有人说，理想很丰满，现实很骨感。在现实世界中，有时候觉得理想就是拉磨驴子前挂着的胡萝卜，可望而又不可及。在这一单元，我们要学习的是一种可以表达出我们美好愿望和假想虚拟情况的一种语气，这就是貌似难学的虚拟语气！
那就让我们赶紧来一探究竟吧！
37.1虚拟语气概述
在英语中，随着说话人意图的不同，动词需要用不同的形式，称为语气。英语中共有三种语气：陈述语气（the Indicative Mood）、祈使语气（the Imperative Mood）、虚拟语气（theSubjunctive Mood）。
虚拟语气主要表示主观愿望和假想虚拟的情况，而不表示客观存在的事实，所说的是一个条件，不一定是事实，或与事实相反。虚拟语气通过谓语动词的特殊形式来表示。例如：
I wish you were more considerate.
但愿你更体贴些。
虚拟语气大体上有以下两类形式。
（1）should， would， may， might 等加动词原形构成。例如：
Would you mind shutting the door？
劳驾关门。
（2）和某些时态的形式相同，但表示的时间不同。例如：
If I had the money， I would buy it.
我要是有钱就要买它了。（表示现在的情况，却用相当于过去时的形式）37.2虚拟语气在条件句中的应用
包含条件从句的句子称为条件句。条件句有两类：一类是真实条件句（Sentences of Real Condition），一类是虚拟条件句（Sentences of Unreal Condition）。
如果假设的情况是有可能发生的，就是真实条件句。例如：
If she has time， she will finish it.
如果有时间，她会做完的。
If you haven"t finished your composition， you can give it to me tomorrow.
如果你还没写完作文，可以明天再给我。
如果是纯然假设的情况或是发生的可能性不大的情况，则是虚拟条件句。例如：
If I were you， I would reconsider their proposal.
如果我是你，我会重新考虑他们的建议的。
If we hadn"t built the reservoir， there would have been a terrible flood.
假如我们没修这座水库，就会发生可怕的水灾。
虚拟条件句主要有以下两类。
（1）表示现在及将来情况的虚拟条件句（表示纯然假设或实现的可能性不大的情况）。
从句主句
过去式 would+动词原形
例如：
If you hurried， you would catch the train.
你要是赶快的话还能赶上火车。（但你是这么慢吞吞的）
If I knew French， I would read the book in the original.
如果我懂法语，我就要看这本书的原文了。（其实不懂）
注意：在从句中动词be 多用were 这一形式，不管是什么人称。例如：
If she were here， everything would be all right.
要是她在这儿，一切都没问题了。
If I were you， I wouldn"t lose heart.
我要是你，就不会灰心。
If it weren"t raining， we wouldn"t stay indoors.
要是现在不下雨，我们就不会待在屋里了。
但在非正式场合，特别是在口语中，第一人称和第三人称单数现在用was 的时候也不少。
例如：
If she was there， we could ask her.
如果她在那儿，我们可以问她。
If I was in her place， I would think in another way.
我要是处于她的位置，我会换一种方式考虑问题的。
但总是说“If I were you …”，而不是“If I was you ...”。
（2）表示过去情况的虚拟条件句。
从句主句
had+过去分词 would have+过去分词
例如：
He would have come if we had invited him.
要是我们邀请了她，她是会来的。（可是我们没邀请）
He would have come if he hadn"t been so busy.
要不是忙，他就来了。
在这类虚拟条件句中，主句的谓语除了用would 构成外，有时还可能用might 或could。
例如：
If she were here， she might be able to help.
要是她在这里，可能会帮上忙。
If we had the manpower， we could open up even more land.
如果有人力，我们还能开更多的荒地。
在第一人称后有时也可以用should（但美国人多用would）。例如：
If she were here with us， we should (would) feel much better.
如果她和我们在一起，我们会感觉好得多。
I shouldn"t (wouldn"t) have done it if it hadn"t been necessary.
如果不必要，我是不会这样做的。
在表示将来情况的条件从句中，有时可用“were to (should)+动词原形”来构成谓语。
例如：
If I were to (should) do it， I would do it in a different way.
要是我来做这件事，我会用另外一种做法。
We wouldn"t lose courage even if we should ( were to ) fail again.
即使再次失败我们也不会泄气。
（3）混合时间条件句（Conditional Sentences of Mixed Time）。有时候，条件从句表示的动作和主句表示的动作发生的时间不一致（如一个是过去发生的，一个是现在发生的）。这时，动词的形式要根据表示的时间来调整。例如：
If the weather had been more favourable， the flowers would be growing still better.
如果过去天气好一些，花还会长得更好。
If he had received six more votes， he would be our president now.
如果他再多得六票，他现在就是我们的主席了。
Dialogue & Analysis（此处有视频学习资料）
W： It is Saturday tomorrow.What"s your plan？
M： If it rains tomorrow， we will stay home（.虚拟语气表示现在或未来可能发生的事情。
本句虽然指的是未来，但if 从句中不可用将来时，必须用现在时表示将来。）
W： If it stops raining tomorrow， we will go out.
M： Where shall we go？
W： How about climbing the mountain？
M： If you will climb， I will climb， too.（本句中if 从句里的you will 不是表示未来，而是表示愿意，相当于are willing 或者disposed to。）
W： We should get up very early tomorrow morning.Then， we set off without having breakfast.
M： What？ If I don"t eat breakfast tomorrow， I will have no energy to climb.
W： We will have breakfast in X hotel if we get there early enough.
M： OK.I want have some coffee now.Darling， would you like to boil one cup for me？
W： OK.
37.3虚拟语气在某些从句中的应用
虚拟语气还可用来表示愿望、建议、命令等。在下面几类从句中，谓语动词都需要用虚拟语气。
（1）wish 后的宾语从句。例如：
I wish I were as strong as you.
我希望像你一样强壮。
How I wish it wasn"t raining！
现在要是不下雨多好啊！
（2）suggest， order， demand， propose， command， request， desire， insist 等动词后的宾语从句。
例如：
They demanded that the aggressor troops (should) be withdrawn immediately.
他们要求立即撤出侵略军。
The commander ordered that all civilians (should) be evacuated.
指挥官命令撤退所有平民。
I propose that we (should) set a deadline for handing in the plans.
我建议定出一个交计划的最后期限。
They requested that we (should) send a delegation to their country.
他们请求我们派一个代表团到他们国家去。
He insisted that we (should) take up the matter at the meeting.
他坚持要我们在会上谈这个问题。
I suggest we set off immediately.
我建议马上动身。
He asked that he be given an opportunity to try.
他要求给他一个试试的机会。
She urged that he write and accept the post.
她敦促他写信接受这个职位。
（3）it is desired， it is suggested， it is requested， it was ordered， it was proposed， it is necessary，it is important， it has been decided 等结构后的主语从句。例如：
It is requested that Miss Wu (should) give a performance at the party.
有人请求吴小姐在会上表演一个节目。
It is desired that we (should) get everything ready by tonight.
希望一切在今晚准备好。
It is necessary that he (should) be sent there at once.
有必要马上派他到那里去。
It has been decided that the meeting (should) be postponed till next Saturday.
已决定会议延期到下星期六开。
（4）suggestion， motion， proposal， order， recommendation， plan， idea 等后面的表语从句和同位语从句。例如：
My suggestion is that we (should) send a few people to help the other groups.
我的建议是我们派几个人去帮助别的小组。
My idea is that we (should) challenge the other groups to a friendly competition.
我的意见是向别组挑战，来一个友谊竞赛。
The orders were that we stay where we were.
命令是我们仍留在原处。
Dialogue & Analysis（此处有视频学习资料）
W： It is your turn to wash these.
M： Why？
W： Because I will practice singing.
M： When did you start to have such a hobby？
W： Just today.Tom said I am a gift for singing.He suggested that I practice more.［一些含有假设、猜想、建议等意思的动词（如advice， order， request， suggest）后面的宾语从句要用“should+动词原形”结构，should 往往省略。］
M： (Laughing ...)
W： Why are you laughing？
M： To think of his singing， I could hardly help laughing.（表示虚拟语气的状语从句可以由不定式短语或分词短语等代替。“To think of his singing”相当于“If I think of his singing”。）
W： Why？
M： Even he himself is poor singer.
W： Even if you laughed at me， I wouldn"t give up.（在 as if， as though， in case， even if 等引导的状语从句中，表示与事实相反时，要用虚拟语气。）
M： Where are you going？
W： I am going to Tom"s home and ask him to teach me.With his help， I will make more progress.（表示虚拟语气的状语从句可以由with， without， but for 等介词短语代替。
“With his help”相当于“If I had his help”。）
M： Darling， if you don"t go， I will satisfy any of your wishes.
W： Really？ Then， I wish you were my first listener.（wish 后的从句用过去时表示与现在事实相反的假设。）
M： I really wish I had not spoken like that.（wish 后的从句用过去完成时表示与过去事实相反的假设。）
W： Now， listen to me.
37.4虚拟语气在其他情况下的应用
（1）虚拟语气还可用在口语中，使语气显得比较客气委婉。这时谓语多用should， would，could， might 加动词原形构成。例如：
It would be a shame to stop the work half way.
半途而废就太遗憾了。
This is something I should advise you not to do.
我看你还是不这样的好。
（2）提出请求或邀请。例如：
Would you mind turning the light on？
劳驾把灯打开。
Could you come a little earlier next time？
下次早点来好吗？
（3）提出建议或劝告。例如：
You had better leave the matter to me.
你最好把这件事交给我。
Perhaps you could get better results this way.
你这样做效果或许会好一点儿。
（4）提出问题。例如：
What would you advise me to do？
你看我怎么办好呢？
Could you leave your telephone number with us？
你能把电话号码留下吗？
（5）此外，某些表示祝愿等的句子中也需要用虚拟语气。例如：
Long live world peace！
世界和平万岁！
“God bless you.” said the priest.
教士说：“愿上帝保佑你。”
May you be happy all your life.
祝你一生幸福。
If only I had listened to your advice！
我要是听了你的劝告就好了！
（6）虚拟条件句的从句部分如果含有were， should 或had，可将if 省略，再把were， should或had 移到从句句首，实行倒装。例如：
Were they here now， they could help us.
如果他们在这儿的话，肯定会帮助我们的。
Had you come earlier， you would have met him.
如果你能早点儿来，肯定能见到他。
Should it rain， the crops would be saved.
如果能下雨的话，庄稼就有救了。
Dialogue & Analysis（此处有视频学习资料）M1： It is high time that I left.［It is (high) time 后接一般过去时，表示早该是……的时候了。］
M2： Don"t go， my dear brother.Along by myself， I wouldn"t have been delighted.（“Alone by myself”相当于“If I had been alone by myself”。）
M1： You look very upset today.What"s wrong？
M2： Jane refused my 100th proposal.
M1： Poor young man.Were I Jane， I would be very pleased to marry you.（虚拟语气中的状语从句可以省略连接词if，句中的助动词 had， were， should 等要移到主语之前。）
M2： Would that Jane accepted my proposal.（would 表示“但愿”、“希望”等意思时，其后由that 引导的从句可以表示与事实相反的虚拟语气，would 之前的主语常被省略，在这里would 就相当于how I wish。）
M1： Cheer up， Peter.Even if you failed， you shouldn"t give up.（even if 表示“即使……也……”。）
M2： Right！ 101st proposal.
M1： May you succeed！（“may+动词原形”是虚拟语气的一种形式，表示祝愿。）
M2： Hi， Peter！ What happened？
M1： Jane sent me a bundle of flowers， but she forgot to pull the flowers out from the flowerpot.
R
ole Play
Watch the video one more time， try to imitate the dialogue with your partners， and then， make up more sentences that used under different situations.
I.选择题。
1.If only he quietly as the doctor instructed， he would not suffer so much now.
A.lies
B.lay
C.had lain
D.should lie
2.How I wish every family a large house with a beautiful garden.
A.has
B.had
C.will have
D.had had
3.You did not let me drive.If we in turn， you so tired.
A.drove；didn"t get
B.drove；wouldn"t get
C.were driving；wouldn"t get
D.had driven ；wouldn"t have got
4.it rain tomorrow， we would have to put off the visit to the Yangpu Bridge.
A.Were
B.Should
C.Would
D.Will
5.I suggested the person to be put into prison.
A.refers
B.referring
C.referred
D.refer
6.When a pencil is partly in a glass of water， it looks as if it .
A.breaks
B.has broken
C.were broken
D.had been broken
7.I insisted to see a doctor， but he insisted nothing wrong with him.
A.on him to go；should be
B.he went；be
C.he go；was
D.he should to；is
8.- Your aunt invites you to the movies today.
- I had rather she me tomorrow than today.
A.tells
B.told
C.would tell
D.had told
9.- Would you have called her up had it been possible？
- Yes， but I busy doing my homework.
A.was
B.were
C.had been
D.would be
10.I was ill that day， otherwise I the sports meet.
A.would have taken part in
B.took part in
C.had taken part in
D.would take part in
11.the clouds， you would find the airplane in the sky easily.
A.Had it not been for
B.If it were not
C.If it had not been for
D.Were it not for
12.If my lawyer here last Sunday， he me from going.
A.had been；would have prevented
B.had been；would prevent
C.were；prevent
D.were；would have prevented
13.hard， he would have passed the exam.
A.If he were to work
B.Had he worked
C.Should he work
D.Were he to work
14.today， he would get there by Friday.
A.Were he to leave
B.If he had left
C.Did he to leave
D.Had he left
15.Had you listened to the doctor， you all right now.
A.are
B.were
C.would be
D.would have been
16.I did not see your sister at the meeting.If she ， she would have met my brother.
A.has come
B.did come
C.come
D.had come
17.He busy yesterday， or he you with your experiment.
A.was；had helped
B.was；would have helped
C.had been；would have helped
D.were；would have helped
18.If it for the snow， we the mountain yesterday.
A.were not；could have climb
B.were not；could climb
C.had not been；could have climbed
D.hadn"t been；could climb
II.翻译下列句子。
1.我不知道他的电话号码，否则我就打电话给他了。
2.他本可以给你更多的帮助，即使他很忙。
3.--如果可能的话，你会不会打电话给他？
--会的，不过我当时在忙着做家庭作业呢。
4.如果你昨晚没有看电影到那么晚的话，你现在就不会这么困了。
5.没有电，今天人类的生活就完全不同了。
Fun Time
左右为难的事情（sticky business）
生活中总是有很多让人“左右为难”的事情，比如说今天又有哥们向我来借钱！这个哥们声称他有一笔赚大钱的买卖，但苦于资金有限，所以想先在我这里支点银子，等赚了钱之后，不但立刻归还，还会另有酬劳。说实话，我一点儿也不看好他的买卖。但是，不借吧，伤了哥们的和气；借吧，又恐这钱是有去无回。于是，我就向外教Michael咨询了一下该如何处理。
Michael 说这真是一件sticky business，因为在美国大笔借款一般是到银行去贷款，所以他劝我应该直截了当地回绝那个哥们。接着他说自己现在也遇到了a sticky business，他的父母希望他能尽快回国，而他却想留在中国，正在左右为难。我感叹了一句：“You"re in a situation that is difficult to deal with.”。他说这就是sticky business 的意思。我想了一下：stick 是“粘”的意思，sticky 当然也就有“粘性的”的意思，粘的（sticky）东西粘到了手上可真是不好办，所以sticky business 表示“让人左右为难的事情”也还是可以推理出来的，只是我以前总是用“difficult”、“hard”这些词，看来还不如sticky business 形容起来更加形象。不过Michael 告诉我，sticky business 在口语中用的比较多，正式场合或者是书面语中，还是difficult 等词出现得更为频繁。