元寄與我