薄冰英語語法 第十一章 虛擬語氣(1-8)

　　第十一章 虛擬語氣

　　11.1 語氣的含義和種類

　　語氣(mood)是一種動(dòng)詞形式，用以表示說話的意圖或態(tài)度。英語中的語氣有三種：

　　1)直接語氣(indicative mood),表示所說的話是事實(shí)。如：

　　(1)France lies on the windward side of Europe. 法國位于歐洲向風(fēng)的一面。

　　(2)The harsh weather last year was the result of turbulence in the upper atmosphere. 去年的惡劣氣候是高空大氣層的湍流造成的。

　　2)祈使語氣(imperative mood)，表示所說的話是請求或命令。如：

　　(3)Make yourself at home. 請隨便，不要客氣。(表請求)

　　(4)Don’t be late. 不要遲到。(表命令)

　　3)虛擬語氣(subjective mood)，表示所說的話只是一種主觀的愿望、假想和建議等。如：

　　(5)We only wish we could help. 我們但愿能提供幫助。(表愿望)

　　(6)If there were no gravity, we should not be able to walk. 假若沒有動(dòng)力，我們就不能行走。(表假想)

　　(7)He suggests that we should all go to see the film. 他建議我們都去看這個(gè)電影。(表建議)

　　11.1 虛擬語氣的形式

　　虛擬語氣的基本形式共有七種。

　　1)動(dòng)詞原形，用于一切人稱和數(shù)。如：

　　(1)Long live the Communist Party of China! 中國共產(chǎn)黨萬歲!

　　(2)If that be so, we shall take action at once. 如果情況是那樣，我們就立即采取行動(dòng)。

　　2)動(dòng)詞的過去式，用于一切人稱和數(shù)，be的過去式用were。如：

　　(3)If you loved me, you wouldn’t say that. 假若你愛我，你就不會(huì)說這種話。

　　(4)If I were in your shoes, I’d accept the terms. 假若我處在你的地位，我就會(huì)接受這些條件。

　　3)had+過去分詞，用于一切人稱和數(shù)。如：

　　(5)We would’ve called a cab if Harold hadn’t offered us a ride home. 假若哈羅德不說要駕車送我們回家，我們就會(huì)叫出租車。

　　(6)If we had left earlier, we wouldn’t have missed the train. 假若我們早點(diǎn)起身的話，我們是不會(huì)錯(cuò)過火車的。

　　4)時(shí)態(tài)助動(dòng)詞should+動(dòng)詞原形，用于一切人稱和數(shù)。如：

　　(7)They suggested that we should meet at the station. 他們建議我們在車站會(huì)面。

　　(8)If you should see Celia, give her my best wishes. 假若你見到希莉婭的話，代我向她致以最好的祝愿。

　　5)時(shí)態(tài)助動(dòng)詞should+have+過去分詞，用于一切人稱和數(shù)。如：

　　(9)If the steamer should have left port at noon, it will be passing through the canal now. 輪船如果中午離港，它現(xiàn)在大概正穿過運(yùn)河。

　　(10)It is strange that she should have done it. 真奇怪，她竟會(huì)干出這種事來。

　　動(dòng)詞原形。如：

　　(11)If I were you, I should take his advice. 我如是你，就會(huì)聽他的忠告。(美國英語常用would代替should)

　　(12)He said he would go if I went. 他說我去他就去。

　　7)時(shí)態(tài)助動(dòng)詞should(第一人稱)和would(第二、三人稱)+ have+過去分詞。如：

　　(13)If father hadn’t sent me, I shouldn’t have come. 如不是父親派我來，我是不會(huì)來的。(美國英語常用would代替should)

　　You wouldn’t have seen her if it hadn’t been for him. 如果不是他，你就不會(huì)見到她。

　　[注]虛擬時(shí)態(tài)有不少與直陳語氣的某些時(shí)態(tài)形式相同，但二者的內(nèi)涵及其所表的時(shí)間皆不一樣，切不可混淆。

　　11.3 條件句的種類

　　條件句有真實(shí)條件與非真實(shí)條件句兩種。真實(shí)條件句所表的假設(shè)是可能發(fā)生或?qū)崿F(xiàn)的，句中的條件從句與結(jié)果主句皆用直陳語氣。如：

　　(1)Oil floats if you pour it on water. 你如把油倒在水里，油就浮起來。

　　(2)If I have enough money next year, I will go to Japan. 假若明年我有錢，我就去日本。

　　非真實(shí)條件句所表的假設(shè)是不可能或不大可能發(fā)生或?qū)崿F(xiàn)的，句中的條件從句與結(jié)果主句皆用虛擬語氣?，F(xiàn)將用于非真實(shí)條件句的虛擬時(shí)態(tài)列表如下：

　　條件從句 結(jié)果主句

　　與現(xiàn)在事實(shí)相反 If I (we, you, he, they) +動(dòng)詞過去式(be的過去式用were) I (we) should/you would/he would/they would+動(dòng)詞原形

　　與過去事實(shí)相反 If I (we, you, he, they) + had+過去分詞 I (we) should/you would/he would/they would+ have+過去分詞

　　與將來事實(shí)可能相反 If I (we, you, he, they) +動(dòng)詞過去式(be的過去式用were) I (we) should/you would/he would/they would+動(dòng)詞原形

　　[注]美國英語的結(jié)果主句，不管什么人稱，皆常用would。

　　1)與現(xiàn)在事實(shí)相反的非真實(shí)條件句，條件從句的謂語用動(dòng)詞的過去式(be的過去式用were)，結(jié)果主句的謂語用should(第一人稱)或would(第二、三人稱)+動(dòng)詞原形。如：

　　(3)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(huì)及時(shí)到達(dá)。

　　(4)If I were you, I would refuse the money. 假如我是你的話，我就不會(huì)要那錢。(would代替了should)

　　(5)Even if he had the money, he wouldn’t buy it. 他即使有錢也不會(huì)買它。

　　2)與過去事實(shí)相反的非真實(shí)條件句，條件從句的謂語用had+過去分詞，結(jié)果主句的謂語用should(第一人稱)或would(第二、三人稱)+ have+過去分詞。如：

　　(6)We would’ve dropped by if we had had time. 假若我們有時(shí)間的話，我們就會(huì)順道拜訪了。

　　(7)I wouldn’t have known what these were for is I hadn’t been told. 假如別人不告訴我，我就不會(huì)知道這些東西是干什么的了。

　　但虛擬式were也可表與過去事實(shí)相反。如：

　　(8)If I were not busy, I would have come. 假如我不忙，我就會(huì)來了。

　　表過去時(shí)間的假設(shè)亦可用虛擬式should have+過去分詞，這種虛擬式所表的動(dòng)作并非完全不可能發(fā)生，它只是表示一種偶然性，并常和直陳語氣連用。但也可與虛擬語氣連用。如：

　　(9)You can imagine what would have happened to her if she should have told the truth. 你可以想像，如果她道出了真情，她的遭遇會(huì)如何。

　　美國大眾語常用would have+過去分詞表示與過去事實(shí)相反的假設(shè)。如：

　　(10)If this sleeplessness would have been allowed to go on, she would have collapsed. 這種失眠如果任其發(fā)展，她就會(huì)垮掉的。

　　3)與將來事實(shí)可能相反的非真實(shí)條件句，條件從句的謂語用動(dòng)詞的過去式(be的過去式用were)，結(jié)果主句的謂語用should(第一人稱)或would(第二、三人稱)+動(dòng)詞原形。如：

　　(11)If you dropped the glass, it would break. 假如你把玻璃杯掉在地上，它會(huì)打碎的。

　　(12)If you lived there for a while, you’d change your mind about that place. 假如你在那里住上一段時(shí)間，你就會(huì)改變對(duì)那地方的看法了。

　　[注]如無上下文，下面句中的rained有歧義，可能是表與將來事實(shí)可能相反的虛擬語氣，也可能是表過去習(xí)慣的直陳語氣：If it rained we would stay indoors and read. 如果下雨，我們就待在家里看書。

　　在與將來事實(shí)相反的條件句中，其條件從句的謂語亦可用were to+動(dòng)詞原形。這種虛擬時(shí)式比較正式，多用于書面語中，其假想性很強(qiáng)，實(shí)現(xiàn)性甚小。如：

　　(13)If he were to come, what should we say to him? 假如他來了，我們對(duì)他說什么呢?

　　在與將來事實(shí)相反的條件句中，其條件從句的謂語還可以用should+動(dòng)詞原形。這種形式并不強(qiáng)調(diào)意愿，只強(qiáng)調(diào)一種有偶然實(shí)現(xiàn)的可能性。如：

　　(14)If he should see me, he would know me. 假如他看見我，就會(huì)認(rèn)識(shí)我。

　　這種形式往往有不為人所歡迎的含義。如：

　　(15)If he should go away, I should be grieved. 他如離去，我就會(huì)感到悲傷。

　　有時(shí)可用would代替should，以免與結(jié)果主句中的should重復(fù)。如：

　　(16)If you would be interested, I should be very glad to send you a copy of my book. 你如感興趣，我將高興寄給你一冊我的書。

　　在這種條件句中，結(jié)果主句常用直陳語氣或祈使語氣。如：

　　(17)If the train should be late, what will you do? 如果火車晚點(diǎn)了，你將怎么辦?(結(jié)果主句用疑問句)

　　(18)If we should fall in this, we are ruined. 我們這個(gè)計(jì)劃如果失敗，我們就倒霉了。(結(jié)果主句用直陳語氣)

　　(19)If you should meet Henry, tell him I want to see him. 假如你見著亨利，告訴他我要見他。(結(jié)果主句用祈使語氣)

　　關(guān)于過去式、should+動(dòng)詞原形與were to+動(dòng)詞原形這三種虛擬式的可能性孰大孰小的問題，語法家們認(rèn)為它們的可能性雖都不大，但相比較，were to+動(dòng)詞原形的可能性最小，should+動(dòng)詞原形次之，過去式更次之。試比較：

　　(20)If the ship left at noon, it would pass through the canal between 2 and 2:30 p.m. 這艘船如果中午啟航，下午2時(shí)至2時(shí)半之間將穿過運(yùn)河。(有可能，但不大)

　　(21)If the ship should leave at noon, it would pass through the canal between 2 and 2:30 p.m. (可能性較上例小)

　　(22)If the ship were to leave at noon, it would pass through the canal between 2 and 2:30 p.m. (可能性最小)

　　[注]虛擬過去式有時(shí)并不表示“不大可能實(shí)現(xiàn)的假設(shè)”，而是表示一種希望或不希望發(fā)生的動(dòng)作。如：

　?、買f we caught the early train, we’d get there by lunch time. 假如我們趕上早班火車，到午飯時(shí)間我們就會(huì)到達(dá)那里了。(表希望)

　?、贗f we missed the train, we should have to wait an hour at the station. 假如我們趕不上這班火車，我們就得在車站等一小時(shí)。(表不希望)

　　11.4 情態(tài)動(dòng)詞用于虛擬語氣

　　有不少情態(tài)動(dòng)詞也可用于虛擬語氣。如：

　　(1)It might help a little if only you would keep clean. 你只要愿意保持清潔，可能就會(huì)好一些。

　　(2)If you left at ten, you should arrive in time. 你如十點(diǎn)動(dòng)身，你就會(huì)及時(shí)到達(dá)。(should意味著可能)

　　(3)I couldn’t be angry with him if I tried. 我即使想生他的氣，也做不到。

　　(4)If I hadn’t warned you, you could have been killed. 我如不是警告了你，你就可能喪命了。

　　(5)If he were wise, he should have come to see me. 他如若聰明，就應(yīng)該來見我。

　　[注]在I should not take this medicine, if it would upset you.(如果此藥使你感到不適，那我也不用它了)一句中，if從句之后省去了另一if從句，即if you took it，所以would在此是助動(dòng)詞，而不是情態(tài)動(dòng)詞。

　　情態(tài)動(dòng)詞may(might)是一種特殊的虛擬語氣，它可以用在從句中表目的、讓步。如：

　　(6)I must learn English well so that I may serve the people better. 我必須學(xué)好英語，以便更好地為人民服務(wù)。(非正式文體用can)

　　(7)He died in order that others might be saved. 他為了拯救別人而死。(非正式文體用could)

　　在讓步從句中多用may。如：

　　(8)We must observe the customs of the country, whatever they may be. 不論怎樣，我們都必須遵守本國的習(xí)俗。

　　(9)However hard it may rain, we shall have to go. 不論雨多大，我們都得走。

　　may還可以用在獨(dú)立句中表祝愿。如：

　　(10)May you be happy! 愿你幸福!

　　(11)Long may you live! 愿你長壽!

　　11.5 連詞if的省略

　　在書面語中，條件從句可以不用連詞if，而將謂語中的過去式were，had或should等移至主語之前。如：

　　(1)Were you in my position, you would do the same. 假如你處在我的地位，你也會(huì)這樣干的。

　　(2)Had he been in your position, he’d probably have done the same. 假如我處在你的地位，他可能也會(huì)這樣干的。

　　(3)Should they attack us, we’ll wipe them out completely. 假如他們進(jìn)攻我們，我們就把他們徹底消滅干凈。

　　(4)Had I time, I would come. 假如我有時(shí)間，我會(huì)來的。

　　(5)I will go, should it be necessary. 假如有必要，我會(huì)去的。

　　[注]在虛擬語態(tài)中，可移至主語之前的除were，had和should外，偶爾還有did和would，could等。如：

　?、賂here are other articles, to which, did time permit, we might draw attention. 還有其它一些文章，如時(shí)間允許，我們還可以提請注意。

　?、赪ould space allow, I should like to quote the notice in full. 如有篇幅，我會(huì)引用通知全文的。

　?、?ldquo;Joyce!” and Joyce would have been astonished could she have heard his voice. “喬伊斯!”喬伊斯如聽到他的叫聲，她會(huì)吃驚的。

　　11.6 條件從句與結(jié)果主句所表的時(shí)間不一致

　　當(dāng)條件從句與結(jié)果主句所表的時(shí)間不一致時(shí)，虛擬語氣的形式應(yīng)作相應(yīng)的調(diào)整。如：

　　(1)If I had spoken to him yesterday, I should know what to do now. 假如昨天我對(duì)他說了，現(xiàn)在我就知道該怎么辦了。

　　(2)You would be much better now if you had taken my advice. 假如你接受了我的意見，你現(xiàn)在就會(huì)好得多。

　　(3)If father hadn’t sent me, I shouldn’t be here. 假如父親沒有叫我來，我現(xiàn)在就不會(huì)在這里。

　　(4)If he knew this, it would have had to be by accident. 假如他已知道此事，那一定會(huì)是偶然的。

　　如條件從句用if I were…，結(jié)果主句則可用表任何時(shí)間的虛擬形式。如：

　　(5)If I were not busy, I would have come. 假如我不忙，我就會(huì)去了。(were表過去)

　　(6)If I were you, I would go. 假如我是你，我會(huì)去的。(were表現(xiàn)在)

　　11.7 含蓄條件句

　　非真實(shí)條件句中的條件從句有時(shí)不表出來，只暗含在上下文中，這種句子叫做含蓄條件句。含蓄條件句大體有三種情況。

　　1)條件暗含在短語中。如：

　　(1)What would I have done without you? 如沒有你，我會(huì)怎么辦呢?(條件暗含在介詞短語without you中)

　　(2)It would be easier to do it this way. 這樣做會(huì)比較容易。(條件暗含在不定式短語to do it this way中)

　　(3)This same thing, happening in wartime, would amount to disaster. 同樣的事，如發(fā)生在戰(zhàn)時(shí)，就會(huì)釀成大禍。(條件暗含在分詞短語happening in wartime中)

　　(4)But for your help we couldn’t have succeeded in the experiment. 如果沒有你的幫助，我們的實(shí)驗(yàn)是不會(huì)成功的。(暗含條件是but for your help)

　　(5)He must have the strength of a hippopotamus, or he never could have vanquished that great beast. 他一定是力大如河馬，否則他絕不會(huì)擊敗那只龐大的野獸。(暗含條件是連詞or)

　　(6)Alone, he would have been terrified. 如是單獨(dú)一人，他是會(huì)感到害怕的。(暗含條件是alone)

　　2)條件暗含在上下文中。如：

　　(7)You might stay here forever. 你可以永遠(yuǎn)待在這兒。(可能暗含if you wanted to)

　　(8)We would have succeeded. 我們本來是會(huì)成功的。(可能暗含if we had kept trying)

　　(9)Your reputation would be ruined. 你的名譽(yù)會(huì)敗壞的。(可能暗含if you should accept it)

　　(10)I would appreciate a little of your time. 謝謝你給我一點(diǎn)時(shí)間吧。(可能暗含if you were so kind as to give me a little of your time)

　　3)在不少情況下，虛擬式已變成習(xí)慣說法，很難找出其暗含的條件。如：

　　(11)You wouldn’t know. 你不會(huì)知道。

　　(12)I would like to come. 我愿意來。

　　(13)I wouldn’t have dreamed of it. 這是我做夢也不會(huì)想到的。

　　(14)He told the story in such minute detail that he might himself have been an eye-witness. 他將那件事講的非常仔細(xì)，簡直就像是他親眼看見一樣。

　　10.8 省去結(jié)果主句的非真實(shí)條件句

　　非真實(shí)條件句如省去結(jié)果主句，則常表示一種不可能實(shí)現(xiàn)的愿望。這種條件句常用if only來引導(dǎo)。如：

　　(1)If only you would listen to reason. 你如聽從道理就好了。

　　(2)If only he were here. 如果他在這兒就好了。

　　(3)If I had never married. 我不結(jié)婚就好了。

　　(4)If at least it had some artistic merit. 它起碼應(yīng)有些藝術(shù)性才好。

　　(5)If only I could smash the ground with my fist and make the oil flow! 我真想用我的拳頭從地里打出油來啊!