在某些从句中谓语需用虚拟语气：

　　1.由demand, suggest, propose, request, insist, order由等动词引起的从句中，在美国英语中多用动词原形，在英国英语用“should+动词原形”：

　　He demanded that they (should) pay the money right away.

　　他要求他们马上付款。

　　I suggest that we (should) cancel the trip.

　　我建议取消这次旅行。

　　She proposed that the meeting (should) be adjourned.

　　她提议休会。

　　They insisted that the girl (should)b e sent to hospital.

　　他们坚持送女孩进医院。

　　2.在wish, would rather, had rather后的从句中，动词和虚拟从句中的谓语相同，需要使用动词的过去式:

　　I wish I were a bird.

　　我愿意我是一只鸟。

　　How I wish it weren't raining!

　　我多么希望现在不是在下雨!

　　I would rather they came tomorrow.

　　我宁愿他们明天米。

　　I had rather (that) you told her than I did.

　　我宁愿你告诉她而不是我告诉她。

　　3.在as if(though)引起的状语从句中，谓语和后面从句中的谓语相同，需要使用动词的过去式：

　　I've loved you as if you were my son.

　　我一直爱你就仿佛你是我的亲儿子。

　　They talked as if they had been old friends.

　　他们谈起话来像老朋友。

　　He acts as if he was (were) the boss.

　　他那态度就像他是老板似的。

　　4.在it's (high) time后的定语从句中，谓语也需用虚拟语气，需要使用动词的过去式：

　　It's time we went to bed.

　　现在该睡觉了。

　　It's high time we stopped this practice.

　　是该停止这种做法的时候了。

　　It's time that they were taught a lesson.

　　现在应给他们一个教训了。

　　5.在suggestion, proposal, order, idea等词后的表语从句或同位语从句中，谓语形式用动词原形：

　　My suggestion is that we (should) challenge them for a friendly competition.

　　我的建议是我们向他们挑战来一场友谊赛。

　　I second his motion that we set up a special committee to examine the problem.

　　我附议他的动议，成立一个特别委员会来研究这个问题。