The Suppositional mood
The form. The suppositional mood has two forms: the present and the past both forms are analytical. Present – should for all persons + infinitive without the particle to (should come, should go, etc.). Past – should + perfect infinitive (should have come, should have gone).
I, you, he, she, it, we, they |
Should do smth |
I, you, he, she, it, we, they |
Should have done smth |
The meaning. The suppositional mood represents an action as problematic but not necessarily contradicting reality. The realization of the action is not excluded though it depends on certain circumstances.
The use. The suppositional mood is used only in complex sentences.
In subject clauses introduced by the anticipatory it.
is It was will be |
necessary important desirable requested demanded advisable arranged ordered |
that |
somebody should do something somebody should have done something |
It is requested that all should be ready by six o’clock.
It had been arranged that the family should be allowed to stay one more day.
Is it necessary that I should answer that question?
It was impossible that he should have said so.
In predicative clauses introduced by the conjunction that. Such clauses are mostly used after the link-verb to be.
His father’s only wish was that he should become a musician.
Our resolution was that he should be chosen as our delegate.
In object clauses after the expressions of order, recommendation or suggestion.
to suggest to demand to insist to order to arrange to request to propose |
that |
somebody should do something |
In these patterns only the present tense of the suppositional mood is used because the action suggested is to take place in the future.
She proposed to my aunt that we should go upstairs and see my room.
Annie called him at the lab, suggesting that they should get together and talk things over.
After expressions of fear the suppositional mood is used when the object clause is introduced by the conjunction lest (sometimes that).
Doctor Brown was afraid lest Margaret should think the house bare and cheerless.
They grew terrified lest there should have been something wrong with the child.
She feared lest people should have noticed her shabby dress and mended gloves.
This pattern is characteristic of literary style.
In appositive attributive clauses that modify the nouns of the type: demand, order, recommendation, resolution, request, rule, suggestion, wish, etc.
Orders were given that we should start at nine.
Her suggestion that we should visit him in the hospital was accepted.
In adverbial clauses:
a) of condition; Such clauses are called clauses of problematic condition. In this case the present tense of the suppositional mood (should do smth) is usually used. This type of condition is used to show that the action is not likely to take place.
If you should see her, give her my love. – Если вы все же (случайно) увидите ее, передайте ей привет. (Should you see her, give her my love.)
If he should succeed, no one will be more pleased than I. – Если это ему все же удастся, я буду рад больше всех.
b) of purpose;
I say all this lest there should be a misunderstanding.
She didn’t approach the window lest he should see her from the street.
Note: The meaning of the conjunction lest implies negation, so the negative form in the clause following it, is excluded.
She closed the window lest the child should catch cold. – Она закрыла окно, чтобы ребенок не простудился.
c)of concession; Such clauses are introduced by the conjunctions though, although, whatever, whoever, etc. In this pattern the suppositional mood is used with reference to the future and , consequently, in such sentences only the present tense of the suppositional mood occurs.
Though he should make every effort, he cannot succeed.
However hard it should rain, we shall have to go.
Whatever he should say, I will not change my opinion.
Subjunctive II
The form. Subjunctive II has two forms: present and past. The form of Subjunctive II present is synthetic (for the verb to be – were for all the persons and numbers, for the rest verbs – the form identical to Past Simple: did, spoke, wrote, etc. . The form of Subjunctive II past is analytical: it is identical to the form of Past Perfect with all the verbs without exception ( had been, had done, had spoken, had written )
I, you, he, she, it, we, they |
were something, did something |
had been smth, had done smth |
The meaning of Subjunctive II is to describe imaginary unreal situations and actions that are contrary to reality and cannot be realized in the future.
If I were you, I would do the same.
If he left at 9, he would be home at midnight.
The use: Subjunctive II can be used both in simple and in complex sentences.