虚拟语气MOOD全英教案

VERB (VI) MOOD

“Mood” is the form of the verb which shows the speaker’s attitude towards the relation between the action (or state) expressed by the predicate verb and the objective reality. [语气是一种动词形式，用来表示讲话人对谓语动词所表示的动作（或状态）与客观实际之间的关系的态度。]

There are three moods: the indicative mood, the imperative mood and the subjunctive mood.

The indicative mood (fact-mood事实语气) shows that the speaker considers the action or state denoted by the predicate as an actual fact. It is used in statements (both affirmative or negative) of facts, in questions of facts and in exclamations of facts, .

The forces of the third world are growing from day to day. (affirmative statement)

She didn’t help me with my work. (negative statement)

Will it do if we let you have an answer by Friday (question)

How hot it is today! (exclamation)

The imperative mood (will-mood意志语气) conveys the speaker’s will to urge the person addressed to fulfil an action. This may be expressed in the form of a command, a request, a warning, etc.

1) It has only one simple form . the plain root form of the verb) for the second person singular or plural, .

Give him what help you can.

Do not make the same mistake again.

The subject of an imperative is seldom expressed unless it is emphatic. If it is emphatic, the subject is placed before the verb in the usual place of the subject, .

You be more careful. (Lawrence)

“Don’t you lose a minute.”(Conrad)

With the first and the third person it is preceded by “let” (or “have”) and an accusative, .

Let me see. (让我想一想，让我看一看。)

Let us help you. (让我们帮助你吧。)

Let’s go. (The second person is included in “us”, which is shortened to ‘s.) (咱们走吧。)

2) The imperative mood may be used to express a condition in a compound sentence, .

Make haste and you will accomplish the work on time. (If you make haste, you will accomplish the work on time.)

3) The emphatic imperative is formed with the help of the auxiliary verb “do”, .

Do work harder.

Do be silent.

4) “Will you” is often added to the imperative, .

Bring me that dictionary, will you

5) “Shall we” is often added to such an imperative sentence as follows:

Let’s go, shall we

The subjunctive mood (thought-mood想象语气) doesn’t refer to facts but the speaker’s thought. It expresses wishes, suggestions, supposition, etc., .

I wish I could see him immediately. ---wish (the fact is that I can’t see him immediately.)

He suggests that the regulations [should] be revised at once. ---- suggestion (Whether the regulations will be revised at once is uncertain though he suggest that they should.)

If I had had time last week, I should have come to see you. -----supposition.

(I had no time last week, so I didn’t come to see you.)

The Use of the Subjunctive in the Unreal Conditional Sentence

Conditional sentences may be divided into two kinds: real conditional sentences and unreal conditional sentences. Both refer to supposition.

1)In sentences of real condition the indicative mood is used because the supposition may come true, .

You can finish the work by yourself if you try hard.

If it rains, I shall stay at home.

2)In unreal conditional sentences the verbs are in the subjunctive mood because the supposition in such sentences is either doubtful or contrary to the fact,

If I were you (but, in fact, I can’t be you) I would study much harder. ----contrary to the fact If I should have free time tomorrow (but I don’t think I shall have free time ), I would help you with your grammar. ------- future doubtful supposition

Compare the following:

a.I am sure whether I’ll see him. (indicative)

But if I see him, I will ask him to come. (real condition)

b.I didn’t meet him there. (indicative)

If I had met him there, I would have asked him to come. (unreal condition)

3) A sentence of unreal condition may refer to the present, the past, or the future. It may also refer to no particular time. The following are various verb forms for it according to sense and some points for attention:

If he were here now, he would not let the matter end this way (but he is not here)

How nice it would be if I were there now.

Note 1) With the verb “to be”, “were” is used for all persons and both numbers in the past form. In colloquial speech, “was” is often used instead of “were” for the first and the third person singular. Nevertheless, we must say “If I (he, she) were (not was) you…”

Note 2) The above verb form is also used in the supposition contrary to the fact referring to no particular time, .

If there were no water, there would be no life on the earth.

No matter how perfect the bird’s wing is, it could never lift the bird if it were not supported by air.

Note 3) The above verb form is also used in the sentence of rejected concession (虚拟让步句) referring to the present, .

Even if I were there, I shouldn’t be able to solve the problem by myself. (In fact, I am not there.) ------referring to the present

Even though we didn’t have needed materials, we should (would) find substitutes for them.

Cf: Even if I had been there, I shouldn’t (wouldn’t) have been able to solve the problem by myself. (In fact, I was not there.) ----- referring to the past

If he had not been ill and missed many classes (but he was ill and missed many classes), he would have made greater progress.

Note: this form may also be used to refer to certain cases of future doubtful supposition, .

If you hadn’t finished the work by the end of this month, you would probably be criticized.

If he hadn’t got back by the time you come again, he would certainly have been at the seaside in others’ company.

(c)Future doubtful supposition

There are three tense forms expressing the future doubtful supposition:

“Result” clause in each sentence refer to two actions which occur at the same time. If the actions expressed in the two clauses do not take place at the same time, different tense forms are used as the sense requires.

Examine the following examples:

If China had not been liberated (contrary to the past fact), the peasants and workers would still be leading a miserable life (contrary to the present fact).

If the criminal were honest (contrary to the fact),

he would have made a clean breast of the whole thing long ago (contrary to the past fact).

Note 2) “should”or “would”can be replaced by “could”or “might”, etc. as the sense requires, .

If he could help me, he would. (He can’t help me.)

If he would help us, he could. (He won’t help us though he can.)

If he might come, he would come early. (He may not come.)

Note 3) In unreal conditional sentences expressing future doubtful supposition, the root form of the verb may be used in the “If”clause and “shall”(“will”, “can”, “may”) can be used instead of “should” (“would”, “could”, “might”) in the “Result” clause. Compare sentences (1), (2) and (3) in the following groups:

A (1) If he is hard-working, why can’t he fulfil the plan ahead of schedule (I think he will

probably be hard-working.)

(2) If he should be hard-working, he could fulfil the plan on time. (It seems that he won’t be hard-working.)

(3) If he be hard-working, he will (would) fulfil the plan on time. (I don’t know whether he will be hard-working.)

B(1) If he knows it, he will tell us. (It seems he will know it. )

(2) If he should know it, he would tell us. (It seems he won’t know it. )

(3) If he know it, he will (would) tell us. (Whether he will know it is uncertain. )

In sentences A (2) and B (2), while the subjunctive mood is used in the “If”clauses, the indicative mood may be used in the “Result” clauses. Thus, A(2) and B (2) turn into: If he should be hard-working, he can fulfil the plan on time.

If he should know it, he will tell us.

Here, “should be”and “should know”do not express suppositions contrary to anticipation but uncertainty. They may be replaced by the present forms “is” and “knows” respectively and the sentences will thus become real conditional.

Besides, the imperative mood may be used in the “Result” clauses if the verb form of the “If”clauses if “should + root form”, .

If you should see John, give him my regards.

If she should fail this time, tell her to try again.

Note 4) The conjunction “if” is frequently omitted before were, should, could, had, etc. In this case the subject of the clause stands after them, .

Had you (= If you had) invited us, we would have come to your party.

Were I (= If I were) you, I would do more practice after class.

Note 5) “Supposing”, “unless”, “in case”, “provided (that)” etc. can be used as the conjunction instead of “if”, .

Supposing they were not there, what should we do

Unless they should invite me, I wouldn’t go there.

Take an umbrella with you in case it should rain.

Note 6) The meaning of the conditional clause (referring to either an unreal condition or a real condition) may be implied in a phrase, a clause or the context, .

With your assistance (= If we had your assistance), we might finish the plan carlier.

Without heavy industry (= If there were no heavy industry). The plans for mechanization and electrification of agriculture would be impossible. But for your co-operation (= If it hadn’t been

for your co-operation), our meeting wouldn’t have been so successful.

A more responsible man would have acted differently. (= If he had been a more responsible man, he would have acted differently.)

Other Uses and Corresponding Forms of the Subjunctive

1) In the simple sentence to express desire, .

Glory [be] to the people!

Long live the People’s Republic of China !

Note : A verb phrase forms with the modal verb “may” is often used to express desire, .

May they be successful!

Cf: They may be successful. (indicative)

2) In subordinate clauses:

(1) To express wish (an unfulfilled desire or a desire that is unlikely to be fulfilled), .

I wish [that] he were not so agitated= It is a pity (or I am sorry) [that] he is so agitated.

I wish (or: wished) I had gone (or: could have gone) to the football last night. = I am (or: was) sorry that I didn’t (or: couldn’t) go to the football match last night.

I wish the boys would be quiet. = It is a pity [that] the boys won’t be quiet.

(2) To express rejected manner (comparison), .

The whole family greeted me as though I were one of the family.

They also talk peace and have repeatedly made gestures as if they were willing to ease international tension. (In fact, they are unwilling to ease international tension.) The enemy acts as if he had known our plan already.

We should change the plan.

(3) To express rejected concession, .

Though he criticize me I will not be hurt.

Whether the information be true or not, we must be vigilant.

However hard it rain, I shall go.

(4) To express apprehension, .

In case the wall should collapse, they evacuated the building.

I hesitate to come frequently, for fear that I should offend him.

She ran as fast as she could lest he [should] miss the first bus. (now rather archaic)

(5) To express indirect commands and suggestions (after such verbs as suggest, propose, move, insist, demand, recommend, desire, order), .

I demand that this [should] be done.

I desire that he [should] study hard.

I insist that Thomas [should] do his work alone.

He ordered that the medicines [should] be sent by special plane.

Cf: He issued the orders that the work be done at once. (appositive clause)

What I advise is that he keep regular hours. (predicative clause)

It is necessary that the customs of all national minorities [should] be respected.

The absence of “should” in these sentences is quite common in American English.

But : It is [high] time that we went (or should go) back to our work again.

(6) To express emotion, .

It is strange that he should have said so.

I am surprised that he should not realize his own mistakes.

It is a great pity that he should be so careless.

Note: In these sentences, the indicative mood may be used in the subordinate clauses. The use of “should” in these three sentences is to emphasize the strangeness, surprise or feeling of pity.