The problems of the Subjunctive Mood in English (стр. 2 из 3)

To sum up the whole discussion about categories of the verb found in conditional sentences, the simplest view, and the one to be preferred is that we have here forms of the indicative mood in a special use. Another view is that we have here forms of special moods, and that they are distinguished from each other according to the category of correlation.

2. The main cases of the use of The Subjunctive Mood in English

1. Simple sentences

In simple sentences the synthetic forms of the Subjunctive Mood are more frequent than the analytical forms.

In simple sentences the Subjunctive Mood is used:

· To express wish:

e.g. Success attend you!

· To express wish the analytical subjunctive with the mood auxiliary may is also used.

e.g. May you live long and die happy!

· To express an unreal wish:

e.g. If only he were free!

· In oaths and imprecations:

e.g. Manners be hanged!

· In some expressions:

e.g. Be it so!

God forbid!

The Subjunctive Mood in simple sentences is characteristic of literary style, except in oaths and imprecations, which belong to low colloquial style.

2. Complex sentences

· The Subjunctive Mood is used in conditional sentences to

express an unreal condition (in the subordinate clause) and an unreal consequence (in the principal clause).

In sentences of unreal condition referring to the present of future the past Subjunctive of the verb to be is used in the subordinate clause; with other verbs the same meaning is expressed by the Past Infinitive of the Indicative Mood. In the principal clause we find the analytical subjunctive consisting of the mood auxiliary should or would and the Indefinite Infinitive. Should is used with the first person singular and plural, would is used with the second and third person singular and plural.

e.g. The world would be healthier if every chemist’s shop in England were demolished.

An unreal condition referring to the future can also be expressed by the Past Subjunctive of the verb to be + to – Infinitive of the notional verb or the analytical Subjunctive with the mood auxiliary should for all the persons. Such sentences are often translated by means of «Еслибыслучилосьтак…», «Случилосьтак…»

e.g. Well, Major, if you should send me to a difficult spot – with this man alone, I’d feel secure.

If in the subordinate clause the mood auxiliary should is used, we often find the Indicative Mood in the principal clause.

e.g. If he should come, ask him to wait.

In sentences of unreal condition referring to the Past Perfect of the Indicative Mood is used in the subordinate clause; in the principal clause we find the analytical subjunctive consisting of the mood auxiliary should or would and the Perfect Infinitive.

e.g. If I had consulted my own interests, I should never have come here.

There are two mixed types of sentences of unreal condition. In the first of these the condition refers to the past and the consequence refers to the present or future.

e.g. If you had taken your medicine yesterday, you would be well now.

In the second type the condition refers to no particular time and the consequence to the past.

e.g. If he were not so absent-minded, he would not have mistaken you for your sister.

In sentences of unreal condition the modal verbs might and cold are often used; they fully retain their modal meaning and therefore they do not form the analytical subjunctive.

Here we have the group «modal verb + Infinitive» which forms a compound verbal modal predicate, whereas the analytical subjunctive forms a simple predicate.

e.g. I could have done very well if I had been without the Murdstones.

Would, when used in the subordinate clause of a sentence of unreal condition, is also a modal verb forming with the infinitive a compound verbal modal predicate.

e.g. If you would come and see us…, mother would be as proud of your company as I should be.

The conjunctions introducing adverbial clauses of condition are: if, in case, provided, suppose, unless, and some others.

e.g. Suppose he wrote to you, would you answer?

Adverbial clauses of condition containing the verbs had, were, could and should are often introduced without any conjunctions. In these cases we find inversion.

e.g. Should he come this way, I will speak to him.

The Subjunctive Mood is used in sentences expressing what may be understood as an unreal consequence, the condition of which is not expressed as such.

e.g. There was no piano… because it would have taken up much room.

· The Subjunctive Mood is used in adverbial clauses of purpose.

When a clause of purpose is introduced by the conjunctions that, so that, in order that, we find the analytical subjunctive with the mood auxiliary may(might) if the principal clause refers to the present of future; if the principal clause refers to the past, only the form might is used.

As has already been stated, the mood auxiliary may(might) retains in this case a shade of modality.

e.g. He got up, cautiously, so that he might not wake the sleeping boy.

If a clause of purpose is introduced by lest the mood auxiliary should (for all persons) is generally used. Lest has a negative meaning (чтобыне).

e.g. She opened the window lest it should be stuffy in the room.

· The Subjunctive Mood is used in adverbial clauses of concession.

Adverbial clauses of concession are introduced by the conjunctions and connectives though, although, however, no matter, whatever, whoever, etc. The analytical subjunctive with the mood auxiliary may (might) is generally used.

e.g. Though he may (might) be tired he will go to the concert.

If the action of the subordinate clause is prior to that of the principal clause the Perfect Infinitive is generally used.

e.g. However badly he may have behaved to you in the past he is still your brother.

· The Subjunctive Mood is used in adverbial clauses of time and place

after the conjunctions whenever and wherever; in these cases the clauses have an additional concessive meaning.

e.g. Whenever you may (might) come, you are welcome.

· The Subjunctive Mood is used in adverbial clauses of comparison (or manner) introduced by the conjunctions as if and as though (the latter is more literary).

If the action of subordinate clause is simultaneous with that of the principal clause the Past Subjunctive of the verb to be is used; with other verbs the same meaning is expressed by the Past Indefinite of the Indicative Mood.

e.g. She speaks about him as if she knew him well.

If the action of the subordinate clause is prior to that of the principal clause the Past Perfect of the Indicative Mood is used.

e.g. She speaks about him as if she had known him for years.

· The Subjunctive Mood is used in predicative clauses:

a) introduced by the conjunctions as if, as though, when we find the link verbs to be, to fell, to look, to seem, etc. in the principal clause.

If the action of subordinate clause is simultaneous with that of the principal clause the Past Subjunctive of the verb to be is used; with other verbs the same meaning is expressed by the Past Indefinite of the Indicative Mood.

If the action of the subordinate clause is prior to that of the principal clause the Past Perfect of the Indicative Mood is used.

e.g. I fell as if we were back seven years, Jon.

b) when the subject of the principal clause is expressed by an abstract noun such as wish, suggestion, aim, idea, etc. In this case the analytical subjunctive with the mood auxiliary should (for all persons) is used.

e.g. One of the conditions was that I should go abroad.

· The Subjunctive Mood is used in subject clause after a principal clause of the type It is necessary, It is important, etc.

It is necessary

It is important

It is right

It is requested

It is recommended that smb. should do smth.

It is obligatory

It is better (best)

It is desirable

It is of vital importance

The analytical subjunctive with the mood auxiliary should is used for all persons.

e.g. It was necessary that the child’s history should be known to none.

· The Subjunctive Mood is used in object clauses:

a) When the predicate of the principal clause is expressed by the verb to

wish. If the action expressed in the object clause is simultaneous with that of the principal clause the Past Subjunctive of the verb to be is used; with other verbs the same meaning is expressed by the Past Indefinite of the Indicative Mood.

e.g. I wish I were a girl again.

If the action expressed in the object clause is prior to that of the principal clause the Past Perfect of the Indicative Mood is used.

e.g. Auntie, I wish I had not done it.

The analytical subjunctive with the mood auxiliary would (for all persons) is also used in object clauses the verb to wish. This form is used only in sentences referring to the present or future; it is possible only if the subject of the principle clause is not the same as the subject of the object clause. It is chiefly used in sentences expressing request or annoyance.

e.g. I wish you would stay with me for a while.

b) The Subjunctive Mood is used in object clauses introduced by the

conjunction lest if in the principal clause the predicate is expressed by a verb denoting fear.

e.g. She fears lest she should be blamed.

After verbs denoting fear object clauses are often introduced by the conjunction that, in which case the Indicative Mood is used often with the modal verb may (might).

e.g. She fears that she will (would) be blamed.

c) The Subjunctive Mood is used in object clauses when we find verbs

and Word-groups denoting order, suggestion, advice, desire, etc. in the principal clause. The analytical subjunctive with the mood auxiliary should (for all persons) is used.

Suggest

Propose

Demand

Desire

Insist that smth. should be done

To be anxious

See to it

Order

Require

Make up one’s mind

e.g. Mr. Micawber was very anxious that I should stay to dinner.

· The Subjunctive Mood is used in attributive appositive clauses modifying the nouns wish, suggestion, aim, idea, etc. The analytical subjunctive with the mood auxiliary should (for all persons) is used.

e.g. His wish that everybody should take part in the work was reasonable.

· The Subjunctive Mood is also used in attributive clauses modifying the noun time in the principal clause It is time, It is high time. In this case the Past Subjunctive of the verb to be is used; with other verbs the same meaning is expressed by the Past Indefinite of the Indicative Mood.

e.g. It is time we went home.

The analytical subjunctive with the mood auxiliary should is also possible, though less common.

e.g. It is time we should go home.

· As has already been stated the Subjunctive Mood may be used to express anemotional attitude of the speaker to real facts. Here we always find the analytical subjunctive with the mood auxiliary should, which in this case is often called the ‘emotional should’. If priority is expressed the Perfect Infinitive is used.

In this case the Subjunctive Mood is rendered in Russian by the Indicative Mood. The emotional should occurs in different kinds of subordinate clauses; the principal clause in such cases contains:

a) An adjective expressing astonishment, incredulity, regret, joy, such as strange, wonderful, unnatural, impossible, fortunate, unfortunate, etc.

e.g. It is impossible that she should have said it.

b) A noun with the same meaning: wonder, pity, shame, etc.

e.g. He is such a charming man that it is quite a pity he should be so grave and so dull.

c) The principal clause may be of the following type: I am sorry, glad, pleased,vexed, etc.

e.g. I am sorry you should take such needless trouble.

· The Tenses of the Forms Expressing Unreality (Summary)

As can be seen from the above description, not all the forms of unreality can express tense distinctions. Thus the Subjunctive Mood and the modal phrases should (for all persons) + infinitive and would (for all persons) + infinitive have no tense distinctions. They are used only in certain types of subordinate clauses and generally show that the action of that clause follows the action of the principal clause, i.e. they express time relatively.

e.g. I suggest(ed) that he takes up the matter.

Since these forms have no tense distinctions the rules of the sequence of tenses are not observed here.

Tense distinctions are expressed only by the forms of the Conditional Mood (which has two tenses – Present and Past) and also by the use of the forms of the Past Indefinite and the Past Perfect.

The Present Conditional Mood and the form of the Past Indefinite (also the form were for all persons singular) serve to refer an action to the present or the future when they are used in complex sentences with a clause of condition (or a clause of concession introduced by even if or even though).

e.g. If I had time I should go on a short holiday.

The Past Conditional Mood and the form of the Past Perfect serve to refer an action to the past in the same kinds of clauses.

e.g. If I had had time I should have gone on a short holiday.

The Present Conditional Mood is also used with reference to the present or future in simple sentences with implied condition while the Past Conditional refers an action to the past.

e.g. It would not be possible to decide anything without him.

It would not have been possible to decide anything without him.

In all those cases the tenses are used absolutely, i.e. they refer an action directly to the present, the past or the future.

The same is true of the modal verb were + infinitive which is used only in if-clauses and refers an action of that clause to the future.

e.g. If everybody were to be brought up differently, would the world not change?

But when all those forms, which in the above described cases express time relations absolutely are used in other subordinate clauses, they become relative tenses, i.e. they express the time with regard to the action of the principal clause. The Present Conditional Mood and the form of the Past Indefinite indicate that the action of the subordinate clause is simultaneous with that of the principal clause or follows it.

e.g. They say it would be impossible to decide anything without him.

The Past Conditional Mood and the form of the Past Perfect show that the action of the subordinate clause precedes that of the principal clause.

e.g. They say it would have been impossible to decide anything without him.

It should be remembered that the tenses in sentences of unreal condition are also used relatively in reported speech.

e.g. He says that if he had time he would go on a short holiday.

As is seen from the examples, the rules of the sequence of tenses are not observed with any of the above mentioned forms expressing unreality.

It is different, however, when the forms can (may) + infinitive are used to express problematic actions. Can is found only in clauses of purpose, may – in clauses of purpose and-in object clauses after expressions of fear in the principal clause.

e.g. On Sundays we always go outing so that the children can spend the day in the open air.