一、虚拟语气用于定语从句中
  在It is (high, about)time(that)…句型中,that引导的定语从句中的谓语常用一般过去时来构成虚拟语气。
  例:It’s about time that we put an end to this controversy.
  现在该是我们停止这场争论的时候了。
  例:It is time we went to bed.
  我们该去睡觉了。
二、虚拟语气用于if only 引导的从句中
  在if only引导的从句中,谓语动词须采用虚拟语气,其用法与wish后宾语从句的用法基本相同,表示“但愿”,“要是…就好了”的意思。
  例:If only I knew what you wanted.
  要是我知道你需要什么就好了。
  例:If only he had arrived in time,he would not have been punished.
  他要是准时到达就好了。
经典练习:
  1、It’s already six o’clock now. Don’t you think it’s about time____?
  A)we are going home
  B)we go home
  C)we went home
  D)we can go home
  2、If only the committee____the regulations and put them into effect as soon as possible.
  A)approve
  B)will approve
  C)can approve
  D)would approve
  3、It’s necessary____the dictionary immediately.
  A)that he will return
  B)that he returned
  C)that he return
  D)that he has to return
  4、She must have had an accident, or he____then.
  A)would have been here
  B)had to be here
  C)should be here
  D)would be here
  5、I apologize if I ____you, but I assure you it was unintentional.
  A)offended
  B)had offended
  C)should have offended
  D)might have offended
  解析:
  1、答案选C)。在it’s about time that…..句型中,定语从句的谓语动词应用过去时来表示虚拟语气。所以C项是正确的。
  2、答案选D)。if only表示一种愿望,谓语用“would+动词原形”表示对将来事实的愿望,所以D是正确的。
  3、答案选C)。在由it is necessary 等引导的主语从句要使用虚拟语气,虚拟语气的谓语动词用“should+动词原形”或动词原形。
  4、答案选A)。由or引出的是与事实相反的假设条件,因此空缺处应填入表示虚拟语气的谓语动词。前一个分句中表示的是过去的时间,所以后一分句要用would have done的形式。所以A是正确的。
  5、答案选B)。本题中but分句中的it was 表明事情发生在过去,因此条件句应用过去完成时,表示与过去事实相反,所以B是正确的。