Whatever he should say (что бы он ни сказал), we must not change our plan.

In the following sentences the suppositional can not be used because reference is made to the present:

Whatever the cause may be, the author has hardly done justice to the subject.

Whatever the reason may be, the fact remains.

Whoever you may be, you are no right to do such a thing.

Note 2.—The indicative mood is also used in subordinate clauses of con­cession when the concession is not regarded as contrary to fact or problematic:

We will start tomorrow though it rains incessantly.

Although it is late, I shall stay a little longer.

Whoever you are, you have no right to do such a thing.

Complex Sentences with Subordinate Clauses of Condition

1. Complex sentences with subordinate clauses of condition may be divided into two groups:

a) Those which express real condition referring to some actual state of things.

b) Those which express unreal condition and repre­sent an event or state of things as a mere conception of the mind (as a mere speculation on the part of the speaker).

2. The structure of sentences of the first type (of r e a 1 con­dition) does not present any difficulty, in both clauses (princi­pal and subordinate) the indicative mood is used.

Present: If he does this, he is right. Past: If he did that, he was right. Future: If he does this, he will be right.

Not e.—In the clause the present tense is used for the future, according to the rule that has already been given (see "The Use of Tense," p. 113, § 5).

Past perfect: If any man had ever reached that place before him, he had probably died in the jungle.

'Not e.—Conditional clauses are joined not only by means of the conjunc­tion, but also by other conjunctions, conjunctive words and phrases: unless, pro­vided (that), supposing (that), in case, on condition (that), etc. The conjunction if is the most common connective:

You will not succeed unless you (if you do not) work hard. Supposing he does not come, what shall we do? I shall go on condition (that) you go too. I'll take my raincoat in case it rains. I shall wait for you provided (that) you return not later than in an hour. Supposing (that) all this is true, what follows?

3. Sometimes subjunctive I is used in conditional clauses of real condition, especially to express a general truth. The difference be­tween the indicative and subjunctive I is a stylistic difference. The subjunctive I is characteristic of elevated style; it is also used in scientific prose:

If the planet be close to the sun, its speed increases. I shall come tomorrow if the weather be fine.

If in this heart a hope be dear,

That sound shall charm it forth again;

If in these eyes there lurk a tear,

'Twill flow and cease to burn my brain. (В у r о n.)

4. In complex sentences with a subordinate clause of unreal condition subjunctive II is used in the subordinate clause (if-clause), the conditional mood is used in the principal clause.

5. When reference is made to the present or future, the present subjunctive II is used in the subordinate clause (if-clause), the present conditional is used in the principal clause:

Present: If I had more time I should study French. If he were here, I should speak to him. If she had time, she would do the work. If the river were not so deep here, we should cross it. You would answer much better if you were more attentive.

Fu t u r e: If he were in town, he would be present at our meeting to-morrow. If it were Sunday to-morrow, we should go to the country. If a bus came along presently, we should board it.

6. When reference is made to the past, the past subjunc­tive II is used in the subordinate clause (if-clause), the past conditional is used in the principal clause:

If he had been here last night, I should have spoken to him. If the fire brigade had not arrived in time, the fire would have destroyed the whole building. If I had had time yesterday, I should have done the work. If I had known you were going to take it like that, I should have been more careful. They would have con­tinued on their way if the night had not been so dark.

It would have been terrible if any cloud had come across a friendship like ours, would it not? (Wilde.)

7. For the future two more forms are used in the subordinate clause (if-clause):

a) The suppositional (should + i n f i n i t i v e).

The suppositional is used when the fulfilment of the condition unlikely though possible, and it may be associated with the indicative or the imperative mood in the prin­cipal clause (compare with the use of subjunctive II which indi­cates a rejected condition):

If I should meet her tomorrow (I may meet her), I should (or shall) speak to her. Should it be wet, I should (or shall) stay at home. If you should happen to see him, tell him to expect me this evening about eight. Should he come, tell him to wait. If it should rain, I should not come. Should there be any difficulty, get in touch with me. Don't be afraid of asking me should you need any help. Should it prove impossible to get in touch with them, what is to be done?

These clauses may be rendered in Russian as follows:

Если случайно я ее встречу завтра... Если так случится, что я ее встречу завтра...

b) Subjunctive II of the verb to be followed by the i n-f i n i t i v e (were + to i n f i n i t i v e). This construction does not imply a rejection of the action, but its remoteness and i m-probability:

What should we do if it were to rain (If it by chance came to rain). If I were to see her to-morrow,.1 should speak to her. If he were to do that, he would be wrong.

Compare the following:

If I saw more of him, I could speak to him about it (I do not see much of him).

If I were to see more of him, I could speak to him about it (I may see more of him in the future, although it is doubtful).

If 1 should see more of him, 1 could (or can) speak to him about it (I may see more of him in the future).

If it were warm enough, we should go to the country to-mor­row (but it is cold).

If it were to rain, we should not go out (it may rain, though it is doubtful).

If it should rain, we should (shall) not go out (less doubtful).

8. The time to which the condition (if-clause) and the conse­quence (principal clause) refer need, not be the same in both parts of the sentence. The condition can refer to a past time and the conse­quence to a present time, and vice versa:

You would be much happier now if you had taken my advice. If I had spoken to him yesterday, I should know what to do now. If you had repeated the rules, you would know them better now.

9. When the principal clause contains a compound verbal (or nominal) predicate with the verbs could and might, the structure of the complex sentence is as follows:

Present or Future: If I had time, I could go there. If he were ready, he might go with us.

Past: If I had had time, I could have gone there. If he had been ready, he might have gone with us.

In the present or future could and might are followed by the indefinite infinitive (could go, might go); in the past they are followed by the perfect infinitive (could have gone, might have gone).

The verbs could and might do not form the conditional of the verb in the infinitive which follows them, but preserve their own modal meaning and are themselves in subjunctive II.

Compare the following sentences:

If I had time, I should go there (если бы у меня было время, я пошел бы туда). Here we have the conditional of the verb to go.

If I had time, I could go there (если бы у меня было время, я мог бы пойти туда). Here we have subjunctive II of the modal verb itself.

If I he were ready, he would go with us (the conditional of the verb to go— пошел бы).

If I he were ready, he might go with us (subjunctive II of the mod­al verb itself— мог бы пойти. See/ "Auxiliary and Modal [Defec­tive] Verbs," p. 187).

10. When the subordinate clause (if-clause) contains a compound verbal (or nominal) predicate with the verbs could and might, the structure of the sentence is as follows:

Present or Future:

If I could (subjunctive II) translate this article without a dictionary, I should get my work done more quickly. If I might (subjunctive II) come at six o'clock, it would suit me better.

Past:

If I could (subjunctive II) have translated that article without a dictionary, I should have got my work done more quickly.

If I might (subjunctive II) have come at six o'clock, it would have suited my work much better.

When could or might are used in the principal or subordinate clause in a compound verbal (or nominal) predicate, they may be replaced by synonymous expressions: to be able (instead of could), to be possible (instead of might).

a) In the principal clause: Present or Future:

If I had time, I should be (the conditional mood) able to go there. If he were ready, it would be (the conditional mood) pos­sible for him to go with us.

Past:

If I had had time, I should have been able to go there (the con­ditional mood). If he had been ready, it would have been possible for him to go with us (the conditional mood).

b) In the s u b о r d i n a t e clause (if-clause): ₄

Present or Future:

If I were (subjunctive II) able to translate this article without a dictionary, I should get my work done more quickly. If it were (subjunctive II) possible for me to come at six o'clock, it would suit me much better.

Past:

If I had been (subjunctive II) able to translate that article without a dictionary, I should have got my work done more quickly. If it had been (subjunctive II) possible for me to come at six o'clock, it would have suited me much better.

When would is used in the if-clause, it retains its full original meaning (willingness, intention, determination) and is subjunctive II of the modal verb itself in a compound verbal (or nominal) pre­dicate:

If you would lend me the book, I should read it with pleasure (if you consented to lend.). Shall I shut the window?—Yes, if you would (if you were willing). If your friend would bring the book to-morrow, I should be much obliged. If you would be so kind as to shut the door, I should be very thankful to you.

REVIEW OF THE USE OF THE OBLIQUE MOODS

The Synthetical Moods

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