虛擬語氣(I suggest he be…)

🎯 這一課你會學會

一個讓很多學習者驚訝的正式結構:在 suggest / insist / recommend / essential that… 之後,動詞用原形,不隨主詞變化——"The board insists that he be present."(董事會堅持他必須出席。)這叫 mandative subjunctive(表「要求/建議」的虛擬),是學術與正式書寫的標記。

💬 先聽一段對話

Ken: HR recommended that I submit the form by Friday.（人資建議我週五前交表。)
Mia: Right. And it's essential that everyone be on time.（對。而且每個人準時到很重要。)
Ken: The director insisted that the meeting not be moved.（主任堅持會議不能改期。)
Mia: Fair enough. I'd suggest that she speak to them first.（合理。我會建議她先跟他們談。)

🔑 核心句型

• 動詞(suggest/insist/…) + that + 主詞 + 原形動詞:I suggest that he go.
• It is + 形容詞(essential/important/…) + that + 主詞 + 原形:It's vital that she be told.
• 否定:that + 主詞 + not + 原形:…that he not leave.

🧩 文法點:為什麼是原形

① 觸發虛擬的「要求/建議/必要」字群:

• 動詞:suggest, recommend, insist, demand, request, propose, require, ask（要求義）
• 形容詞(It is … that):essential, important, vital, necessary, crucial, imperative
• 這些字都帶「應該/必須這樣做」的意味 → that 子句動詞用原形(base form)。

② 原形不隨主詞、不隨時態變:

• I insist that he be honest.（不是 is)
• They demanded that she resign.（過去也用原形 resign,不是 resigned)
• It's essential that the door remain locked.（不是 remains)

③ 否定放 not,不用 don't/doesn't:

• I suggest that he not sign it.（不是 doesn't sign)

④ 兩個重要提醒:

• suggest / insist 也有「非虛擬」用法(表「暗示/主張事實」),那時照常變化:
  • The data suggests that he is right.(表「顯示」,不是要求 → is)
  • She insisted that she was innocent.(主張事實 → was)
  • 只有「要求某人去做某事」時才用原形。
• 英式常加 should:BrE 也接受 "insist that he should be present.";美式偏好純原形。屬地區差異,兩者皆對。

⑤ 中文母語者常犯:

• ❌ I suggest you to go. → ✅ I suggest that you go / I suggest going.（suggest 不接 sb to do)
• ❌ It's essential that he is here. → ✅ …that he be here.（正式虛擬用原形)

📒 高頻單字

單字	KK 音標	中譯	例句
insist	/ɪnˈsɪst/	堅持	They insist that he attend.
essential	/ɪˈsɛnʃəl/	必要的	It's essential that she be told.
recommend	/ˌrɛkəˈmɛnd/	建議	I recommend that you apply.
require	/rɪˈkwaɪr/	要求	The rules require that all sign.
imperative	/ɪmˈpɛrətɪv/	極重要的	It's imperative that we act.

🗣️ 發音提醒

• 虛擬的原形動詞常輕讀,重音在前面的關鍵字:It's essential that she be told。
• be / not be 在正式語境咬清楚,別吞掉:"…that he be present."
• 這類句子語氣正式、平穩——是書面與正式會議的腔。

✍️ 開口練習

練習 1:改成虛擬語氣。

• The teacher wants every student to arrive on time. → The teacher requires that every student arrive on time.
• It's important for her to be informed. → It's important that she be informed.

練習 2:用 insist / recommend + that 造句(要求義)。

The manager insisted that the report ＿ (submit) by noon.（→ be submitted)

練習 3:寫一條正式規定。

It is essential that all visitors ＿.

🎒 帶走

• suggest / insist / recommend / essential that + 主詞 + 原形動詞(不變化):he be, she go。
• 否定用 not + 原形;英式可加 should。
• 小心:suggest/insist 表「顯示/主張事實」時照常變化;suggest 不接 sb to do。

下一課,把「非現實的過去」講得更細膩:wish / it's high time / as if。