The Conditional Mood

Form: The form of the conditional mood is analytical – the auxiliary verbs should/ would + the infinitive of the national verb.

The conditional mood has two tense-forms: present and past.

I, we	Present	Past
	should go	should have gone
you, he, she, they	would go would speak	would have gone would have spoken

Meaning: A problematic action, the realization of which in the future is excluded.

Usage: In simple sentences

1. In simple sentences the conditional mood is used in sentences expressing unreal consequence when the condition is not expressed as such (implied condition).

but for this	smb. would do smth. (I, we) should do smth.
	smb. would have done smth. (I, we) should have done smth.

e.g. But for the wind the weather would be nice.

But for your help the woman would not have risked crossing the street.

Note: The modal verbs have no special form for the condition mood. They have only one form of the oblique mood – the form of Subjunctive II:

but for this	smb could/ might do smth
	smb could/ might done smth

e.g. But for you I couldn’t finish my work.

But for her blushing we might have believed her.

2. In simple sentences with implied condition to express unreal cosequence the conditional mood is used when the condition is expressed by the infinitive.

to do smth.	would have smb
to have done smth	would have helped smb

e.g. To stop now would mean losing everything.

To have been told so would upset him greatly.

It would delight everybody to hear the news.

To have given him a hand would cost you very little.

3. In simple sentences with implied condition after the conjunction otherwise.

otherwise	smb would do smth. (I, we) should do smth.
(or)	smb. would have done smth. (I, we) should have done smth.

e.g. I should take my younger sister to the pictures.

Otherwise I should gladly stay and help you.

Otherwise I could gladly stay and help you.

She was angry with you, otherwise she wouldn’t speak like this.

It is sure to rain later in the day, or the birds would not be flying to low.

I used only the freshest butter, or my cakes would not have been so good.

I’m sure he didn’t get the job, otherwise he would not look so downcast.

In complex sentences

1. The conditional mood is used in the principal clause of a complex sentence with a subordinate clause of unreal condition where the predicate is in the form of Subjunctive II.

If, even if, even though	smb said smth.	smb would do smth. (I, we) should do smth.
	smb had said smth.	smb. would have done smth. (I, we) should have done smth.

e.g. If you knew him better, you would not think so.

If you had gone there, you would have seen him.

If	smb said smth.	smb could/ might do smth
	smb had said smth.	smb could/ might done smth

e.g. If it were not so dark, I could take you there now.

If it had not been so dark, I could have taken you there right then.

2. In sentences expressing unreal consequence when the condition is not expressed as such.

I suppose you are a stranger here, or you would have heard about it.

He is a poet, otherwise he would not be able to write such a verse.

Note: If the condition is permanent, while the action refers to the present or to the past, we use the following pattern.

If	Subjunctive II present	Conditional mood present
	smb were smth. smb did smth.	I, we should do smth
		Hh/ she/ it/ they would do smth

If	Subjunctive II present	Conditional mood past
	smb were smth. smb did smth.	I, we should should have done smth
		He/ she/ it/ they would have done smth

e.g. If you were practical, you wouldn’t buy these shoes.

If he were not absent-minded, he wouldn’t forget to past the letter.

If he knew the subject better, he would not say the things he does.

Sometimes the modal verb “to be to” is used in the form of Subjunctive II in the subordinate if – clause.

If	smb were to do smth. smb did smth.	I/ we should do smth
		he/ she/ it/ they would do smth

e.g. If I were to tell you it’s no good, would you believe me?

I simply do not know what I should do if they were to come today.

Would you object if we were to ask you to go there.

My new shoes would be ruined if it were to rain.

To make a sentence more emphatic we use the modal verb would in the clause of condition.

If	he, she, they would do smth.	I, we should do smth.
		he, she, they would do smth.

If

he, she, they would do smth.

smb. could do smth.

e.g. Of course, I should go if mother would let me.

We could have the party at this flat if he would give us the key.

He would finish it in time if only they would keep quiet.