1.語氣及其類型
語氣是動詞的一種形式,它表示動詞有哪些用途和說話人的意圖和態度。
英語動詞的語氣分三種:陳述語氣、祈使語氣和虛擬語氣。
陳述語氣表示動作或狀況是現實的、確定的或符合事實的。
祈使語氣表示動作或狀況是說話人的建議、請求、命令等。
虛擬語氣表示動作或狀況不是客觀存在的事實,而是說話人的主觀愿望、假設或推斷等。
2.虛擬語氣的形式
虛擬語氣有兩種形式:be型虛擬語氣和were型虛擬語氣。Be 型虛擬語氣是指不管主語是什么人稱,動詞一律用原形;were型虛擬語氣是指不管主語是什么人稱,動詞一律用were(即過去時)。試比較:
I hope1 you can go with us.(表示一種大概達成的愿望)
我期望你能同大家一塊走。
I wish you could2 go with us.(表示一種完全不可以達成的愿望)
我期望你能同大家一塊走。
虛擬語氣的使用方法
1.在非真實條件句中
⑴表示與目前事實相反:if從句用過去時,主句用should / would3 / could / might4加不定式。如:
If she had5 time, she would / could / might go with you.
假如她有空閑,她就會/能和你去。
⑵表示與過去事實相反:if從句用過去完成體,主句用should / would / could / might加不定式完成體。如:
If I had had the money last year, I should / would / could / might have bought a house.
假如我去年有了這類錢,我就會/可能買一所房屋了。
⑶表示將來達成可能性極小,if從句用should / were to,主句用should / would / could / might加不定式。如:
If there should be / were / were to be something wrong, they would / could / might let you know at once.
假如發生了什么事,他們會/可能立刻對你說。
2.在wish后的that從句中
主要表示愿望,that常省略。假如指目前或以后的愿望,從句用過去時;假如指過去沒達成或不可能達成的愿望,從句用過去完成體。如:
I wish it were summer now.
目前如果夏季該多好。
I wish I knew his address.
(I am sorry I dont know his address.)
可惜我不了解他的地址。
I wish you had written to her.
(Im sorry you didnt write to her.)
可惜你沒寫信給她。
假如將wish改為wished,其后that從句中的時、體形式不變。試比較:
I wish I hadnt spent so much money.
(I am sorry I spent so much money.)
I wished I hadnt spent so much money.
(I was6 sorry I had spent so much money.)
我后悔不該花那樣多錢。
假如that從句中用would,可以表示請求,一般表示說話人的不滿或不快。如:
The radio is too loud, I wish you would turn it down.
我期望你能把收音機的音量調小一點兒。
I wish it would sTOP raining.
但愿雨能停下來。
另外,與wish這種使用方法一致的還有would rather7(寧可),would sooner(寧可),had rather(寧可)等詞或短語后面的從句中,謂語動詞應用一般過去時,表示與目前相反的虛擬語氣,表示與過去相反的也可用過去完成時。如:
I would rather you came8 next month.
我寧可你下個月來。
3.在主語從句中
虛擬語氣常用在以It is / was開頭的復合句的主語從句中,表示需要、建議、命令、建議等,其謂語形式總是為should+動詞原形,在美語中,常常省略should.如:
It is necessary9 that he (should) be sent there at once.
有必要立刻派他到那里去。
It is requested10 that the rules (should) be protected11.
已請求章程是受保護的。