Type 2 of the subjunctive mood in English. How to deal with the subjunctive mood? Rules for constructing an affirmative and negative sentence with the subjunctive mood

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We have already made an attempt to present the use in the form of a table. Now let's try to make similar models ( patterns) for complex sentences.

First, let's find out what forms exist. We propose to distinguish four: Subjunctive I Mood, Subjunctive Mood II, Suppositional Mood, Conditional Mood. (It should be noted that not all linguists adhere to this classification; it may differ in different textbooks).

Let's present the forms of the subjunctive mood in the form of a table.

Forms of the subjunctive mood ( The Forms of the Subjunctive Mood)

Now let's look at the use of these forms in a complex sentence.

Use Subjunctive Mood II, Conditional Mood

I. Conditional sentences ( Subjunctive II + Conditional)

By remembering the following formula, you will never be confused about where to use what tense:

1. If he came 1 earlier, we should go 2 to the cinema - If he had come earlier, we would have gone to the cinema. (today or tomorrow)

   1 – Subjunctive II (Present)
   2 – Conditional (Present)

2. If he had come 1 earlier, we should have gone 2 to the cinema. - If he had come earlier then, we would have gone to the cinema. (refers to the past: he never came; we never went to the cinema)

   1 – Subjunctive II (Past)
   2 – Conditional (Past)

Note that sometimes when expressing an unreal condition ( unreal condition) mixed forms can be used:

1. Subjunctive II (Present) + Conditional (Past):
   

   If she weren’t absent minded, she wouldn’t have lost the book - If she weren’t absent-minded, she wouldn’t have lost the book. (she is basically always absent-minded, so Present)

2. Subjunctive II (Past) + Conditional (Present):
   

   If he hadn’t missed the seminar, he would be answering well now - If he hadn’t missed the seminar then, he would have answered well now.

II. Expressions with wish

I wish she were here. - It's a pity that she's not here.

I wish / wished she had been there. - It's a pity that she wasn't there.

If we want to make a sentence more expressive ( more emphatic), you can use the following formula:

I wish you would have studied better last year. - What a pity that you didn’t study better that year.

predicative clauses) and comparisons ( comparative clauses) With as if, as though

He doesn't feel as if he were falling ill. - He feels as if he is going to get sick.

She speaks English as though she had lived in England all her life. - She speaks English as if she has lived in England all her life.

IV. In subjective subordinate clauses ( in subject clauses)

a). WITH as if, as though:

It is not as if you knew him. - After all, you don’t know him.

b). With expressions it's time, it's about time, it's high time:

Please note that these sentences only use Subjunctive II Present.

It's high time you knew Grammar well. - It’s high time you knew grammar well.

V. In additional subordinate clauses ( in object clauses)

I would rather you went away now. - I would prefer it if you left now.

She would rather you had stayed. - She would prefer you to stay then. - refers to the past.

Use Suppositional Mood, Subjunctive I Mood

I. In subjective subordinate clauses ( in subject clauses)

It is necessary that you should come a couple of days before the others. - It is necessary that you come two days earlier than everyone else.

It is odd (strange) that she should have objected against the proposal. “It’s strange that she objected to this proposal.”

Please note that in declarative sentences ( declarative sentences) With possible, Probable, likely are used may, might, can, could:

It is possible the key may be lost. - It is possible that the key was lost.

But in interrogatives ( interrogative) and negative ( negative) used in sentences should + infinitive:

It is not possible that he should have guessed it. - It's impossible for him to guess it.

Is it possible that he should refuse to come? - Is it possible that he refused to come?

II. In additional subordinate clauses ( in object clauses)

He suggested that we should start the meeting at once. - He suggested that the meeting begin immediately.

I believe it desirable that you should read the book. - I think it is advisable that you read the book.

I believe it natural that he should like his job. “I think it’s natural that he likes his job.”

They find it curious that he should have refused from the proposal. “They find it strange that he refused this offer.”

I'm astonished that she should have said this. “I was very surprised that she said that.”

I'm afraid lest it should be too late. - I'm afraid it's too late.

If the subordinate clause is introduced that, That:

I'm afraid that he may be ill. - I'm afraid he's sick.
I was afraid that he might be ill. - I was afraid that he was sick.

I'm afraid that he may have missed the train. - I'm afraid he missed the train.
I was afraid that he might have missed the train. - I was afraid that he missed the train.

III. In subordinate predicates ( predicative clauses)

The order was that we should leave the room. - The order was for us to leave the room.

Her constant fear is best there should be something wrong with the child’s health. “Her constant fear is that nothing will happen to her child’s health.”

that, That:

Her only fear is that there may be something wrong with her child’s health. “The only thing she’s afraid of is that something might happen to her child’s health.”

IV. In attributive clauses ( in attributive clauses)

He gave an order that nobody should leave the room. - He gave orders that no one should leave the room.

She had a constant fear lest something should happen to her child. “She was constantly afraid that nothing would happen to her child.

If the subordinate clause is introduced by the conjunction that, That:

She had a constant fear that something might happen to her child. “She was constantly afraid that something might happen to her child.

V. In subordinate clauses ( in clauses of purpose)

Do it at once, best she should change her mind. - Do it now so she doesn't change her mind.

If the subordinate clause is introduced by conjunctions so that, that, in order that, That:

I shall make you some sandwiches so that you can (may) not be hungry. - I'll make you sandwiches so you don't get hungry.

He gave me some money that I could buy two magazines. - He gave me money so I could buy two magazines.

And now I propose a small test to check the methods of using the subjunctive mood described above.

The subjunctive mood shows that the speaker views the action not as a real fact, but as desired, expected, conditional or possible.

In Russian, to express the subjunctive mood, the past tense form of the verb is used in combination with the particle “by” and can refer to the present, past or future tense. For example:

If I had read the book, I would have given it to you.

In English, the subjunctive mood is expressed in different forms and is used in conditional sentences and in some subordinate clauses.

The use of the subjunctive mood in conditional sentences

The subjunctive mood is used in two types of conditional sentences:

1) in sentences that express unlikely assumptions related to the present or future tense.

In the subordinate clause (condition) the Past Subjunctive of the verb is used to be(i.e. "were" for all persons, although in modern English along with "were" used "was") or Past Indefinite from all other verbs in the subjunctive mood, and in the main part (consequence) the form should (would) and the Indefinite Infinitive form without a particle "to"(instead of should (would) there may be modal verbs "could", "might").

I should (would, could) go for a walk, if the weather were (was) good.
I would (could go) for a walk if the weather was good.

2) in sentences that express unrealized assumptions related to the past tense. In these sentences, the Past Perfect form is used in the subordinate part (condition) in the meaning of the subjunctive mood, and in the main part (consequence) - should (would) + Perfect Infinitive (have gone, have worked).

If I had had a day-off yesterday, I should (would, might, could) have gone to the country.

If I had a day off yesterday, I would have gone (I could have gone) out of town. Table of the use of the subjunctive mood in conditional sentences

In modern English the combination "would"+ the simple infinitive is used with the 1st person, singular and plural, as if displacing the verb "should". The differences between them disappear completely when in colloquial speech "should" And "would" are reduced to - "d

Both types of conditional sentences are translated into Russian in the same way, since in Russian there is one form of the subjunctive mood (the past tense form of the verb with the particle "would").

There are conditional sentences of a “mixed” type: when the condition refers, for example, to the past tense, and the consequence to the present or future, or vice versa:

If you had studied harder last year, you would get a good mark now.
or
If you had a telephone, I would have called you up last week.

In conditional sentences, instead of a subordinate clause, a phrase is sometimes used “but for + noun or pronoun.” "But for" has the meaning "if it weren't for...":

But for Tom I should not have finished my work.
If it weren't for Tom, I wouldn't have finished my work.
But for him she would still be in London.
If it weren't for him, she would still be in London.

The use of subjunctive forms in subordinate clauses

1) in adverbial sentences of a course of action introduced by conjunctions “as if”, “as though” - “as if”, “as if” to express an action simultaneous with the action of the predicate verb of the main sentence, the Past Subjunctive from the verb is used "to be" ("were" for all persons or "was" for singular 1st and 3rd person) or Past Indefinite from all other verbs:

Doesn't look like if he were ill.
He looks like he's sick.
Didn't look as if he were ill.
He looked like he was sick.

If the predicate verb of a subordinate clause denotes an action preceding the action of the main clause, the Past Perfect is used in the subordinate clause in the meaning of the subjunctive mood:

Doesn't speak English so well as if he were an Englishman.
He speaks English as well as if he were English.
Didn't speak English so well as if he had lived in Britain.

He spoke English as well as if he lived in the UK. 2) in additional subordinate clauses depending on the verb "wish", to express an action simultaneous with the action expressed by the predicate verb of the main sentence, the Past Subjunctive from the verb is used "to be" ("were" for all persons or "was" for 1st and 3rd person singular) or Past Indefinite for all other verbs

I wish he were with us.
How nice it would be if he were with us now.
or
It's a pity that he is not with us now.

Doesn't wish he had more free time.
He would like to have more free time.

If the verb of a subordinate clause expresses an action that precedes the action expressed in the main clause, it is in the Past Perfect form. meaning of the subjunctive mood

I wish I had seen him yesterday.
I wish I had seen him yesterday.
I wished I had asked Ann her address.
I regretted not asking Anna for her address.

If the verb of the subordinate clause expresses an action following the action of the main clause, then the verbs are used "would" or "could" with infinitive

I wish it would rain.
I wish it would rain.

"Would" with Indefinite Infinitive is sometimes used to express a wish, the fulfillment of which depends on the person designated by the subject of the subordinate clause. Such proposals have the nature of a request, a persuasion:

I wish you would come to see us.
How I wish you would come to us.
or
It would be nice if you came to us.

"Would" also used to express almost impossible hope for the future.

I wish it would stop raining.

3) in subordinate clauses of subjects introduced by the conjunction “that” after impersonal phrases like it is necessary, it is desirable(preferably) it is advisable(appropriate) it is important and so on. Usually the Present Subjunctive form is used (the infinitive of the verb without the particle “to”) or a combination of the verb should(in all persons and numbers) with the infinitive of the verb without a particle "to":

It is important he know it.
It's important that he knows about this.
It is necessary that they (should) return in time.
It is important that they return on time.

4) a number of verbs like to suggest, to insist, to demand, to order and others require after themselves forms of the subjunctive mood.

I suggest he (should) consult a doctor.
I suggest that he consult a doctor.
Not insisted I (should) do it at once.
He insisted that I do it right then and there.

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I would name the topic subjunctive mood in English (Subjunctive Mood) one of the most difficult from the “” section for these reasons. Firstly, there are many different forms in this mood, both synthetic (simpler) and analytical (more complex). And in order to know them all, it is necessary to understand how each of them was created. Secondly, the subjunctive mood in English covers both , and , and tenses, and accordingly different forms will be used in different tenses. Thirdly, there are many types of sentences and constructions in which this particular mood is used. And finally, sometimes it is difficult for us to understand and notice the meaning that is implied in each particular case, so sometimes we wonder whether the subjunctive mood in English or some other grammatical form is used here.

Be that as it may, if you still learn English grammar and understand the peculiarities of using this mood, then no obstacles to understanding this topic will arise.

What does the subjunctive mood mean: example sentences in Subjunctive Mood

As we know, English has three moods: indicative ( Indicative Mood), and subjunctive. Some grammarians, but not all, also distinguish a fourth - conditional mood ( Conditional Mood). The first indicated mood expresses the reality of action in all three tenses, the second - an incentive to action, a request or an order; but the third (we need) is the possibility, assumption, desire, doubt or unreality of action. Don’t be scared by such vague definitions of moods; examples will make everything clear. The main thing to remember is that in the subjunctive mood in English we can talk about imaginary (desirable, expected) situations that are quite possible under certain efforts or circumstances, or that are never initially feasible.

Had I seen him yesterday, I would have asked him about it. – If I had seen him yesterday, I would have asked him about it.

The subjunctive mood of a verb is most often translated into Russian by combining a verb in the past tense with the particle “would” (and this form applies to any tense). As options: I would like, I could, I would be able to, I would find out, I would wait, etc.

If I were you I should have gone to bed earlier before the exam. – If I were you, I would go to bed early before the exam.

We will talk about two forms of the subjunctive mood of the verb in English - synthetic(Subjunctive I) and analytical (Subjunctive II). Before considering the options for using these two forms, let us dwell on the rules of their formation.

The so-called “old, archaic” or in other words simple (synthetic) forms do not contain any auxiliary verbs. These forms coincide with the forms of the infinitive without a particle to, forms of simple or perfect past tense. If we're talking about Present Subjunctive I, then it should be noted that in this case the form (infinitive without to) remains unchanged, regardless of person and number (that is, no - s at the end in the 3rd person unit. numbers). Verb to be also does not change in persons and numbers in the sentence in the subjunctive mood, it remains so - be.

I suggest that we all go to the concert. – I suggest that we all go to the concert.

It is necessary that all people care of their health. “It is necessary for everyone to take care of their health.

If we're talking about Past Subjunctive I, remember that this form is similar to the form. In this case the verb to be will be in shape were for all persons and numbers. Both the first and second forms find themselves in the expression of actions in three time planes that do not precede the moment of speech.

If only he were free! “If only he were free!”

It’s about time you solved your problems! “It was time to solve our problems.”

And if we're talking about Past Perfect Subjunctive I, then in form it is the same as . In this version, we are dealing with past events that have already happened before the moment of utterance.

I wish I had finished my picture long ago. “It’s a pity that I haven’t finished my painting a long time ago.”

If we had been at the hospital, we should have helped you with your medical insurance. – If we were at the hospital, we would help you with health insurance.

Let's move on to complex (analytical) forms - Subjunctive II. These forms are a combination ( should/would/might/could) and the infinitive of the main verb without a particle to, perfect or non-perfect. Moreover, recently would is practically not used, but for all persons and numbers we take should. Could(past from can) represents the physical possibility of performing an action (could, could), and might(past from may) is responsible for the possibility of performing an action related to the circumstances.

This form of the subjunctive mood in English is Subjunctive II – has two tenses: Present Subjunctive II and Perfect Subjunctive II. In the first case after should we have an infinitive verb without to, but the second is the perfect infinitive of the verb without to. The difference between the present and perfect subjunctive mood of a verb in English is as follows: using the present subjunctive, we talk about a probable, desirable action that may (not) yet take place in the future. If we turn to the perfect subjunctive, we show that the time of the probable action has already passed, but the action itself remains in the plans. Here we can regret, be indignant, wish... but to no avail, since everything has already happened.

Why should I go there? – Why on earth would I go there?

The teacher advised that the girl should be sent to a musical school. – The teacher advised that the girl be sent to a music school.

It’s a pity you should have fallen ill. - It's a pity that you got sick.

If we had had to choose we should have come to another country. – If we had to choose, we would go to another country.

Usually forms Subjunctive I are used in subordinate clauses, and the forms Subjunctive II – in main sentences as part of complex sentences, or in simple sentences. But this is not an axiom; there are exceptions and nuances. About “how” and “where” is used subjunctive mood in English, you can read in the article "". And after that, be sure to take the “” test.

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“If I were a sultan, I would have three wives”, “If only there were mushrooms growing in my mouth” - all these are sentences denoting hypothetical situations that do not occur in life (that is, I am not a sultan, and there are no mushrooms in my mouth) grow).

It is for such things that the subjunctive mood is responsible. The hero of our today's article is subjunctive mood(subjunctive mood) in English.

We will talk about what the mood is in general and the subjunctive mood in particular.

First we will look at this using the Russian language as an example, then we will switch to English. I will explain how it is built and, most importantly, in what cases it may be needed.

So, let's go!

What is "inclination"?

Let's first understand what mood is, using the Russian example.

Mood is what helps us (the speaker) express our attitude to the situation. Blurry definition? Perhaps yes.

But it’s enough for us to remember how the three moods differ in the Russian language:

1. Indicative - manifests itself when we simply want to convey information.

I usually set my alarm for seven in the morning.

In the indicative mood (and only in it!) tenses are distinguished:

Yesterday I set the alarm for seven in the morning.
I'll set the alarm for seven in the morning tomorrow.

2. Imperative - we express a request, order, command - that is, we want someone to do something.

Set your alarm for seven in the morning, please!

3. Subjunctive - expresses an unreal, hypothetical situation that has never taken place in life.

If you set your alarm for seven in the morning, you wouldn't be late!

Note that mood only affects verbs (words that indicate action). They are the ones that change when the inclination changes (compare: posture silt/delivered lju in the indicative; having delivered b in the imperative; having delivered silt would in the subjunctive).

Subjunctive mood in English it has the same meaning as the subjunctive mood in Russian. That is, it is used in relation to a situation that does not occur in reality. And here's what When it is used - that's a separate conversation. We'll look into this later.

For now, let's look at how to put a verb in the subjunctive mood.

Subjunctive mood form

How to put an English verb in the subjunctive mood, that is, in the subjunctive mood?

To do this, you just need to take the usual form of the verb.

For example:

to come (“to come”) - subjunctive form: come
to work (“to work”) - subjunctive form: work

What is the difference from the usual present tense?

It consists in the fact that in the subjunctive mood we never add anything additional! There is no -s after he/she/it:

He usually comes at 10 AM.
He usually comes at 10 am.

I suggest that he come at 10 AM.
I suggest that he come at 10 am.

Also, negation is formed without do, but with the help of not alone:

She picks me up every Tuesday.
She gives me a lift every Tuesday.

I suggest she doesn't pick me up today.
I suggest that she doesn't give me a ride today.

When is subjunctive mood used?

Now that we have found out what a verb looks like in the subjunctive mood, let's look at the cases when this mood is used in English.

1. After certain verbs

There are a number of verbs that require that + actor + subjunctive after them. Basically, these are verbs denoting a wish or advice - that is, a hypothetical situation that we would like to bring to life. Among them:

2. After if ("if")

There are sentences with “if”, denoting an unreal situation now or in the future (“If I were in your place...”, “If I were a millionaire...”). In them, the word be (“to be”) has its own subjunctive form - were.

This were is used in all cases (I, you, he, she, they) regardless of who we are talking about.

If you were with us now, you would like it in Madrid!
If you were with us now, you would love it in Madrid!

If Bob were on our team, he would come up with a lot of ideas.
If Bob were on our team, he would come up with a ton of ideas.

When we talk about an unreal situation, we mean a conditional sentence of the second type (conditional). Read more about it V this article.

3. After wish (“to want, to desire”)

There is a construction with the word wish, denoting a wish related to the present. Often we are talking about something impossible:

I wish it were summer!
If only it were summer (now)!

Right now Tom wishes he were ready for the exam.
At the moment, Tom dreams of being ready for this exam.

As you can see, after wish there is also were.

Read more about constructions with wish in this article.

4. After some adjectives

Adjectives are words denoting a characteristic (Which? Yellow. Which? Hot. Which? Difficult). There are a number of adjectives that also require the subjunctive mood after them. The design itself looks like this:

It is + adjective + that...

There are a few other uses of the subjunctive mood, but these are mostly traditional, established expressions like God save the Queen or Long live the King or so be it. ). We have covered all the main points. I hope the information was interesting and, most importantly, useful!

Reinforcement task

Translate the following sentences into English. Leave your answers in the comments below the article.

1. It is necessary that we be in court at 11 am.
2. I insist that he come.
3. John dreams that his team will be first in the competition.
4. It is important that you do not use these materials without the permission of the owner.
5. If I were a composer, I would write operas.
6. If I were the boss, I would reorganize the entire company.
7. Oh, if only it were Saturday now...
8. The lawyer insisted that I not give unnecessary information to the police.