Its forms and meanings. The usage of this mood in

a) subordinate clauses of unreal conditions;

b) after the verb to wish;

c) in subordinate clauses of comparison;

d) in emphatic constructions it’s time, it’s about time, it’s high time.

 

Subjunctive II has two tenses: the present & the past.

 

The Present Subjunctive II coincides in form with the Past Indefinite Indicative. The only exception is the verb to be the Present Subjunctive II of which has the form were both in the plural and in the singular.

 

The Present Subjunctive II represents an auction contrary to reality and refers to the present and the future.

 

If I saw him tomorrow I should tell him about it (but I have a very little hope I will see him).

If she learned English I’d buy her this book (but she learned French).

 

The Past Subjunctive II coincides in form with the Past Perfect Indicative. It represents an action as contrary to reality and refers to the past.

 

If I had met her I would have told her about it.

 

Subjunctive II is used:

a) in subordinate clauses of condition if the condition is unreal or contradicting reality. In such a case the Conditional Mood is used in the Principle clauses and Subjunctive II in the subordinate clause. Each of this forms is used in the tense demanded by the context. If the actions of both the principal and the subordinate clause refer to the present or future, Present Subjunctive II is used in the subordinate clause and the Present Conditional in the principal clause.

If I were you I wouldn’t think of it.

If the action of both the principal and the subordinate clause refers to the past, the Past Subjunctive II is used in the subordinate clause, and the Past Conditional is used in the principal clause.

If you had stayed, I would never have come to you.

 

 

Sentences of Split Condition

If he had graduated from the Institute he would work at school (the action of the subordinate clause refers to the past ßthe Past Subjunctive II is used, the action of the principal clause refers to the present ßthe Present Condition is used).

 

If you were not so absent-minded, you would not have made so many mistakes.

 

b) in simple sentences to represent a desired action or state which contradicts the reality.

 

If only he looked different!

If only it could always be spring!

 

c) In subordinate object clauses if the predicate of the principal clause is expressed by the verb to wish

 

· The Present Subjunctive II is used if the action of the subordinate clause is simultaneous with that of the principal clause.

 

I wish I knew where you are and what you are doing.

I wish he were only joking.

 

· The Past Subjunctive II is used if the action of the subordinate clause precedes that of the principal clause.

 

I wish I had not told you about it.

We all wished that we had stopped there.

 

Note: if the action of the subordinate clause refers to the future corresponding to the principal clause but expresses a wish which is unreal, would/could + infinitive is used.

 

I wish she would come home (she is not at home and won’t come).

I wish you could give it to me (but you can’t).

 

d) In subordinate clauses of comparison joined to the principal clause by the conjunctions as if, as though.

 

· They spoke before her as if she were not there.
You just go out as though you were going for a walk.
I felt as if I were being sent home.

 

· He looked as if he had never seen me before.

 

 

Note: The sky looked as if it would never clear before morning.

 

e) In (subject clause) emphatic constructions after the principal clause expressing time

 

It is time

It is about time

It is high time

 

It’s time you went to bed.

It is high time he were more serious.

 

 

Subjunctive I and the Suppositional Mood.

Their forms and meanings. Their usage in

a) subject clauses (it’s necessary);

b) after verbs and nouns denoting suggestion, demand, order;

c) clauses of fear, purpose.

The use of the Subjunctive I in some set-expressions.

 

Subjunctive I (old Subjunctive) coincides in form with the infinitive without the particle to. It has no tense distinctions – the same form may refer to the present, past and future.

 

to go	to be	to have
I go He (she, it) go We go You go They go	I be He (she, it) be We be You be They be	I have He (she, it) have We have You have They have

 

In the Passive Voice Subjunctive I has the form be + Past Particle I(he, she it we, you, they) be examined.

 

It is necessary that he go there at once.

He demands (demanded, will demand) that we be attentive.

 

The Suppositional Mood is formed by means of the auxiliary verb should and the infinitive of the main verb without the particle to.

 

The Suppositional Mood has two tenses: the present and the past.

 

The Present Suppositional is formed by means of the auxiliary verb should and the Indefinite Infinitive of the main verb.

 

I (he, she, it, we, you, they) should work.

 

Both the Suppositional Mood & Subjunctive I are used to represent an action not as a real fact but as something necessary, important, ordered, suggested, etc. and not contrary to reality. But the Suppositional Mood is much more widely used than Subjunctive I in British English where Subjunctive I is used only in official documents, in scientific and technical texts and in poetry. In American English Subjunctive I is used in literary language in general.

 

The Suppositional Mood and Subjunctive I are used:

 

a) in subordinate clauses after the expressions it is necessary, it is important, it is ordered, it is natural, it is cruel, it is funny.

It is sad you should have heard of it on the day of your wedding.

More important was it that he should care for her enough.

It was extremely important that he remain at school.

 

b) in object and appositive clauses after verbs denoting order, request, suggestion, etc. (to order, to suggest, to propose, to demand, to request, to advise, to recommend, etc.)

 

Te order that we should come surprised me.

His suggestion that we stop and have a look round the castle was rather sudden.

He only demanded that the man should leave the country at once.

Toward the evening he looked so badly that she suggested that he go to bed.

 

c) In adverbial clauses of purpose after the conjunction lest (чтобы не)

(Suppositional Mood, seldom Subjunctive I)

 

The girl whispered these words lest somebody should overhear her.

Mary dreaded lest he should come in.

 

d) Suppositional Mood – in conditional clauses if the fulfillment of the condition is unlikely (referring to the future).

 

If you should meet her somewhere, you might travel with her.

 

e) in exclamatory complex sentences

 

How wonderful that she should have such a feeling for you!

 

f) in questions expressing astonishment or indignation

 

1. Why should you and I talk about it?
How should I know?
Why should you suspect me?
Why accuse everybody?

 

2. if the question is negative Subjunctive I is used.

 

Why not to go there at once?

Why not try it again?

 

The use of Subjunctive I in set-expressions.

 

Three forms remained as survivals of old usage and they are used as wholes, in which no element of structure can be omitted or replaced

· of religious origin

 

(God) bless you!

God save the king!

Heaven forbid!

 

· forms used in slogans

 

Long life the Army!

 

· forms used in oaths, curses and imprecations

 

Confound your ideas!

Far be it from me to spoil the fun!

Far be it from me to argue with you!