2)省去了结果主句的虚拟结构(常用以表示愿望)。如: If he were here!假如他在这里该多好啊! If I had never married.如果我从未结婚就好了。 这种结构也常用if only开头。如:
If only I could help you! 假如我能帮助你,那该是多好啊! If only I were ten years younger!我要是能年轻十岁该多好啊!
If you would only try harder!你如再努力一试就好了。(only亦可置于would等助动词之后)
[注]有时if only只表条件,不表愿望。如:
If only I had known earlier,I'd have sent you a telegram.我只要知道得早一点,就会拍电报给你了。
[英语语法手册]虚拟语气 F 虚拟语气的其他用法 虚拟语气用在主语从句中
在It is natural(necessary,strange,important) that...这类句型里,that所引导的主语从句中的谓语动词常用should加动词原形。如:
It is quite natural that he should think so.他这样想是很自然的事。
It is strange that he Should have gone away without telling us. 真奇怪,他没有通知我们就走掉了。
It is necessary that the question should be settled at once.必须马上解决这个问题。 It is important that we should speak politely. 我们说话要有礼貌,这是很重要的。
It is imperative that we should practise criticism and self-criti - cism. 应当进行批评与自我批评。
虚拟语气用在宾语从句中 下列两种宾语从句须用虚拟语气:
1)在动词wish后的宾语从句(常常省去连词that),表示不可实现的愿望。从句中的动词如用过去式,则表示与现在事实相反(如下面第一、二例句);如用过去完成式,则表示与过去事实相反(如下面第三、四例句)。如:
I wish I were a pilot.但愿我是个飞行员。
I wish I knew how to operate the machine.我要是会操作这架机器该有多好啊! (= I'm sorry I don't know.)
I wish he hadn't gone.他要是没走该多好!(= I'm sorry he has gone.)
We wish you had come to our New Year's party.我们真希望你来参加我们的新年联欢会。(= but you did not)
动词wish如果是过去式,后面宾语从句的动词的虚拟语气形式不变,仍用