问道《英语语法大全》（二）wish从句全面看

本文拟对上文作一补正，再对wish宾语从句、主语从句、表语从句、同位语从句等所谓名词性从句所用时态略作解释，以后如有可能，想独立讨论几个常见疑难用法，如：

1. wish ...would中would一定表示坚持意愿和习惯吗？

2. wish...would 主从句主语一定不能相同吗？

3. 动态动词一定要用would吗？静态动词不能用would吗？

4. 一些近似说法的异同等。（深感力有不逮，为学习故，恳请指正。）

经参阅比对，发现虽然时间变换，英语界的金科玉律《牛津英语词典》对wish后宾语从句之时态用法仍然是全面而权威的，只是顺序似宜做改动：即：

（一）(c) with object clause with past subjunctive (or indicative, e.g. was for were): expressing an unrealized or unrealizable desire (see also ᴡɪʟʟ v.¹ 46a), or in modern use sometimes a mild request (cf. 5). to wish to God: to wish intensely. 就是说wish后宾语从句用过去式型虚拟式，包括过去完成时和would，could，might等，表达主语希望事情是不同于现状或过去事实的愿望，表示对现状或过去事件的不满或遗憾，或者表示对现在之后将来的不太现实的希望。在现代用法中，有时表示一种温和的请求。

（二）(b) with object clause with may or (formerly) present subjunctive, occasionally indicative: expressing a desire that the event may happen or that the fact may prove to be so, and often implying some want of confidence or fear of the opposite (now commonly expressed by hope: see ʜᴏᴘᴇ v.3b). Also expressing a request (see 5).和使用may或者（以前）虚拟现在式，间或直陈式的宾语从句连用：表达事情可能会发生，或者情况可能被证实的愿望，经常隐含着有些信心不足或害怕事情反面的意思。（现在通常用hope表达）。还可表达要求、请求。用be-型虚拟式（有时用should）表示主语对对别人的要求，希望，建议。

（请注意：前文说“wish后直陈式也确实是偶有所见，而现在时虚拟则更少见些。”欠妥，拟改为——wish接现在时虚拟式是正常用法，现在时虚拟式与直陈式动词形式相同者视为现在时虚拟式（和牛津定义可能有所不同，但方便于理解规则）,而直陈式(谓语为非动词原形者,即am.is.are及动词三单），除贺卡短信祝词外极少见，不可视为正规用法。使用may以前为常用正式用法，今偶见于诗歌，歌词等文学性作品及学术文章中。间或使用will，这些情况现在大多都可用hope来表达。）

历史上使用情态动词替代原虚拟语气的情况，Matti Rissanen 在其Syntax书中有介绍，是从中古英语到早期现代英语期间渐渐形成的，比如中古时期开始使用shall/should,早期现代英语时期will/would 得以立足，may/might用在不确定的愿望或期待中。（大胡子英语史中也有介绍），具体到may这个词，Independent hypothetical root may is not backshifted, but derives from the subjunctive form of the Old English mæ ȝ .下面我们列举一些以前及现在的例句：

'Neglect ! I am sure you neglect nothing that can add to the beauties of that noble place. Charles, when you build your house, I wish it may be half as delightful as Pemberley'.

"疏忽！我相信凡是能为你那个高贵的地方增加美观的东西，你一件也没有疏忽过。——查尔斯，以后你自己建筑住宅的时候，我只希望有彭伯里一半那么美丽就好了。"「《傲慢与偏见》1813

'By this time, my dearest sister, you have received my hurried letter; I wish this may be more intelligible, but though not confined for time, my head is so bewildered that I cannot answer for being coherent.

亲爱的妹妹，你现在大概收到了我那封匆促草成的信了吧。我希望这封信会把问题说得明白些；不过，时间虽然并不急促，我的头脑却糊里糊涂，因此并不能担保这封信一定会写得有条有理。「《傲慢与偏见》

I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

兄弟啊，望你使我在主里因你得快乐（或作" 益处" ），并望你使我的心在基督里得畅快。「57 Philemon 配乐圣经剧场版-NIV」

And, Nelly, say to Edgar, if you see him again tonight, that I'm in danger of being seriously ill. I wish it may prove true. He has startled and distressed me shockingly! I want to frighten him.

而且，耐莉，如果你今天晚上再看见埃德加的话，跟他说我有得重病的危险——但愿真会这样。他把我吓一跳，使我难过极了！我也要吓唬他。「Wuthering Heights 呼啸山庄1847」

“I wish with all my heart that you may be the most lovable prince in the world, and I bestow my gift on you as much as I am able.”- Charles Perrault  The Renowned Tales of Mother Goose: As Originally Related (1823 edition)

蒙高贤指点，故钩沉补遗：

I wish I may die! 是一句强调用法的流行语。似乎历经了十八世纪大部分时间，以及十九至二十世纪。例如它曾出现在George Colman, 《嫉妒妇人》一书里（1761）。其主要是下层中下层人用。

“Star Light, Star Bright” is a traditional nursery rhyme dating back to the late nineteenth century America.       十九世纪晚期美国童谣。

在当代英语中，may的使用频率很小，主要见于诗歌，歌词等文学性作品，及学术文章中。例如，有些诗歌直接借用或化用儿歌形式（不多作摘录），I wish I may,I wish I might.或者I wish you may,I wish you might。而2009年电影歌曲"butterfly fly away"则化用了两首儿歌，其中部分歌词如：

Caterpillar in the tree

How I wonder who you’ll be

Can’t go far but you can always dream

Wish you may and wish you might

Don't you worry, hold on tight

再如 William McGehee     Friday, October 7,2011诗歌

I Wish That You May Keep

I wish that you may keep

That happiness you find

When soft and quiet sleep

Brings peace unto your mind  ...

歌词 Heyo! SONGLYRICS  just got interactive. Highlight. Review: RIFF-it. RIFF-it good.

Wish that I could say these words tonight

Wish I have the courage wish I might

Have the chance to show you

Speak what’s on my mind

While you are right next to me

I’ve loved you from the start

Wish that I could walk you down the road

Share each moment, have my hand to hold

My imagination’s beginning to unfold

Every wish is granted, every dream and hope

Wish I may, wish I might find a way to your heart

Wish that I’ll be the sun to warm you all through your life

Wish you may feel my love that is hidden in the stars

Wish I may wish I might be the one

Maybe now I’m ready to be found

Then I’ll be a part of who you are

Promise of forever never break your heart

Always there to listen always by your side

Wish I may, wish I might find a way to your heart

Wish that I’ll be the sun to warm you all through your life

Wish you may feel my love that is hidden in the stars

Wish I may wish I might be the one

Wish you may feel my love that is hidden in the stars

Wish I may wish I might be the one

Wish I may…. wish I might… be the one!

其它非诗歌例子：

《I Wish I May》图书，作者是Benton, Richard O.出版时间2002年11月

《Wish I May.(New Hope)》图书 - Lexi Ryan   Wish I May (Splintered Hearts Book 3) 2013-9-30

Speaker has some reason to wish that S may (or may have) come about. （2006语言学论文 There is no subjunctive in English / Keith Allan文中有数例该用法）                                总体来说，wish宾语从句对使用虚拟语气的要求相对严格，须用过去式虚拟式或现在式虚拟式，以及情态动词could/would/might，偶尔用may/will甚至should，这种should因为美国人觉得太bookish,且削弱语气，所以弃而不用。现对wish宾语从句用法分述如下，以方便日后相关的探讨：

1.与过去事实相反的假设，表遗憾惋惜之情，用过去完成时。但也可能用不太正式的would have done或could have done（多了层情态意义，这个would have 用法，据我看到的，只有少数语法讲解者视为错误）。

He wishes he had studied harder when he was at school.

I wish (that) you had let me know that you were coming.  (I regret you did not let me know.)

I wish (that) you would have let me know.(I am displeased you were unwilling to communicate with me.)

I wish you could have let me know.  (You were unable to do so because you could not get to a phone.)

2.表与现在状态、情况或习惯（state/situation/habit)不同的假设,表遗憾或不大可能的希望。用过去时虚拟式（包括were型非正式形式was）。

I wish it weren't raining now. (It is raining now.)

I wish you were coming to my party next week. (You are not coming to my party next week.)

I wish he came more often.

He wishes that he were a bird and could fly.

I wish you didn’t smoke.(you merely express that your conversational partner does smoke and that you wish otherwise, without the emotional subtext. )

I wish that I had a big house (I don't have a big house, but it's a nice idea!).

I wish that we didn't need to work today (we do need to work today, unfortunately).

Do you ever wish you lived somewhere else?

In Quirk's Comprehensive Grammar, Unit 14.23 says that "in subordinate clauses following I wish (that), the hypothetical past may be replaced by hypothetical would or by a to-infinitive":（当然意思略有不同,尤其第三例）

I wish she visited me more often.

I wish she would visit me more often.

I wish her to visit me more often.

3.表示对现在或将来的不太现实的希望，愿望，用could，might,would等，有时would表示委婉的批评或劝诫或者温和的建议。

MN wishes her husband would take her dancing tonight. (he might, but he might not)

Gwyneth wishes she would get an A in Statistics. (she might, but she doesn't know yet)

Sigurd wishes he could study Spanish in Costa Rica next summer. (but he believes he can't)*

Haakon wishes his friend were coming to Seattle during the quarter break. (but he isn't)

I wish you wouldn't complain all the time.

Wish ... would can be like an order or a critical request. Compare:

I wish you wouldn't drive so fast. (Similar to Please don't drive so fast.)

I wish you didn't drive so fast. (More like I'm sorry you drive so fast.)

I wish you wouldn't work on Sundays. (=Why don't you stop?)

I wish you didn't work on Sundays. (=It's a pity.)   (Swan, Practical English Usage)

4.表示对现在或将来的希望，愿望，不涉及能不能实现的可能性，用现在时虚拟式（有些形式与直陈式相同）（现多用hope,但感情色彩不同。）。

I wish my brother make good time with him.(Julius Caesar, II, i 4)

I Wish That You Enjoy in What You Have Deserved!   ( 书籍章节标题 )

Speaker has some reason to wish that S may (or may have) come about. （论文There is no subjunctive in English / Keith Allan）

Why, father, you must think I am a cruel girl, to wish that the poor horses that work so hard, the beautiful cows that give so much nice milk, and the pretty lambs should always be thirsty.「美国原版语文第三册」

以下为婚嫁康复等祝词（网站摘录）：

On this momentous occasion, which marks the start of your life together I wish you that the journey you are stepping be a happy one filled with peace and harmony, romance and passion,joy and laughter,and much more.

On your wedding, I wish your love be like a shining star, brightening even the darkest of times. Best Wishes!!

Congratulations to you two! I wish you two carry the joy of this happy day close to your heart as you start the journey of life together.

Wedding day may come and go, however, I wish your love forever grow. Congratulations to the lovely couple！

We wish your lives be filled with lots of joy, laughter, happiness, and togetherness. Many Congratulations!

I wish you always fill each other's life with love and joy. Congratulations on your wedding!

以上是wish宾语从句用法的基本情况，相关的还有其它名词性从句，如主语从句，表语从句，同位语从句，其用法最好也是遵循wish宾语从句的规则，（当然有时我们也能见到直陈式的例子，从学习的角度看，不可模仿。）我们再罗列些相关例句，以作参考：

1）She said, "All things are prospering with me, and I have only one wish, that there may be a heavy fall of rain, in order that the plants may be well watered." Not long after, he went to the daughter who had married the tilemaker, and likewise inquired of her how she fared; she replied, "I want for nothing, and have only one wish, that the dry weather may continue, and the sun shine hot and bright, so that the bricks might be dried." He said to her, "If your sister wishes for rain, and you for dry weather, with which of the two am I to join my wishes?'

The story ends with Gonsales's fervent wish that he may one day be allowed to return to Spain, and "that by enriching my country with the knowledge of these hidden mysteries, I may at least reap the glory of my fortunate misfortunes". Wikipedia

2）As a reward he offers Midas a wish - he may have whatever he desires.     作为奖励，他允许迈达斯许一个愿望——他可以实现他想要的任何事物。「BBC读名著学单词」             

3）DMV makes a wish Licenses would expire on birthdays under plan .

4）And it is my wish that this center will grace our town for as long as these trees have stood around us.

我希望本中心能与这些树木一样长久地惠泽我们的小镇。「真爱如血第4季」

5）It is my ardent wish that he come at once.(Thackeray)

在学习过程中，有时我们也会对使用过去式虚拟式和would产生疑问，如 I wish he came more often--I wish he would come more often. I wish you didn't smoke.--I wish you wouldn't smoke. I wish he were going to come.--I wish he would come.等有何区别？为什么I wish I didn't have to work tomorrow.用过去式虚拟，为什么I wish it were Sunday tomorrow.不用would，以及开头提出的几个问题，倘若能琢磨总结出些许心得，再不揣简陋，求教于大家。

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相关参考：问道《英语语法大全》（一）wish疑难在祝愿