37.虚拟语气
<例句>
Were I in your shoes, I would let Tom know what I thought of him.
要是我处于你的地位，我就会让汤姆知道我对他的看法。
<语法分析>
这个句子是虚拟语气在条件从句中的用法，省略了if句子的语序改为倒装句。语气也是谓语动词的一种形式，可以表明说话的意图和目的等。虚拟语气表示一种假想的情况或主观愿望，动词有特殊的形式。在形式上分为现在虚拟语气、过去虚拟语气和过去完成虚拟语气三类。虚拟语气可以广泛地用在宾语从句、主语从句、表语从句和状语从句中，另外还可用在祝愿语中，表示过去或将来的一些情况。
<触类旁通>
(1) God bless you.
愿上帝保佑你。
语法分析：表示主观愿望，现在虚拟语气。
(2) The old man treated me as though I were (was) a stranger.
这个老人待我如陌生人。
语法分析：表示过去的虚拟语气，与陈述语气的过去式相同，不过动词be要用were的形式。
(3) If only I had listened to his advice.
我要是听了他的劝告就好了。
语法分析：过去完成形式的虚拟语气。
(4）If I were you, I'd plant some flowers round the house.
如果我是你，我会在房子周围种些花。
语法分析：在 If I were you 这样的句子中，were不能改为was，但在第三人称单数后面则可以用was。
(5) I wish I could help you.
但愿我能帮助你。
语法分析：在某些动词后面的宾语从句里需要用虚拟语气，除了wish外还有would rather [sooner], suggest, demand, ask, insist以及urge, advise等词。
(6) It's time we were leaving.
我们该走了。
语法分析：在It's [high] time后的定语从句中要用虚拟语气。
<巩固练习>
(1) Who _____[think] to see you here!
(2) I think she _____[know] about it all the time.
(3) Would it be true that she _____[see] him before he died?
(4) It's time we _____[order] dinner.
(5) The teacher has loved the students as if they _____[be] his own sons.
(6) It's strange that he _____[be] so late.
(7) I move that we _____[accept] the proposal.
<参考答案>
(1) would have thought (2) knew (3) had seen (4) ordered (5) were (6) should be (7) accept