Chapter 7 虚拟语气
7.10 各种虚拟句型
7.10 各种虚拟句型
在英文中，虚拟语气可以分为非真实条件句（unreal conditionals）和名词从句虚拟句两大类。从7.1至7.8节，我们都是在讨论非真实条件虚拟句，在7.9节中讨论了名词从句的虚拟句。除这两大类虚拟句以外，还有其他一些句型表示的虚拟语气。由于无法归入上述任何一类中，在此将一一单列，分别讨论。
7.10.1 在wish 后面的宾语从句中
这是读者非常熟悉的一个虚拟句型，它用来表示说话者难以实现的或与事实违背的愿望，具有较强的感情色彩，可分别表示对现在、过去和将来情景的虚拟。
一、对现在的虚拟
即表示对现状的愿望，从句的谓语动词用过去时。请看例句：
1 I wish I were a little younger. 我希望我能够年轻一点。
2 I wish I could travel to the moon (but I can’t do that). 我希望我能够登上月球（但实际上我不能）。
3 I wish I knew his address (but I don’t know his address). 我希望我知道他的地址（但实际上我不知道）。
下面这个句子很有意思：
4 Whenever something goes wrong, I just push this little Reset button and restart. I wish my whole life were like that!
事实上，人生不可能如此简单。如果做错事了，想让时光倒流，重新来选择，这是不可能的。
再来看玛丽莲·梦露（Marilyn Monroe）的这句话：
5 Success makes so many people hate you. I wish it weren’t that way. It would be wonderful to enjoy success without seeing envy in the eyes of those around you.
二、对过去的虚拟
即对过去发生的事情表示遗憾或后悔，从句的谓语动词用过去完成时（had done）或“would/could+现在完成时”，意指从句的谓语动词所表示的动作发生在主句的谓语所表示的动作之前。请看例句：
6 I wish I had been there. 我真希望我当时在那儿。
7 I wish I had not attended that party. 我真希望我当时没参加那个聚会。
8 I wish I could have gone with you to the concert last night. 我真希望昨晚能和你一起去听音乐会。
9 A: I wish I hadn’t hurt Mary’s feelings like that. You know I never meant to.
B: The great thing about Mary is that she doesn’t hold the grudge. By tomorrow she’ll have forgotten all about it.
三、对将来的虚拟
指对将来发生的事情表示祝愿，从句的谓语动词用“would/could+动词原形”，意指从句的谓语动词所表示的动作可能发生在主句的谓语所表示的动作之后。
10 A: It’s not fun being around Debbie and Mike these days. All they do is quarrel.
B: I’ve noticed it, too. I wish they would keep their squabbles to themselves.
11 I wish he could explain what he means. 我希望他能解释一下他是什么意思。
12 I wish you would shut up. 我希望你能闭嘴。
注意，即使将wish改为wished，上述例句谓语的时态仍然不变。
7.10.2 在if only感叹句中
if only表示“但愿”“要是……就好了”，其用法和wish基本相同，可表示对现在、过去和将来的虚拟，只是比wish具有更强烈的感情色彩。请看例句：
1 If only the rain would stop. 但愿雨能停。（对将来的虚拟）
2 If only I were taller. 我的个子要是能高一点就好了。（对现在的虚拟）
3 If only he had followed your advice! 他要是听从了你的建议就好了！（对过去的虚拟）
另外需要注意的是，可以把only放到句中的位置。比如说：
4 If he had only followed your advice!
请选择下面这句话的意思：
5 If I’d only remembered to lock the door.
A. I would remember if I had locked the door. B. I didn’t remember to bring the door key.
C. I forgot there was a rock near the door. D. I wish I had locked the door.
正确答案 D。
妙语点睛 从上面这个译文，我们知道选项D正是表达了同样的意思。由此也看到，if only与wish的用法和意义均相同，比如这里wish的后面也是接过去完成时来表示过去虚拟的事件。
7.10.3 在as if/as though引导的从句中
一、表示与现在事实相反或对现在情况有所怀疑，谓语用过去时
1 I really don’t care for the way you’re speaking to me. It seems as if you were my father.
2 You should live each day as if it were the last and use every second to your advantage. That means setting goals, being involved on campus and in your community, working hard, and most importantly, never giving up!
二、表示与过去事实相反，谓语用过去完成时
3 We have not seen each other for ten solid years, but when we encountered on the street that day, we were still so affectionate that it seemed as if not a single day had gone by. 我们已经有整整10年没见了，但是当那天我们在街上相遇时，我们仍然感到无比亲切，就好像时光并未流逝，我们还是10年以前那样。
注意，若从句中的情形是根据现在的迹象作出的推测，有可能发生，则用陈述语气。请看例句：
4 It is becoming dark. It looks as if it’s going to rain. 天变黑了，似乎就要下雨。
5 It seems as if he has been to America. 他好像去过美国。
7.10.4 在it is （high） time （that）从句中
该句型表示“该是做什么事的时候了”，含有“晚了一点”的意思，从句中用过去时。请看例句：
1 Don’t dawdle away your youth any more. It is time you thought about your future.
2 It seems to be high time that this argument were put to an end. 现在似乎是时候结束争吵了。
3“You are very selfish. It’s high time you realized that you are not the most important person in the world,”Edgar said to his boss angrily. 埃德加生气地对他老板说：“你太自私了。你早就应该知道，你绝对不是这个世界上最重要的人。”
请在下列对话中体会这种“晚了一点”的含义：
4 Man: The school had the football field redone over the summer.
Woman: It’s about time.
Question：What does the woman imply?
A. Summer is a good time for repairs. B. The field had been in poor shape.
C. It’s too hot to play football in the summer. D. The work on the football field is almost finished.
正确答案 B。
妙语点睛 这里女士既然说“早就该修了”，其言外之意就是说这个足球场在修缮以前一直不是很好，这正是选项B的意思，所以B正确。
5 Man: Let’s get this desk in order.
Woman: Yes, it’s about time we cleared it off.
Question: What can be inferred about the desk?
A. It isn’t placed right.
B. There isn’t enough time to clear it off.
C. A new desk has been ordered to replace it.
D. It has needed reorganizing for quite a while.
正确答案 D。
妙语点睛 这里女士既然说“早该整理了”，其言外之意就是说这个桌子一直很乱，比如桌上摆满了东西，早就需要整理了，这正是选项D的意思，所以D正确。
7.10.5 在would rather, would （just） as soon, would sooner, would prefer等从句中
本节主要讨论would rather的各种句型。首先，would rather后面可以接从句和动词原形；其次，would rather表示将来时、现在时或过去时的谓语动词的不同形式。
一、would rather do sth.
would rather的后面接动词原形，可以表示将来或现在的事件，意指“主语宁愿自己做某事”。这是would rather最常见的用法。请看例句：
1 I would rather go there tomorrow. 我想明天去那里。
如果要和另外一件事情来比较，这时要用than来引出另外的事情。比如：
2 He would rather stay at home than go to the cinema tonight. 他今晚就想在家里呆着, 而不想去看电影。
注意，对该句型的否定，要在动词的前面加not，而不是在would的后面加not。例如：
3 1） He would rather not stay at home tonight. 他今晚不想在家呆着。
2） He would not rather stay at home tonight. *
二、would rather have done sth.
这是would rather后面接动词完成式的用法，表示过去的事件，意指“某人宁愿自己过去做了某事，但实际上没有做”，因此，具有过去虚拟的意味，如同过去虚拟条件主句的谓语形式。请看例句：
4 I took Sally to the cinema last night, but I would rather have been there alone.
妙语点睛 这里的would rather have been表示对过去的虚拟，意思是“还不如自己一个人去”，但实际上不是一个人去的。
5 I’m eager to acquire knowledge. For my ninth birthday, my father gave me a set of the World Book Encyclopedia. Although I would rather have received a set of transformers, as I look back I realize that my dad made the right decision.
妙语点睛 这里的would rather have received （a set of transformers）表示对过去的虚拟，意思是“本来希望自己收到（一套变形金刚）”，但实际上没有收到。
6 I would rather have had one breath of her hair, one kiss of her mouth, one touch of her hand than an eternity without it.
妙语点睛 这句话来自美国电影《天使之城》（The City of Angels），这是由尼古拉斯·凯奇（Nicholas Cage）主演的天使说的。
三、would rather sb. did
这是would rather后面接从句的用法，意指“主语宁愿让另一个人做某事”。这里从句的谓语用一般过去式，但表示的是现在或将来的事件，如同现在虚拟条件从句的谓语形式。请看例句：
7 Don’t come tomorrow. I’d rather you came next weekend.
妙语点睛 我们看到，这里的时间状语next weekend显然是表示一个将来的时间，但句子的谓语却用了came这样的一般过去式，而不用will come，甚至也不用would come。
8 She says she’d rather he left tomorrow instead of today.
妙语点睛 同样道理，尽管有表示将来的时间状语tomorrow，但句子的谓语却用了一般过去式left，而不用will leave，甚至也不用would leave。
四、would rather sb. had done
这是would rather后面接从句的用法，意指“主语宁愿别人过去做了某事，但实际上没有做”。这里从句的谓语用过去完成时表示过去的事件，如同过去虚拟条件从句的谓语形式。请看例句：
9 For my ninth birthday, my father gave me a set of the World Book Encyclopedia. But I would rather he had given me a set of transformers.
其他的结构，如would (just) as soon，would sooner和would prefer在接从句时，完全如同would rather的虚拟用法，在此不再赘述。请看例句：
10 I’d just as soon you didn’t speak rudely to her. 我希望你不要那么粗鲁地对她说话。
11 I’d as soon you hadn’t spoken rudely to her. 我希望你当时没有那么粗鲁地对她说话。
最后，我们再来看一个might just as well接完成时的虚拟表达：
12 Our holidays were ruined by the weather—we might just as well have stayed at home.
妙语点睛 这完全类似于would rather have done的意义和用法，都表示对过去的虚拟，意思是“还不如呆在家里”，但实际上没有这么做，而是出去度假了，但天气不好，玩得并不开心。
思维训练 7.10 Key
请选择最佳答案填空。
1. I wish I ______ with you to the concert last night.
A. could have gone
B. went
C. could go
D. have gone
2. Sometimes I wish I ______ in a different time and a different place.
A. be living
B. were living
C. would live
D. would have lived
3. Look at the terrible situation I am in! If only I ______ your advice.
A. follow
B. had followed
C. would follow
D. have followed
4. It seems to be high time that this argument ______ put to an end.
A. must be
B. is
C. were
D. should be
5. You don’t have to be in such a hurry. I would rather you ______ on business first.
A. would go
B. will go
C. went
D. have gone
6. Wouldn’t you rather your child ______ to bed early?
A. go
B. went
C. would go
D. goes
写给读者的话
一、本章学习思路
虚拟语气是英语谓语动词的重要变化形式之一，也是比较难以理解和掌握的一大类语法项目，原因是汉语的思维表达中天然缺失虚拟语气。
另一方面，虚拟语气其实也是情态动词的一种用法，所以读者应该把本章内容和下一章有关情态动词的内容结合起来学习，这样就可以更加全面而深入地理解情态动词的用法。
本章内容相当于是情态动词的虚拟用法。该用法的内容包括三部分：
第一，非真实条件虚拟句（unreal conditionals），这包括从7.1至7.8节的所有内容，这是虚拟语气的重点内容，占据虚拟语气内容的90%。
第二，名词从句虚拟句，就是在7.9节中讨论的内容。
第三，除了上述这两大类虚拟句外，还有其他一些用于虚拟的句型结构，就是在7.10节中讨论的内容。
二、本章重点及难点
在上述三大类虚拟的内容中，重点要掌握非真实条件句。读者首先要熟练掌握三种基本的虚拟结构：7.2节中讨论的将来虚拟（ZjCj）、7.3节中讨论的现在虚拟（ZxCx）以及7.4节中讨论的过去虚拟（ZgCg）。然后在此基础上，熟练辨别和把握7.5节中讨论的混合虚拟（一）：主句现在+从句过去（ZxCg）、7.7节中讨论的倒装虚拟和7.8节中讨论的跳层虚拟句。
三、本章学习时间安排
本章的内容多而且也是比较难的，因此读者需要下功夫、花时间学好。建议读者可以花3周的时间来研读本章所讲解的所有内容，边读边思考、消化和总结，并做相应的练习。读者需要反复阅读和理解本章的内容，至少四遍以上，要真正做到融会贯通，全面理解和掌握。但是，若要真正达到我们前面提到的使用虚拟语气的“口语阶段”，则需要多多实践，方能做到运用自如，从而真正地把虚拟语气融入自己的思维表达中，成为自己思维的一部分。
综合训练 Key
一、请选择最佳答案填空。
1. George would certainly have attended the proceedings ______.
A. had he not had a flat tire
B. had the tire no flattened itself
C. if the flat tire hadn’t happened
D. if he didn’t get a flat tire
2. Nelson ______ the fight, with a little more training and a better manager.
A. would win
B. had won
C. could have won
D. won
3. If I ______ my own clothes, I ______ a lot of money.
A. had made/would save
B. could make/would save
C. can make/would save
D. could make/will save
4. Thank goodness, it’s all over. I ______ it if I ______ it was going to take me so long.
A. would never have done/had known
B. would never do/knew
C. would never have done/knew
D. would never do/had known
5. He was fully occupied yesterday, otherwise he ______ to the sales conference.
A. would come
B. would have come
C. came
D. had come
6. Without computers, the world ______ what it is today.
A. would be
B. would not be
C. won’t be
D. hadn’t been
7. ______ I realized the consequences, I would never have contemplated getting involved.
A. If
B. Had
C. When
D. Unless
8. He had to drive fast yesterday; otherwise he ______ his plane.
A. had missed
B. would be missing
C. would have missed
D. would miss
9. ______ the sense of someone watching them, Ralph would have shouted at his wife.
A. Despite
B. Except
C. But for
D. Except for
10. Any man in his position ______ like that.
A. has done
B. would have done
C. does
D. would be done
11. We didn’t know his address; otherwise we ______ an invitation to him.
A. would have sent
B. must have sent
C. had sent
D. would send
12. Sometimes I have thought it would be an excellent rule to live each day as if we ______ tomorrow.
A. should die
B. are to die
C. were dying
D. must die
13. The boy would have died, ______ on him without delay.
A. if the doctor didn’t operate
B. if the doctor wouldn’t operate
C. would the doctor not operate
D. had the doctor not operated
14. If Greek civilization ______ all of Europe, English wouldn’t contain so many Greek words.
A. hadn’t influenced
B. doesn’t influence
C. hasn’t influenced
D. didn’t influence
15. If television ______ a thousand years ago, would nations be significantly more homogeneous than they are now?
A. were invented
B. was invented
C. has been invented
D. had been invented
16. At the conference, it has been decided that she ______ an opportunity to go abroad as a sales representative.
A. is going to have
B. have
C. will have
D. has
17. It is extremely urgent that they ______ from the mountain before dark.
A. must rescue
B. be rescued
C. will be rescued
D. shall be rescued
18. The women’s magazines, deploring the statistics, urged that courses on marriage, and marriage counselors, ______ in the high schools.
A. installed
B. be installed
C. have been installed
D. installing
19. I intend to move that our committee ______ Tom as chairman, and I hope that you will second my motion.
A. will appoint
B. appoint
C. appoints
D. has appointed
20. The dean approved of the requirement that every student ______ on social investigation after summer vacation.
A. reports
B. report
C. reported
D. reporting
21. I second Mr. Wang’s motion that a special committee ______ to examine the problem.
A. be established
B. established
C. was to establish
D. was established
22.“I wish you ______ the play last night.”
“It’s a shame that I ______.
A. had attended/didn’t
B. attended/didn’t
C. had attended/hadn’t
D. could attend/haven’t
23. The picture exhibition bored me to death. I wish I ______ to it.
A. have not gone
B. had not gone
C. didn’t go
D. should not have gone
24. It was a lovely day yesterday. I ______ I had been at the seaside then.
A. think
B. wish
C. hope
D. expect
25. It’s about time I ______ something about home-decorating.
A. learn
B. learned
C. have learned
D. should learn
26. If only we ______ a phone! I’m tired of queuing outside the public phone box.
A. had
B. had had
C. would have
D. have had
27. The manager would rather his daughter ______ in the same office.
A. had not worked
B. not no work
C. does not work
D. did not work
28. He would rather ______ than worked last night.
A. have slept
B. has slept
C. sleep
D. slept
29. Frankly, I’d rather you ______ anything about it for the time being as it has not yet been decided.
A. did
B. didn’t do
C. didn’t
D. don’t
30. She would rather that you ______ last night.
A. not arrive
B. do not arrive
C. had not arrived
D. did not arrive
31. In the United States a law requires that a warning label ______ on cigarette packages.
A. ought to be printed
B. needs to be printed
C. must be printed
D. should be printed
32. It is high time that the third world countries ______ a more active part in economic affairs of the world.
A. play
B. were playing
C. played
D. had played
33. If the United States had built more homes for people in 1995, the housing problems now in some parts of this country ______ so serious.
A. wouldn’t be
B. will not have been
C. wouldn’t have been
D. would have not been
34. At the last conference, the motion that the chairman of the International Olympic Games ______ was defeated.
A. would be dismissed
B. be dismissed
C. were dismissed
D. was dismissed
35. If the climate had been more favorable, the crops ______ still better.
A. would have grown
B. would be growing
C. would be grown
D. will grow
36. These facts suggested that women ______ in opportunity for physical exercise by cultural taboos.
A. should been limited
B. had been limited
C. be limited
D. have been limited
37. I would very much like to have gone to see the movie, but I ______ a ticket.
A. shall not have
B. haven’t had
C. don’t have
D. didn’t have
38. The result has turned still worse than it ______
A. would otherwise have been
B. would be otherwise
C. has otherwise been
D. had otherwise been
39. The stubborn young man did not follow the advice that he ______ on his behavior since he refused to believe he had done anything wrong.
A. reflect
B. had reflected
C. would reflect
D. must reflect
40. ______ for your help, we’d never have been able to get over the difficulties.
A. Had it not been
B. Had it not
C. If it were not
D. If we had not been
41. The storm delayed us. ______ the storm we would have been in time.
A. For
B. Were it not for
C. Had it not been for
D. But
42. The party ______ at my house, but the central heating broke down, and we had to have it at John’s place.
A. would be
B. would have been
C. was to be
D. were
43. We are all for your proposal that the discussion ______.
A. be put off
B. was put off
C. should put off
D. is to put off
44. He turned down her proposal that she ______ at the conference.
A. should offer
B. offer
C. offered
D. offering
45. What do you think of Tom’s proposal that ______ put on the play at tonight’s English evening?
A. we will not
B. we not
C. we hadn’t
D. we wouldn’t
46. The school board listened quickly as John read the demands that his followers ______ for.
A. be demonstrating
B. demonstrate
C. had been demonstrating
D. have demonstrated
47. It was suggested at the meeting that effective measures ______ to solve the problem.
A. be taken
B. were taken
C. must be taken
D. take
48. It is desirable that the doctor ______ there at the moment.
A. be
B. would be
C. will be
D. must be
49. I propose that a woman ______ deputy to the district congress.
A. would be nominated
B. was nominated
C. is nominated
D. be nominated
50. Her mother insists that she ______ skating with her brother.
A. went
B. go
C. goes
D. will go
51. I move that he ______ discharged for his serious mistake.
A. be to be
B. was to be
C. is to be
D. would be
52. These national parks are very important for preserving many animals, who would ______ run the risk of becoming extinct.
A. instead
B. nevertheless
C. therefore
D. otherwise
53. We went to work on foot yesterday, though we ______ by bus.
A. could have gone
B. must have gone
C. ought to have gone
D. had better to
54. One of the requirements for a fire is that the material ______ to its burning temperature.
A. is heated
B. will be heated
C. be heated
D. would be heated
55. It is advisable that a general announcement ______ to the teaching staff.
A. will be made
B. should make
C. be made
D. have been made
56. Abraham Lincoln insisted that ______ not just on mere opinion but on moral purpose.
A. to base democracy
B. for democracy to be based
C. democracy be based
D. whenever democracy is based
57. Mr. Smith didn’t phone me last night, but he ______.
A. might have to
B. would do
C. had to
D. should have
58. It is essential that these application forms ______ back as early as possible.
A. must be sent
B. will be sent
C. are sent
D. be sent
59. I’d rather you ______ make any comment on the issue for the time being.
A. don’t
B. wouldn’t
C. didn’t
D. shouldn’t
60. Had he worked harder, he ______ the exams.
A. must have got through
B. would have got through
C. would get through
D. could get through
61. I don’t think it advisable that Tim ______ to the job since he has no experience.
A. is assigned
B. will be assigned
C. be assigned
D. has been assigned
62. If only the committee ______ the regulations and put them into effect as soon as possible.
A. approve
B. will approve
C. can approve
D. would approve
63. It is vital that enough money ______ to fund the project.
A. be collected
B. is collected
C. must be collected
D. can be collected
64. You ______ her in her office last Friday; she’s been out of town for two weeks.
A. needn’t have seen
B. must have seen
C. might have seen
D. can’t have seen
65. 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.
A. has to get
B. were to get
C. had
D. could have got
66. The local peasants gave the soldiers clothes and food, without which they ______ of hunger and cold.
A. would dead
B. will die
C. would be dead
D. would have died
67. It is recommended that the project ______ until all the preparations have been made.
A. is not started
B. will not be started
C. not be started
D. is not to be started
68. I wish I ______ longer this morning, but I had to get up and come to class.
A. could have slept
B. slept
C. might sleep
D. have slept
69. We desire that the tour leader ______ us immediately of any change in plans.
A. inform
B. informs
C. informed
D. had informed
70. He suggested ______ to tomorrow’s exhibition together.
A. us to go
B. we went
C. we shall go
D. we go
71. John’s score on the test is the highest in the class; he ______ hard last weekend.
A. should have studied
B. must have studied
C. would have studied
D. should study
72. The room is in a terrible mess; it ______ cleaned.
A. can’t have been
B. shouldn’t have been
C. mustn’t have been
D. wouldn’t have been
73. Sally can’t have been in Paris, or ______
A. I met
B. I’d met
C. I’ll meet him
D. I’d have met
74. Research findings show we spend about two hours dreaming every night, no matter what we ______ during the day.
A. should have done
B. would have done
C. may have done
D. must have done
75. To be frank, I’d rather you ______ in the case.
A. not to be involved
B. not involved
C. will no be involved
D. were not involved
76. It seems to be high time that this argument ______ put to an end.
A. must be
B. is
C. were
D. should be
77. The dentist said that my tooth went worse and I ______ it pulled out.
A. should have had
B. might have had
C. needn’t have had
D. mustn’t have had
78. The business is risky. But ______, we would be rich.
A. should we succeed
B. would we succeed
C. might we succeed
D. could we succeed
79. If we hadn’t been interrupted the day before yesterday, we ______ the job.
A. would do
B. would not have done
C. had done
D. would have done
80. It is decided that no smoking ______ in public places from now on.
A. be allowed
B. is allowed
C. will be allowed
D. should have been allowed
81. The Reform club proposed that wages ______.
A. would be raised
B. were raised
C. would have been raised
D. be raised
82. Through worldly loss he came to an insight into spiritual truth to which he might ______ have been a stranger.
A. no more
B. no less
C. neither
D. otherwise
83. ______ yesterday, I would have asked him not to do that.
A. Had he come
B. Provided he came
C. If he came
D. Has he come
84. It is highly necessary that the rocket ______ until all the preparations have been made.
A. is not to be launched
B. not be launched
C. were not launched
D. is not to be launched
85. I had intended to go to the airport yesterday, in which case I ______ the guests.
A. might meet
B. would meet
C. might have met
D. had met
86. It is generally thought to be necessary to a college student that he ______ at least on foreign language.
A. know
B. knows
C. knew
D. would know
二、辨别改错。
87. I’d rather you would go 【A】by train, because I can’t bear 【B】the idea of your being 【C】in an airplane in such 【D】bad weather.
88. Your math instructor would have been 【A】happy to give you a makeup examination had you gone【B】 and explained 【C】that your parents had been 【D】ill at the time.
89. I don’t think it 【A】advisable that he will be assigned 【B】to the job since he has no 【C】experience whatsoever【D】.
90. The law I am referring to requires 【A】that everyone 【B】who owns 【C】a car has 【D】accident insurance.