MOOD is the form of the verb, which shows in what relation to reality the speaker places the action or state expressed by predicate verb.

THE OBLIQUE MOODS

MOOD is the form of the verb, which shows in what relation to reality the speaker places the action or state expressed by predicate verb.

MOOD

DIRECT OBLIQUE

indicative

imperative subjunctive I suppositional

subjunctive II

conditional

Indicative mood shows that the speaker considers the action or state denoted by the predicate as an actual fact and affirms or negates its existence in the present, past or future.

Imperative mood shows that the speaker urges the person addressed to fulfill an action. This may be expressed in the form of command, request, warning, etc.

Oblique moods represent something in the speaker’s mind not as a real fact, but as a wish, purpose, supposition, doubt, condition.

The suppositional mood represents the action as problematic but not contradicting to reality, it presents the action as desirable, suggested, supposed.

Subjunctive I is close to the suppositional mood in its meaning, but its forms are different. It is seldom used in Modern English; it is mostly used in the language of official documents, high prose and the American variant of English language.

The suppositional mood has two forms: ‘non-perfect’ and ‘perfect’.

Subjunctive I has one form, which is used with reference to any time.

The use of the suppositional mood and Subjunctive I.

1. The subject clauses. The subject of such principal clauses is usually expressed by the pronoun it, the predicate is compound nominal and includes adjectives and nouns with modal meaning (necessary, imperative, etc.) or adjectives and nouns giving estimation to the action or situation described in the subordinate clause (strange, annoying, etc.)

necessary

impossible the suppositional mood

strange smb should do sth

It is imperative (that) smb should (have) done sth

annoying subjunctive I

a shame smb do sth

a pity

e.g. It is necessary that you should help them.

It is necessary that you help them.

2. The object, predicative and attributive clauses. Subj.I and suppos. mood are used after verbs and nouns denoting suggestion, demand, recommendation and order.

to order

to request smb should do sth

to advise

to propose that

to insist smb do sth

request

suggestion

advice

e.g. He suggested that we should take part in the excursion.

His suggestion was that we take part in the excursion.

3. The object, predicative and appositive clauses after the expressions of fear (to fear, to worry, to be anxious; fear, worry, for fear, etc.) with the conjunctions lest, in case, that.

to be

to worry lest smb should do (have done) sth

to be afraid in case (that)

fear smb do sth

worry smb may do sth

e.g. He was afraid lest they should be late.

He was afraid lest they be late.

4. The adverbial clauses of purpose (after the conjunctions lest, in case, in order that, so that).

lest smb should do sth

do sth in case

in order that smb do sth

so that smb may do sth

e.g. Put down my address lest you should forget it.

5. Subjunctive I in simple sentences (usually exclamatory).

e.g. Success attend you! (a wish)

Damn it! (a curse)

The conditional mood denotes an unreal action the unreality of which is due to the absence of necessary conditions.

The use of the conditional mood:

1. Sentences and clauses of implied condition. The conditional mood is used:

a. after the combination but for and the conjunctive adverb otherwise:

but for I/he would do sth

otherwise I/he would have done sth

e.g. But for his help they would not have finished the work in time. – Если бы не его помощь, они бы не закончили работу вовремя.

We were lucky that the weather was fine. Otherwise we would have put off our outing. - Нам повезло, что погода была хорошая. Иначе нам пришлось бы отложить поездку.

b. when the condition may be implied by the context.

e.g. I wouldn’t believe him.

I wouldn’t have believed that. But I saw it with my own eyes.

2. The complex sentence. The conditional mood is used in the principal clause of sentences with adverbial clauses of unreal condition and concession.

I /he would do sth

if I/he would have done sth

even if

e.g. If I were you I should go there at once.

Even if he had helped them they would not have finished the work in time.

Subjunctive II represents the action as unreal, as contrary to reality.

The use of subjunctive II:

1. The independent use of subjunctive II.

a. to express advice:

I/we

you had better (not) do sth

he/she/they

e.g. You’d better switch on the light.

b. to express preference:

I/he/she/we/you/they would rather (sooner) do sth

e.g. I would rather stay at home.

c. to express wish:

could do sth

if only could have done sth

did sth

hade done sth

e.g. If only I could help you!

If only he had not missed that chance.

2. The object clause (after the verb to wish to express an unreal desired action).

e.g. I wish it were summer now.

I wished you had been there with us.

3. The predicative clauses (after the link verbs of being and seeming, the conjunctions as if and as though).

to be smb were

to feel smb had been

to look as though smb did sth

to sound as if smb had done sth

to seem

e.g. It seemed as though the silence of the night were getting on her nerves.

You look as if you had not slept.

4. a. The adverbial clauses of comparison (after the conjunctions as if, as though):

smb were

as if smb had been

do sth as though smb did sth

smb had done sth

e.g. He smiled as if he were amused by my joke.

He behaved as if nothing extraordinary had happened.

b. The adverbial clauses of purpose (after the conjunctions so that, in order that, in case that, lest):

in case

so that sb might do sth

do sth in order that sb could sth

lest sb did sth

e.g. Put down my telephone number so that you could get in touch with me whenever you want.

c. The adverbial clauses of condition. Subj. II is used in adverb. clauses of unreal condition after the conjunctions if, on condition, in case. In such sentences the verb predicate of the principal clause has the form of the conditional mood.

5. Conditional sentences.

Type I. Sentences of real condition (describe what is quite possible). In such sentences the indicative mood is used both in the principal clause and subordinate clause.

E. g. If it is really so, I can only say that I am sorry for it.

Type II. Sentences of unreal condition referring to the present or the future (describe what is totally impossible). In such sentences the non-perfect form (Would + verb) of the conditional mood is used in the princ. clause and the non-perfect form (were; verb+ed) of the subj. II is used in the adverbial clause of condition.

E.g. If he came into this room now, I’d know him right off.

Type III. Sentences of unreal condition referring to the past (describe something that is purely imaginary). In such sentences the perfect form (Would + have Ved) of the conditional mood is used in the princ. clause and the perfect form (had+Ved) of the subj. II in the adverbial clause of condition.

E.g. If she had worked hard, she would have finished the work long ago.

Type IV. Mixed conditional sentences. They are combinations of sentences of type II and type III, that is, one of the clauses refers to the present or to the future, while the other refers to the past.

E.g. If they had finished the work yesterday, they would be free now.

6. Subjunctive II. is used in adverbial clauses of concession and after the expressions it’s time (it’s high time).

even if smb were

do sth even though smb did

smb had done

E.g. Even though he were free he wouldn’t go with us.

It’s time he were here.

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