Ex. 1. Translate into Russian. Analyze the Direct and Indirect Moods.

А.В. Степанова

OBLIQUE MOODS

in English

Учебно-методическое пособие для студентов II курса факультета иностранных языков

§1 MOOD AND MODALITY. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS.

Mood is the form of the verb which shows the relation between the action expressed by the predicate verb and reality. This relation is established by the speaker. Thus the category of mood expresses modality.

The speaker may represent an action as

1) a real fact;

2) something necessary or advisable;

3) something unreal, contrary to reality or very problematic.

There are three Moods in English:

1) the Indicative Mood;

2) the Imperative Mood;

3) the Subjunctive Mood.

1. Actions represented as real facts are expressed by the Indicative Mood. The Indicative Mood is characterized by a great number of tense-aspect forms in the Active or Passive Voice.

e. g. We are writing now.

2. The Imperative Mood expresses a command or a request. The Imperative Mood has only one form which coincides with the infinitive without particle ‘to’. To make a command more expressive we use the emphatic form built up with the help of the stem of the auxiliary verb ‘to do’.

e. g. Be quiet! Do be quiet!

3. Actions represented as unreal are expressed by a great variety of forms.

Thus we have Direct Moods (here belong the Indicative and the Imperative Moods) and the Oblique Moods ( or Indirect Moods ).

We use the Oblique Moods to express a wish, purpose, supposition, doubt or condition problematic or contrary to reality. There are four Oblique Moods in English:

1. Subjunctive I

e.g. Long live our Motherland!

2. Subjunctive II

e.g. If it were spring now!

3. The Conditional Mood

e.g. What would you do in my place?

4. The Suppositional Mood.

e.g. If I should see her, I'll be very glad.

Subjunctive I and Subjunctive II have synthetical forms: in Subjunctive I – ' be ' for all persons; in Subjunctive II – ' were ' for all persons.

The Conditional and Suppositional Moods are formed analytically – they are built up by means of auxiliary verbs.

Modality may be expressed by different means:

1. By mood forms of the verb

e. g. Take a book!

He was here yesterday.

If he were here!

2. The speaker may represent the action as necessary or unnecessary, possible or impossible, certain or doubtful by means of modal verbs:

e. g. You can see her now.

You must answer the question.

He may be at school.

3. By the modal words and expressions:

e. g. Perhaps, he'll come tomorrow.

He is at home, for sure.

I doubt that he is at home.

Ex. 1. Translate into Russian. Analyze the Direct and Indirect Moods.

1. My children ask me too many questions. 2. Now, ask your question! Go ahead! 3. Steve was sure that his teacher would answer all his questions. 4. I wouldn’t ask you this question if I knew the answer. 5. Do relax! There is no hurry. Take your time. 6. I shall ask you for support if any need arises. 8. I know that you will do it as soon as you can. 9. I know that you would do it as soon as you could. 10. He promised he would go there if he had a chance. 11. I should go if I had time. Time is money, you know. 12. “You could do it if you tried.” “Shall I really make an effort?” 13. You could have done it if you had tried! 14. It would have been most helpful if you had done the washing. 15. If the ancient Egyptians had not had slaves, they would not have been able to build the Pyramids. 16. But for our books we would be ignorant and unaware of so many things! 17. I know you are a great man. But your greatness would be enhanced if you said "Sorry". 18. If it weren't for the last minute, a lot of things wouldn't get done. 19. If you gave him a penny for his thoughts, you would get some change. 20. If you want to be happy, be.

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