Thể giả định (subjunctive mood) trong tiếng Anh thường được sử dụng để diễn tả mong muốn, yêu cầu, đề nghị, hoặc những tình huống không có thật, giả định. Cấu trúc và cách sử dụng thể giả định trong tiếng Anh giao tiếp khá đặc biệt và có một số quy tắc cần lưu ý:

1. Dùng để diễn tả mong muốn, yêu cầu, đề nghị:

Với động từ wish, suggest, recommend, ask, demand, insist, propose, require…

Cấu trúc:

• S + động từ + that + S + (should) + V (nguyên mẫu)

Ví dụ:

• I suggest that he (should) go to the doctor.
• They demanded that the meeting (should) be postponed.
• She recommended that he (should) study harder.

2. Dùng trong mệnh đề bắt đầu bằng if hoặc wish để diễn tả điều kiện không có thật:

Cấu trúc:

• If + S + V (quá khứ đơn) / were (cho mọi ngôi), S + would/could/might + V (nguyên mẫu)
• S + wish + (that) + S + V (quá khứ đơn) / were

Ví dụ:

• If I were you, I would take that job.
• I wish she were here with us.
• If he knew the answer, he would tell us.

3. Dùng để diễn tả các tình huống không có thật ở quá khứ:

Cấu trúc:

• If + S + had + V (quá khứ phân từ), S + would/could/might + have + V (quá khứ phân từ)
• S + wish + (that) + S + had + V (quá khứ phân từ)

Ví dụ:

• If they had left earlier, they would have caught the train.
• I wish I had studied harder for the exam.

4. Dùng với các cấu trúc cố định:

Một số cấu trúc cố định dùng thể giả định bao gồm: It’s important that, It’s necessary that, It’s essential that, It’s vital that, It’s crucial that, …

Ví dụ:

• It’s important that she be informed immediately.
• It’s essential that every member be present.

5. Dùng trong một số cụm từ diễn tả mong muốn:

Ví dụ:

• God bless you.
• Long live the King!

Thể giả định thường được sử dụng trong văn phong trang trọng, các tình huống yêu cầu sự nghiêm túc hoặc khi diễn tả những điều không có thật. Trong tiếng Anh hiện đại, trong một số trường hợp, người nói có thể thay thế thể giả định bằng các cấu trúc khác ít trang trọng hơn.

Bài tập

1. I suggest that she __________ earlier. (leave)
2. It’s essential that every student __________ their homework on time. (complete)
3. If I __________ you, I would apply for the job. (be)
4. He demanded that the report __________ by noon. (submit)
5. I wish he __________ more carefully. (drive)
6. If she had known the answer, she __________ it. (tell)
7. God bless you wherever you __________. (go)
8. It’s crucial that the problem __________ before it gets worse. (address)
9. If I __________ you, I wouldn’t eat that much cake. (were)
10. She recommended that he __________ harder for the exam. (study)
11. If he __________ the truth, he wouldn’t be in trouble now. (tell)
12. I wish he __________ more time with us. (spend)
13. It’s important that he __________ more attention to detail. (pay)
14. If they __________ more organized, they would succeed. (be)
15. I suggest that we __________ the meeting to next week. (postpone)
16. It’s essential that you __________ your passport before traveling. (check)
17. If she __________ earlier, she wouldn’t have missed the train. (leave)
18. They demanded that the project __________ by Friday. (complete)
19. I wish I __________ your phone number. (know)
20. It’s crucial that we __________ the problem as soon as possible. (solve)
21. If he __________ the instructions, he wouldn’t have failed. (follow)
22. She suggested that he __________ more exercise. (get)
23. It’s important that everyone __________ their part in keeping the environment clean. (do)
24. If she __________ her passport, she wouldn’t have been able to travel. (lose)
25. I wish I __________ what to say in that situation. (know)
26. If they __________ earlier, they could have avoided the traffic. (start)
27. It’s essential that she __________ the truth. (tell)
28. He recommended that she __________ the job offer. (accept)
29. If I __________ you, I would save more money. (were)
30. I wish they __________ more time to prepare for the presentation. (have)
31. It’s crucial that we __________ the issue before it escalates. (resolve)
32. If she __________ her homework, she wouldn’t be in trouble now. (do)
33. I suggest that he __________ his research before making a decision. (complete)
34. If I __________ more talented, I would join the singing competition. (be)
35. He demanded that they __________ their promise. (keep)
36. It’s important that he __________ attention during the lecture. (pay)
37. I wish they __________ the movie with us. (watch)
38. If she __________ earlier, she wouldn’t have missed the bus. (arrive)
39. She recommended that he __________ harder to improve his skills. (work)
40. It’s essential that we __________ our goals clearly. (define)
41. If he __________ the truth, he wouldn’t have been punished. (tell)
42. I suggest that we __________ a vacation next month. (take)
43. It’s crucial that he __________ his passport before the trip. (renew)
44. If she __________ her studies, she would have graduated by now. (focus)
45. He recommended that she __________ the recipe exactly. (follow)
46. It’s important that they __________ their commitments. (keep)
47. If I __________ more time, I would learn a new language. (have)
48. I wish she __________ me earlier. (inform)
49. It’s essential that he __________ his assignment before the deadline. (submit)
50. If they __________ earlier, they would have found parking. (leave)
51. She suggested that he __________ more vegetables in his diet. (eat)
52. It’s crucial that we __________ our resources wisely. (manage)
53. If I __________ the truth, I would have acted differently. (know)
54. I wish he __________ harder for the interview. (prepare)
55. They demanded that he __________ his mistake. (admit)
56. It’s important that she __________ her appointment on time. (keep)
57. If she __________ earlier, she wouldn’t have missed the flight. (arrive)
58. He recommended that they __________ their strategy. (change)
59. If I __________ you, I would apologize. (were)
60. It’s essential that everyone __________ their best effort. (give)
61. If he __________ more careful, he wouldn’t have broken the vase. (be)
62. I suggest that she __________ a new approach to the problem. (try)
63. It’s crucial that she __________ her decision before it’s too late. (make)
64. If they __________ their project earlier, they wouldn’t be rushing now. (start)
65. I wish I __________ your email earlier. (receive)
66. It’s important that he __________ the rules. (follow)
67. If she __________ earlier, she could have caught the early bus. (leave)
68. He demanded that she __________ the truth. (tell)
69. It’s essential that we __________ our progress regularly. (monitor)
70. If he __________ more focused, he could have finished the task. (be)
71. She suggested that he __________ his goals more clearly. (define)
72. It’s crucial that they __________ their differences. (resolve)
73. If I __________ you, I would reconsider my decision. (were)
74. I wish they __________ more understanding. (show)
75. They recommended that he __________ for the promotion. (apply)
76. It’s important that she __________ her promise. (keep)
77. If he __________ the instructions carefully, he wouldn’t have made mistakes. (follow)
78. I suggest that we __________ the issue in the next meeting. (discuss)
79. It’s essential that she __________ her phone charged. (keep)
80. If she __________ earlier, she wouldn’t have missed the beginning of the movie. (arrive)
81. If they __________ more resources, they could expand their business. (have)
82. I wish he __________ the meeting with us. (attend)
83. It’s crucial that he __________ his doubts. (voice)
84. If she __________ the offer earlier, she would have accepted it. (receive)
85. They recommended that he __________ more effort into his studies. (put)
86. It’s important that we __________ all possibilities. (consider)
87. If he __________ earlier, he would have avoided the traffic. (leave)
88. I suggest that she __________ her project before the deadline. (complete)
89. It’s essential that they __________ their team strategy. (revise)
90. If I __________ you, I would read the instructions carefully. (were)
91. She recommended that he __________ the job offer. (accept)
92. It’s crucial that we __________ the right decision. (make)
93. If they __________ more prepared, they wouldn’t have failed. (be)
94. I wish he __________ his homework earlier. (finish)
95. It’s important that she __________ more effort into her work. (put)
96. If he __________ more motivated, he could achieve his goals. (be)
97. They demanded that she __________ the truth. (tell)
98. It’s essential that he __________ the rules. (follow)
99. If she __________ the test, she would have passed. (take)
100. I suggest that we __________ our reservations in advance. (make)

Đáp án

1. leave
2. complete
3. were
4. be
5. drove
6. would have told / had told
7. go
8. be addressed
9. were
10. should study
11. had told
12. had spent
13. pay
14. were
15. postpone
16. check
17. had left
18. be completed
19. knew
20. solve
21. had followed
22. get
23. do
24. had not lost
25. had known
26. had started
27. tell
28. accept
29. were
30. had had
31. resolve
32. had done
33. complete
34. were
35. keep
36. pay
37. had watched
38. had arrived
39. work
40. define
41. had told
42. take
43. renew
44. had focused
45. follow
46. keep
47. had had
48. had informed
49. submit
50. had left
51. eat
52. manage
53. had known
54. had prepared
55. admit
56. keep
57. had arrived
58. change
59. were
60. give
61. had been
62. try
63. make
64. had started
65. had received
66. follow
67. had left
68. tell
69. monitor
70. had been
71. define
72. resolve
73. were
74. had shown
75. apply
76. keep
77. had followed
78. discuss
79. keep
80. had arrived
81. had
82. had attended
83. voice
84. had received
85. put
86. consider
87. had left
88. complete
89. revise
90. were
91. accept
92. make
93. had been
94. had finished
95. put
96. were
97. tell
98. follow
99. had taken
100. make