二、虛擬語氣
英語中的虛擬語氣有4種,一種是條件句中的虛擬語氣,一種是含蓄條件句中的虛擬語氣,一種是名詞性從句中的虛擬語氣,還有一種是狀語從句中的虛擬語氣。其中虛擬時態(tài)的運用很大程度上和其所處的句型有關(guān)。95年以來,對虛擬語氣的考查有28題之多,占詞匯/語法總數(shù)的15.2%。下面我們也分四部分來看一下四級考試中虛擬語氣的運用。
1.條件句中的虛擬語氣
Test yourself
在我們分析虛擬語氣的考查特點也應(yīng)對策略之前,還上請同學(xué)們先做做一下以下各題:
1) If I hadn't stood under the ladder to catch you when you fell, you ____ now. (1999.1)
A. wouldn't be smiling B. couldn't have smiled C. won't smile D. didn't smile
2) ____ for my illness I would have lent him a helping hand. (19995.1)
A. Not being B. Had it not been C. Without being D. Not having been
3) ______before we depart the day after tomorrow, we should have a wonderful dinner party. (1997.1)
A. Had they arrived B. Would they arrive C. Were they arriving D. Were they to arrive
4) 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.(1996.1)
A. has to get B. were to get C. had got D. could have got
5) _____ right now, she would get there on Sunday.(1996.6)
A. Would she leave B. If she leaves C. Were she to leave D. If she had left
6) Had he worked harder, he ____ the exams.(1997.6)
A. must have got through B. would have got through C. would get through D. could get through
7) If the whole operation _____ beforehand, a great deal of time and money would have been lost. (1999.6)
A. was not planned B. has not been planned C. had not been planned D. were not planned
Explanation and Expansion
A. 參考答案:1) A 2) B 3) D 4) C 5) C 6) B 7) C
B. 評析
① 對于虛擬條件句中時態(tài)的運用,首先應(yīng)該區(qū)分主從句的不同。從句中用過去時,過去完成時,或were to/should +原形動詞,而主句中用would/could/might/should + 原形動詞或動詞的完成形式。
② 虛擬條件句有單一條件句,也有混合虛擬條件句,所以不能只根據(jù)從句與某一事實相反來判斷主句就與該事實相反,同樣,也不能想當(dāng)然地認(rèn)為主句與某一事實相反,從句也就與該事實相反。
如1)從句與過去事實相反,而主句與現(xiàn)在事實相反。再如:
If he weren't such a kind man, he wouldn't lent a hand to such people as you the other day. (從句與現(xiàn)在事實相反,主句與過去事實相反。)
Were my friends not to come tomorrow, I wouldn't have bought so many foods. (從句與將來事實相反,主句與過去事實相反。)
③ 熟記主從句動詞與不同事實相反時的時態(tài)運用規(guī)則。解題時根據(jù)句子所表達(dá)的時間概念確定與什么事實相反,然后采用相應(yīng)的時態(tài)。
如果與過去事實相反,從句中用過去完成時,主句中用would/should/could/might + have done的形式,如2)6)和7)。
如果與現(xiàn)在事實相反,從句中用一般過去時,主句中用would/could/might/should + 原形動詞,表示與正在進(jìn)行的事實相反用would/might/could/should + be doing的結(jié)構(gòu),如1)。
如果表示將來不可能實現(xiàn)的事情,從句中用過去時,或were to / should + 原形動詞,以上3) 4) 5)表示的都屬于這種情況。
④ if引導(dǎo)條件狀語從句時,可以將were/had/should提至句首,省略if。考試時經(jīng)常是將省略if的與含有if的選項并列,在這種情況下,應(yīng)注意分清從句的時態(tài),盡管多數(shù)情況下都是倒裝的結(jié)構(gòu)為正確選項。如2)3)5)。
⑤ If it weren't/hadn't been for …以及其倒裝結(jié)構(gòu)were it not for/had it not been for表示"如果不是……的話"
⑥ 正如真實條件從句中不用will一樣,虛擬條件從句中也不可使用would,應(yīng)特別注意。
Self-practice
上面我們一起分析了虛擬條件句中虛擬語氣的考查特點和解題規(guī)律,下面請自己做以下《語法分詞》第十一章第一節(jié)的有關(guān)題目,進(jìn)行自測。
2.含蓄條件句中的虛擬語氣
Test Yourself
首先還是請同學(xué)們先做一下下面兩題。
1) Some women ____a good salary in a job instead of staying home, but they decided not to work for the sake of the family.
A. must make B. should have made
C. would make D. could have made (2000.1)
2) We didn't know his telephone number, otherwise we ___ him.
A. would have telephoned B. must have telephoned
C. would telephone D. had telephoned (1995.6)
Explanation and Expansion
A.參考答案 1)D 2)A
B.評析
含蓄虛擬條件句指沒有明確的條件從句的虛擬條件句,一般是條件用介詞短語、分詞短語或并列句的方式表達(dá),這時主句的時態(tài)要求與含有條件從句的主句要求相同。四級測試中?嫉暮钐摂M條件句句型有:
① But for/Without, 主句
But for/Without your help, we wouldn't have accomplished the task on time.
② ……, otherwise/or ……
He hadn't had food for two days, or/otherwise he wouldn't have fainted out at work.
上面2)題就屬于該句型,表達(dá)的是與過去事實相反的情況,所以用would have telephoned的結(jié)構(gòu)。
③ 分詞/不定式,主句
Having been born ten years earlier, you could have witnessed the disaster.
Given more time, we could have done the work much better.
You would be foolish to make friends with such people.
④ ……,thought/but ……
Einstein cared little for money, though he could have been very rich.
He could have got the job, but he didn't apply for it.
上面的1)題就屬于該句型,表示他本來可以做那份工作弄到一份很不錯的薪水。
Self-practice
下面同學(xué)們試做一下《語法分冊》150頁有關(guān)含蓄條件句的幾道題。
3.名詞性從句中的虛擬語氣
Test yourself
與上述虛擬語氣不同,名詞性從句的虛擬語氣大都與謂語動詞有關(guān),用法也比較簡單,請同學(xué)們先做一下幾題,然后我們一起總結(jié)以下都有哪些規(guī)律可以遵循。
1) Wouldn't you rather your child _____ to bed early?(2000.1)
A.go B.went C.would go D.goes
2) Mike's uncle insists ____ in this hotel.(2000.1)
A.staying not B.not to stay
C.that he would not stay D.that he not stay
3) Sometimes I wish I ____ in a different time and a different place.(2000.1)
A.be living B.were living C.would live D.would have lived
4) It is essential that these application forms ____ back as early as possible.(2000.1)
A.must be sent B.will be sent C.are sent D.be sent
5) It is recommended that the project _____ until all the
preparations have been made. (1995.6)
A.is not started B.will not be started C.not be started D.is not to be started
6) We are all for your proposal that the discussion ____.(1998.6)
A.be put off B.was put off C.should put off D.is to be out off
7) The suggestion that the mayor ________the prizes was accepted by everyone.(2000.6)
A.would present B.present C.presents D.ought to present
8) It's already 5 o'clock now.Don't you think it is about time ____? (1996.6)
A.we are going home B.we go home C.we went home D.we can go home
9) As Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, I have directed that
all measures ____ for our defense.(1999.6)
A.had been taken B.would be taken C.be taken D.to be taken
10) It is vital that enough money __________to fund the project. (1997.1)
A.be collected B.must be collected C.is collected D.can be collected
11) I don't think it advisable that Tim ____ to the job since he has no experience.(1997.6)
A.is assigned B.will be assigned C.be assigned D.has been assigned
12) If only the committee ______the regulations and put them into
effect as possible.(1997.1)
A.approve B.will approve C.can approve D.would approve
Explanation and Expansion
A.參考答案:1)B 2) D 3)B 4)D 5)C 6)A
7)B 8)C 9)C 10)A 11)C 12) D
B.評析
與以上兩種虛擬語氣句式不同,這里虛擬語氣中時態(tài)的變化比較少,主要依據(jù)所處的句型。考生所需要的是了解在哪些情況下用這種句式,測試中考生只需從四個選項中辨認(rèn)答案即可。該部分所包含的句型有:
① 表示"命令""建議"或"要求"的動詞后面的賓語從句中用should + 原形動詞,should可以省略。常用于該句型的動詞有direct, order, command, require, ask, request, demand, insist, suggest, recommend等。
這里句型的考題中,一般都會有would, must等干擾項,正確選項以省略should者居多,并且常是not do something, 或be的形,尤其是 not be done的形式。如2)5)和9)。
另外這類考題還常借助于動詞本身的句法結(jié)構(gòu)設(shè)干擾項。如insist后可接doing something, being done或 on doing something的結(jié)構(gòu),suggest后也可接動名詞。另外,這兩個單詞也有不用虛擬語氣的句式,如insist 表示"堅持認(rèn)為",suggest表示"說明""表明"時,從句中就不用虛擬語氣,考生應(yīng)注意分別。
② 表示"命令""建議"或"要求"的名詞后面的同位語或表語從句中同樣是用should + 原形動詞,should可以省略。
與上面一條相同,表示這些概念的名詞如suggestion, order, proposal等后面的that從句中虛擬語氣使用規(guī)則相同,如6)7)中都是that同位語從句中使用should + 原形動詞,should省略的結(jié)構(gòu)。
③ It is + 表示重要,有必要,吃驚,難以相信的名詞或形容詞,或表示"命令""建議""要求"的過去分詞 + that 從句中用should + 原形動詞,should可以省略。
這一句型可分解為
It is important/necessary/vital/advisable/essential ...that …(should)
It is strange/surprising/unbelievable … that …(should)
It is a surprise/wonder ..that …(should) …
It is suggested/requested/recommended … that …(should)…
這些句型一律使用should + 原形動詞的結(jié)構(gòu),should可以省略,如4)5)10)題。
注意It is strange/surprising/unbelievable … that …(should)句型中如果表示過去的事情可以用should have done 的形式,如:
It is strange that he should have failed in the election.
④ wish
wish 后面的從句時態(tài)可以有以下幾種情況
表示與現(xiàn)在事實相反用一般過去時:
How I wish I had a memory as good as yours.
表示與現(xiàn)在正在進(jìn)行的事情相反可用過去進(jìn)行時,如3)。
表示與過去事實相反的情況用過去完成時,也可以用could have done 的形式,如:
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 (1995.6)
由于might表示"也許",與這里的意思不合,只能用A。
表示將來不可能實現(xiàn)的情況用would/might + 原形動詞。
How I wish you would be able to come here for another visit.
⑤ If only 表示愿望時與wish用法相同。再如:
If only that photograph weren't missing.
If only the letter had arrived in time.
⑥ would rather
would rather的虛擬語氣形式在這幾年考查是最多的,有7道題,但would rather從句的時態(tài)規(guī)則并不復(fù)雜。
如果表示與過去事實相反的情況用過去完成時,否則用一般過去時。在如以下各題:
1) The manager would rather his daughter _____ in the same office.
A.had not worked B.not to work
C.does not work D.did not work (2000.6)
2) To be frank, I'd rather you ____ in the case. (1995.1)
A.will not be involved B.not involved
C.not to be involved D.were not involved
3) You don't have to be in such a hurry.I would rather you ____ on
business first. (1998.1)
A.would go B.will go C.went D.have gone
4) Frankly speaking, I'd rather you ___ anything about it for the time being.(1999.1)
A.didn't do B.haven't done C.don't do D.have done
5) I'd rather you ____ make any comment on the issue for the time
being.(1998.6)
A.don't B.wouldn't C.didn't D.shouldn't
答案為: 1) D 2) D 3) C 4) A 5) C)
⑦ It's (about/high) time that …
該句型中一律用一般過去時,再如:
"You are very selfish.It's high time you ____ that you are not the most important person in the world," Edgar said to his boss angrily.(1999.1)
A.realized B.have realized C.realize D.should realize
Self-practice
下面請試做《語法分冊》153-159頁的相關(guān)題目。
4.狀語從句中的虛擬語氣
Test yourself
狀語從句中的虛擬語氣主要指as if/though從句中的虛擬語氣,首先請同學(xué)們做一下下面三道題:
1) He walked past the pole and soldiers as if they ______.
A.didn't exist B.don't exist C.hadn't existed D.were not existing
2) He operates the new computer as if he _____ special training in it.
A.has received B.had received C.would receive D.received
3) They talked in such an uneasy manner as if something terrible
______soon.
A.had happened B.happened C.would happen D.has happened
Explanation and Expansion
A.參考答案 1)A 2)B 3) C
B.評析
謂語動詞要求使用虛擬語氣的狀語從句一般是由as if/as though引導(dǎo)。該從句中時態(tài)的選擇原則是:
① 如果從句中謂語動詞與主句謂語動詞同時進(jìn)行,用過去進(jìn)行時;
② 如果從句中謂語動詞表示與主句謂語動詞同時存在的狀態(tài),用一般過去時,如1)。
③ 如果從句中謂語動詞表示先于主句謂語動詞的動作或狀態(tài),用過去完成時,如2)。
④ 如果從句中謂語動詞后于主句謂語動詞發(fā)生,用would/might + 原形動詞。
Self-practice
現(xiàn)在請試做《語法分冊》159相關(guān)題目和162-166頁綜合測試題。