Mood
Subjunctive I
The form of Subjunctive I is synthetic: for the verb to be – the form befor all the persons, for the rest verbs – bare infinitive of the verb (go, speak, come).
The meaning of Subjunctive I is to express a problematic action but not contrary to reality, an action that can be realized in the future (the realization of the action depends on some circumstances but is not excluded).
The use: Subjunctive I can be used both in simple and in complex sentences
In simple sentences:
In simple sentences Subjunctive I is used in a number of phrases expressing wish, oaths, swearing, etc. most of which are characteristic of archaic style,. This is the so-called formulaic Subjunctive
Wish:
Success attend you! – Да сопутствует вам успех!
Long live the forces of peace!
Long live …! – Да здравствует …! (mostly used jocularly)
Be it so! / So be it! – Да будет так! (soundssolemn)
Be it as you wish. – Будь по-вашему.
God / Lord / heaven help smb!
God / heaven forbid! – Боже упаси!
Godsaveus! – Х рани нас Бог!
God save the Queen! ( part of the British National Anthem
(God) Bless you! – Благослави вас Бог! (More often used as a reaction to a person sneezing, cf. Russian Будь здоров!)
Peace be to his ashes! – Мир праху его!
God rest his soul! – Успокой, Господи, его душу.
Oaths, imprecations, swearings or threat:
Confound these flies!
Confound the cat!
Blast the fool! – Будь проклят!
(God)damn! – Проклятье! (Черт побери!)
Manners be hanged! – Долой (к черту) приличия!
Woe be to you if – Горе тебе если … (archaic, very emotional)
Command or request. In this meaning Subjunctive I is used only when the subject is an indefinite pronoun (somebody, everybody, someone) or the combination one of you:
Somebody go and fetch me a piece of chalk!
One of you go and tell her to come.
Everybody leave the room.
Other meanings:
Far be it from me to …- Я далек от мысли …
Suffice it to say – Достаточно сказать, что …(The situation looks grim. Suffice it to say that we are 3 million pounds in debt.)
Come what may … – Что бы ни случилось, …(Come what may, I won’t leave you.)
Be it rain or snow … (concessive meaning similar to Come what may)
If truth be known .. – По правде говоря, …
If need be … – Если потребуется …
… asitwere…– как бы, как бы это сказать (Your ideas are, as it were, very expensive.)
The use of Subjunctive I in simple sentences is characteristic of literary style except in point 2 where it is low colloquial style. Besides, Subjunctive I is more common in American than in British variant of English, especially in complex sentences with that – clauses. Both in simple and in complex sentences uncolloquial Subjunctive I is usually replaced by a modal phrase (may / might + infinitive) or by the Suppositional mood:
Whoever you be …> Whoever you may / might be …
He ordered that we be present. > He ordered that we should be present.
Subjunctive I
In complex sentences:
In subject clauses introduced by anticipatory it.
It is necessary that he be ready at 5 o’clock.
In object clauses after the expression of:
order ( We demand that the atomic weapons be banned.) .
suggestion, desire ( We suggest that he be chosen as a dean.)
fear ( She feared lest she be mistaken.)
in indirect questions ( We can’t tell if this be true.)
In adverbial clauses:
of purpose ( We’ll start early lest we be late.)
of concession ( Whatever the reason be, I don’t agree.)
of condition ( If in his heart the hope be dear …)
It should be pointed out that Subjunctive I in complex sentences is mostly used in American English, especially with the meaning of desire ( I insist that Andy stay at home.) while in British English Subjunctive I is characteristic of official language or poetry and high, elevated style.
Subjunctive I in complex sentences denotes actions that occur later than the actions in the main clause: The realization of this action in the future is not excluded.
I insist that you stop the execution.
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 clausesafter 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 clausesthat 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.
Ifyoushouldseeher,givehermylove. – 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, чтобыребенок 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 pastis 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.