虚拟语气与残留的旧式用法
C1 Subjunctive & formal remnants 50 / 50
概要
现代英语几乎没有虚拟语气了，但还留下两个有用的部分：表建议/命令的虚拟语气——用在表示要求或强调重要性的词后面，谓语用动词原形（I insist that he be on time）——以及用在虚拟句中的 were 虚拟式（If I were you）。除此之外，还有少数固定短语（so be it、come what may）需要整体死记。
规则
1. 表建议/命令的虚拟语气 = 动词原形。 在表示要求、建议或强调重要性的动词、形容词或名词之后，that 从句里不论主语是谁，谓语都用动词原形。也就是说第三人称不加 -s，用 be 而不是 is/are/am：
- I suggest that he be on time.（而不是 is）
- It is essential that she arrive early.（而不是 arrives）
- They demanded that he leave.（而不是 left / leaves）
这个动词原形不会随主句时态变化——即使转述的是过去发生的事，也保持原形不变：
- They insisted that the door remain open.
否定式只需在动词原形前加 not——不用 do/does/did：
- We ask that visitors not touch the exhibits.（而不是 do not touch）
被动语态用 be + 过去分词：It is vital that the form be signed today.
这种结构在正式英语和美式英语里更常见。在英式英语中，更常用 should + 动词原形，语气也更不正式：
- I suggest that he should be on time.（英式）= …that he be on time.（正式／美式）
注意：suggest 和 recommend 各有两种含义。表建议/命令的意思（“你应该这样做”）用动词原形：I recommend that she see a doctor. 单纯陈述事实（“事情就是这样”）则不用原形：The data suggests that she is improving.
2. were 虚拟式在不真实/假设的情境中——条件句、愿望句，以及 as if / as though 和 suppose 之后——所有人称都用 were：
- If I were you, I’d accept. / I wish it were over. / He talks as if he were a child.
只有动词 be 还保留这种特殊形式；日常口语中 was 很常见，但 were 是更保险、更正式的选择（见第 35 课）。
3. 固定说法。 少数固定短语保留了古老的虚拟语气用法，只需整体记住——不要照着这个模式再造新句子。其中只有一个还能自由替换主语和动词：愿望句型 long may + 主语 + 动词原形（Long may it continue.），这里 may 放在主语前面；更古老的说法是把动词原形本身放在主语前面（long live …）。见下表。
形式与结构
触发表建议/命令虚拟语气的词（后面都跟 that + 动词原形）：
| 动词 | 形容词（It is … that） | 名词 |
|---|---|---|
| suggest, recommend, propose | essential, vital, crucial | a suggestion that… |
| insist, demand, request, require | important, necessary | a demand / request that… |
| ask, urge, advise, order | imperative, advisable | a recommendation that… |
| 主语 | 一般现在时 | 表建议/命令的虚拟语气 |
|---|---|---|
| he / she / it | he arrives | (that) he arrive |
| 任何主语 + be | she is here | (that) she be here |
| 否定式 | he does not go | (that) he not go |
| 被动式 | it is sent | (that) it be sent |
固定虚拟语气表达（只需能认出即可）：
| 表达 | 含义 |
|---|---|
| be that as it may | 即使那是真的；不管怎样 |
| so be it | 我（不情愿地）接受了；就这样吧 |
| come what may | 不管发生什么 |
| if need be | 如果有必要的话 |
| far be it from me (to…) | 我绝不会冒昧（去……） |
| suffice it to say (that) | 我只能说这么多 |
| long may it continue / long may that last | 祝愿某事持续下去 |
例句
| English | 说明 |
|---|---|
| The board recommends that the policy be reviewed annually. | 被动虚拟式：be + 过去分词，不加 -s。 |
| It is essential that every passenger wear a seatbelt. | essential that 后用动词原形；不用 wears。 |
| The judge ordered that he pay a fine. | 即使主句动词是过去时，也用动词原形。 |
| We request that you not park in front of the gate. | 否定虚拟式：not + 原形，不加 do。 |
| I’d suggest he should apply early. | 英式说法 should + 原形——意思相同，语气更不正式。 |
| If she were in charge, things would run better. | were 虚拟式用于不真实的条件句。 |
| Be that as it may, the deadline hasn’t changed. | 固定说法 = “即便如此”。 |
| Suffice it to say the meeting did not go well. | 引出轻描淡写说法的固定短语。 |
常见错误
- I suggest that he is on time. -> I suggest that he be on time. ——表建议/命令的虚拟语气用 be，不是 is。
- It is vital that she arrives early. -> It is vital that she arrive early. ——虚拟语气中第三人称不加 -s。
- They demanded that he doesn’t leave. -> They demanded that he not leave. ——用光杆 not 否定，不加 do/does。
- If I was rich, I’d help. -> If I were rich, I’d help. ——在措辞讲究的假设句中用 were（见第 35 课）。
- He insisted that she left.（意思是：他命令她离开）-> He insisted that she leave. ——用过去式会表示“他声称她已经离开了”，是另一个意思。
学习提示
- 最简单的记忆窍门：在 demand / suggest / essential / important 之后，用跟 to 后面一样的形式：to be、to arrive、to pay -> 去掉 to 就得到 be、arrive、pay。
- 担心这样说听着别扭？在英式英语里几乎总能换成 should + 动词原形（…that he should arrive）。这样说既保险又自然。
- 遇到不真实的情况，只需记住一个固定短语 If I were you——它也能代表其他地方的 were 虚拟式。
- 把 come what may、so be it、be that as it may 当成单独的词汇整体来学——不要拆开分析。