在雅思口语考试许多高频的话题中, 假设条件的时候难免会用到条件句或部分动词来假设一些无法实现的主观愿望, 英语中将这种假设称为虚拟语气 （Subjunctive mood）. 从许多SpeakingSaver会员的练习实例中, 我们发现虚拟语气出错的机率较高, 大家尤其区分不清条件从句的时态, 以及其表示的语气(mood). 特此针对雅思口语中经常出现的虚拟语气做个小结。

一 if引导的条件句

虚拟语气的用法:表示说的话不是事实 , 或是不可能发生的情况, 而是说话者的主观愿望, 建议或是与事实相反的假设.

 

e.g. If I were you, I would go there.(我不可能成为你)

 

If虚拟语气用法如下:

 

有时假设的情况并不是以条件从句表现出来, 而是通过一个介词短语来表示,常见的有without (= but for), but that, or (else), in case of, otherwise

 

e.g. Without/ but for his help, we shouldn’t go out.

 

e.g. You’d better hurry up, or you would be late.

 

二 口语中常遇到的一些动词,动词短语及句式结构需使用虚拟语气

1.       wish后的宾语从句

 

一般过去时(be 用were) : 表示现在的愿望与事实相反

 

wish+would/could do : 表示过去的愿望与事实相反

 

wished + 过去完成时 : 表示过去的愿望与事实相反

 

e.g. I wish I were as tall as you.   (现在)

 

e.g. I wish I would try.          (将来)

 

e.g. He wished he hadn’t said that. (过去)

 

2. it’s time that结构中需用到虚拟, 从句时态通常用should to 或 did something.

 

e.g. It’s time we went to bed / should go to bed.

 

e.g. It’s time we went home.

 

3. expect, believe, think, suggest, I am sorry/ surprised/ disappointed that构成的否定形式的宾语从句,通常需用到虚拟, 谓语动词形式为should do, 意思是 “竟会”.

 

e.g. I never expected that the problem should be so complicated.

 

e.g. They just couldn’t believe that the new station should be so big.

 

e.g. We never thought that she should be the brave girl we have heard so much above.

 

e.g. I’m sorry that he should be in such poor health.

 

e.g. We were surprised that he should be so lazy.

 

4. would rather/sooner构成的宾语从句中需用虚拟语气, 谓语动词形式是 did something (be动词用were)

 

e.g. I would rather they came tomorrow.

 

e.g. I would rather he posted the letter right away

 

三 口语中,为了使语气显得比较客气委婉, 虚拟语气主要体现在谓语动词上, 多用should/ would/could/might do.

e.g. It would be a shame to stop the work halfway.

 

e.g. Such mistakes could have been avoided.

 

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