The Conditional Mood

It has two tenses: the present & the past. The Present Conditional is formed by means of the auxiliary verbs should & would and the Indefinite Infinitive of the main verb. The Present Conditional expresses an action, which would take place under certain conditions in the present or future.

I knew something happen today.

I should call on him but I have very little time.

The Past Conditional is formed by means of the auxiliary verbs should & would and the Perfect Infinitive of the main verb. The Past Conditional is used to express an action, which would have taken place under certain conditions in the past.

But for the rain we would have worked in the garden yesterday.

She would have bought a watch but the shop was closed.

We use the Conditional Mood

1. after the conjunction else/otherwise (в противном случае)

Let him help me otherwise I would fail in the exam.

2. with an adverbial modifier of condition introduced by but for, except for (если бы не…) which imply an unreal condition with an opposite meaning (an implied condition is not openly stated in a clause, but is suggested either by an adverbial part of the sentence, or else by the context)

But for luck he would be still living alone.

These people would long ago have been forgotten, but for the artist’s genius.

Except for the sound of his breathing I wouldn’t have known he was there.

3. in simple compound and complex sentences to represent an action as unreal, which would take (have taken) place under certain conditions expressed or implied.

It’s a pity I have no time. We would play chess.

Yesterday I would have said the same.

4. in the subordinate clauses of purpose after the conjunction so that.

Andrew raised her face by his hand so that he could look into her eyes.

The Subjunctive II

Its forms and meanings. The usage of this mood in

1. _{subordinate clauses of unreal conditions;}

2. _{after the verb to wish;}

3. _{in subordinate clauses of comparison;}

4. _{in emphatic constructions it’s time, it’s about time, it’s high time.}

_{Subjunctive II has two tenses: the present & the past.}

_{The Present Subjunctive II coincides in form with the Past Indefinite Indicative. The only exception is the verb to be the Present Subjunctive II of which has the form were both in the plural and in the singular.}

_{The Present Subjunctive II represents an auction contrary to reality and refers to the present and the future.}

_{If I saw him tomorrow I should tell him about it (but I have a very little hope I will see him).}

_{If she learned English I’d buy her this book (but she learned French).}

_{The Past Subjunctive II coincides in form with the Past Perfect Indicative. It represents an action as contrary to reality and refers to the past.}

_{If I had met her I would have told her about it.}

_{Subjunctive II is used:}

1. _{in subordinate clauses of condition if the condition is unreal or contradicting reality. In such a case the Conditional Mood is used in the Principle clauses and Subjunctive II in the subordinate clause. Each of this forms is used in the tense demanded by the context. If the actions of both the principal and the subordinate clause refer to the present or future, Present Subjunctive II is used in the subordinate clause and the Present Conditional in the principal clause.}

_{If I were you I wouldn’t think of it.}

_{If the action of both the principal and the subordinate clause refers to the past, the Past Subjunctive II is used in the subordinate clause, and the Past Conditional is used in the principal clause.}

_{If you had stayed, I would never have come to you.}

_{Sentences of Split Condition}

_{If he had graduated from the Institute he would work at school (the action of the subordinate clause refers to the past the Past Subjunctive II is used, the action of the principal clause refers to the present the Present Condition is used).}

If you were not so absent-minded, you would not have made so many mistakes.

2. in simple sentences to represent a desired action or state which contradicts the reality.

If only he looked different!

If only it could always be spring!

3. In subordinate object clauses if the predicate of the principal clause is expressed by the verb to wish

• The Present Subjunctive II is used if the action of the subordinate clause is simultaneous with that of the principal clause.

I wish I knew where you are and what you are doing.

I wish he were only joking.

• The Past Subjunctive II is used if the action of the subordinate clause precedes that of the principal clause.

I wish I had not told you about it.

We all wished that we had stopped there.

Note: if the action of the subordinate clause refers to the future corresponding to the principal clause but expresses a wish which is unreal, would/could + infinitive is used.

I wish she would come home (she is not at home and won’t come).

I wish you could give it to me (but you can’t).

4. In subordinate clauses of comparison joined to the principal clause by the conjunctions as if, as though.

• They spoke before her as if she were not there. You just go out as though you were going for a walk. I felt as if I were being sent home.

• He looked as if he had never seen me before.

Note: The sky looked as if it would never clear before morning.

5. In (subject clause) emphatic constructions after the principal clause expressing time

It is time

It is about time

It is high time

It’s time you went to bed.

It is high time he were more serious.