2 有关虚拟语气的疑问(涉及be-型虚拟式和 were-型虚拟式)

前面有网友提到命令性虚拟式(http://ask.yygrammar.com/q-28997.html ),两位老师专家老师虽然观点稍有不同,但让学生非常受教,真心感谢!


关于虚拟语气我还有几个概念性的问题向专家们请教:


1. 有人认为现代英语只有 be-型虚拟式和 were-型虚拟式,那么除这两种虚拟式外,其他传统语法中的“虚拟语气句型”该怎么叫?


2. 请具体介绍一下 be-型虚拟式和 were-型虚拟式。

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最佳答案 2018-11-04 21:44

下面的内容根据夸克英语语法大全(翻译本)的第3.58至3.62节的内容整理而成,供网友参考:

在现代英语中,虚拟语气一般说来是其他结构的可有可无或语体上有点差别的一种变体。但是它并不像人们有时所说的那样不重要。虚拟语气有两种形式,传统上称为现在时虚拟式和过去时虚拟式,但是使用这些形式与其说和时态有关,不如说和语气有关。

1. 现在时虚拟语气:可分为两大类,即命令性(MANDATIVE)虚拟语气和套语式(FORMULAIC)虚拟语气。这两种虚拟语气和祈使语气一样,用动词原形。所以,如果分句的主语是复数,在陈述形式和虚拟形式之间通常就没有区别。除BE (虚拟形式be和陈述形式am, is和are是有区别的)以外,其他动词的虚拟语气形式只有在第三人称单数时才有区别。

I insist that we reconsider the Council’s decisions. [陈述语气或虚拟语气]

I insist that the Council reconsider its decisions. [虚拟语气]

I insist that the Council’s decision(s) be reconsidered. [虚拟语气]

(1) 命令性虚拟语气:仅由动词原形组成,用在that-分句中,是虚拟语气最常见的用法,在主语和限定性动词之时并无陈述语气通常具有的一致性,也并无时态的变化(参见14.33f)。也就是说,现在时和过去时在形式上并无区别:

The committee proposes / proposed (that) Mr Day be elected.

I demand(ed) that the committee reconsider its decision.

His sole requirement is / was that the system work.

(2) 套语式虚拟语气:套语式虚拟语气和命令性虚拟语气一样,由动词原形构成。它主要用在独立分句中的某些固定结构中:

Come what may, we will go ahead with our plan.

God save the Queen!

Suffice it to say that we won.

Heaven forbid that I should let my own parents suffer.

Be it noted that this offer was made in good faith.

Be that as it may, we have nothing to lose.

2. 过去时虚拟语气通常简称为WERE-虚拟语气(WERE-SUBJUNCTIVE),因为,它作为一个留存下来的可辨别的形式,今天只出现在动词BE的过去时中。在陈述形式中(第一和第三人称卓数的),was与(复数及第二人称单数的) were之间是有区别的,而在虚拟语气中则到处用were,因此,在虚拟语气中只有第一人称和第三人称的单数形式才与陈述语气的形式不同:

If I / he / she was leaving, you would have heard about it. [陈述语气]

If I / he / she were leaving, you would have heard about it. [虚拟语气]

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其它 3 个回答

蒋学文   - 英语教师
擅长:英语

1. 有人认为现代英语只有 be-型虚拟式和 were-型虚拟式,那么除这两种虚拟式外,其他传统语法中的“虚拟语气句型”该怎么叫?

现代英语中很少使用虚拟语气。现代英语语法一般趋向于认为虚拟语气有两种形式:be-型虚拟式(Be-subjunctive)和were-型虚拟式(Were-subjunctive)。be-型虚拟式也称为现在虚拟式(Present Subjunctive),也有语法学家们称之为强制性虚拟式(Mandative Subjunctive);were-型虚拟式也称为过去虚拟式(Past Subjunctive)。除这两种虚拟式,其他传统语中的虚拟语气可并入其他相关语法范畴,如 If I were you, I would go. 其中were的用法归为were-型虚拟式;而If I had enough money, I would buy it. 其中的 had 的用法归为一般过去时态。

 

2. 请具体介绍一下 be-型虚拟式和 were-型虚拟式

1. be-型虚拟式

be-型虚拟式只有一种动词形式,即动词原形,也就是说,在第三人称单数作主语时,主语和谓语之间没有一般现在时中的主谓一致性要求,现在时和过去时也没有区别。要注意的是,be-型虚拟式是出于结构的需要,并不表示说话人的主观愿望与实际情况不符或者是实现可能性极小等情况。be-型虚拟式主要用于正式文体中,特别是在美式英语中。

2. were-型虚拟式

were-型虚拟式是指不管主语是什么人称,动词一律用were。were-型虚拟式主要用于动词wish之后的宾语从句中,以及表示条件、对比的让步状语从句中(在if only, as if/though, would rather等结构之后)。


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陈才   - 英语教师
擅长:中考英语,词法问题

虚拟语气是一种特殊的动词形式,一是用来表示说话人所说的话不是一个事实,而是一种假设、猜测、怀疑等(在条件从句中或让步状语从句中);一是表示说话人的愿望、要求、命令、建议等 (在宾语从句、表语从句、同位语从句)

 

虚拟式仅有两个形式:

【一】be-型虚拟式(BE-Subjunctive);

【二】were-型虚拟式(WERE-Subjunctive)。

【一】be-型虚拟式的主要用法

【1】用于表示命令、决定、建议等词语之后的that-分句中。

命令性虚拟语气在美国英语中用得较多。在英国英语中,它用在正式的和相当严格的法律语体中。

The employees have demanded that the manager resign.

尤其是美国英语

The employees have demanded that the manager should resign/resigns.尤其是英国英语

He ordered that all the books be sent at once.

It is essential that all the facts be examined first.

The board has given instructions that the agent fly to Boston.

She insists that he is guilty of fraud.

We insist that he be admitted to hospital immediately.

insist后面是否用虚拟语气,取决于意义。当这一动词引导的是一个间接陈述句时,就用陈述语气,但当它引导的是一个间接的命令句时,则多半用虚拟语气。suggest也有类似的用法。

I insisted (required) that he (should) change his clothes.

I insisted (asserted) that he changed his clothes.

She suggested (recommended) that I (should) be responsible for the arrangements.

She suggested (said tentatively) that I am responsible for the arrangements.  

【2】用于由 if, though, whatever, lest, so long as 等引导的分句中。表示推测让步,防备等含义。

If he be found guilty,John shall have the right of appeal.

上述用法现在只限于正式书面语体,在非正式语体中通常用动词陈述式或者should/may+不定式。

 If the rumour is true,everything is possible.

【3】套语式虚拟语气和命令性虚拟语气一样,由动词原形构成。它主要用在独立分句中的某些固定结构中:即用于某些公式化语句中可表示祝愿、诅咒、禁止等意义

Come what may, we will go ahead with our plan.

God save the Queen! (May God save the Queen)

Suffice it to say that we won. (Let it suffice…)

Heaven forbid that I should let my own parents suffer.

Be it noted that this offer was made in good faith.

Be that as it may, we have nothing to lose.

Long live the People’ s Republic of China!

God bless you!

Heaven damn you!

Devil take him!

So be it!

备注:套语式虚拟语气在语体上往往显得很正式而过分守旧。

【二】were-型虚拟式的主要用法:

【1】常用于由if , if only , as if , as though , though 引导的条件状语和让步状语分句中,表示非真实的条件或让步。

 If I were you , I should wait till next week.

 If it were to rain , the game would be put off.

if only是if的强化形式,主要用于假设条件分句,表示讲话人所祈愿的事情会发生、正在发生或者早该发生:

If only you would help me next week, I would not be so nervous.

If only they were here now, we would be able to celebrate their wedding anniversary.

If only somebody had told us, we could have warned you.

条件分句有时单独使用,表示一种假设的祈愿:

If only I’d listened to my parents!

I wish I had listened to my parents.

If only he were not so timid!

If only I could make them understand my point of view!

If only I hadn’t lost it!

only if组合则多用于开放条件句。

条件分句中,有时不用一般现在时态而用现在时虚拟语气来表示开放条件:

If any vehicle be found parked on these premises without written permission, it shall be towed away at the expense of the vehicle’s owner.

If any person be found guilty, he shall have the right of appeal.

这种用法主要限于十分正式的、法律的或准法律的语境中。

我们也可以不用从属连词而用主语-功能词倒装来标明条件关系。在条件分句中,这种倒装形式用得最多的是功能词had:

Had I known, I would have written before.

当分句是否定句时,not置于实义动词之前,不可用前接成分:

Had I not seen it with my own eyes, I would not have believed it.

在多少带有一点文学色彩的语体中,虚拟语气的were和试探性的should也可用倒装形式:

Were it to reveal its secrets, that house would collapse in shame.

Were she in charge, she would do things differently.

Should you change your mind, no one would blame you.

Should she be interested, I’ll phone her.

在另外某些含假设意义的结构中,必须用假设过去时或假设过去完成体:

It’s time you were in bed.

I wish this bus went to the university.

If only I had listened to my parents!

在其他一些也有假设意义的结构中,它们则具有随意性:

He acts as if he knew you.

It’s not as though we were poor.

Suppose we told her the truth.

Imagine your child played truant.

I’d rather we had dinner now.

一般来说,我们可以对这些句子作否定的推论,在用假设过去完成体时,否定意义更强。表示探询式的礼貌,而不是假设的意义。

限制性关系分句和其母句,如果是指某种假设情景的话,则采用和假设条件句相同的形式:

Any person who had behaved in that way should have been dismissed.

除would之外,其他情态助动词也可用于假设条件句中,如有could, might和should。

It they would help us, we could finish early.

If we had enough money, we could buy a typewriter.

If you could type, you might save a lot of time.

I might have married her if she would have agreed.

If they had asked me, I would have had to speak.

If he had apologized, you should have done so too.

Were-虚拟语气表示假设或不真实的含义,用在由诸如if, as if, as though, though之类的连词所引导的状语分句中,也用在像wish和suppose这样的动词后面的名词性分句中。这种虚拟语气只有were这一形式,因此打破了陈述语气动词be过去时第一人称和第三人称单数主谓一致的规则。陈述语气形式was,在不太正式的语体中可用来代替were:

If I were/was rich, I would buy you anything you wanted.

Tim always speaks quietly on the phone, as though he were/was telling a secret.

I wish the journey were/was over.

Just suppose everyone were/was to give up smoking and drinking.

在固定短语as it were(可以这么说)中,不能用was代替were。

让步分句

在正式语体中,现在虚拟式在十分偶尔的情况下可用于让步分句和目的分句。

它们更经常使用的是一般现在陈述式。

Though he be the president himself, he shall hear us.

They removed the prisoner in order that he not disturb the proceedings any further.

Even if that be the official view, it cannot be accepted.

Whatever be the reasons for their action, we cannot tolerate such disloyalty.

Whether she be right or wrong, she will have my unswerving support.

让步分句主要由although或其较非正式的变体though引导。与让步分句连用的其他从属连词有:

if, even if, even though, when, whereas, while, whilst

表示目的限定分句由so that或so和in order that引导。

由lest, in case或for fear that引导的否定目的分句:

The president must reject this proposal, lest it cause strife and violence.

They left early for fear that they would meet him.

They evacuated the building in case the wall collapsed.

for fear (that) 需要一个情态助动词,但in case不需要,古体lest需要一个情态动词或现在时虚拟语气。

Earthen mounds were being hastily erected lest an attack should be/be launched that night.

开放条件(open condition)是中性的,即该条件的实现与否悬而未决,因而由母句所述判断的真实性也无定论:

If Colin is in London, he is undoubtedly staying at the Hilton.

假设条件(hypothetical condition)则表示讲话人相信条件不会满足(将来条件),没有满足(现在条件)或未曾满足(过去条件),因而母句所述的判断可能或当然是虚假的:

If he changed his opinions, he’d be a more likeable person.

(He very probably won’t change his opinions.)

【2】常用于wish , would , rather , suppose , imagine之后的that-分句中,表示一种臆想的情况。

 I wish it were spring all the year round.

 I ’ d rather I were not at the site of the accident.

上述 were-型虚拟式在第一、三人称单数主语之后可为 was 所取代。

If it was to rain , the game would be put off.

If only I was not so nervous!

但是,在 if I were you 这一分句中,通常倾向于用 were ,而不用 was 。另外,在某些倒装结构中只用 were ,不用 was 。

Were I to do it (= If I were to do it ),I should rely on you.

还有,在 as it were (作 so to speak 解,即“宛如”、“好比”)结构中也只用were ,不用was。

He is my best friend ,my second self ,as it were.


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曹荣禄  
擅长:动词用法,句法问题

传统语法和现代语法对虚拟语气的定义不同,因此虚拟语气的内涵就不同了。

传统语法根据谓语动词形式的表意功能对动词形式进行分类,即凡是表示非事实的谓语动词形式都是虚拟语气(表示事实的谓语动词形式为陈述语气)。

现代语法则不同。现代语法单纯根据谓语动词形式区分虚拟语气和陈述语气。在现代语法体系中,陈述语气也可以表示与事实相反的假设。现代语法认为虚拟语气只有二种形式 :作为限定动词的动词原型和were. 由于陈述语气动词的现在时除了单数第三人称以-s结尾外,其它人称的现在时动词形式与动词原型形式相同,无法区分是陈述语气还是虚拟语气。另外,动词原型式虚拟语气和陈述语气现在时的否定形式不同,前者直接加not否定,后者需借助助动词do否定。were作为虚拟语气形式,只出现于主语为单数第一和第三人称时。例如:

I suggest that he leave tomorrow. 虚拟语气

I suggest that he leaves tomorrow. 陈述语气

I suggest that they leave tomorrow. 虚拟语气或陈述语气

If he were to come tomorrow, it would be nice. 虚拟语气

If he was to come tomorrow, it would be nice. 陈述语气

If they were to come tomorrow, it would be nice. 虚拟语气或陈述语气

If he had studied harder, he would have passed the exam. 陈述语气(过去完成体和would+不定式完成体表示与过去事实相反的假设)

I wish he were here now. 虚拟语气

I wish he was here now. 陈述语气(一般过去时表示与现在事实相反的假设)

I wish they were here now 虚拟语气或陈述语气


由此可知,网友想要理解英语虚拟语气,必须清楚你是在传统语法体系还是现代语法体系讨论虚拟语气;要清楚二个体系对于虚拟语气的不同定义,同时也牵涉对陈述语气的定义和理解。否则将二个体系混淆不分,只会让你更糊涂。现代语法将传统语法虚拟语气的内容的很大一部分归到陈述语气范畴了。虚拟语气内容简单了,但陈述语气(时和体)的内容却复杂了很多。我的建议是,在国内学习英语虚拟语气,还是以遵循传统语法为宜,这和大家在中学学过的内容一致,不需要更换概念。如果要看现代语法虚拟语气,一定要先学好现代语法的时和体(即要知道现代语法的陈述语气中的时体形式本身就可以表示与事实相反的假设)。


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