高考英語考查虛擬語氣的三類重點

■湖南  陳根花

一、考查直接條件類虛擬語氣

所謂直接條件類虛擬語氣，就是指句子中含有if引導的條件句，并且這個條件與事實是不相符的，同時注意主句與從句所對應的時間（即是與現在時間不符還是與過去或將來時間不相符），從而確定主、從句謂語的動詞形式。如：

If Mr. Dewey ________ present, he would have offered any possible assistance to the people there. (2014湖南卷)

A. were                    B. had been               C. should be              D. was

本題考查直接條件類虛擬語氣，句子的條件由if直接引出，句子大意為：要是杜威先生當時在場的話，他就會給那兒的人提供任何可能的幫助。根據本句中he would have offered可知，這里是表示與過去事實相反的假設，所以從句應用過去完成時。故答案選B。

二、考查間接條件類虛擬語氣

所謂間接條件類虛擬語氣，就是指句子中不直接出現if引導的條件句，而是將這個if所表示的條件隱含在某些詞語或表達中。此時考生就要做以下三步工作：第一步是分析這個if引導的條件句隱含在什么詞語或表達里；第二步是分析如何將這個“隱性”的條件轉變為“顯性”的條件（即將間接條件轉化為直接條件）；第三步是根據直接條件類虛擬語氣確定答案。比如下面這道題：

They were abroad during the months when we were carrying out the investigation, or they ________ to our help. (2014浙江卷)

A. would have come  B. could come           C. have come            D. had come

本題的關鍵信息是or（要不然），“要不然”是什么意思，就是“如果不是那樣的話”，可見這個or就是表示隱含條件的詞語。根據句子前半部分的時態可知，本句是在談論過去的情況，即這個or是指“過去如果不那樣的話”，聯系上文內容，這個or在此相當于if they hadn’t been abroad（如果他們當時不在國外的話）。比較四個選項，顯然只有A符合要求or后面的句子可以改寫為：If they hadn’t been abroad, they would have come to our help. 即答案選A。

三、考查固定句式類虛擬語氣

英語中有些固定句式通常要與虛擬語氣連用，如but for, would rather, it is time that…, I wish…, If only…等。但要注意這些句式所連用的虛擬語氣格式不盡相同，如it’s time that…中的從句謂語通常用過去式；would rather后接從句時，從句謂語通常用過去式表示現在或將來，用過去完成時表示過去；等等。請看一道高考真題：

We would rather our daughter ________ at home with us, but it is her choice, and she is not a child any longer. (2014陜西卷)

A. would stay            B. has stayed             C. stayed                  D. stay

本題答案為C，與句中的would rather有關，即would rather后接句子時，用一般過去時表過現在的情況。句意為：我們寧愿我們的女兒和我們一起待在家里，但是那是她的選擇，她已經不再是一個小孩子了。

【邊學邊練】（參考答案BBDBC）

1. I’d certainly tell you if I _______ anything, but I don’t. What you’re saying is news to me.

A. know                   B. knew                    C. was knowing         D. had known

2. If the new safety system _______ in use, the accident would never have happened.

A. was                      B. had been               C. would be              D. would have been

3. We were delayed at the airport. Otherwise we _______ here by lunch time.

A. was                      B. had been               C. would be              D. would have been

4. If you don’t have anything constructive to say, I’d rather you _______ quiet. (www.hz123456.com)

A. keep                     B. kept                     C. would keep           D. had kept

5. I wish the people in the next flat _______ down their radio. You can hear every word.

A. turn                     B. had turned            C. would turn            D. would have turned