英语中的虚拟语气用法

虚拟语气

含义：虚拟语气表示只存在于说话人的想象中的主观愿望、假设、猜测、怀疑、建议等，并不是客观现实中的真实事件。

一、虚拟语气在非真实条件句中的用法

非真实条件句（虚拟条件句），指不能实现的或假想的情况，可以对过去、现在、将来进行假设，从句常用If引导，主句和从句的谓语动词用不同形式表示。

对现在情况的虚拟

对现在情况的虚拟，从句的谓语动词用过去式（be动词用were），主句的谓语动词用would/could/should/might +动词原形。

If I were you, I would choose to work in a big city.

如果我是你，我会选择在大城市工作。（现实：我不是你）

If I had a map now, we could easily get out of the forest.

如果我现在有地图，我们能很容易走出森林。 （现实：现在我没有地图）

注意：

在条件从句中，不论主语是单数还是复数，be动词都用were.

对过去情况的虚拟

对过去情况的虚拟，从句的谓语动词用过去完成式（had+过去分词），主句的谓语动词用would/could/should/might +have+过去分词。

If I had been more careful, I could have found the error.

如果我更认真一点，我就能发现那个错误了。（现实：我没有发现那个错误）

If It had not been for your help yesterday, I couldn’t have caught the train.

如果昨天没有你的帮助，我不会赶上火车。（现实：昨天你帮我赶上了火车。）

对将来情况的虚拟

对将来情况的虚拟，从句的谓语动词有三种情况：过去式（be动词用were）/should+动词原形/ were to+动词原形; 主句的谓语动词用would/could/should/might +动词原形。

If we should come tomorrow, we could meet the boss.

如果我们明天能来，就能见到老板。（现实：明天很可能不来）

If things were to be twice, all people would be wise.

如果凡事都可以重新做一次，人人都可以成为智者。 （现实：不是所有事都可以重新做一次）

错综时间条件句

在非真实条件句中，有时候主句谓语和从句谓语表示的动作在时间上不一致，这类句子成为错综时间条件句，此时主句和从句的谓语动词形式应根据句意和各自时间状语确定。

If you had taken my advice then, you wouldn’t get into trouble now.

如果你当时听从我的建议，你现在就不会有麻烦了。

（从句是对过去情况的虚拟，主句是对现在情况的虚拟）

If you hesitated now, you might lose a good opportunity in the future.

如果你现在犹豫不决，将来你可能会失去一个好机会。

（从句是对现在情况的虚拟，主句是对将来情况的虚拟）

If it had rained last night, it might be cool today.

如果昨天下雨的话，今天天气就会凉快。

（从句是对过去情况的虚拟，主句是对现在情况的虚拟）

省略 if 的倒装句

在非真实条件句中，如果从句中有had, were, should, 可以省略if，将had, were, should 放在主语之前，构成部分倒装。

Had you come here, you would have met him.

如果你来了的话就能见到他了。

Were I you, I would refuse his request.

如果我是你，我就会拒绝他的要求。

Should it rain, the crops would be saved.

假如下雨，庄稼就有救了。

其他短语的条件句

英语中某些假设的条件句不是通过if从句表达出来，而是包含在某些短语、上下文或其他方式中，其谓语也常用虚拟语气，我们称此种结构为含蓄条件句。

含蓄条件句中表示对现在或将来情况的虚拟，谓语动词用would/should/could/might+动词原形；表示对过去情况的虚拟，谓语动词用would/should/could/might+have+过去分词的形式。

But for, without, with, under等引出的虚拟条件

But for electricity, there would be no modern city.

=If it were not for electricity, there would be no modern city.

要是没有电，就不会有现代城市。

With enough sunlight and water, the trees should grow better.

=If there were enough sunlight and water, the trees should grow better.

如果有足够的阳光和水，这些树会长得更好。

Under such circumstances, she would likely have done the same.

=If she had been under such circumstances, she would likely have done the same.

处在这样的情况下，她可能会做出同样的事情来。

But, but that 前面的句子表示虚拟情况，后面的句子表示客观情况：

The little dog would have been knocked but that the driver stopped in time.

要不是司机及时刹车，这只小狗就被小汽车撞到了。

I would have gone with my friends on a trip but I was too busy.

我本会跟我朋友们一起去旅游的，但是我太忙了。

Or, otherwise 前面的句子表示客观情况，后面的句子表示虚拟情况：

He felt very tired yesterday, or he would have joined the party.

他昨天感觉很累，否则他就参加派对了。

虚拟条件通过分词短语、名词短语或上下文等表现出来

A few hours earlier, you would have seen the famous actor.

要是你早来几个小时，你就会见到那位著名的演员了。

Cooked a little longer, the food would be more delicious.

煮的更久一点，食物会更加美味的。

虚拟语气在从句中的用法

用于主语从句

在主语从句中，虚拟语气用should+动词原形，should可以省略，表示建议、命令、要求、决定、主张等。这种主语从句一般用it作形式主语，从句用连词that引导，有以下三种常见形式：

it is/was+形容词+主语从句

It is appropriate that he (should) do more exercise.

他多进行锻炼是恰当的。

It is important that parents (should) be aware of these rules.

家长明白这些规定是重要的。

It is necessary that we young people (should) master a foreign language.

我们年轻人掌握一门外语是必要的。

常见的此类形容词：necessary, preferable, better, appropriate, obligatory, advisable, essential important, insistent, compulsory, proper, adamant, imperative, natural, desirable,urgent等

it is/was+名词+主语从句

It is his demand that you (should) compensate for the loss.

他要求你赔偿损失。

It was students' request that the school library (should) provide more books on popular science.

学生们的请求学校图书馆提供更多关于大众科学的书。

常见的此类名词：decision, proposal, advice, suggestion, preference, command, requirement, order, plan, wish, necessity, request, idea, resolution, motion等

it is/was+过去分词+主语从句

It is suggested that parents (should) spend more time with their children.

有人建议父母应该多花时间与自己的孩子们待在一起。

It is required that the students (should) learn a foreign language.

学校要求学生必须学一门外语。

常见的此类过去分词：suggested, requested, ordered, proposed, decided, advised desired, demanded, recommended, required, proposed, decided等

不省略should的情况

在“It is unnatural, unthinkable, strange, surprising, shocking/ a surprise/ a pity/ a shame...+that从句”和“I am/was sorry/surprised/ disappointed...+that 从句”句型中，从句的should一般不省略，常译为“竟然”表示一种不可思议的状况。

It is strange that he should say so.

他居然这么说，真是奇怪。

It is surprising that you should not understand me!

真令人惊讶，你竟然不理解我！

I’m disappointed that you should make such a mistake.

你竟然犯这样的错误，我很失望。

用于宾语从句

wish后的宾语从句

Wish后的宾语从句，从句的谓语动词用过去式（be动词用were）表示现在的情况；用had+过去分词表示过去的情况，用would/could/might+动词原形表示将来的情况。

I wish I were you.

我要是你就好了。

I wish you had told me sooner.

要是你再早一点告诉我该多好。

I wish you could do better next time.

我希望你下次能做得更好。

would rather后的宾语从句

would rather, would sooner, would prefer等后的宾语从句，从句的谓语动词用过去式。

I’d rather you posted the letter right away.

我倒希望你把这封信立刻寄出去。