摘要：错误译文把“决定”和“应该"连在一起使用,是不符合汉语习惯的。但是原文确实是 decided +should,这究竟是怎么回事呢?这里的毛病还是出在对 should 的理解上。我们应当记住,在insist, command, order, suggest, a
请看经典例句：
The committee decided that measures should be taken immediately to reduce air pollution near that petrochemical base.
常常容易错译为：
委员会决定应该立即采取措施减少那个石油化工基地附近的空气污染现象。
正确译法：
委员会决定立即采取措施减少那个石油化工基地附近的空气污染现象。
【解析】
错误译文把“决定”和“应该"连在一起使用,是不符合汉语习惯的。但是原文确实是 decided +should,这究竟是怎么回事呢?这里的毛病还是出在对 should 的理解上。我们应当记住,在insist, command, order, suggest, advise, propose, demand, require, ask, desire, advise, request, agree, decide, arrange, recommend, urge 等动词的宾语从句（相应的同位语从句、表语从句和主语从句等）中谓语动词常常使用should+动词原形的格式或者采用动词原形(尤其在美国英语中)。这种用法的should在翻译成汉语时,一般是不能译为“应当”的。请看下列经典例句译法:
He agreed that Tom and Ann should share the prize.
他同意汤姆和安分享这份奖赏。
I arranged that Tom should meet them.
我安排汤姆去接他们。
They requested that he (should) sing a song.
他们要求他唱一首歌。
He commanded that they should come early.
他命令他们早点儿来。
The workers demanded that their wages (should) be raised by 10 percent.
工人们要求增加百分之十的工资。
He suggested that we (should) set out immediately.
他建议我们立即出发。
He suggested that I (should) stick to my decision.
他建议我坚持自己的决定。
The general ordered that we (should) attack at once.
将军命令我们立即进攻。
They decided that the profits should be divided equally.
他们决定利润平分。
The examination instructor asked that the students (should) not use a calculator.
考官要求学生不要使用计算器。
The government demands that the pollution problem of this city should be solved within six months.
政府要求这个城市的污染问题在六个月之内得到解决。
He insisted that nothing should start ill he arrived.
他坚持在他到达之前不要着手进行任何事情。
He ordered that Tom should go.
他命令汤姆去。
All the workers proposed that they should do their best to get the production plan over fulfilled by the end of the year.
全体工人提议尽力在年底前超额完成生产计划。
Mass production requires that all parts should be made according to working drawings.
量生产要求所有的零件都按照加工图纸来制造。
He suggested that the electronic device should be tested at once.
他建议立即检验这些电子器件。
表语从句和同位语从句中的虚拟语气译法
在表示建议、劝告、命令等含义的名词后的表语从句、同位语从句或主语从句中，谓语动词要用"should +动词原形"结构或"动词原形"。请注意译法：
My advice is that you (should) practise speaking English as often as possible.
我的建议是你尽可能经常地练习说英语。
The demand is that the composition (should) be written on one side only.
按照要求作文必须单面誊写。
It is my desire that all the members of the family (should) gather once a year.
我的愿望是所有家庭成员一年团圆一次。
The suggestion that education (should) be reformed is reasonable.教育要改革的建议是合理的。
表示建议、劝告、命令等含义的名词常见的有：
advice 建议
demand 要求
desire 愿望
decision决定
idea 意见
motion 提议
order命令
proposal提议
requirement 要求
request 请求
regulation规章
suggestion 建议
主语从句中的虚拟语气
主语从句通常用于"It is +形容词名词动词的-ed形式+ that ..."结构。主语从句中是否用虚拟语气取决于所用的形容词或动词的-ed形式，其谓语动词常用"should +动词原形"(美国英语常省略should，只用动词原形)。
①表示建议或命令
It is important that we (should) work out a study plan.
重要的是我们要制订出一个学习计划。
It will be better that we (should) meet some other time.
最好我们在另一个时间见面。
It is suggested that each student (should) sing a song in English.
有人建议每个学生都要唱一首英文歌曲。
It is demanded that he should leave at once.
要求他立刻离开。
②表示惊讶
It is strange that he should have failed to see his own shortcomings.
真奇怪他竟看不到自己的缺点。
It is a pity shame that I should be at school instead of lying here in hospital.
真可惜，我应当在学校而不是躺在医院里。
It is natural that you should forget it first.
你起先记不住是很自然的。
必背：
常见的要接含有虚拟语气主语从句的词
形容词：important, necessary, urgent, essential, vital, natural, strange, proper等
动词的-ed形式：arranged, suggested, ordered, required, desired, demanded, proposed等
It is necessary that the program (should) be loaded into the computer.
有必要把程序输入电脑。
It is strange that he should have learned so much in such a short time.
很奇怪他竟然在如此短的时间内学了那么多的东西。
It is desired that we (should) get everything ready by tonight.
希望一切在今晚前准备就绪。
最好我们在另一个时间见面。
其他虚拟语气句子:
If I were you, I should go and try.
我要是你，我就去试试。
If it had not rained this morning, I should have gone shopping.今天早上要是没下雨，我就去买东西了。
If I were to do the work, I should do it in a different way.
要是我做这项工作，我就会以不同的方式去做。
We would trust him if he should be honest.
如果他真是诚实的，那我们就相信他。
Should I have time, I would call on her.
要是有时间，我就去看她。（= If I should have time......）
Why didn't you tell me about it I should have helped you.
为什么你不告诉我？我会帮助你的。
If it should snow tomorrow, I would stay at home.如果明天下雪的话，我就留在家里。
（可能性较小）
If it should rain, the crops could be saved.假如下雨，庄稼可能就有救了。
Please remind me of it again tomorrow in case I (should) forget.请你明天再提醒我这件事，以免我忘记。
She emphasized it again and again, lest he (should) forget.她一再强调这一点免得他忘记。
We had a meeting and talked the matter over face to face for fear that there
should be any misunderstanding.
我们开了一个会，面对面谈了这件事，以免发生任何误会.
Though he (should) fail, there would still be hope.即使他失败了，仍有一线希望。
在以上的虚拟语气的经典例句翻译中均罕见有出现“应该”这样的字样。
来源：翅膀英语一点号