§ 150. The modal verbs can and may can also be found in con- ditional sentences. If they occur in if-clauses referring to the present or future, they have the past form.

e.g. If I could be a writer I should write detective stories.

His bedroom is very cold. If I might move him into your study he would feel more cheerful there.

In the principal clause we generally use the Conditional Mood. But as can and may are defective verbs and cannot be used in the Conditional Mood, the past tense of these verbs is used in combi- nation with the simple infinitive to refer the action to the present or future.

e.g. I could try to make the place comfortable with more heart if

the sun were shining.

If you had any office training it might be possible to use you up here.

When reference is made to the past, could and might are com- bined with the Perfect infinitive (both in the if-clause and in the principal clause).

e.g. Yet if she could have seen me there, she would have been a

little puzzled.

If I hadn't been there something very unpleasant might have happened to him.

§ 151. A clause of unreal condition may be joined to the prin- cipal clause asyndetically. In that case it always precedes the principal clause and we find inversion in the subordinate clause — the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject.

e.g. Had Irene been present, the family circle would have been

complete.

Should you want to do so you can withdraw your money at any time.

As is seen from the above examples, asyndetic connection is possible only when the predicate of the subordinate clause is an analytical form (or a modal phrase). This construction is emphatic and characteristic only of literary style.

Complex Sentences with Adverbial Clauses of Concession

§ 152. Complex sentences with a clause of concession intro- duced by the conjunction even if or even though are built up on the same pattern as sentences of unreal condition — the form of the Past Indefinite or the Past Perfect is used in the subordinate clause and the Conditional Mood, Present or Past, in the principal clause.

e.g. But even if you were right, I should be prepared for any con- tingency. Even if I had been a stranger he would have talked of his

misfortune.

Note. In complex sentences with a clause of concession introduced by though, although, whoever, whichever, whatever, whenever, however, wherever, no matter how the Indicative Mood is used in both clauses.

e.g.. And when we settle down, wherever it is, you'll have a garden, Chris.

In literary style may {might) + infinitive is occasionally used in clauses of con- cession to lay stress on the meaning of supposition.

e.g. Whatever his invitation may mean, I'm going to accept it.

He said he would be glad to fulfil the conditions whatever they might be.

The Use of Forms Expressing Unreality in a Special Type of Exclamatory Sentences § 153. The form of the Past Indefinite including the form were is used in the following type of exclamatory sentences to ex- press a wish which cannot be fulfilled.

e.g. Oh, if only Daddy were home! Oh, if only I knew what to do!

In the above examples reference is made to the present. With reference to the past the form of the Past Perfect is used, e.g. Oh, if only he had given me a chance!

When the sentence refers to the future we find would + infini- tive or could + infinitive,

e.g. If it would only stop raining for a single day! Oh, if only you would see a doctor! If only their life together could always be like this! Sentences of this kind are very emphatic and restricted to spo- ken English.

Free Use of Forms Expressing Unreality

§ 154. The choice of forms expressing unreality which has been described above depends on certain kinds of clauses and sometimes on the lexical character of the verb in the principal clause. However, other forms expressing unreality may be used freely, independent of any particular sentence pattern. They are opposed to the Indicative Mood and their choice is determined by the speaker's attitude towards the action in question.