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在不少宾语从句中可以使用虚拟语气，不过形式可能不同：一种和虚拟条件句中的形式相同；一种用动词原形（美国多这样用，而英国人多用 should+动词原形这种形式）。谓语动词需用虚拟语气的宾语从句主要有下面这些：
wish 后的从句常表示一个与现实情况相反的愿望，因此要用虚拟语气。这种从句有两类。
① 一类用相当于过去式的形式，指现在的情况：
I wish we had more money.
I wish I knew the answer to your question.
动词 be 都用 were 这种形式：
I wish (that) she were here.
I wish I were a bird.
② 另一类形式相当于过去完成时表示过去的情况，因不能挽回，常常有些懊悔的意思：
I wish that I had never met him.
He wished he hadn't done it.
这两类宾语都表示与事实相反的情况，因此谓语用虚拟语气。 有时宾语指将来情况，这时谓语都用 would 构成，表示可能实现的愿望，虽然可能性较低，但接近一种客气的请求：
I wish you wouldn't smoke any more.
I wish you would be more respectful to your father.
③ 有时可用 could 或 might构成谓语：
I wish I could do something for you in return.
She sincerely wished that she might do something to comfort him.
在这些句子中 wish 的意思和 hope 差不多，但后面宾语从句的谓语却不相同：
I hope I won't be late. （陈述语气）
I wish I wouldn't be late. （虚拟语气）
I hope she will be on time. （陈述语气）
I wish she would be on time. （虚拟语气）
① 谓语常用相当于过去式的形式来表示现在或将来的情况：
I would rather you told me the truth.
I'd rather she sat (didn't sit) next to me.
② 用相当于过去完成时的形式表示过去的情况：
I'd rather you had been present. (but you were absent)
I'd rather he hadn't told me about it. (but he had told me)
此外在 if only后也常用虚拟语气表示惋惜：
If only I had listened to your advice!
If only I were (was) not so nervous now.
英语中许多动词后的宾语从句都要求用动词原形作谓语，不管是什么人称，在美国尤其如此，在英国常需用“should+动词原形”构成谓语。不过由于美国英语的影响，在英国用动词原形的人也逐渐多起来，特别是在较正式的文体中：
They demanded that the right to vote be given to every adult man.
They recommend that this tax be abolished.
还有一些动词后的宾语常用“should+动词原形”构成谓语，表示“竟然会”：
I regret that she should worry about it.
I can't think why he should have been so angry.
① 在不少主语从句中动词可使用动词原形：
It is important that this mission not fail .
It is essential that a meeting be convened this week.
② 有时它的谓语由“should+动词原形”构成（有时带有“竟然”的意思）：
It worries me that their children should travel alone.
It's unthinkable that they should deny my request.
在表语从句中谓语有时也需用虚拟语气，主要是用动词原形，有时前面加should：
Our decision is that the school remain closed .
Her suggestion was that they carry on their conversation in French.
同位语从句中有时也可用虚拟语气，即用动词原形或带should的形式：
They were faced with the demand that this tax be abolished .
They expressed the wish that she accept the award.
在某些状语从句中，谓语有时用虚拟语气，特别是下面几类状语从句：
这类状语从句中有时谓语用“should+动词原形”形式（有时用原形）：
I'm surprised that he should feel lonely.
He was amazed that they should express indignation at it.
不过，这种从句的谓语用陈述语气的时候更多一些。
① 在 as if (though)引起的状语从句中，用虚拟语气的情况是比较多的，动词形式和wish 后的宾语从句中的谓语形式差不多：
He acts as if he knew you.他仿佛认识你似的。
She treats me as though I were (was) a stranger.
② 有时虚拟语气并不明显（特别是主句动词为过去时时）：
She looked a bit queer, as if she knew something.
He paused as though he found a difficulty.
③ 有时从句的谓语也可用陈述语气，特别是当主句谓语为 look、seem、taste、smell 时：
It looks as if it is going to rain.
This meat tastes as if it has already gone bad.
④ as if (though)还可引起表语从句：
Now it was as though she had known Millie for years.
You look as if you didn't care.
① 在某些让步从句中谓语可用虚拟语气，特别是某些句型：
Whether she be right or wrong, she will have my unswerving support.
Be that as it may, we have nothing to lose.
Whatever be the reasons for their action, we cannot tolerate such disloyalty.
Try as I would , I could not prevail upon him to follow my advice.
② 一些目的从句中也可用虚拟语气作谓语，如：
They left early for fear (that) they would meet him.
The President must reject the proposal, lest it (should) cause strife and violence.
在这类从句中，美国人有时用动词原形，但在英国人中多用一个情态动词构成谓语。以 so that 为例，肯定句中多用 can、may (a)，否定句用 should (b)，有时用 would、will (c)：
a.I hired a boat so that I could go fishing.
Speak clearly so that they may understand you.
b.He looked down so that he should not see your eyes.
He wore a mask so that no one should recognize him.
c.I wanted her to take this job so shat she would be occupied .
You must explain the situation plainly so that they will understand .