Free use of the oblique moods

§2 Subjunctuve I

Subjunctive I represents an action as problematic but not as contradicting to reality. It is used to express order, request, suggestion, supposition, etc.

It has no tenses. The same form is used in the present, past, and future. It coincides with the infinitive without particle ‘to’.

e. g. He ordered that he be present.

He suggested that Tom come.

The formal difference between Subjunctive I and the Indicative has almost disappeared. The only forms in which Subjunctive I differs from the Present Indicative are:

1. In the verb 'to be' (without changes).

2. In all other verbs where the form of the 3d person singular has no ‘-s’ inflection.

Subjunctive I is rather obsolete. In many cases, when it was used in earlier periods we find now the Indicative. But it is preserved in poetry, high prose or in the language of official documents. It is also found in some set-expressions and slogans.

• Success attend you.

• Be yours a happy life!

• So be it! Be it so!

• God forbid!

• God bless you!

• Come what will!

• Confound smth!

• Damn it!

• Suffice it to say that...

• Far be it from me (to do smth)

Ex. 3 Read and translate the sentences. Comment on the use of Subjunctive I.

1. A fine day, thanks be to God. 2. Well, be that as it may. 3. "If you go, we go too." "So be it." 4. Damn those roads! 5. She raised the glass. "God bless you, Liam, and long life." 6. "God save all here," Delvin announced cheerfully. 7. He kicked the starter. "God protect me from this monstrous regiment of women," he said and drove away.

Ex.4. Comment on Subjunctive I. Translate into Russian.

1. Far be it from me to marry a woman for her money! 2. Be that as it may, but I know nothing about it. 3. Peace be with you! Success attend you! 4. Blessed be the day of his birth! 5. If it means that one day I will face execution for my presumption, then so be it. 6. Blessed be he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed. 7. Manners be hanged! 10. Be yours a lucky choice!

Ex. 5. Translate into English.

1. К черту эту английскую орфографию! 2. Да будет благословенна земля, которая дает миру таких сынов! 3. Ну что же, я сдаюсь. Да будет так! 4. Пусть вам сопутствует удача! 5. Да благословит вас Бог! 6. Будь что будет, а я все-таки рискну. 7. Достаточно сказать, что он уже несколько раз попадал в аварию. 8. Я далек от того, чтобы обвинять тебя в этом преступлении.

§3 Subjunctive II

Subjunctive II has two tenses: the Present and the Past.

The forms of Present Subjunctive do not differ from the forms of the Past Indicative except the verb 'to be' in singular. There is only one form of the verb 'to be' for all persons singular and plural – 'were'. Nowadays we can hear the form 'was' in colloquial speech.

The present Subjunctive refers an action to the present or to the future.

e. g. If only I were young again!

If only I could speak English!

If only he came in time!

The Continuous form of Present Subjunctive II shows the action in process.

e.g. If only she were not singing so loudly!

The Past Subjunctive refers the action to the past. Its form coincides with the Past Perfect Indicative.

e. g. If I hadn't quarrelled with her!

If I could have persuaded her!

The Perfect Continuous form of Subjunctive II shows that the action began in the past, was in process during some period of time and is still going on.

e.g. If only they hadn’t been waiting so long!

Subjunctive II denotes:

1) wish

If only somebody did( had done) smth

e. g. Oh, if only he gave me a job!

Oh, if she had taken my advice then!

2) advice

somebody had better do (not do) smth

e. g. You had better do it at once.

You had better not tell her about it.

NB! No particle 'to' before the notional verb!

3. preference

Somebody had (would) rather (sooner) do smth

not do smth

e. g. I 'd rather stay at home.

I had much rather not interfere.

Wish

If only Oh, if Oh, that	somebody	were did smth could do smth might do smth were doing
		had been had done smth had been doing could have done smth might have done smth

Ex. 6 Read and translate the sentences. Analyze the form of Subjunctive II.

1. If only their answer were not so vague! 2. If you only knew what Dorian Gray is to me! 3. What had that doctor done with her? If only she were still alive! 4. Oh, if it were only the other way! If the picture could change, and I could be always what I am now! 5. Oh, that he believed me! 6. If I only had told Roger! 7. And what if he really were one of them? 8. If only I could have learnt it a day earlier! 9. If only I could help you! 10. Oh, if she might get there in time.

Ex.7. Change the form of the verb in the sentences to refer the action to the past.

MODEL

If only you trusted me more. — If only you had trusted me more.

1. If only somebody saw him! 2. If only there was another way out! 3. Oh, if she agreed to wait a week longer! 4. Oh, that it were not too late! 5. If only they did not frighten him! 6. If only the time were not so short! 7. If only I knew her better! 8. Oh, if you gave me a break! 9. Oh, if you did it right!

Ex. 8. Use the correct form of the verb in brackets.

1. If we (to give) thought to it at the time! 2. Oh, he (not to be) late the other day! 3. If only it (to be) true! 4. If you (can help) her! 5. Oh, that I (to realize) the importance of it before! 6. If there (to be) the slightest possibility! 7. If they (to know) the kind of man he was! 8. If only someone (to warn) me then. 9. Oh, if you never (to go) there.

Ex. 9. Transform the verb into the Present or Past Subjunctive to express an unreal wish.

Model: Simon smokes too much. — If Simon didn't smoke so much!

It was foggy yesterday. — If it hadn't been foggy yesterday!

1. It's autumn now. 2. He isn't my friend. 3. She wasn't my teacher. 4. This dress isn't my size. 5. I'm not happy about it. 6. The bag was too expensive. 7. I am a dreamer. 8. My holiday wasn't long. 9. This money isn't mine. 10. The party is very dull. 11. The secretary isn't efficient. 12. The car was out of order. 13. The boss is out. 14. We were scared. 15. English phonetics is so difficult! 16. Uncountable nouns are so misleading! 17. Our neighbours visit us every weekend. 18. He didn't notice me. He ignored me. 19. I don't often meet my school friends now. 20. The children don't obey their grandparents. 21. Emma had too much work to do last week. 22. I have to work even on Sunday. 23. Theresa didn't help her mother about the house. 24. The dog eats too much meat. 25. Nobody knew his address or telephone number. 26. I don't speak English fluently. 27. They have no chance to travel. 28. Ridge makes friends too easily. 29. Nelly went there too late. 30. She doesn't often go to the theatre. 31. My sister buys too many things.

Ex. 10. Translate into English.

1. Ax, если бы он был сейчас здесь! 2. Ах, если бы вы знали тогда всю правду! 3. Ах, если бы вы сами все это видели! 4. Он выступал первым. Ах, если бы вы слышали, как он говорил! 5. Теперь уже поздно. Ах, если бы вы мне вовремя сказали! 6. Если бы ты только понимал, как это глупо! 7. Теперь они смеются надо мной. Ах, если бы я не показывал им эти стихи! 8. Ах, если бы мама об этом никогда не узнала! 9. Ах, если бы только я сдала этот экзамен! 10. Ах, если бы погода завтра была хорошей! 11. Ах, если бы вы могли понять меня правильно! 12. Ах, если бы мы смогли переправиться на тот берег реки сегодня! 13. Если бы это могло повториться! 14. Если бы только этого не случилось! 15. Ах, если бы всегда было так. 16. Если бы он понимал, на какой риск он идет. 17. Если бы был хотя бы один шанс из десяти! 18. Если бы я встретил его раньше! 19. Если бы вы только знали, как я волновался.

Advice

Somebody had better	do smth
	not do smth

Ex. 11 . Translate into Russian.

1. He had better take the metro. 2. I think I had better go to bed. 3. They had better try their luck another time. 4. We had better start at once. 5. You had better take a couple of aspirins and try to sleep. 6. She had better see a doctor about it. 7. I think you had better have a look at that yourself. 8. You had best read this letter. 9. He said I'd better go, so I went. 10. Maybe you'd better look for somebody else.

Ex. 12. Translate into English.

1. Вам лучше ехать до центра на метро. 2. Ему лучше пересесть у Парка культуры. 3. Лучше не пытайтесь сделать это сегодня. 4. По-моему, мне лучше не вмешиваться. 5. Лучше запишите его адрес. 6. Лучше не стойте здесь. 7. Лучше объясните ей, что делать. 8. Лучше пишите карандашом. 9. Ей лучше не ехать на юг. 10. Лучше, чтобы кто-нибудь остался здесь. 11. Лучше, чтобы кто-нибудь сказал ей об этом. 12. Им лучше не купаться в день приезда. 13. Лучше, чтобы кто-нибудь предупредил ее. 14. Лучше говорите немножко погромче.

Ex.13. Give advice.

MODEL

1) I think he is losing weight. (to smoke) – He had better not smoke so much.

2) I couldn't sleep. That tooth is troubling me again. (to go to the dentist). –

You had better go to the dentist first thing today.

3) Should I take her along? (not) – You had better not.

1. The dress is too short for her. – (to let it out a little). 2. The wind is getting fresher – (to steer to the shore). 3. The evenings are cool here. – (to wear a sweater). 4. It certainly looks like rain and plenty of it. – (to give up that walk). 5. He's been working at it since lunch. – (to take a rest). 6) I must go to work after lunch. – (to take the bus). 7. I wonder if I should let him go. – (not). 8. Do you think I should ask him too? – (not). 9. What's wrong with this stew? It doesn't taste right. – (to add some butter and cook it a little longer). 10. Oh, how my feet hurt! – (not to wear high heels when shopping).

Ex. 14. Give advice.

Model: You oughtn't to eat so much sweet.

You had better not eat so much sweet.

1. I think we ought to stop now. 2. If you feel tired, you ought to stop and have a rest. 3. If you want to go by the eight o'clock train, you ought to hurry. 4. What do you think I ought to read? 5. The doctor told her that she ought to stay in bed. 6. It is not advisable for children to sit in front of a television set all evening. 7. It's already late. Ought not the children to go to bed? 8. I think we have lost our way. We ought to ask someone to show us the way. 9. I advise you to try on another dress. This dress is too tight for you. 10. It's getting dark. We ought to switch on the light. 11. The ice is too thin yet. You ought not to allow the children to skate on the lake.